Category: To Occupy my Time

Guess what I got in the mail?

My Aunt has had the peeps for quite awhile, and I was momentarily alert when she came over for the Art Party.  But then I got distracted by party duties and forgot about the peeps, which would have given her ample time to hide them.  But no!  She did not!  Because today a package arrived in the mail from Hawaii, where my Aunts are currently vacationing.  I usually get a postcard, but not a package, so I was pretty excited.  “I hope it’s food.” I thought, forgetting, once again, to be more specific with my hopes.

And my hopes came true, because the peeps went to Hawaii.
 

Curses!
 
I hope Kamuela was fun for them.  They will be returning to their rightful home soon, as Thanksgiving is just around the corner and Aunt Pat always hosts.
 

Favorite found photos from Scrap

When we bought collage material for the Art Party, Matt grabbed a bunch of photos.  I donated nearly all of them back to Scrap, but I held on to these two.

If you can’t tell what this is from the front, check the back.
 


I love that someone was so excited (or perhaps angry, though I think not) that they took a picture of something happening on TV.  Matt said they took several pictures, but he just brought home the one.  This was the first election I was able to vote in and the presidential candidate I voted for won!  I don’t think I watched the swearing in, but I remember waiting up on election night for the results.
And I love this photo, not only because it affirms that my awful clothing choices in the late 80s were not really my fault, but fashionable, but also because I love the interaction between the women.  And that woman’s wedding dress is gorgeous (though sadly not in fashion right now)

A jeans skirt at a wedding?  What were we collectively thinking?

Guess what national holiday it is?


I love my birthday and the birthday fairies at work are happy to oblige me in celebrating.  Not only was my desk decorated but there was a poem waiting for me on my computer AND a happy birthday email.  Three different kinds of Mac & Cheese were delivered to me through the day.  Also, given that I work in an elementary school and was wearing a “Today is my birthday sticker” I received hundreds of birthday greetings.  Kids also love birthdays and many of them wished me happy birthday multiple times.

Requiem: Bread & Circus Sweatshirt

I worked for Bread and Circus Whole Foods Market for a few years at the turn of the century.  Every once in awhile, the managers would roll around a cart full of t-shirt or sweatshirts and every employee would get one.  It was a nice perk.  I’ve been wearing this one for a good ten years now, much longer than I ever worked for the company.  I’ve held on to it because it’s easy to throw on over anything, and, it’s a reminder of my time at the Fresh Pond Bread and Circus.  The color has faded a bit, but it was always a weird shade of blue.  I suspect they may have gotten a discount on a bad dye lot.  There are bleach stains and oil stains and paint from projects and at least one hole.  The neck is frayed and the sweatshirt just keeps on trucking.
 
Today is its last day, though.
 
I’ll save the logos, and say goodbye to the rest.
 

What exactly does “exclusive” mean?

My definition: something available to only a select few people or for a limited time or in a limited place. In my view, the movie theater world would use the word “exclusive” when the film was only playing at one location in the city.  So I found it rather befuddling when I saw this tag line:

It’s playing exclusively at 15 theaters? How is that exclusive?
 

But then I looked around and I saw more use.  This is how I would use the term.  “Exclusive Engagement.”  Meaning y’all have to go to Cinema 21 if you live in Portland and want to see the movie this week.
 
Then there was this “limited engagement” crap. Seven movie theaters is not a limited engagement.

Here’s the dictionary.com definition:

ex·clu·sive

   [ik-skloo-siv, -ziv]  Show IPA

adjective

1.

not admitting of something else; incompatible: mutually exclusive plans of action.
2.

omitting from consideration or account (often followed by of): a profit of ten percent, exclusive of taxes.
3.

limited to the object or objects designated: exclusive attention to business.
4.

shutting out all others from a part or share: an exclusive right to film the novel.
5.

fashionable; stylish: to patronize only the most exclusive designers.

Based on this definition, I think that Cinema 21 has it right and the other people need better tag writers.

Mail!

So Kristen, she of the Good Wishes to Kristen Party, knows how much I love my birthday.  I think she also must know how much I love unexpected mail.  Because you will never guess what arrived today in the mail for me.

It’s a birthday scavenger hunt!  I get to find these twelve places around Portland, take a picture of myself with them and when I have sent her seven pictures I get gift #1.  When I send her ten pictures I get gift #2.  If I find all  twelve places I get unlimited bragging rights.  I know where six are right now.  You know I’m going for unlimited bragging rights, right?