Fun with Craig's List

I never knew that giving away an air hockey table using Craig's List could be so entertaining. A couple of weeks ago I decided that my garage would be better off without that table (I'm not sure why I thought that since all the stuff that used to be piled on it is now on the floor.)

As soon as I posted the free table, I was getting an email every 30 seconds or so. I was kind of overwhelmed, since I tend to be sort of a "pleaser" personality. I wanted ALL of those people to have the air hockey table and I could only give it to one person! :-( But before I could respond to any of those 40 emails that were already piling up, I had to frantically delete my listing.

However, after I responded to the first five people who had emailed me and tried to set up "appointments," I discovered that they were imposters ... crank callers. Apparently most of those people had no interest in the free air hockey table -- they just wanted to mess with me.

Annoyed, I wrote an email to everyone, telling them I had just put the table in my front yard and they could just take their chances and come get it if it was still there.

One guy wrote back: "Thanks, but I'm not sure if want to get into a tugging match on your front porch with all those other freeloaders."

Someone ended up picking up the table -- I think it was the woman with the email address "pinkyallstinky." Not sure how I feel about that. Hmmm.... Craig's List is an interesting place.

500 Pens!

How does someone accumulate so many pens? (And to be fair, that includes assorted #1 pencils -- as in: #1 Teacher, #1 Kid, #1 Valentine, #1 6th grader, #1 soccer player, you get the picture.) I think I started my unintentional collection in 1973 since I found a faded ballpoint pen that says "Albright and Price" on it. That was my dad's graphic design firm way back then. It barely works, but I'm keeping it for nostalgia.

So on Saturday morning I spent about an hour and a half cleaning them out, scribbling on all these sheets of paper. I'm not one to keep things forever, but 500 pens do not take up that much space.
I was oddly exhausted after doing all of that. I rewarded myself with a cup of tea and a nice rest on the couch.

Won one, lost one

We won Obama, but lost our fight against Proposition 8. All I can say is that I tried to do my part. This fight is not over......

Maybe it could work

I think I am going to order a "Republicans for Obama" bumper sticker. I saw that my friend Steve has one of those on his car. If he can do it, so can I. I think it's worth a try -- there are lots of Republicans in Walnut Creek. My only problem is that I'm cheap, and the shipping cost for that sticker is only five cents less than the actual sticker.

Chippendales for kids

We saw a weird performance with the 5th graders the other day at the big theatre in Walnut Creek... It was a say no to drugs theme and they had a drug dealer on stage (pothead type guy on a cell phone saying to this woman, "hey baby, wanna party?") Suddenly he's surrounded by eight motorcycles on a darkened stage, lights flashing, and then the swat team comes down from the ceiling. Music going, kids clapping -- everything but the stripping.

I loved the part where Officer Wallace's 4 year daughter came onto stage during the show and kicked the drug dealer while he was on his stomach, handcuffed on the floor.

It was all quite entertaining, but then gears were shifted, and kids were called on stage.... "character counts" essays were read, and so on....

According to those sweet little eleven year olds, they will never be buying pot, or doing drugs, EVER....:-)

Tagged

So, I was "tagged" a while ago, but hadn't gotten around to posting my 6 random things about me:

1. I was born in Germany. I always bragged about that when I was a little kid (as if I had anything to do with it.)

2. I'm a sailor. Not the drunken swearing kind. I'm actually the kind that used to sail, but doesn't anymore and wishes she could.

3. I wish that I liked goat cheese. I took my mom to Chez Panisse for her birthday and had to eliminate half the menu right off the bat. It really bugs me because I like everything, including Brussels sprouts.

4. I just bought a cute little iron plaque to attach to a garden fence. It's the kind of thing that should say "welcome." But it actually says "Go Away." I laughed when I saw it, so bought it, but can't bring myself to put it up.

5. I'm reading "Lord of the Flies" right now and really don't like it.

6. I have been trying to knit the same scarf now for 2 years.

Ridiculously bland

This is my favorite phrase of the week. "There are always some clementines in the box that are ridiculously bland," says the cute funky Trader Joe's checker to me this evening.