So trivial, yet it really ticks you off.

crawlinkingsnake · Sep 13, 2021

Hercule said:
9-11 observances.

I'm sorry, I just can't watch them and I never could. I was home at the time and had the TV on. I watched the events go down as they happened. I really have no need nor desire to relive them every year.

That being said, I have twice visited the Shanksville memorial. It is a very moving and peaceful place and I encourage anyone who is able to visit sometime.

Thanks, I feel the same way exactly. I watched it all as it was happening and as difficult as it was then, don't have any desire to witness it all again.
I've yet to get to Shanksville, but certainly would like to. Thanks.

Hercule · Sep 13, 2021

From our last trip to Shanksville (Thanksgiving 2018) The point of impact is marked by a boulder at the end of the path in the foto. Only the families of the victims are allowed to go past the gate to the spot.

ChrisB · Sep 13, 2021

Edward said:
I read a while back that florists here in the UK make over half their income for the year in the two weeks either side of Valentines and Mother's Day. Makes me wonder how some of them keep going the rest of the year.

Weddings and funerals, I suppose.

Harp · Sep 14, 2021

After yesterday's debacle season opener, the Chicago Bears need to air the ball down field,
utilize speed, adhere to basic fundamental football. Hold secondary collectively and individually accountable.

GM and Head Coach also need to be held accountable.
Ownership needs to be held accountable.

Never happen. Nada, zip, zero. No way, it ain't even gonna happen.

Bear fans should stay away for a season, strike. Send a message high and low.

That will never happen. And we have nobody but ourselves to blame.

Fifty150 · Sep 14, 2021

Edward said:
Makes me wonder how some of them keep going the rest of the year.

In the pre-Covid days, a florist would have other fixed streams of revenue. Malls. Offices. Places of worship. Restaurants. Other businesses. I've seen fresh cut flowers and floral arrangements decorate bathrooms, lobbies, and once, a Jiffy Lube waiting room. I know a guy who only does funeral wreathes. Just the wreathes. Other florist would subcontract their orders to him. Then there's being the subcontract florist for telesales, catalog, and online florists like 1800flowers.com and FTD. There's a corner flower stand by my house, which has been in business for 3 generations, and it's all from neighborhood walk-in traffic.

I don't buy flowers. I worked with a guy who brought home fresh cut flowers every Friday. He also bought scented soap and scented candles. People have different views on the world. He like to spoil his boyfriend and stroke the romantic flames. I spent my money on beer, and slept with girls who I met in bars.

Bushman · Sep 14, 2021

Hercule said:
9-11 observances.

I'm sorry, I just can't watch them and I never could. I was home at the time and had the TV on. I watched the events go down as they happened. I really have no need nor desire to relive them every year.

I feel exactly the same way. I was 8 years old when 9/11 happened, same age my grandfather was when Pearl Harbor hit. I watched it live on a small, 12 inch TV set in my parent's bedroom when it happened. I can still remember the tears and look of abject horror in my parent's eyes. I never want to relive that day again.

Edward said:
I read a while back that florists here in the UK make over half their income for the year in the two weeks either side of Valentines and Mother's Day. Makes me wonder how some of them keep going the rest of the year.

ChrisB said:
Weddings and funerals, I suppose.

Funny you should mention. I remember this sight when I visited Dublin a few years ago...

I can't make any comments, though, as there's a similar set up right here in my town. Though, the florist next to the funeral home isn't owned by the same owner... at least to my knowledge.

And while we're on the subject, some of my favorite homemade Halloween costumes included a firefighter using a rain coat and snow boots:

Zorro using a Dracula cape, black sweater and pants, black rainboots, and a discount mart bandit mask:

And a punk vampire, using a denim jacket and shredded t-shirt. Kinda went overboard on the make up, though.

Edward · Sep 14, 2021

Fifty150 said:
I don't buy flowers. I worked with a guy who brought home fresh cut flowers every Friday. He also bought scented soap and scented candles. People have different views on the world. He like to spoil his boyfriend and stroke the romantic flames. I spent my money on beer, and slept with girls who I met in bars.

I pick up a nice bunch for the wife on the obvious occasions, though I like to bring them every so often for no reason as well. It fascinates me that for all our pretensions to have evolved so far from the 'heathen cavemen', we're still not above bringing in plants from nature to decorate our homes like they did from when we could first walk upright (and doubtless before that).

Hercule · Sep 14, 2021

Sadly we can't have flowers in the house because of the cat. She'd either eat them of knock them on the floor, so we've learned to do without.

Love the Hallowe'en costumes. It was great fun making my son's costumes, especially the cardboard box and duct tape ones (I usually followed him with a roll of tape in the event of a costume malfunction.) Tweeking and assembling costumes out of clothing and ready made stuff was great too. I'm very proud of the Mariachi outfit - my fingers ache (I didn't have a thimble at the time) at the memory of sewing all the rick-rack and bangles on that trimmed jacket and pants we got from the resale shop. Yes, I sewed every stich by hand! Actually, we originally made it for a Spanish day festival at his school. We still have it in, hanging in the back of our closet.

Hercule · Sep 14, 2021

Edward said:
I pick up a nice bunch for the wife on the obvious occasions, though I like to bring them every so often for no reason as well..

I did that once and the girl at the checkout line said to me "what'd you do this time?" It really caught me off guard and we all had a good laugh.

tonyb · Sep 15, 2021

ChrisB said:
Weddings and funerals, I suppose.

