Ho Ho Ho...Bring on Christmas....

I've hit the deck running folks, determined not to let Christmas gift buying get me down. Since the store is now closed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I went shopping on the first Tuesday we were closed. I hounded my children and grandchildren for their lists and told them they had to be in my hands Thanksgiving night. Some of the family did adhere to my schedule while others felt I didn't really mean it and came to dinner unaware. But when I told them to start the list right then and there or end up with whatever I decided to get them (and no one wants that), they started writing frantically. So Tuesday morning I ate a good breakfast, loaded my money into my purse and drove off to Salisbury with lists in hand. First stop....Best Buy since everyone had electronics on their list. Now this time last year I went into that store for the first time, got boggled down and ended up walking out with nothing. But this year I went in with a new determination. I started off by grabbing some poor unsuspecting employee and handing him the lists and said, "Load up the cart"....which he was more than happy to do. I made the mistake of walking by the computer aisle....they just call out to me. I was in the market for a new computer as my Dell has now lost approximately 6 keys...yes they fell off...so I've had a regular size keyboard plugged into the laptop since this summer, which hasn't been a problem, but I don't want to have to take that to Nashville in February and so I knew I had to get a new computer (O.K., I could have had the keyboard replaced, but let's face it that computer was old...I've had it for approximately 5 years I think...well, perhaps less, but anyway, I was due for a new one. I had gone on-line and picked out a HP (their keys never flipped off), and by the time I got done cherry picking what I wanted it was almost $2000...so when I saw the HP I had been looking at ...Bronze and gorgeous...at Best Buy, I said, what the hell, load her up. Now while it didn't have exactly what the on-line machine had...it did have the same memory, etc., which is what is important for me...for $959. So I walked out of Best Buy much lighter in the wallet, but happy as a clam and thinking..."what a wonderful buying experience this was." When I got home I couldn't wait to get my new computer out....and that's when the buying experience turned a tad sour. The machine the nice young man loaded on my cart was not my Bronze baby but a blue computer which I didn't like...so I worried over this every night and decided that instead of arriving at work in the office on time, I needed to get to Best Buy to get this straight before I drove myself crazy. So first thing Wednesday I was back over to the Salisbury to make the exchange. When I arrived at the counter there was my little salesboy, Jon, who looked up at me, smiled and said, "I gave you the wrong computer didn't I?" I have to say he did apologize to me about 16 times, and I decided that I'd forgive the faux pas since it's the Christmas season and I'm in a giving mood at this point. So he got the correct computer (and you can bet I checked this out before I walked out the door) for me, redid all the paper work on it and once again I was out the door and on my way to work. When I took the computer out at home I couldn't wait to get on-line and do some blogging, however I found that they no longer include discs to restore your computer should something go wrong so I didn't want to take a chance on picking up a virus so I had to wait another day. To make the recovery discs, which is what they tell you to do first thing, you needed either 14 cd's or 2 DVD's, neither of which I had so it was another night of not going on line....but I did play games for 4 hours so my time was entirely wasted. Wednesday I was back over to Best Buy to help Sara with something, and when I went to show her what my new computer looked like I saw the sign now on the computer stating that it was reduced to $849. Now my buying experience was taking a downward turn. So I pulled out the sales receipts from the previous day, walked up to the coouter and said, "When did these computers go on sale?" I was informed they do their mark-downs on Sunday...so I then said, "Then why did I pay $100 more yesterday, which was Tuesday?" After looking at my receipt he sent me to customer service who also looked at the receipt and couldn't quite figure out what went wrong. I could have told them...Jon...my nice little saleboy was not the smarest tack in the box...but anyway they refunded my $107 so that was a good thing. Thank God I went back in to show Sara. I continued shopping and arrived home tired but almost done with my shopping. I'm telling you folks, I'm about done which is not only my miracle at Christmas but a first for me. Of course, that doesn't mean I'm 100% done, but I'm darn close and one more trip to Salisbury should do it. I did order some items on-line and while the 2 electric Razor scooters for 2 of my grandchildren were put on back order...they arrived today and Vernon put them together, took