right now

right now

Dec 15, 2011

Fa la la la la.....

So does everyone have this new blog interface-thingy?  Not sure if it self destructed on me for not being an every-day blogger this winter or if we are all in the same boat?

Anyway, looks like once again Loch is picking up the slack for me gardening-wise...

They have tons of greens coming in at his after-school project garden, radishes and a few other things as well.  He's been keeping us in collards, a myriad of "Choys" along with what looks like to me to be Deer Tongue lettuce.  The kids there are really showing an interest in it all, it's quite refreshing to see all their enthusiasm!


What do I say?  That's exactly what it looks like, a goat in the school cafeteria :)  


The reason for the goat was that Loch's garden club had a day of what I would refer to as "Goat paraphernalia".  There was plenty of fiber, spinning and knitting projects for them to look at, as well as some of the different products we get from their milk.  The kids got to make some quick felted soaps as well.



Even though this is Loch's gig, I knew Finn would enjoy it so I got him over there early enough that he could revel in the goat paraphernalia.  Yep, goats - fiber, cheese, soap and cuteness -what's not to love?!

On to my holiday stress story - I'll tell it once just to "purge it" so it won't ruin the rest of my week stewing on it!  This was the first year I have done layaway for Christmas.  I was really excited to pay cash, not credit for the kids' gifts this year so I could truly enjoy the day without fearing bills and interest piling up.  I was a smart shopper and put their stuff on layaway way back in October while everything was still in stock.  I paid every 2 weeks and today was very excited to pay if OFF completely and bring the stuff home to wrap.  (BTW this is the Navy Exchange, our on-base dept store/mall).  I pay it off and the girl goes "in the back" to get it.  She's gone for 20 minutes.  Comes back, says "we can't find it" and proceeds to go out into the store and try and recreate my order from the receipt.  She comes back, stacking a bunch of stuff on the counter that really doesn't come close to what I bought!  Of course none of the stuff is in stock (we're talking Legos, so many of you know that not just any Lego set will do when your kids have been dreaming all year of that one particular set!)  I then insist that they find my stuff, and proceed to settle down in a chair in customer service ready for the long wait.  She leaves again with another gal.  Meanwhile, there is a line of at least 12 people in uniform behind me, all waiting to pay off and pick up their holiday layaways, and all are starting to freak out that their stuff might be lost, too (imagine guy 2 people behind me with a diamond ring on layaway!).  Girl comes back and says "well we just have so much stuff back there that we can't locate it", AND THEN JUST LOOKS AT ME, as if I'm going to say "oh, okay, bye!".  Ha!  They then page a guy from the Garden Center - enter 19 year old guy - who proceeds to go through those big scary doors "to the back"... awesome kid returns in 6 minutes with all my stuff in his hand!  He should definitely make the nice list this year, makes me wonder how hard the other gal even tried, oh and they had someone else's name of my stuff, too, lovely!  Ok, end rant.  :)  You know I need to have a good rant at least once every 5 months or so just so you know it's the same blogger writing on here :)

Thank you for listening to that, I was eager to purge so I can get back to enjoying what this holiday is really all about, and luckily there is no more shopping to do so I'm hoping for smooth sailing from here on out!  I hope the rest of you are having a relaxing and enjoyable week, darn commercialism is always what gets in the way, isn't it?  Funny thing is that material stuff always presents the worst kind of stress.  Other stressors, the stress of traveling, possible dysfunctional holiday dinners with family, kids fighting or over tiredness caused by too much excitement - those stresses are the good kind, because it means you are celebrating with family and friends, whatever that entails LOL!  I'm wishing you all nothing but "good" stress this week :)

20 comments:

  1. Oosh. I'm glad you stood your ground. She was probably just tired of having to be nice to people all day and just decided to not do her job. Grr. Those people always irritate me.
    Nice to see you are still getting green stuff from somewhere. And the goats- what fun!!
    Oh, and the blogger interface thing- I made the switch weeks ago before they forced it upon me. It really isn't too bad once you get used to it.
    Judy

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  2. Whew! What relief! I thought your rant was going to end without anyone being able to find your things!! I'm surprised you didn't march right through those doors to look for yourself. (I would have.) How can things get so screwed up? How did someone else's name end up on your layaway? It makes one afraid there aren't enough brain cells out there to go around. :o\

    P.S. Kudos to Loch and his fellow gardeners. What glorious looking produce!

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  3. yay! it's so good to purge the evil from our souls! hah! =-D We WANT to be good and happy - but all those other people get in the way.

    And, I remember those LEGO days...and miss them. NOw, my almost 16 year old only wants money, oh, yes, and MORE money.

    Excellent point about the Good stress. What a lovely way to look at it.

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  4. So glad they found your stuff! I would have been FREAKIN' out!

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  5. Sure does make you wonder how hard they were looking for it the first time! How on earth did they think they were going to recreate your layaways! Glad it worked out.

