Drive Thru...

Heard on the radio this week: "A drive through ______ would make my life easier."

My first response was "Grocery store!" I can't understand why it takes twice as long to do this weekly chore with the kiddos along! And forget about doing it in the rain, because you have to get the kids, groceries and self soaking wet to unload the shopping cart!

My second response was "Starbucks in Waynesburg!" Although I would really actually dislike seeing a Starbucks in our little town, I would like to have some sort of drive through coffee shop here (McDonalds doesn't count, even though Consumer Reports rated its coffee as a "Best Buy".) I got a Starbucks card for Christmas, which is burning a hole in my pocket. It's just too much trouble to drag the girls into Barnes and Noble or Target in order to use it!

Wondering what your responses might be?

T

P.S. Speaking of Consumer Reports, a photo that I sent in to their "Selling It" page, was printed in the latest issue. :-) If I have time sometime, I'll scan it in. Better yet, I'll bring it to the next Society meeting!

And the Color Is

The original Elaine told my mother that if the society "needed a color, tell them the color is purple."

Thought ya'all should know.

On Sleep Deprivation and Polly Pockets

I probably shouldn't post when I'm this tired...probably will ramble. Lauren has been sick since Saturday, and instead of staying in bed and sleeping it off, like I would choose to do (if I had the chance), she is not napping, and waking every couple of hours at night. I feel like a new mother again...so lost in the fog of sleep deprivation that the cogs in my brain are sort of stuck somewhere! This is particularly troublesome since I have been unsuccessfully trying to study for my Board Exams...finally chose my review material, which arrived from Amazon on Saturday.

I was just musing today about the profound absurdity of these small dolls, Polly Pockets, that Jenna is so completely obsessed with. Besides the tiny shoes, which are just a few milimeters in size, I haven't been able to find anything so entirely rupulsive about them that they will be banned. They do dress in trendy, rubber clothing. Of course, "trendy" is relative, since I usually buy them at Big Lots or other clearance sales, so they are not exactly clothed in the absolutely latest of fashion.

So, the girls and I were playing with Polly Pockets this evening. We got a bit slap-happy (again, blame the sleep deprivation) and put upside-down shirts on dolls' heads, and Belle's wig on Flounder. Put tiny slippers on and made them tap dance. The girls were both so involved in this tiny world of Polly Pockets, I was trying to remember the last time I was so totally lost in something! (I think it might have been the last time my sensitive husband and I watched Pride and Prejudice about 18 months ago or longer.)

Wouldn't it be wonderful to not have a care in the world save which rubber gown to wear for the ball? Some times I wish I didn't have to be an adult all the time! Thank goodness for little girls who love to play with tiny dolls!

T

A Giant Clear-Out

Hello, my good women, from Baltimore. I am in the midst of a giant clear-out with my mother. Highlights of today, so far, include a complete cocktail set made out of giant (and smaller) shells from Phillipines, misc. wine/juice/Christmas glasses and a gorgeous carved platter from India with mango shapes in the wood. All on their way to Goodwill. I'm having a wonderful time working with my Mom--just like old times. . .wrapping dishes in newspaper feels as familiar and comfortable to us as jam-making or quilting or knitting feels to other mothers-n-daughters.

I thought I should update you, too, on the orignial Elaine, now in her 80s, who got a word from one of my male relative's (Grandpa somebody) photographs (he's dead) that she should begin work on a new book. She also has plans to sell her paintings at a museum and she just rode across the country and back in a Greyhound bus. So if you needed the gumption to get-up-and-go today, there it is.

Must put Merry down for a nap. Elspeth, despite licking coffee grounds off her fingers from the floor this morning, seems to be sleeping.

And if you are in the market, say, for a white soup tureen missing the spoon, let me know fast-fast before the next squeal-of-tires to the local Goodwill.

Miss you all--and even miss Waynesburg--

K

Remains of the Day

It was a lovely birthday. We have willingly and eagerly devoured the remainder of the velvet spice cake with cream cheese frosting (YUM), had tea in the floral tea cup while reading Catherine's book about "Friendship", and are eagerly anticipating the launch of all 100 new cookie cutters. As the past year held some challenges, I am looking forward to a new age and some positive kharma. Thankfully the Elaine Society members are continually energizing my spirit. Here's to spring!

s

Ice Storm

The 2 hour school delay gave me a few extra minutes to go outside and snap a few pictures of the ice. It was quite spectacular in the dim early morning light. Everything appeared transformed into something more mystical and beautiful. The deer netting around my garden looked like a spider web with dew on it. Our crazy weeping cherry tree really seemed to be weeping great frozen tears.

It was encouraging to see the salt trucks go by, making me feel better about letting John slip out into the mist on his way to work. I think I'll call and make sure he got there ok...

T

What a Rip-Off!

Just got the satellite TV bill yesterday, and this month, there was an additional small slip of paper. In tiny print, this notice proceded to inform customers that as of Feb. 27th, the rates will increase. We've had 3 rate hikes in the nearly 5 years we've been here, but unfortunately, we never get an improvement in service.

Apparently this is one of the down sides to living in the country. It may be quiet and secluded here, but we don't get cable. Up on our hill, we do get local channels fairly well with our hideous, rusty antenna on the roof. We can grow vegetables and see the wildlife. We can spend 2 hours mowing the lawn, but we can't get good TV at a decent rate!

So, for the 3rd time since subscribing to satellite TV, John and I had the BIG DISCUSSION: are we really going to continue to pay into this racket? Lately, we have been watching local channels for the most part, and episodes of "Northern Exposure" on DVD. The kids watch PBS. This morning, I made the call. I discontinued our DirecTV service. Jenna had to cry, that she couldn't watch "The Magic Schoolbus" anymore (it pleases me that her favorite shows are science based).


The compromise? Aha, you knew it couldn't be this easy, right? We are going to purchase a few more of our favorite old shows on DVD. John has been pining for "Emergency" for years, along with "Gilligan's Island". A small price to pay.


I won't miss the commercials. I won't miss paying the bill every month. I will miss the National Geographic Channel and The Food Network. Thank goodness for Cooks Illustrated magazine and good old National Geographic in print! I won't miss the big remote control with 47 buttons in various colors. Simplify, simplify, simplify!


T