a test ride on one and they are being charged now for Christmas day. Sara and I are discussing getting a couple for us for summer ...we could get horns and carry flood lights as we monitor the parking lots for "pee'ers". I think it would help us scare the "pee'ers" if nothing else....and then we could add the stun guns and we would almost be as good as any security force in town. But I digress...now that I've got a computer at home I'm hoping to get caught up with the web site and blogging. I think I told you I was working so hard on Christmas gifts (the stitched ones) and was doing really well...well that went to hell in a handbasket. I got so interested in the Emmanuel Shepherd's Bush Kit that it's all I've worked on in the past week...love it. I'm almost done so I'll have a picture for you in a couple of days. There were a few sections of Swedish weaving and I found that by the time I got to the end I was really kind of enjoying it. But our Stitch 'n Bitch Christmas meeting at Fagers is on Tuesday night so this weekend I've got to finish these Christmas gifts. The stitching is done...it's the assembly that needs to be completed....(isn't that typical), but I'm sure I can focus on it tomorrow since we won't have any new shipments to deal with. I'm still like a child with shiny objects...let the UPS man show up and I don't care what I was working on I stop to open boxes and see what we've got. I can't wait for Christmas so I can see the kids with their new games, toys, etc. Because even with their lists I get things like the electric scooters that they have no idea about, so there are always surprises. Weather Alert...it's freezing down here! My new computer tells me it's almost 1 a.m., so I need to get some sleep...with this computer living at home with me I will try to blog more often. Hope your holiday preparations are going smoothly. Talk to you soon.

What a weekend....

I had the best, yes the best weekend and I never left the house. That's what really made it the best. I stitched most of Friday...got up periodically and started thinking about cleaning, but didn't get on that until Saturday and then I stormed the kitchen and began the process of cleaning out, throwing away, and what a great job I did if I do say so myself. Now, of course, it's too clean to cook in...here at Thanksgiving that's not a good thing. But I suppose I'll look at it just a little longer, until I get hungry and then I don't give a darn what it looks like food will be made. I allowed myself to stitch on anything I wanted, Christmas Quaker sampler, since I have stitched so many of my Christmas gifts. I was going gung-ho until I made a mistake. It took me an hour to find it and then I didn't feel like tearing all of it out to correct so now I'm adjusting and that I hate. So I moved on to Emmanuel by Shepherd's Bush and I'm loving that except I hate, hate, hate the lettering they now do so I've had to redo the lettering which I'm not loving either. But I did it, wished I had centered the redo but can stand the way it looks anyway so it's staying the way it is. The weather is frightful down here....cold, cold, cold...today when I got into the car to go to church at 7:30 a.m. it was 28 degrees...brrrr. Last night I fell asleep (as usual) on the sofa watching T.V. When I am stitching I have only one light on (my stitching light) to begin with and when I am tired I usually turn it off (as I did last night) so the only thing that was still on in the house was the t.v. which I fell asleep watching. I was awakened at 2:30 a.m. by a pounding on my door, which frankly I thought was loud but was willing to ignore since I didn't want any visitors...but then the flashlight came out and lit up my living room so I could no longer ignore it. Now let me tell you I had not changed my P.J.'s for 2 days, my hair was un unGodly mess and I wasn't smelling too sweet either so to answer my door...well for me it wasn't an option. However, after getting off the sofa to scream at the ignoramius shining the light in the window I did notice a police car sitting there so I felt perhaps I should go see what the big deal was. Well it was our local Police department, vigilant for once, alerting me that one of the doors leading to the undercroft of my building was handing by a thread...and they were concerned that homeless would go crawling in. But he assured me he had checked underneath. First of all, I knew the door was hanging and have John coming on Monday to fix it. Homeless, in Ocean City...I don't think so. O.K., we may have a couple of people who wander all night but they aren't hanging out on my street trust me. This they saw but the hotel door wide open in April (because the idiot that painted them forgot about them and went home leaving them propped open all night)..they never saw. Go figure! So at 2:30 a.m. I took one last look at my cleaned kitchen and went to bed...the rest of the night was uneventful. Mary couldn't wait to call me this morning (Brian saw them there last night) to see why the police were at my house. Then she tells me Brian saw them and when I said, "Well thank