Change Anyone?

Today I was getting ready to go on a weekend retreat and I thought it would be nice to bake some cookies for everyone. Most of the ingredients I had, but not all. Not wanting to spend any money I decided to dump out my change jar and take that to the store. Most stores these days have one of these machines you can dump your change into and it gives you a receipt of how much you dumped into the machine and then you can use that to buy your items. Thinking I would be able to use that great invention at the store so away I went with a very heavy purse. Upon entering the store I immediately started looking for this change machine thing. Well it was just my luck this store did not have one of these machines. Now what? As I walked around grabbing the few things on my list I began calculating what to do with this change. I decided that if worse came to worse I could swipe my debt card and put the change into the bank tomorrow. Walking up to the checkout lines I noticed that the self serve lines were completely empty. This is something I have never seen before at this busy store. So, I decided to picked the checkout right in front of the helper people that stand there…staring at you. What Was I Thinking?!? My total came to 15 dollars and some odd cents. Looking up and around I noticed that I was still all alone in the self checkout lines. So I put my purse down and selected cash for my payment. Yep, I started adding my money in one coin at a time. At first I felt very self conscience but, no one else was in line so I was not holding anyone up. Quarter, quarter, dime, quarter, nickel, dime, dime...does this thing take pennies? I better not try just in case it goofs things up. Keep feeding, keep feeding, keep feeding…. All of a sudden I started to get the giggles and I couldn’t stop. Now this is not what I wanted to happen. I had already drawn attention to myself by paying my entire bill with change and now I am giggling…all by myself…oh and ….right in front of the helper people who might now be wondering what I am on. Oh the joy of doing something different. I left the store so full of joy I could hardly contain it. If this is a prelude to this weekend retreat…Bring It On Lord!!!

Married People Take Note...Single People, Laugh With Me ;)

I saw this posting on Yahoo and well...I had to laugh.  I am glad I am not alone in the single world.

Things NOT to say to single people.

ARTICLE BELOW IS A POSTING FROM YAHOO

As a writer, I avoid cliches like the plague...HAHA! But seriously, cliches are old, tired, and they show absolutely no thought. I mean, do I make you read that some guy's skin was as white as snow? No. It's a major insult to your intellect. So when I have to hear a cliche or overused saying in the real world, as a response to my newly single status or some other dating dilemma, it's offensive and frustrating."


Why do we have so many sayings and maxims for dating? A single gal is likely to get slammed with them ad nauseam as soon as she expresses any unhappiness at her situation.

Since we could all use a good laugh, I asked some friends and Twitter followers to send in their most hated adages. I know you've heard them all before, but I just couldn't believe how many there were! Here's a tiny compilation. Enjoy -- today, they're not directed at you!

It happens when you're not looking. "This is just bull. Some people find people when they're looking; some don't. You're not doing anything wrong by going out and meeting people." -Beth

There are plenty of fish in the sea. "I dated a guy whose last name was Fish. People just had a BLAST with that one." -Kelly

So, why are you single? "I generally dislike this question. I mean honestly, if I knew why, I don't think I would be single right now, now would I?!" -Erica

You're too picky. "This may be true, but it feels like I'm getting criticized for my taste, vision, and close-mindedness -- when I'm already down." -Sarah

You'll find the right person for you. -Kelly

He's out there. -Kelly

It was just bad timing. "Like it's so easy to dismiss a guy on such an emotionless and objective reason." -Taryn

Just have fun with it! "Um, don't tell me how to date in my thirties when you got married at 24." -Maya

Have you tried online dating? "Duh!" -Elisa

He just wasn't the right guy for you. "I know! That's what I'm complaining about!" - Elisa

Well, when Steve and I first got together... "Wait, I still want to talk about me." -Elisa

When the time is right, you will meet someone -Betsy

Wow, I wish I were single and in your shoes! "Really?! I'm pretty sure you CAN be single if you actually want to be. That there is an attainable dream, so if you aren't messing with me right now out of pity (which I suspect you are), please go for it!" -Kim

Your turn next [at weddings]. -Natlondon, via Twitter

It will happen when you least expect it. -dlegas05, via Twitter

Some guy is going to come along and ruin your career/life plans. "I am 32 and no one has ruined the last 10 years of plans." -frolicblog, via Twitter

But you're so pretty! Why don't you have a boyfriend? "There's just no graceful way to answer that." -earnesteats, via Twitter

