You know how sometimes things revisited bring back good memories? That is what happened to me yesterday. In 1987 I finally completed enough credits to receive my Associates Degree this after having transferring from another school and having to retake many courses in order to receive local accreditation.
I now can remember there were times I wanted to quit, times I became so frustrated and fearful because I couldn't seem to grasp a particular subject, the anxiety that went with every final exam, the many times I survived on 3, 4 and 5 hours worth of sleep because I was also working full time. And then that most exhillerating, rewarding feeling that came with, as Reese Witherspoon so eloquently put it in "Legally Blond", "I DID IT!" I graduated and surprizingly graduated as an honor student.
Since 1987 I have not returned nor set foot on any campus and with no regrets.
But yesterday, my niece, Tiffany and I signed up for fall quarter at Olympic College. We will be taking a Photography class, but that is insignificant to the good feelings she and I experienced as we walked into the registrars office filled out the usual submission forms discussing class numbers, room numbers, student ID numbers like two NEW Freshman entering a new experience for the first time.
And THEN the walk across the campus while our own thoughts and fond memories of our individual experiences returned when we were active students came back to wash over our emotions and our faces.
As we entered the Student Union and Book Store it was like "I'M BACK!" and it felt so good and so right.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
BUDGET DATES
When I was in the Army, as most service persons seeing Europe, depending on your agenda required considerable investment and finding cost savings was a must. Several books were written advertising "See Europe on $5.00 A Day.
I believe this became the start of my frugal attitude in many things I do today one being dating. And this then is where I am taking you today. I will share with you a perfect day of dating on $5.00.
Bear in mind this may only be a one shot deal with the same woman (or man), but hey let's face it think of how many different people you can meet using my method.
Now also bear in mind that one of two end results will occur. There will probably not be a middle road either you will find the right person that will go out with you again, or the person you are taking on this special date will never see you again and you can bet you ain't getting a good night kiss on the door step afterwards.
So let us begin this special day.
I had invited my friend to share dinner, a concert and a movie with me this past Saturday. Excited and looking forward to a pleasant day I did my usual shower and shave broke out the special Armani deodorant and cologne saved only for special occasions, spent the required 15 minutes ensuring my part was perfectly straight and all straglers were waxed down or pulled out. I then got out the trusty ear mower and shaved the inside of each ear, women hate smuggling up to a bush poking out of ear lobes. Next came the tweezers and scissors first using the scissors I made sure that the bugger encrusted hair protruding from my nostrils was neatly trimmed back beyond eyesight, took the tweezers and plucked out the worst of my eye brow bush. Handsome and feeling spry I selected an appropriate color and appealing shirt with complimentary pants, socks, and shoes.
I was immaculate and ready for the KILL! I am definitely under the belief my dates deserve this extra preparation and trouble after all as I mentioned earlier, this may be my one and only chance to score.
Before leaving it is important to make a first impression, so I always try and bring a bouquet of flowers, thank goodness I have several rose bushes to fill this need just a matter of pulling out the trusty Swiss Knife on the way out the door and snipping off the older of the roses - this accomplishes two things first off it helps prune the bushes for new budding flowers and second it eliminates having to cut and throw away, and if you peel off the outer layer of the blossom it looks like a fresh healthy flower and your date will never know the difference. Besides it is the thought that counts.
Now on with the date. I pick up my friend she mushes over the flowers - whew thank goodnes. Next I tell her we will be going to a new restaurant I just read about - actually I read about it in my recent BLUE envelope of Value Coupons. Armed with my buy one get one free coupon I take her to this new Fast Food restaurant. To maintain the excitement I brag aboout others have given excellent accolades to this eatery and the food. They have sepcial sandwiches and fries you can't buy anywhere else. Sometimes you can tell from this first experience how the rest of the evening will go. Next I take my friend to a concert, this evening we will be listening to Irish and Celtic music something I know she enjoys and of course the ambience is wonderful. It is one of the weekly FREE concerts on the Boardwalk where we can grab a table and enjoy our dinner while we listen.
Afterwards I had promised her a movie in a romantic setting. In our downtown we have an old empty Penney's building and during the summer you can climb the stairs to the roof and watch a movie in the open. We had the best seats in the house, I brought camping chairs, if she wanted treats they had a snack bar set up where she could buy some popcorn and soda, I wasn't hungry, and a beer garden if she wanted to celebrate the evening. The best part is the movie AND the parking is free.