him for coming down to see if I was alright," she said, "Well, he was afraid they were there for him since he had a couple of drinks after work before he drove home." Now that's caring for your mother in law isn't it? I can see now if one of us is going to be thrown under the bus...I think it will be me! And this close to Christmas....he should know better. I just got an e-mail from a friend of mine who buys tons of gift cards for everyone every year and she sent me a list of stores to be leary of since they are still selling the cards but are going to be closing in January. So if you purchase gift cards...check to make sure your stores are still going to be in business...this did happen to me once. I got a gift card which was purchased in October as a gift only to find out the restaurant went out of business in November. I happen to mention this while I was in class (I went back to college in my 40's) with a student who mentioned that her in-laws owned a restaurant (and is that amazing because this was the restaurant). When she heard what happened she said to bring the card to the restaurant she and her husband just opened and she would honor it. Which of course I didn't do because how fair would that be to them. I didn't pay for the card...it was a gift so I just threw it away...but now I'm wiser I hope. I also don't buy cards very much but you can bet I won't be buying any now. Something is not right with businesses selling cards knowing they are going out of business. I think we can all agree on that. Well it's 3:55 and I need to get home to check on my clean kitchen. I can hardly wait to see it....now I have to get my dining room and living room to join it in cleanliness. In case I don't get back to the blog before Thursday...have a wonderful and safe holiday. Enjoy your families, food, and stitch just a little if you find the time.

The sun came out....

Hello Sun...where have you been...it finally stopped raining and I hate to complain since I'm sure those in California would like to see a little rain, however, I can't remember when we've had so much rain over so many days...I was thinking of ordering a boat to commute...although I could possible borrow Vernon's...no probably he wouldn't lend it to me so I'd have to purchase one....typical I'd have to have a boat which I would have to row to work just as the cost of gas is going down. I couldn't believe it the other day when I had oil delivered and the cost was around $300 and I'm telling you I haven't paid under $1300 in the longest time...so I'm excited. I've been stitching up a storm here getting prepared for Christmas...I've never felt so ready in the stitching department...other than that I've purchased one gift so far...but I'm getting the computer ready to do some hard core shopping on the internet....saves my poor feet who are so sick of hauling my fat behind around. We had a great "Stitch 'N Bitch" meeting last weekend with a new layout for sitting since we redid the shop this year and got rid of our big table....it worked out perfectly. We had two new members join us...Linda Wimbrow and her daughter Candi. They drive up from Chincoteague. Linda and Candi have been friends of ours for some time. Linda has supplied us with many samples for our store over the last couple of years and now Candi is following in her footsteps. They are fast stitchers too...they pick up the fabric one Saturday and the following Saturday they are back with the models. Now these are not models I've commissioned...they just bring in their pieces and graciously allow us to display them for apparently as long as we'd like since we still have some of Linda's that she brought in last year. It certainly takes the pressure off of me to produce, thank God since I haven't managed to frame anything in months. I love to do the stitching but I fall short after that. Kay was missing from the meeting along with Pat..but we know Pat just slept through it however, Kay ended up at the emergency room after falling out of her clogs (perhaps I have that wrong) and then returned home to suffer in silence. We hope you are feeling better Kay. Hedy was also absent after having surgery (wemissed you too Hedy)...but hopefully they will both be back in time for our Christmas party next month at Fagers. O.K., now I've talked about the shop let's get down to the important stuff...T.V. O.K...did you catch last week's Atlanta Housewives? God, is that Kim a red hot mess or what. First, if I was as ignorant as she is I certainly wouldn't go on national T.V. and let the entire world know I was stupid. When they were in the Mexican restaurant and they used the Mortar and Pestle to prepare the guacamole for the chips and she actually said out loud..."they are using rocks to prepare the food and that's unsanitary"...I mean people where the hell has she been living under a rock? Oops..perhaps that is the answer. The speculation over who Big Papa is goes on, however, Ellen S. my private eye in N.Y., emailed me the web address showing a picture of who he supposedly is...and he's with his wife who is so classy it's hard to believe he would want