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  6. Oh I was so on the edge of my seat until I heard they found your order! Sheesh! I'm so glad you were persistent and made them look for it.
    I only have a couple of small things to get and only because we had to wait until payday to pick them up.
    I hope you all have a wonderful relaxed family Christmas.
    What are you working on now, sewing, knitting, cooking, baking?

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  7. hey ,I rant about something
    every week,but its a relief they found your stuff,cuz I've had enough of stores too.as I look around the room I CAN Devin WAS BUSY LAST NIGHT,NO RHYME OR REASON TO WHY ALL THE GIFTS ARE SCATTERED FROM HERE TO TIMBUKTU AND ONE ALMOST OPEN BUT HE'S GOING ON 8 [ I THINK--LOL ] HE SHOULDN'T BE ACTING THIS WAY,BUT HIS PARENTS SPLIT AND THE WAY HIS MOM IS GOING THROUGH MEN, IS DOING ITS DAMAGE-YOU KNOW THE SAYING,IF THE KIDS NEED ATTENTION,THEY WILL GET IT EVEN IF ITS NEGATIVE ATTENTION.I THOUGHT OF YOU YESTERDAY WHEN I SAW A RECIPE FOR A RED PEPPER JELLY ON HAM FOR CHRISTMAS DAY-WONDERED IF YOU BY CHANCE MADE SOME PEPPER JELLY,I MEAN ,ITS NOT LIKE YOU WERE SHORT ON PEPPERS,HA,HA--HEY,YOU CAN TELL BEFORE SEEING MY NAME WHO LEFT THIS MESSAGE-NO ONE ELSE FORGETS ABOUT THE CAPS LOCK,BUT MY HAND IS TO SORE TO FIX IT

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  8. Sooooooo glad you had a happy ending. I would have been LIVID. Yay for the boy finding the stuff. And now you are done and can relax. Now THAT is a good Christmas ahead.
    :)

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  9. Haven't tried the new interface as of yet.

    Boy, I swear people are physically & intellectually lazy! It seems to be getting worse and worse!

    What a great time at Loch's garden club! Enjoy the Holidays with some "good" stress!

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  10. Judy, she wasn't even that busy, I went in the middle of the day to avoid all that - I can't imagine what she was like after everyone gets off work and heads over there - it was military payday yesterday so I bet it was crazy busy last night with all the people who work picking up their stuff!
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    Mama Pea, I probably would have marched back there if I would have had the kids with me or been pushed for time :)
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    Melissa, oh I dread the days when they want cash, LOL!
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    Dani, the kid who found my stuff is definitely my hero of the day!

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  11. Dr.Momi, I think she was in the back hoping the shift change would happen before she had to work LOL!
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    Sparkless, I am madly knitting a pair of fuzzy house socks for my niece, I have to get them in the mail on Monday at the latest and I am so far behind :)
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    Judy, no pepper jelly for me, I actually don't care for the stuff if you can believe it!
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    Sue, I wonder what that kid who found my stuff was thinking about the customer service girl, LOL!!
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    Robin, I am so ready to enjoy the holidays, I'm actually looking forward to the kids being off of school LOL!
    ***

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  12. First of all, the goat in the school is just awesome! Last year we had a grandparent bring a little bitty baby goat to our MDO program and it was a huge hit with the kids. Our public schools probably would never allow it though.
    I'm so glad you got all your layaway toys! I would have had a major meltdown right there if she would have told me they couldn't find it. Hopefully you won't have any stress form here on out and if you do, it's only the "good" kind.

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  13. My heart was racing reading that they lost your stuff! Whew! So glad they found it.

    As for the blogger interface it appears I am in the dark as I have no idea what that is. Must find out.

    Hope you have a stress free holiday from here on out.

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  14. It makes you wonder what kind of job that that girl could actually do well. Working in layaway means that you have to have SOME organizational skills. You were much more calm than I would have been! I hope that 19 y/o 'bloodhound' finds something nice in his stocking. I am so impressed with Loch's school. Gardening should be mandatory! Hope you and yours have a wonderful week. It's always so good to hear from you!

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  15. I'm so glad your layaway items were located! I was afraid to keep reading. SO AWESOME what there was a goat at school! Also terrific to see the kids enjoying gardening. Makes me hopeful for our kids' future. :)

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  16. So glad they found your lay-away. I can't believe they expected you to just say "oh well". Since I have barely started, I don't have to stress about that. Have a wonderful holiday, loved the goat in the cafeteria picture.

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  17. I looked at the new interface and hated it. Staying old school. Story of my life ;)

    I am guess the kids also got a lesson in goat pellets too. The lesser talked about goat product that has a way of always showing up when the goat gets indoors.

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  18. I love your stories. hahaha. You're a much tougher cookie than I would be in that situation. I'd probably just cry and ask for my money back.

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