When the evening was over I took my date home she got out of the car and as a gentleman I walked her to the door. Waiting for a kiss I let her know what a wonderful time I had and would like to see her again - she something not quite descernible like call me. Hmm, problem she didn't give me her new phone number nor did she remember to kiss me goodnight.
BUT the best part of the evening, with dinner and a bottle water, I walked away slightly over five dollars $5.21 and had money left over for a beer before I went home to bed alone.
I believe this became the start of my frugal attitude in many things I do today one being dating. And this then is where I am taking you today. I will share with you a perfect day of dating on $5.00.
Bear in mind this may only be a one shot deal with the same woman (or man), but hey let's face it think of how many different people you can meet using my method.
Now also bear in mind that one of two end results will occur. There will probably not be a middle road either you will find the right person that will go out with you again, or the person you are taking on this special date will never see you again and you can bet you ain't getting a good night kiss on the door step afterwards.
So let us begin this special day.
I had invited my friend to share dinner, a concert and a movie with me this past Saturday. Excited and looking forward to a pleasant day I did my usual shower and shave broke out the special Armani deodorant and cologne saved only for special occasions, spent the required 15 minutes ensuring my part was perfectly straight and all straglers were waxed down or pulled out. I then got out the trusty ear mower and shaved the inside of each ear, women hate smuggling up to a bush poking out of ear lobes. Next came the tweezers and scissors first using the scissors I made sure that the bugger encrusted hair protruding from my nostrils was neatly trimmed back beyond eyesight, took the tweezers and plucked out the worst of my eye brow bush. Handsome and feeling spry I selected an appropriate color and appealing shirt with complimentary pants, socks, and shoes.
I was immaculate and ready for the KILL! I am definitely under the belief my dates deserve this extra preparation and trouble after all as I mentioned earlier, this may be my one and only chance to score.
Before leaving it is important to make a first impression, so I always try and bring a bouquet of flowers, thank goodness I have several rose bushes to fill this need just a matter of pulling out the trusty Swiss Knife on the way out the door and snipping off the older of the roses - this accomplishes two things first off it helps prune the bushes for new budding flowers and second it eliminates having to cut and throw away, and if you peel off the outer layer of the blossom it looks like a fresh healthy flower and your date will never know the difference. Besides it is the thought that counts.
Now on with the date. I pick up my friend she mushes over the flowers - whew thank goodnes. Next I tell her we will be going to a new restaurant I just read about - actually I read about it in my recent BLUE envelope of Value Coupons. Armed with my buy one get one free coupon I take her to this new Fast Food restaurant. To maintain the excitement I brag aboout others have given excellent accolades to this eatery and the food. They have sepcial sandwiches and fries you can't buy anywhere else. Sometimes you can tell from this first experience how the rest of the evening will go. Next I take my friend to a concert, this evening we will be listening to Irish and Celtic music something I know she enjoys and of course the ambience is wonderful. It is one of the weekly FREE concerts on the Boardwalk where we can grab a table and enjoy our dinner while we listen.
Afterwards I had promised her a movie in a romantic setting. In our downtown we have an old empty Penney's building and during the summer you can climb the stairs to the roof and watch a movie in the open. We had the best seats in the house, I brought camping chairs, if she wanted treats they had a snack bar set up where she could buy some popcorn and soda, I wasn't hungry, and a beer garden if she wanted to celebrate the evening. The best part is the movie AND the parking is free.
When the evening was over I took my date home she got out of the car and as a gentleman I walked her to the door. Waiting for a kiss I let her know what a wonderful time I had and would like to see her again - she something not quite descernible like call me. Hmm, problem she didn't give me her new phone number nor did she remember to kiss me goodnight.
BUT the best part of the evening, with dinner and a bottle water, I walked away slightly over five dollars $5.21 and had money left over for a beer before I went home to bed alone.
Monday, June 23, 2008
SHOPPING WITH WOMEN
Many articles have been written about this phenomenon, and I will probably be touching on past cliches and comments so in order to avoid plagiarism and/or any copywrite infringements, let me state here and now I acknowledge that I may have borrowed every word and thought inherent to someone else.