Kim as well...they are as different as night and day and let's face it...if you are indeed a multi millionaire (which he is) would you want this phony, stupid woman on the side...crap...her "VaJayJay" must be made of gold because that's the only reason anyone would want her and her fake hair, her fake personality and her singing voice...well hearing her sing was the reward for watching this show...my God, I don't think she even came close to the right notes not once...and watching the producer of the album was priceless. I'm sure Big Papa had to pay extra for that day in the studio...as well he should have. This is one classless jackass, people...let there be no doubt in anyone's mind. And does she think highly of herself. The more I see NeNe, the more I don't mind her anymore. I could have died when Anderson Cooper was asked what he watched and he mentioned NeNe and when the person who asked didn't know who NeNe was he began to fill them in...well I just about died...even I wouldn't admit on National T.V. that I watched this crap. I just tell you here because we're all friends. Back to NeNe I think we all know she's loud and semi-obnoxious because her childhood was apparently a nightmare, the man she was told her father really wanted little to do with her and as it turns out after the DNA he isn't her father at all and now with her mother dead she may never find the truth. So I'm giving NeNe a walk on this one. Sherri though, will not get the same break. She is what is wrong with people that come into money. Instead of being grateful, she is a smart ass who thinks she's God's gift to the universe. I was thrilled when she got a little kick in the ass last week. I mean really people...if brains were dynamite she wouldn't have enough to blow herself up. She decides she wants to come out with her fashion line in 2 weeks and she hasn't finished the designs yet let alone had them cut, or sewn. And then the person she hired did a crappy job and suddenly she has nothing to show so she has her sketches blown up and shows them? Is she kidding...has she heard about fashion week...it just wouldn't be the same if they put blown up sketches on the walk way. Honestly this woman had such a high opinion of herself, which as you can see I don't share...and to hold her husband up for millions of dollars...honestly...honey..get a JOB like the rest of us and stop making a fool of yourself. O.K., those are the worst 2 on that show so I'm going to stop here. If you haven't seen it...please tune in on Tuesday evenings on BRAVO...it is such a "hoot". Survivor hasn't given me insight into who is going to be the clear winner yet...I have one person I can't stand...Randy...and it's only time which will give him his just reward. Honesly it's like these people never saw another Survivor. We all know the one that sits there and boasts about how smart they are and how they are running the entire game are always the ones that go...so Randy...Goodbye...didn't like ya so I'm not sorry you are gone. I do wonder at the choices they make on who to kick off. But now that they are out of the team mode...it won't make much difference. Only the strong can survive....good luck! Amazing Race my last addition..(well the last that I'm going to admit to) hasn't shown who the real winners are. I disliked the divorced couple at first but when they helped another team I decided to rethink their position. So right now they are all neck and neck as far as I'm concerned. Stay tuned.

I'm back again....

My final retreat (mini this time) is over and I'm back in the office, in the shop, doing the job I'm suppose to be doing...but what fun I've had for the past 3 weeks...stitching, stitching, stitching. When C.A. Wells cancelled the class she was suppose to be teaching this past weekend due to "the expense of her time", the stitchers decided they still wanted to get together..so October 31-Nov. 2nd became our First Annual C.A. Wells Memorial Weekend Retreat. While I hosted Debbie L., Kay Fletcher played hostess to Kathy R., Jennifer H., Stacy S., Jackie J. and Mary L. On Saturday we joined together to stitch, discuss our cancelled class, hold a memorial service for C.A. Wells and we had a ball. And I have to tell you it's the first time during an event where I actually sat down and stitched. And I stitched each day until about 6:30 or 7:00 pm. (starting around 9:00 a.m.)...oh, Lordy I had a great weekend. And the weather...oh, my God...the weather was perfect. As you can see in the pictures we are not wearing jackets, a couple of us had on short sleeved shirts..in fact the sun was shining and I swear it got up to at least 70 degrees...gorgeous..the perfect day for our memorial. We stitched all afternoon and then decided to have our little memorial service where we gathered around the tombstones and gave our thoughts about C.A. Wells. Great weekend, great friends...can't wait to do it again next year, when we'll hold another memorial to C.A. Wells. So C.A. you may not have been here, but you gave us a lot of laughs anyway. Ladies, thanks for being here with me...I had fun.

I'm so far behind....