It just wasn't meant to be. "Any of these platitudes are exponentially more annoying when coming from the mouths of smug marrieds." -Reberoodle, via Twitter

Sure, Steve rescues kids from abusive homes, donated my sister a kidney, and picks up fresh flowers for me daily on his way home from work, but will he QUIT IT with the sports on TV already? "Single people just hate to be complained to about petty relationship stuff. If you do this, I'm not going to want to hang out with you. (In fact, maybe I'll call Steve and ask him if he wants to watch the Yankees game?)" -Kim

Bottom line, if you're in a relationship or married and you don't have any specific, original advice or wisdom for your single friend -- and you must use an established saying -- we would prefer to hear neutral ones like, "This too shall pass" or "Take it one day at a time." They are so much more helpful and comforting -- you have no idea!

Also of note: not one person I polled mentioned they were tired of hearing, "He's just not that into you." I think that's because it's not condescending. And apparently, it's not overused. So that one is still OK to say. Thanks for listening!

Pearly Whites

The other day I was helping my friend Cindy at a Benefit sale. We were getting all the items set up and ready for the next day’s sale. Lunch time came and so I took a quick break and ate something with a few others in the kitchen. I didn’t know many of the people who were helping out so I thought it was a good opportunity to ask them questions. It was a nice time getting to know these people. We did a lot of laughing and smiling. Now that I had a little friendship going with them I was able to talk and enjoy their company a little bit more through the rest of the day. A few hours later some others decided to take a late lunch break. I realized it was my opportunity to eat some of the wonderful white on white cake I saw earlier. This is my favorite kind of cake. Cindy was also taking a break at this time and so I walked up to her to see how she was doing. Giving her a big smile …..she pointed!! At my TEETH!! I had this black thing stuck in my teeth. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!! This thing had been in my teeth for at least 2 hours and no one I showed my pearly whites to said anything. People people…if you see someone with a booger, something on their face or in their teeth..be kind..be very kind…tell them! lol!!

Mirror Mirror

Yesterday a friend and I went to visit another friend in the hospital. On my way I bought a frappe…yum! I also stopped at two stores to find a nice cheery plant and a helium balloon so we could cheer her room up a little. We all had a nice time and the friend in the hospital was doing well. Before we left our friend asked us to walk with her. We said yes and a way we went. We passed a restroom and since I had to go I took the opportunity. As I was washing my hands I looked up and to my surprise and udder horror I had chocolate on my chin. A Lot Of It!!! Are You Kidding Me!! I opened the bathroom door pointed at my chin and said something like “And you didn’t notice this?” Mortified all I could do was laugh and remember that I had gone into two stores and walked around like that. Now I know why people were looking at me kind of strangely…NICE! Both my friends said they saw it but they thought I had scratched my chin and didn’t want me to feel stupid by asking what happened….UGH!! THE HORROR!!! LOL!! We laughed about that the entire rest of our walk. Note To Self: Check the mirror before leaving car. Your friends might be to nice in asking what's wrong with your face.

Cake and BIG OOPS!!

The Jar

Okay this might sound sad to some of you but…I have this jar that is filled with folded pieces of paper. What’s on the paper? My chores. I had been struggling with getting things done around the house and I thought there had to be a better way of cleaning. Yes being single, no kids or roommates one does struggle to keep things clean. Just remember us single people have no choice but to do it all with no help. And yes I also understand I am the only one to blame for it to be a mess. Now back to the story…Tired of the weekend warrior clean everything I can day, I created the chore jar. Every day I pull out a piece of paper and do that chore and put the finished chore into a different jar. It’s been working out great. I have 7 chores that I would like to do weekly so this idea was actually a good one. But I decided to add one more…the Free Day Pass!! One day I don’t have to do anything. Today, I picked and put back the chores until I found that free pass. Ahhhh it feels so good to accomplish my cleaning goal for the day.

The Joy of "Paper"

The other day as I was out and about and I needed to use the restroom. I sat down finished my “stuff” and reached for the paper. NO!!!!!!!!!!! It was empty. Now what to do? No one else was in the bathroom so I couldn’t yell to anyone. A little panic set in. Out of desperation, I once again examined the paper dispenser. Hallelujah! There was and extra roll tucked away that I didn’t see the first time. Oh the wonders of toilet paper. Lesson to learn: Make sure to have Kleenex in purse.