This past weekend I went shopping with my niece Hailey. We had to stop for gas, go shopping at Costco, flush the water tank in my travel trailer, take a shower and go to the RV Store for parts and stop at Ross's to buy hand towels, dish towels and wash cloths and dish rags, total time invested 4-1/2 hours.
Later Hailey and I enjoyed a wonderful late lunch at Olive Garden with Tiffany, Maxine and Tayla. We had decided afterwards we would go the mall to look for a Blue Tooth for Maxine. It was then I experienced the shopping patterns of the homo sapien, females. Now it has been a habit of mine to find the nearest store that interests me or a cozy bench for people watching. Today was an exception, while Maxine and Tiffany contiued the purchase at Radio Shack I volunteered to take Hailey and Tayla to the Children's area. Believe me this was not a burden I love spending time with my Great nieces and nephews and I loved watching them enjoy the toys and other children so this was a pleasant experience.
What I observed was the shopping patterns of Tiffany and Maxine, now bear in mind what I mentioned Hailey and I accomplished in 4-1/2 hours. Tiffany was looking for a pair of pants well maybe two pairs, gawd I don't know because after touching and going through the entire pants section including the various Clearance Racks, finding a couple of pairs that might fit but not quite the colors wanted, they still headed for that dreaded "Fitting Room" that takes forever to exit. I know because I called Tiffany while she was in the Fitting Room earlier in the day and it was almost an hour later before she got back to me.
The horror of shopping for a pair of pants is that they never quite fit the butt right or the waist right or the legs aren't just so, but more so is the fact that now we need to touch every dagnabbit belt on the Clearance rack to fit the pants we are thinking of buying. So not finding the belt that looks right we "sack" the pants and have to start over, BUT wait start over we DO NOT. The women have now discovered.... "Oh that would look so cute on Tayla or Hailey would really love this!" So we are off on another tangent and we watch them go through the children's clearance racks and wonder over to the name brands rack and finally decide to go back and purchase the first item they thought was so cute. The pants Tiffany was looking for oh yeah they now remembered they still hadn't found any pants so maybe one last trip through the Ladies Section oh wait, "Doesn't that pair of earrings look adorable? Those would look good on you." So another hurdle we go through before we get back to the pants.
Now the little ones have all but believed they have been abandoned, after all Mom and Grandma have been gone since Saturday and it is now early Sunday morning. Fortunately Mall security found us blankets and pillows so the little ones were comfortable. Realizing my little Princesses were getting restless and truly needed soemthing to eat we made our way to Baskin Robbins and put out an APB for two women lost in Kohl's in Women's wear.
FINALLY, we were all reunited Tayla had tears of happiness when she saw Mom and Hailey had to be re-introduced because it had been so long but everything worked out in the end and we lived happily ever after. Oh the pants - nope just wasn't what Tiffany was looking for but Tayla has a new summer, winter, fall and spring outfit plus 2 dozen birthday gifts. Hailey has a new dress, a pants suit, a new blouse, shoes and stuffed toy. Maxine has her Blue Tooth phone, Tiffany has new earrings, a bracelet, a new purse, some pefume, a scarf BUT NO PANTS.
This past weekend I went shopping with my niece Hailey. We had to stop for gas, go shopping at Costco, flush the water tank in my travel trailer, take a shower and go to the RV Store for parts and stop at Ross's to buy hand towels, dish towels and wash cloths and dish rags, total time invested 4-1/2 hours.
Later Hailey and I enjoyed a wonderful late lunch at Olive Garden with Tiffany, Maxine and Tayla. We had decided afterwards we would go the mall to look for a Blue Tooth for Maxine. It was then I experienced the shopping patterns of the homo sapien, females. Now it has been a habit of mine to find the nearest store that interests me or a cozy bench for people watching. Today was an exception, while Maxine and Tiffany contiued the purchase at Radio Shack I volunteered to take Hailey and Tayla to the Children's area. Believe me this was not a burden I love spending time with my Great nieces and nephews and I loved watching them enjoy the toys and other children so this was a pleasant experience.
