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Gardenmama's Journal

gardenmama
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10/23/2008 23:57 #46291

People are messed up
I was at Walgreen's at Hertel & Parkside late (9:50) tonight. While I was standing in line at the checkout, I saw a woman stuffing her jacket full of candy in the candy isle. She then gets in line behind me to pay for 1 or 2 things. I couldn't believe it! I think the lady maybe was intoxicated, but that certainly doesn't excuse her. I don't know why I was so stunned, except that, I'm guessing the woman was at least in her mid to late 30's (not exactly a kid anymore) and stealing candy, of all things. I could maybe understand it better if she was swiping some medicine she needed or baby formula or diapers or even real food, but candy? It was too weird.
tiburon1724 - 10/27/08 22:19
you wouldn't believe what people steal at my store. Dryer Balls are popular, beef jerky, aspirin (not necessarily the whole box/bottle, but i'll find it opened with a few taken out) it's really ridiculous. Pay for your shit, people.
metalpeter - 10/24/08 18:02
Yes (e:James) I can confirm that see she is new to this area of the country and she wanted to get Halloween stuff but then she remembered About Sweetest day had just passed so she felt Guilty so she took as much as she could to make up for it.

I know there is a street market for all kinds of things, and there is something with baby formula but I doubt there is one for candy.
james - 10/24/08 10:50
Perhaps she was stealing candy to give to orphans.

She is my hero.
libertad - 10/24/08 09:03
It seriously could be someone with a split personality. I think a lot of times split personality types has a child within. Remember Sybil?
jason - 10/24/08 08:44
Maybe she's diabetic? I dunno. You're right, it is a bit off.
leetee - 10/24/08 01:00
The way people behave often makes me feel sad. I get mad sometimes when i see stuff like this too. Then i wonder what might be wrong with them and start to feel guilty and sorry for them.

But today, seeing some chick driving down the Thruway TEXTING and eating... at 60mph! Well, i wished for a cop... for a change!
tinypliny - 10/24/08 00:15
There is too much weirdness around sometimes. It sometimes completely catches me off guard as well.

10/23/2008 16:13 #46280

Free Smoke Detectors
I got this announcement in my e-mail at work today - thought I'd share if anyone is interested:

The City of Buffalo is giving families free smoke detectors and batteries at various open houses across the Queen City. It is a first come, first served basis. (They recommend folks go early)

October 25th

Engine 2, 376 Virginia (and Elmwood)
10:00 AM â€" 11:30 AM

Engine 28, 1170 Lovejoy (and Gold)
11:00 AM â€" 12:30 PM

Engine 22, 1528 Broadway (and Wick)
12:00 PM â€" 1:30 PM


November 1st

Engine 34, 2837 Main Street (and Mercer)
10:00 AM â€" 11:30 PM

Engine 26, 703 Tonawanda (and Progressive)
11:00 AM â€" 12:30 PM

Engine 4, 939 Abbott (and Hollywood)
12:00 PM â€" 1:30 PM

tinypliny - 10/23/08 19:31
Maybe I should change the batteries in my smoke detector...
jason - 10/23/08 17:04
Hey, thanks for the info, I need a new one. But I should probably just go buy one. I think I'd be an asshole picking one up for free if some poor family who really needs it can't get one.

10/22/2008 19:01 #46254

Comic Relief
OK - time for a little comic relief - albeit twisted...

Next year's dancing with the stars duo to watch for:

image

Also, the chili I made last night - it turned out really good. I used cumin in it, which I've never done before, along with the other spices I usually use. I like it.

image
gardenmama - 10/22/08 20:34
From your mouth (keyboard) to Gods ears, James - Amen.
james - 10/22/08 19:31
Too bad that pair is not to be. One will be running the world and the other will be shoveling snow in Alaska.
tinypliny - 10/22/08 19:06
Hahah.. they are a good looking pair! :P

Cumin ROCKS!

10/21/2008 22:56 #46240

Work, home, stuff, etc.
My union at work is supposed to be in negotiations tomorrow a.m. with administration. Should be interesting to see how that goes. Would be really nice to get a raise - anything would be better than nothing at this point. The old contract was negotiated through 2003, so we’ve just been operating on that contract since then. I’m not generally a huge union fan but can see that they have their place and I will, of course, be glad if they happen to get me to where I’m at least just a little less behind. Unfortunately, the rules and rigidity often removes some of the opportunity for flexibility you might find in a non-union place.