Yup. And wedding anniversaries and spouses’ birthdays and …

The lovely missus had a lovely bunch of tulips delivered to me on our anniversary last month. They lasted, like, five or six days.

Hercule · Sep 15, 2021

A work colleague of my wife gave us an orchid when we moved in to our new house. Surprisingly the thing has thrived and has bloomed twice since we got it! The cat hasn't bothered it either. All we've done is put 3 ice cubes in it every Sunday, and despite the dusty and cracked leaves it seems happy. Go figure!

Fifty150 · Sep 15, 2021

Tomato plants grow for us all year around. At any given time of the year, there's always a tomato plant in some stage of growth. It doesn't mean I get fruit in the cold weather months. Just that there is a plant in the ground, because my climate doesn't get cold enough to kill it off. I've never bought a seed. I buy tomato from the grocery store, and whatever seeds are left on the cutting board get scraped off into the dirt in the yard. So it's always a surprise what type of tomato we get off the plant. Big, small, round, long, ridges....... The plants have flowers. I guess that counts.

Touchofevil · Sep 15, 2021

When the air conditioner in the car blows a speck of something in my eye when it is first turned on even though I am wearing glasses. Annoying!

GHT · Sep 15, 2021

Touchofevil said:
When the air conditioner in the car blows a speck of something in my eye when it is first turned on even though I am wearing glasses. Annoying!

Look at the steering wheel of my old MG. Look at position ten o'clock, you can just make out a cranking handle. That's the air-con. It opens the windscreen, and when you do, every fly and his friend will pay you a visit.

LizzieMaine · Sep 15, 2021

Hercule said:
9-11 observances.

I'm sorry, I just can't watch them and I never could. I was home at the time and had the TV on. I watched the events go down as they happened. I really have no need nor desire to relive them every year.

That being said, I have twice visited the Shanksville memorial. It is a very moving and peaceful place and I encourage anyone who is able to visit sometime.

Yep. I've never been much for these kinds of observations, but especially not this one. I went to Ground Zero in 2005, and it was too soon then, and it still feels too soon now, especially when opportunists try to make political hay out of it. I feel the same way about the crocodile tears shed by political candidates when Memorial Day comes around.

Hercule · Sep 15, 2021

LizzieMaine said:
Yep. I've never been much for these kinds of observations, but especially not this one. I went to Ground Zero in 2005, and it was too soon then, and it still feels too soon now, especially when opportunists try to make political hay out of it. I feel the same way about the crocodile tears shed by political candidates when Memorial Day comes around.

I've always had an aversion to any observance that is purposely crafted in a way intended to tug at the heart strings and elicit an emotional response. It's just so cheap to hear the sad story told with the sappy music playing in the background. I run the other way whenever I see Gary Sinise, Joe Mantegna and Charles Durning coming. And hearing "proud to be an American" only makes me run faster! And while I'm griping - NO, not every national holiday needs to be about the troops or first responders!

Tiki Tom · Sep 15, 2021

Yes. Too soon. Am gobsmacked that it has been twenty years.

Regarding flowers… I went through a romantic (small r) phase in my life when my credo was “always have fresh flowers on the table and a bottle of bubbly chilling in the fridge.” Of course, —-especially after we had kids—- I often did not live up to my own standard; but it was a nice sentiment. The underlying idea being to try to celebrate life even during weeks when there was no “special occasion “.

LizzieMaine · Sep 15, 2021

Meanwhile, is knocking on doors one of those things people don't do anymore because it's easier to use a cellphone? I'm expecting some vital deliveries for a film festival today, and while I'm working in my office there's a big sign on the door out front that says DELIVERIES -- KNOCK HARD -- I AM HERE. Twice today I've heard a sheepish rattle at the door handle, and as I head out to answer it I see the person outside dialing their phones to call and tell me they're here. What's wrong with reading the sign and KNOCKING HARD? Or there "an app for that?"

Hercule · Sep 15, 2021

Speaking of knocking on doors - 2 points:

In our new house and neighborhood, we have been amazed at the number of door to door solicitations there have been. Mostly they've been bug control type people, and the story is always "we're doing work at one of your neighbors and would like to give you an offer while we're in the street." We also get, about once a month or so, AT&T coming around trying to get us to buy their internet services. Woe be it to any salesman who comes to my door. I cut them off before they can finish their "how are you today" with a very impatient "what do you want?"

We have full glass storm doors at out front entrance. 99.9% of those who come to the door insist on banging on the glass. It really drives my wife crazy, more so than it does me. We have a doorbell. USE IT!! It's a RING doorbell and so we can remotely see who's there. We have found it very useful. It all has gotten to the point that we won't answer the door unless the doorbell is rung.

Sorry, it does seem to be a crank day. But then again isn't that what this thread is about? I feel better already!

tonyb · Sep 16, 2021

Hercule said:
… "we're doing work at one of your neighbors and would like to give you an offer while we're in the street." … Woe be it to any salesman who comes to my door. I cut them off before they can finish their "how are you today" with a very impatient "what do you want?" …

Perhaps I should put a good criminal defense lawyer on retainer, seeing how sorely tempted to homicide I become whenever I hear that “we’re working with your neighbors” BS.

On a recent sunny afternoon the lovely missus and I were hanging out in our front driveway and overheard a door-to-door salesman running that “we’re working with some of your neighbors” nonsense past the new neighbors, the recent arrivals from Algeria, directly across our quiet suburban side street. We took the opportunity to steer them away from such hustles.

So trivial, yet it really ticks you off.

crawlinkingsnake

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