What I observed was the shopping patterns of Tiffany and Maxine, now bear in mind what I mentioned Hailey and I accomplished in 4-1/2 hours. Tiffany was looking for a pair of pants well maybe two pairs, gawd I don't know because after touching and going through the entire pants section including the various Clearance Racks, finding a couple of pairs that might fit but not quite the colors wanted, they still headed for that dreaded "Fitting Room" that takes forever to exit. I know because I called Tiffany while she was in the Fitting Room earlier in the day and it was almost an hour later before she got back to me.
The horror of shopping for a pair of pants is that they never quite fit the butt right or the waist right or the legs aren't just so, but more so is the fact that now we need to touch every dagnabbit belt on the Clearance rack to fit the pants we are thinking of buying. So not finding the belt that looks right we "sack" the pants and have to start over, BUT wait start over we DO NOT. The women have now discovered.... "Oh that would look so cute on Tayla or Hailey would really love this!" So we are off on another tangent and we watch them go through the children's clearance racks and wonder over to the name brands rack and finally decide to go back and purchase the first item they thought was so cute. The pants Tiffany was looking for oh yeah they now remembered they still hadn't found any pants so maybe one last trip through the Ladies Section oh wait, "Doesn't that pair of earrings look adorable? Those would look good on you." So another hurdle we go through before we get back to the pants.
Now the little ones have all but believed they have been abandoned, after all Mom and Grandma have been gone since Saturday and it is now early Sunday morning. Fortunately Mall security found us blankets and pillows so the little ones were comfortable. Realizing my little Princesses were getting restless and truly needed soemthing to eat we made our way to Baskin Robbins and put out an APB for two women lost in Kohl's in Women's wear.
FINALLY, we were all reunited Tayla had tears of happiness when she saw Mom and Hailey had to be re-introduced because it had been so long but everything worked out in the end and we lived happily ever after. Oh the pants - nope just wasn't what Tiffany was looking for but Tayla has a new summer, winter, fall and spring outfit plus 2 dozen birthday gifts. Hailey has a new dress, a pants suit, a new blouse, shoes and stuffed toy. Maxine has her Blue Tooth phone, Tiffany has new earrings, a bracelet, a new purse, some pefume, a scarf BUT NO PANTS.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
ME AND MY DAGNABBIT CAMERA
About a year ago I decided to buy me a new camera, after losing over half my photographs from my trip through Wyoming and Mount Rushmore.
Wanting to do all sorts of things creative and experiment with printing larger clear photographs I took out a home equity loan and bought one of the higher priced models A Binford, Super 6000 with remote control for men.
This is one of those technical instruments that require a 3-day course on simple-to-understand operations. I am one of those rare men that does read the manual, unfortunately, I have a terrible memory. Unless I have a pocket guide I can take with me I am totally lost.
One of the wonderful features to this State Of The Art Camera is IT HAS AN AUTO SETTING! Yep, I can put it in this mode and it does everything for me.
What it does not have is a STUPIT button.
The past couple of weekends I went on some wonderful and memorable trips, one to Seattle with one of my wonderful nieces, and we took in some different sites I had not seen before. There were some great Photo Ops, especially on the Duck Ride - oh what a grand opportunity to use my camera that was setting home on my dining room table.
On My next opportunity I went with a good friend again to Seattle for the annual Folk Life Festival. Had some great Photo Ops to use my camera that was securely hidden away in the back of my Durango.
Ah ha, but now it gets better. I went to Portland to experience the Portland Rose Parade, everyone knows there are great Photo Ops at a parade, NOT IF YOUR BATTERY IS DEAD and your battery charger is setting home on youor dinig room table.
So for anyone that might be interested, on Craigs List you might find a BINFORD 6000 Super deluxe Camera WITH wrist strap, instruction manual and battery charger.
I have found post cards are 4 for a $1.00 in most gift shops.
Wanting to do all sorts of things creative and experiment with printing larger clear photographs I took out a home equity loan and bought one of the higher priced models A Binford, Super 6000 with remote control for men.
This is one of those technical instruments that require a 3-day course on simple-to-understand operations. I am one of those rare men that does read the manual, unfortunately, I have a terrible memory. Unless I have a pocket guide I can take with me I am totally lost.
One of the wonderful features to this State Of The Art Camera is IT HAS AN AUTO SETTING! Yep, I can put it in this mode and it does everything for me.
What it does not have is a STUPIT button.