Took my daughter to get her braces off today - she’s so excited. Her teeth look strangely large without them. Supposed I’ll get used to it again. And, wow, only four more payments to make. Dropped her off at school, went downtown to work, and, I swear, I actually saw a flake of snow while I was still in the parking lot - say it isn’t so... It sure got a whole heck of a lot colder.

Came home from work (late of course), made a big pot of chili (no beans) that we’ll have for dinner tomorrow. Turned up the heat a couple of degrees (all the way to 67); I just couldn’t seem to get the chill out of the air. It usually doesn’t bother me much but today it seems to be going right through me - bbbbuuuuurrrrr.

My mom stopped over, had a bandage on her pinky finger. Asked her what happened; she said she cut herself with some (garden) clippers and had to get 6 stitches - yikes! She makes me nuts sometimes, but I love her. This “sandwich generation” thing is kind of tough. Trying to keep track of your kids and your parents can be challenging. I sometimes think the parents are harder to handle than the kids. The parents tend to be much more unruly and stubborn.

Well, guess that was mostly my exciting day. I have an idea for a Halloween costume but don’t know if I can pull it off, or even if I’ll be able to attend the party. Guess I’ll just have to wait and see.

hodown - 10/22/08 11:35
That's so nuts re: snow. I spoke to Paul last night and he told me it's too late to pick apples and there's already snow on the way!!!
terry - 10/22/08 00:20
I know what you mean, I couldn't seem to get the chill out either tonight...had to put my hoodie on.

10/20/2008 18:39 #46213

You can pick your friends...
...but you can’t pick your family.

Here is the latest incite-to-riot bullshit that my (must be Fascist) uncle sent me that I’m sure he’s passing around to as many of the fringe idiots as he can. The subject line of his e-mail was: “We are what we read.” Are you effing kidding me? How unbelievably stupid can people actually be? Geez, does that mean if I read about Hitler and Nazi Germany, then I’m a Nazi? The logic somehow completely escapes me. What continues to totally blow my mind is that someone with any brain function can actually hop on this irresponsible, unreasonable, ridiculous notion as having even a modicum of validity. Perhaps it’s just that we’ve spent the last 8 years with a president whose literacy is so questionable, that some people don’t know how to act when they see an intelligent man who actually reads running for president. I keep wondering if maybe my grandmother dropped my uncle on his head when he was little - cause I can find no other reasonable explanation. Sadly, perhaps my new pet name for my uncle should be “uncle cracker” - what a world!

Here's the stupid e-mail message:

WHAT IS OBAMA READING? This should tell us what we need to know about this man's plan for America!!

image

He is reading 'The Post-American World' -- A Muslim's View. Please send this to those who think he walks on water and should be the next President of this Great Nation.

jason - 10/22/08 10:37
Hehe. (e:Heidi), our father is an atheist, anti-war, unionized Democratic partisan, but to my frustration he absolutely clams up and won't talk about this stuff, but he is my father and I have the same intense look on my face when I hear something that drives me nuts.

For some reason the RNC sent me a personlized, "autographed" photo of W a while back. To screw with Dad I framed it and put it on the wall. On his second visit after I put it up he had to vandalize it, writing "I am an Asshole" on the glass. Hahaha.

Yes, we come from a line of Democratics - the blue collar ones. They're totally puzzled. People make up their minds based on experience and personal choices. But we are not hard core right wingers, definitely due to our upbringing.

As far as Dad is concerned, even if he is a lib, he'll always be a far better Dad than I will ever be a son. It just kills me.
heidi - 10/22/08 10:04
(e:jason)... i didn't know that your dad is a leftie... seems to explain a lot about your (and (e:joshua)'s) attitudes :-)
tinypliny - 10/20/08 19:30
Hahaha.. this post made me laugh so much, especially your reflections about your granny. LOL
jason - 10/20/08 19:11
My father insists on sending me a bunch of left wing stuff. I think the latest was "Palintology" - I know how you feel.
metalpeter - 10/20/08 18:57
Well what he is saying is true for some people and not for others. Some people read all kinds of books and stories. But then you have history teachers and all the read about is history. Or you might have southerns who read about the civil war and do re-inactments. Stonners might only read about dragons and fantasy lands. George W. Bush reads the Bible and thinks that it is time for the Holy War and that maybe the world will end in his life time and he will have helped cause it (if you are Bill Maher at least). So there is some truth to and it is true for some people. But in the case of the picture it isn't true.