Rudeness is out of fashion

Yesterday, after witnessing a woman display unnecessary rudeness I am embarrassed to acknowledge that she and I belong to the same species.

I was at the check-out counter at JC Penney when a customer at the register next to mine complained loudly as her cashier rang up her purchase, 'That price is wrong! This package of underwear was in a bin with a sign that says 60% off'.

The cashier replied, 'I'm sorry, Ma'am. It must have been placed there by mistake. These underwear are not the ones on sale.'

'Well that's not my problem', the woman retorted in an angry voice. 'The sign says 60% off and that's what I want to pay!'

Before the cashier could even respond, the woman demanded, 'I want to talk to the Manager! Call the Manager'! She then turned to the people waiting in line behind her and apologized with a shrug and said, 'these stores! You can't trust them.'

This type of encounter make my stomach hurt. Blatant rudeness, a loud mouth, cutting tones combined with inflexibility are uncalled for, no matter what the circumstance. One can be polite while being assertive. Kindness reaps miles of benefit and understanding soothes any encounter like balm on a blister.

Please know that businesses make honest mistakes. Computers aren't foolproof. Employees are only human and are fallible. Customers don't care where they place an item in the store when they decide they don't want to purchase it. So, let's treat each other with kindness.

I didn't stick around to hear the outcome of this situation. Likely the manager apologized 'for any inconvenience' and gave the woman 60% off her undies. Wouldn't it be great if he/she then said, 'and because of your rudeness, if I ever see you in my store again I'll have security escort you out!?

You reap what you sow. (May the fleas of 1,000 camels infest her armpits.) (Oops - that isn't kind....)

Backyard haven

I can only imagine what people must think when I tell them I live in a mini storage facility. Usually, a mini storage manager is provided an apartment which is situated above or adjacent to the office.

Fortunately, Glynn and I bought our home (with adjacent acres) prior to building the storage facility so we were able to ensure that our home was situated in the back corner. Yes, my kitchen window looks out into our outdoor storage area which is full of parked RV's. What people don't know, however, is that I have an oasis in my backyard. And if it wasn't for the privacy of the backyard, I'd have a hard time living in our gated community.

I haven't been overly enthusiastic about my yard this year. Perhaps it's because of our cool, wet spring. Nevertheless, the foliage is green, full and happy. The spring blooming flowers are radiant and it all helps keep me sane.

Remember this bed I weeded early in the spring?

Here it is.... 2 months later!

Summer begins tomorrow. I'm hoping some consistent warmth will arrive so the veggies I planted earlier this month will cease looking puny and pathetic!

Cooper turns one

We celebrated Cooper's first birthday last week by inviting friends and family to a brisket/salmon pirate themed barbecue. Cooper had no clue as to the significance of the day except that involved other little people to play with.

Cake was a strange experience. Its texture and sweetness was something new to ponder.

Way faring pirates were present....
as well as Doug's 11 week old puppy named Tank (who nearly stole the show!)

....not to be outdone by Otis

The weather managed to cooperate so good times were had by all!

fresh Cooper River salmon

Last night, Glynn took me to Anthony's for our anniversary dinner. I ordered their fresh Cooper River salmon and must say, it had to have been the best salmon I've ever tasted.

We also barbecued Cooper River Salmon on Saturday (along with brisket) for Cooper's birthday party. It was pretty sensational, if I may say so myself!

Allow me to share a Cooper River salmon story.

Back in the day, while living in Anchorage, Glynn and I visited friends in Glennallen, AK who live near the Cooper River. Ralph had a permit to operate a fishing wheel on the river and asked if we would like to hike to the river with him that evening to harvest the salmon from the wheel.

I expected an idyllic river's edge with a fishing wheel gently bobbing on pristine, clear waters.

Wrong! The Cooper River was a churning mass of fast flowing water, gray with glacier silt. The temperature of the water was so cold that, should one fall in, survival would be uncertain as rescue would be difficult because of the swift flowing current. In addition to this sobering scene, the descent from the trail to river's edge was at least 45 degrees. A thick rope was looped around a large tree to help with the descent and ascent.

While Paula and I observed from the trail, Ralph and Glynn put packs on their backs and carefully made their way down the embankment to the fish wheel. It was stuffed FULL of salmon! The backpacks were filled with as much of the salmon as could fit and each man struggled to hoist the heavy pack onto his back.

I was nearly frozen (and mute) with terror as I watched those men struggle to climb the embankment with over 100 lbs of salmon on their backs. I was newly married and was certain I'd soon become a young widow!

The men survived the climb and, after resting, we continued our hike back to Ralph's property.

If I remember correctly, what Glynn and I thought was going to be a leisure evening stroll turned into a marathon physical endurance test, all in daylight as this happened June in Alaska, the 'land of the midnight sun.'

The next day, I helped Paula can salmon. I remember having the thought of 'I'll-be-happy--if-I-never-see-another-salmon-again-in-my-life!'

Yet eating the canned salmon that Paula sent home with us dispelled that thought quickly!

Enough already...

Ideas are continually rolling around and erupting in my brain but when it comes to wanting to create art for a gift, 'She art' comes to the rescue!

Here is a creation I made for sister, Kim, for her birthday.

I'm currently involved in an e-class by the same artist, Christy Tomlinson, who created She art. This class is full of different techniques/ideas that do not revolve around She art. Hopefully, you'll soon see some new creations coming from my brain. Until then, I fall in love with each girl in my art.

Longings

It's hard to imagine that folks who live in beautiful settings such as this village in the Cinque-Terre region of Italy may long to switch places when they see photos of beautiful settings in other places around the world.


Just as I wonder what it would be like to live in this village, do Italians wonder what it would be like to live in the beautiful pacific northwest, perhaps in the Cascades or on an island in the San Juans?

I can't quite imagine it.... can you?

Sunshine!

Every cell in my body is rejoicing as I soak up the rays on a glorious, sunny day. These are the days we live for in the PNW: 75 to 80 degrees, a tiny breeze and cloudless sky. (Can you hear a deep sigh of satisfaction ? )

My sister, Debbie, is visiting for the weekend. Yesterday we hit the Olympia Farmer's Market; always a pleasant stroll through stalls exploding with color, tempting smells and creativity.

Walla Walla sweets

ravishing radishes

We ate lunch at the Hearthfire Grill overlooking Budd Inlet. The Olympic mountains, resplendent in their snow covered beauty were the show stoppers. Look at Debbie's beautiful wild salmon salad.

Debbie brought along chicken cabobs which Glynn grilled for dinner along with a pint of fresh oysters bought at the market. We ended our meal with strawberry shortcake.

I am satiated with pleasantness.