I'm so far behind not only with the web site but the blogging as well, I'm embarrassed, however, I've decided to discuss our stitching retreat first and then go back to Jamboree. We pulled out of Ocean City around 8:15 a.m. on Thursday to make the drive to South Carolina and Hilton Head where our retreat was taking place. The sun was shining, Sara and I were in good spirits and Sara was driving so I spent the better part of the trip sleeping off and on, and occasionally stitching. But we were both so excited that we could hardly contain ourselves...that is until Sara was pulled over in Virginia for doing 72 in a who the hell knows what speed it was suppose to be zone. Of course as she is dealing the state policeman, I'm on the phone calling Vernon and Mary to tell them what was happening. But even that did not deter us from having a good laugh. Of course when we find out what the ticket is going to cost us perhaps it won't be as funny, but on Thursday we chose to see this as part of the great adventure. We stopped for our first meal at the Cracker Barrel in Emporia and we were less than thrilled with the service and the food, and decided that we wouldn't be eating there ever again...in Emporia, not in a Cracker Barrel which we have always viewed as acceptable fast food. But...we purchased some crap out of their store and moved on. We hit Hilton Head around 12 hours after we began our journey and finally got settled into the Marriott, which I have to say is a lovely property. The grounds are huge and the rooms spacious and accommodating. Sara and I had two rooms next to each other and we made my room headquarters for the weekend...which means we stitched together in my room, ate in my room when we did room service...then parted company so everyone had some privacy. Friday morning we got up, went down to eat and then sped to the Moss Creek shop...oh, boy did we ever. We use to carry the Moss Creek kits in Salty Yarns back when Rae and Ron were into wholesale, (they have since sold their own kits only on line through their web site.) However, when we carried them I did several of them and they are without a doubt the best teaching kits I have every stitched. I always enjoyed them because Rae did such a wonderful job of illustrating the stitches she used and using stitches you just don't see anywhere else. Anyway, they had all of their kits there and some of the charts from Sherri Jones (Patrick Woods). We were just oohing and aahing all over the place, and of course grabbing whatever we could. We were early enough that we really were able to get everything we wanted and like our events, they had shopping bags waiting for us to load up. You weren't allowed to take anything away however, as Ron hadn't set up for that as yet...that about drove me crazy since I wanted to take it back to the room and ooh, and ahh, over it all night. Anyway, Friday afternoon we had our first class. Now, before I say another word about the classes I have to tell you Sara and I both enjoyed ourselves and have every intention of going back again in 2009 so please understand that what I'm about to say is not a criticism of the class, just an observation. The Friday class we were taking was a paint on linen class taught by Catherine Jordan. What we noticed first about the class was the noise level. At our events we strive to have quiet rooms while the teachers are teaching(don't always achieve it, however it is our goal), however in this event at one point a group was singing a show tune while the class was taking place. They spoke over the teacher, under the teacher and around the teacher, which Sara and I found rude on their part and really distracting at first...we learned to ignore it and move forward. I have to say none of it made me fall behind...I just found it rude. The problem stems from a group of friends taking the class together I think...but anyway, that was really our only problem with the classes or the entire retreat actually, and like I said, we learned to ignore the noise. The paint on linen class was fascinating. I really didn't think I'd ever want to do this again, however, as soon as the class was over I ran over to the Moss Creek shop and purchased the paints and the brushes so I could do it at home. We painted the background on linen to put on a small box, and then we stitched a design over the background. Many were worried they wouldn't be able to paint, but it's nothing precise and no matter what you do or how you do it, the design works out. I'm a copier...so I looked at Catherine's box and tried to replicate it, but the woman sitting next to me...let's just say her's will be a one of a kind. When we finished the box and got back to the room I worked all night on the ship (two of the classes centered around nautical designs...whoppee!)