The past couple of weekends I went on some wonderful and memorable trips, one to Seattle with one of my wonderful nieces, and we took in some different sites I had not seen before. There were some great Photo Ops, especially on the Duck Ride - oh what a grand opportunity to use my camera that was setting home on my dining room table.
On My next opportunity I went with a good friend again to Seattle for the annual Folk Life Festival. Had some great Photo Ops to use my camera that was securely hidden away in the back of my Durango.
Ah ha, but now it gets better. I went to Portland to experience the Portland Rose Parade, everyone knows there are great Photo Ops at a parade, NOT IF YOUR BATTERY IS DEAD and your battery charger is setting home on youor dinig room table.
So for anyone that might be interested, on Craigs List you might find a BINFORD 6000 Super deluxe Camera WITH wrist strap, instruction manual and battery charger.
I have found post cards are 4 for a $1.00 in most gift shops.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
ARE YOU PATRIOTIC
I am not trying to put anyone on the spot here it is more a rhetorical question, but it occurred to me last Friday prior to the Memorial Day Weekend. I am sure this weekend means different things to different people.
As with any military installation, colors are played each morning at 8:00 AM during flag raising and if there are ships in port as is always the case, each vessel has it's own color guard raising the respective flags. On base this means everyone comes to a stop whether walking or driving and faces the shipyard flag pole. Some place their hands over their hearts, some salute (military), some respectfully stand. And then there are others that as soon as they hear the "call to colors" a bugle playing five minutes before colors, hurriedly head for their destination or find a building to scamper into so they don't get caught having to show respect to the flag.
Yep, that is me. And as I heard the call to colors last Friday I remembered times past I did my share of scampering. Along with that came the thought this is the beginning of Memorial Day weekend and how far we seem to have come from when, I remember standing next to Mom at six years old watching the color guard pass in review during a parade, and seeing her crying. The sight of the flag or hearing the Star Spangled Banner always had my Mother tearing up with emotional patriotism.
As children my mother tried to instill the same patriotism in us. In those days it was easy people were more inclined to be proud of the USA and the Flag and the National Anthem. We seldom questioned our national leaders and our role in the world stage. Today it is different, not wrong as some would suggest, but different. We have learned to question our national feader's values and learned to question our role in the world. People have faced disillusion, some even heartbreak after not questioning for so many years, and we found ourselves torn by our own values and the desire to still believe in and be proud of the United States of America.
Will I ever have that six year old feeling again, probably not, am I a patriotic, yes, in a different way I no longer believe we are infallible, I no longer believe our leaders are flawless and unquestionableand I don't believe we have a right to assert our standards on the rest of the world. I may not always stand for Colors and tear up when I see the flag pass in review but you know something, the other day I was looking up at the flag and I felt this something stick in my throat.
As with any military installation, colors are played each morning at 8:00 AM during flag raising and if there are ships in port as is always the case, each vessel has it's own color guard raising the respective flags. On base this means everyone comes to a stop whether walking or driving and faces the shipyard flag pole. Some place their hands over their hearts, some salute (military), some respectfully stand. And then there are others that as soon as they hear the "call to colors" a bugle playing five minutes before colors, hurriedly head for their destination or find a building to scamper into so they don't get caught having to show respect to the flag.
Yep, that is me. And as I heard the call to colors last Friday I remembered times past I did my share of scampering. Along with that came the thought this is the beginning of Memorial Day weekend and how far we seem to have come from when, I remember standing next to Mom at six years old watching the color guard pass in review during a parade, and seeing her crying. The sight of the flag or hearing the Star Spangled Banner always had my Mother tearing up with emotional patriotism.
As children my mother tried to instill the same patriotism in us. In those days it was easy people were more inclined to be proud of the USA and the Flag and the National Anthem. We seldom questioned our national leaders and our role in the world stage. Today it is different, not wrong as some would suggest, but different. We have learned to question our national feader's values and learned to question our role in the world. People have faced disillusion, some even heartbreak after not questioning for so many years, and we found ourselves torn by our own values and the desire to still believe in and be proud of the United States of America.
