missing in non action…
moms has been in town all week. this translates into lots of shopping (i loathe shopping, unless it is for yarn and fibers.)
and not alot of other things getting done in these parts.
but, “we” (er, she) was shopping for school clothes for bella.
so, shopping, cranky PMS me, two kids, and my mom. good times; good times.
since i live out in the middle of nowhere, shopping involves driving.
riding in my mother’s car drives me ape shit.
now i know how matt feels when he rides with me. it must be crazy making.
but, for the amount of driving we did, we only got into one near accident.
gotta love yelling “HEADS UP MOM!!” just in time for her to slam on the brakes to avoid plowing into the turning car in front of us.
gotta love reminding her, “the speed limit is 50 on this road” (very embarrassing, as i could here the thoughts of the people in the line of cars behind us… ‘dayum out-of-staters’)
i digress, shopping…….i feel for everyone who works in retail; what a thankless job. but, i need to know who on earth does the hiring at one office supply store; (rhymes with maples). every time i’ve ever been to a ‘maples’ it has turned out bad; or at least left me shaking my head in disbelief. maybe because they sell office supplies, they are picking up default office rage? could be??.
another interesting observation i had, was the retail shopper. they have this look in their eyes.. no where else is this look more apparent than at the ‘christmas tree shops’ (no good rhyme for that. bistmas lee mops??). but, in case you aren’t from new england, you aren’t going to understand the hypno powers of these shops. it is crazy. people are in actual trances as they go up and down the isles of cheap goods made in china. all i could think about the whole time i was there (well, besides, ‘could i find a fiber storage system’ had to try hard to shake that thought out of my head….) was …”people! world war 3 is happening outside your door, and all you can do is purchase that 4.99$ plant stand?” i don’t know what else to say about my retail experiences these past few days, but it was a good metaphor for the total apathy that is so prevalent here in these united states.
so, all these days i’ve been spending shopping, i haven’t been spinning or dyeing much (plus, the oppressive freaking heat! i’m wilting) today, i did wash up 3 huge hanks i spun last week. this time “off” was very poorly timed. i find myself even further behind in projects, and stuff for the shop; aye!
my gardens have been suffering too.
the lower garden is pretty much done for. it is over run with horsetail and other weeds. it is so sad.
the front patch is okay,
some cukes.
the side patch is doing better, but i was too lazy to run many extension cords out there to get a photo. ha.
~
i was wondering, anyone with school age children out there; that don’t vax?
if your kids are attending school, how did you go about getting the philosophical exemption.
vermont allows it; i am just clueless how i go about submitting that into our school. (do i just print out the law and hand it in??)
any pointers would be most helpful. TIA!
♥
On the vaccination issue, check out http://www.909shot.com/state-site/Vermont.htm
It looks like from what I read you have to write a letter stating your philosophical objection.
July 20th, 2006 | #
I have friends who are planning to do it, so they might be a good resource. blog: An Elephant’s Gestation
Granted, they live in Massachusetts, but they’re very knowledgable about these things. Tell ‘em I sent ya.
July 20th, 2006 | #
I just filled the exemption form out, sent it into the state and they sent it back to me with copies to give to the school. Supergirl doesn’t have her Hep shots….
July 20th, 2006 | #
oh, shopping is the worst.
Anything you didnt find that maybe I can help out with? M never had anything fancy but I still have some dresses to send you. size 5-6 still good?
My gardens are as ignored as the housework. Makes me wonder what I do all day long.
July 20th, 2006 | #
I put off hepatitis but did it before public school, so we’re all caught up. But our school gives a form with vaccination record stuff on the front and an exemption form on the back. Have you asked the district office?
July 20th, 2006 | #
You know, some of us find a Genuine Solace at the Christmas Tree Shop! I for one delight to know there’s others, like me, who grow bored & agitated whenever it isn’t the Holiday Season…
…golly, Pippi — I never knew you were so Square!!
July 22nd, 2006 | #
I am so with you on the “maples” issue, as well as the Christmas Tree Shop. Probably the exact ones you are talking about, too. I have yet to come out of Maples, or Mest Muy, for that matter, without a feeling of complete frustration.
As for the C.T.S., I am still freaked out by the fact that Americans get such a kick out of low prices (for things they don’t need, whichi sbasically everything at a C.T.S.), even knowing that not only is it hurting our own economy, but it’s not doing a whole lot for the individuals in China who got paid crap to assemble or hand paint that $4.99 plant stand. Three years ago I bought my daughter an umbrella at the dollar store, and I’m wracked with guilt (it’s still in use!). Figure in the cost of the materials, shipping, markups for middlemen, and the labor to stock the shelves, what’s the cost of the labor to make it? 1 cent? Too bad for you factory workers, but what a steal for me!!! It’s terrible.
Anyway, I love your new handspun on your latest post. Wow.
July 23rd, 2006 | #
I really hate shopping. I hate the crowds. I hate that I can’t find what I’m looking for when I actually need something so it wastes my time. I only go when I actually need something. I don’t do the recreational shopping thing. Ick. And I don’t have time to waste.
There’s a christmas store here in Michigan (rhymes with conners) that totally gives me the creeps. It’s huge. Like the size of a shopping mall, but it’s just one store. Drive into Michigan on any freeway from any other state, and you’ll see a big billboard for it. Shudder. They’ve got the creepy religious stuff and the overly commercialized stuff that the religious people complain about. The worst of both worlds. Even the parking lot is creepy. I have to avert my eyes when I go by the place. It scares me.
The “maples” here isn’t too bad. Last time I went there an employee helped me find exactly what I was looking for and told me how to go online and get a rebate for it. Wow. Helpful. I know chain stores really vary though. It depends on the manager at the individual store, I think.
It finally cooled off here. Should reach your area in a day or two.
Um, I have a friend with lockjaw. She woke up one morning when she was 9 and just couldn’t open her mouth wider than about half an inch, and there was nothing they could do about it. That was that. You might want to consider tetanus shots even if you skip the rest.
July 23rd, 2006 | #