..which was one over one. The stitching was straight forward, cross stitch, padded satin stitch and long stitch...so very do-able. And by morning I had the clipper ship stitched and was ready to do my grass and tree work. Saturday morning brought us to Sherri's class which was a gorgeous mermaid design done in two colors of silk on a gorgeous color of linen. When completed it becomes a holder of needles, scissors, etc. When closed the project looks somewhat like a scallop shell. Anyway, it was a glorious kit to behold and I was really excited to stitch this one as well. We worked on a scissor fob in class, just outlining the fob and then trying to work a scroll stitch, which I tore out so many times I swear I had to set a record. To tell the truth, I never got it the way I wanted it and at night ended up tearing it out one last time. I still haven't put it back in, but wanted to practice on a spare piece of linen with a thread that came out of my stash so I didn't waste the kit thread. While we kept practicing the stitch Sherri had done her homework on mermaids and gave us the history. Very interesting, but then it was time for lunch and the next class. The afternoon was spent in Rae's class which was a Celtic piece which becomes a holder of needles, fob, etc. Here again we started working on the fob using a few interesting stitches while Rae gave us a history lesson. I am thrilled to announce that I was able to finish my fob Saturday night as Sara and I were drained and so excited that we rushed back to the room, skipped the dinner (O.K., we skipped the banquet but ordered room service), and stitched into the night. What fun that is. And after pestering Ron (who I know got sick of us going to him every couple of hours for our bags) way too much, when we went down again to the shop around 8:00 he gave in, added up our stash and we were able to rest easy knowing that it was paid for. The kits we purchased are gorgeous...and so well put together. Rae has such a knack for not only designing but assembling. Saturday brought a storm to the island so it was great to just sit and stitch. An observation regarding this hotel...the staff is unbelievable upbeat and you can't pass them without their acknowledging your presence with a good morning, or good afternoon. And if you approach the desk they fall all over themselves trying to help you out. Sara is planning on taking a class from them as she see's that her attitude in the summer is less than Marriott worthy, in fact it's down right rude at times. Having said that, I doubt if any of the employees we encountered work 18 hours straight...7 days a week for 6 months. So I think we can excuse Sara if she gets a bit testy...until she gets testy with me then that's a whole other story. Anyway, even the staff who delivered more than one room service meal to us always asked how we were enjoying our stay, where we were from...etc., etc., etc. Very pleasant. It was amusing to us to see the stitchers flock to the beach once the weather straightened out...as that was something we didn't even look at. While all beaches are not alike, the view is the same...beach and ocean...when you've seen one you have seen them all, and since we see our beach and ocean everyday, we didn't even look for it. Sunday was so gorgeous if we were staying we might have gone out there, however, we went to the brunch, and got out of there early to start our trek home. Sara drove and I slept as usual..no sense in disturbing the balance we had achieved. I never slept so much...I'd doze off, start snoring and wake myself up and five minutes later did it all over again. We made it back without Sara getting another ticket so we're calling it successful. By the way, we ran into Carol B. when we were at the front desk registering and then periodically over the weekend, but she was the only one there that we knew. But what a wonderful weekend, great teachers, great shopping, a huge success. Ron and Rae Iverson do a great job. I highly recommend this event. Oh, yea, while the class times are approximately 3-3 1/2 hrs in length, they give you plenty of breaks (during which you can get your choice of soda, tea, coffee or whatever to drink and cookies, lemon bars, etc. to eat). Also once the lecture or the demonstration is over and you know what you are doing you can also leave. They do have the classrooms open at night for anyone who wants to sit and stitch there. We took 2 days to drive home and that really worked out better. So we arrived home on Monday and I took Monday and Tuesday off to unwind and stitch. And now I'm back. And you know...it's great to be home.

I'm back.....