Will I ever have that six year old feeling again, probably not, am I a patriotic, yes, in a different way I no longer believe we are infallible, I no longer believe our leaders are flawless and unquestionableand I don't believe we have a right to assert our standards on the rest of the world. I may not always stand for Colors and tear up when I see the flag pass in review but you know something, the other day I was looking up at the flag and I felt this something stick in my throat.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
I HATE INSURANCE COMPANIES
Like Lawyers, Insurance companies are a sometimes evil neccessity, and I hate them just the same. A little over a year and a half ago I signed up for the Federal Gov't supplemental Dental coverage through GEHA believing they would cover at least a part of my upcoming high dental bills, over $5000.
Well after 18 months and $5000 plus more to come I received this business like rejection notice. I don't take rejection well, particularly when it comes to corporate America. "Your Implants and related dental work is not covered!" Wait a dang minute, when I signed up with your stupid coverage it states right on the front page covered, IMPLANTS. What part of this did I fail to understand?? (this deserved a double question mark). Oh but you further drove the knife between my ribs stating "Your Doctor is not an authorized preferred practioner". Well now let me see that brochure again where in the fine print did you bury this condition?? (another warranted double question mark)
So I did some quick math I have paid almost $800 in premiums for something I will never get to use and it makes me totally understand the health industry corporate picture, "WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS TO MAKE MONEY." Oh you don't have to give me a magnifying glass to read this I think it finally sunk in and you know what, I have now sent you a notice; "based on your lack of coverage and my dis-satisfaction with your company I cancel my policy effective immediately before you bleed me any more for my money". Plus it saves me from buying a more powerful magnifying glass to read your fine fine print. I figure from the money I save paying you I will pay my own bill and come out ahead.
Well after 18 months and $5000 plus more to come I received this business like rejection notice. I don't take rejection well, particularly when it comes to corporate America. "Your Implants and related dental work is not covered!" Wait a dang minute, when I signed up with your stupid coverage it states right on the front page covered, IMPLANTS. What part of this did I fail to understand?? (this deserved a double question mark). Oh but you further drove the knife between my ribs stating "Your Doctor is not an authorized preferred practioner". Well now let me see that brochure again where in the fine print did you bury this condition?? (another warranted double question mark)
So I did some quick math I have paid almost $800 in premiums for something I will never get to use and it makes me totally understand the health industry corporate picture, "WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS TO MAKE MONEY." Oh you don't have to give me a magnifying glass to read this I think it finally sunk in and you know what, I have now sent you a notice; "based on your lack of coverage and my dis-satisfaction with your company I cancel my policy effective immediately before you bleed me any more for my money". Plus it saves me from buying a more powerful magnifying glass to read your fine fine print. I figure from the money I save paying you I will pay my own bill and come out ahead.
Monday, May 19, 2008
MAN AND NATURE
There are many things that man is able to share with nature, hiking, skiing, motorcycle riding, hunting, fishing, etc. But there is only one thing that man and nature have a confortable relationship with that women do not, peeing outdoors.
Yep, man can relieve himself virtually anywhere, with some discretion advised.
The other night, after a lengthy day of fun and activities in Seattle I came home to the solitude of the trees, the out buildings, and bushes and few neighbors nearby. Well okay it wasn't my home and there was an unoccupied bathroom no more than 50 feet away.
It was the waning hours of dusk and stars were beginning to peek through the changing dark sky. An isolated backyard and visual blocking storage shed in the sweetness of the surrounding trees beckoned to me.
It was there in my seclusion and to the chagrin of my companions I bonded with nature. It was refreshing and relaxing. This moment with nature re-invigorates the male senses re-establishes our man-hood and re-affirms our dominence in a female world that there are still some things that belong to man alone.
Yep, man can relieve himself virtually anywhere, with some discretion advised.
The other night, after a lengthy day of fun and activities in Seattle I came home to the solitude of the trees, the out buildings, and bushes and few neighbors nearby. Well okay it wasn't my home and there was an unoccupied bathroom no more than 50 feet away.
It was the waning hours of dusk and stars were beginning to peek through the changing dark sky. An isolated backyard and visual blocking storage shed in the sweetness of the surrounding trees beckoned to me.
It was there in my seclusion and to the chagrin of my companions I bonded with nature. It was refreshing and relaxing. This moment with nature re-invigorates the male senses re-establishes our man-hood and re-affirms our dominence in a female world that there are still some things that belong to man alone.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