Whew...I've been buried under paperwork since the Jamboree ended plus I was physically and mentally exhausted. However, I'm almost back to normal (my normal, not anyone elses) and I'm ready to talk about it. Coming off of the Delaware Guild retreat we were a little tired, but set up for the Jamboree to come so that made it a tiny bit easier. We always close the hotel after the Delaware Guild retreat (not because of anything they did but to ready us for the Jamboree), however as we were about to breath and lock the doors Fran C. arrived early for the Jamboree. Unfortunately, we have to close for our own mental state to get ready, so Fran decided to go to another hotel and come back on Wednesday when we reopened. Debbie L. & Phyllis Y. came down on Tuesday to spend some time with Stasi B. before she left for home so we already had Jamboree attendees on site on Tuesday. Debbie and Phyllis come down a lot to it's like 'old home week' when they are on site. We have little retreats and stitch with them, well Sara does I'm usually home sleeping. Anyway, we worked all week getting food prepared. Sara was in charge of hors d'oevres and I was in charge of the lasagna dinner. I made so many pans of lasagna I don't care if I ever see it again, and the pasta salad...well I've had enough of that as well. It didn't help that all Wednesday night I was elbow deep in pasta only to find that I hadn't prepared enough so I went back to the store, bought more ingredients and started all day again on Thursday which is why I made the faux pas of "not picking up Jane Timmer from the airport." Yes, I said it, it was my fault, I left a designer standing at the airport so long that the security people at the airport asked her is she had missed her flight. She finally called the shop and when Debbie L. & Phyllis, who were standing there and heard the call, found out what I did they offered to go pick her up. When Sara called me at Food Lion and asked if I had the flight information on Jane, I knew I was knee deep in %$#@. I was so embarrassed, can you imagine inviting someone to your house, and then leaving them stranded. I just knew I was going to catch hell from Jane, but when I finally saw her and admitted that it was my mistake she was so gracious and kind and said it was alright (which we all know it wasn't but I'm grateful she didn't have any hard feeling towards me.) Anyway, that was the start of the Jamboree and as my mother always said, "a bad beginning makes for a great ending." And folks, it was the best. While we were hopping all weekend, it was such fun. Several stitchers arrived Thursday night and the drinking..oops, I meant networking began. In the lobby everyone met, had some wine, and talked needlework. And they brought food as well, Jody King brought her wonderful "honey bun cakes" and her potato chip cookies..., Pat Eaton brought her delicious pumpkin breads (9 loaves) for everyone to have some plus she brought rice krispie bars. Kay Owens, Judy Brunclik, Sue Quigg all brought the most delicious cookies to share with everyone and thankfully Sue let me keep the tins which I love to have at Christmas. Carol Reither brought pizzelles which reminds me of my dad as he loved them and Cynthia Radley brought me a gorgeous plate of cookies piled high and topped off with the cutest shortbread mold...a hornbook. While I didn't share that particular plate with anyone at Jamboree, I did share it with my home stitchers when we had our Stitch 'n Bitch on Tuesday following the weekend. I've also gone on their website to look at all the hornbook molds....www.houseonthehill.com...will take you there...it's amazing. There was plenty of show and tell with many of the ladies allowing me to display them all weekend in the shop: Jackie Janosky bringing her Stitcher's Treasure box smalls (Jeannette Douglas designs), Stacie Stinson and her mother Caroline, including M Designs "Christmas" and several Elizabeth Designs blue ribbon winners. Phyllis Yurack brought her "Bethlehem" from Imaginating that was striking, as well as the "Raven" by Cross Eyed Cricket and an On The Bay piece. Debbie Liming brought the first piece designed by Crescent Colours, "All in a Moon," Candi Whitehead brought in M Designs "Halloween Tree" and her mother Linda Wimbrow brought in Little House "Snowflakes", so we had quite a display in the shop and some of the stitchers brought show and tell and I'm not sure what anyone brought except Jean Crockett who brought in "Red Thread Series" by Bent Creek, beautifully framed ...good to see it finished...(I started it and that's about all I can say). Anyway, we had a great time during the weekend and the weather for both events was gorgeous...simply gorgeous...sunny and warm..bordering on hot...and we had several new stitchers attend. Remember the Fran I spoke of at the beginning of the blog...she turned out to be the designer behind "Legacy", and also in attendance was Patty Yergey who is the designer behind "Samplers Revisited," so we were hopping with designers. And the classes, oh my they were wonderful. Everyone loved the classes because they were taught new techniques (new to them) on putting smalls together. Lauren designed the cutest pillow for a miniature adirondack(included in kit) chair with a nautical theme along with the Md. State Flag done on a lumbar pillow for the mini chair. The ladies were stitching this long after the class ended so I know most of them will have this finished in no time. Jane Timmer did a nautical hanging pocket which was so perfect and continued with the nautical theme we love since we live on the beach. Several of the stitchers were also stitching away on her piece in the lobby after class. And Eileen taught different stitches, blackwork, pulled work, etc., on two smalls which rounded out the weekend perfectly. In fact, the stitchers all requested all 3 of these ladies back, and many requested a weekend with Jane teaching her 2 day notebook course. Which, by the way, I have contacted Jane and she is available so I will be setting this up for spring. I also intend to have all three join us again if they can, for another Jamboree. I managed to get my exchange gift with Theresa Wood's done...I took the design off of Shepherd's Bush "Sail Away" and put the scene on the top of a box, lined the inside of the box with "When this you see remember me" along with the date and OCSJ. I stitched her initial and a motif on the bottom of the box along with an over one scissor fob (the sailboat from the scene) and a girl holding a spy glass was on the front of the needlebook. The biggest thing for me was in the finishing which as we all know I hate doing. But I completed it by end of day on Saturday and exchanged with her that night. I'm sorry I didn't get a picture of my pieces for you, but I do have her pieces to me to show. Which I will do upon my return from the Moss Creek Retreat...O.K., I'm on the darn phone with IRS so you can only imagine the fire coming out of every pore in my body...I'm multitasking like crazy so I can get out of here before midnight. Anyway, I've received notices periodically from IRS regarding what they feel I owe regarding a 940 form from 1998. Yes, I said 1998. I have sent them copies of every form from 1998, numerous times, think it is straight and in a couple of years get the same letter. I've been playing this game for several years but lately it's been coming more frequently. In August I sent them the forms yet again, along with letters from April 2008 and 2007 letters. The first of October I got a letter saying they were looking into the situation and would let me know. A couple of days letter I got a letter of intent to levy the assets. So today, I thought it might be prudent to call them. You can imagine the response I've gotten. Paul answers asking me if I'm having a nice day. Now really, if I'm calling IRS you can bet it is not a great day for me...or I dare say anyone else. So I tell Paul what my problem is...after answering 15 questions to verify I'm actually who I say I am...and he looks into the problem and says "What forms were you sending?" To which I replied, "Every form I fill out, not only federal but the state forms as well, just so you can verify the same figures are being reported." To which he says, "there is the problem." We aren't saying you didn't pay your Federal taxes...we are saying the State of Maryland shows you didn't pay your state taxes for 1998. So then I ask, "wouldn't the State of Maryland have been contacting me regarding lack of payment if I hadn't paid them? And why are you contacting me for State money?" Now it's not like IRS isn't confused enough, now they are monitoring the State...now wonder our government is so slow. Anyway, he informs me that I have to get recertification from the State showing that I've paid the 1998 taxes. And then he says, we have monies of yours which we don't know what to do with from 2006 (I notice they never contacted me on this) which shows it is suppose to be put toward the 943 form which is agricultural, are you a farm? I said no, that can't be...I make quarterly payments to PNC and they must have processed it incorrectly and that should have gone on Form 941. Well, for some reason that didn't work for him so he kept saying "you need to let us know what we are to do with that money." I kept saying put it into the fica account to which he replied, you need to let us know what to do with that money...to which I wanted to reply, "shove it up your butt...however, I could use the $1000 so I remained silent and said, "Look, I can only deal with the first issue since there is an intent to levy...I'll deal with that money issue later." Then I call the State of Maryland (oh, yea, my day just gets better and better) and I go through the whole explanation with her and you could have knocked me over when she said, "So you need a recertification letter?" Yes, I said, exactly, by the way, if I owed the State money would they not have contacted me? To which she said, if they felt you owed it they would. So while this is complete absolution...I do think we're getting close. While I was on the phone with IRS they did mention they didn't get my 2007 940 form and I should send that along. This is the first I've heard of this....perhaps I'll be hearing about that in 2017. Anyway, I've got to run and start coping all my IRS forms so they don't levy my ass...etts....so I'm ending here and of course tomorrow I head off to Hilton Head for my Moss Creek retreat with Sara so wish me a Bon Voyage and I'll let you know when I return what a grand old time we had. Have a great weekend and keep those needles moving.

What fun we had...sorry if you missed it!

Delaware Valley Guild is now just a pleasant memory, but what a good time we had. Some new faces were with the group, but many of the old faces were here so we felt right at home. I had been warned by my Sara that I wasn't to intrude on the guild since it wasn't an event we were hosting so I tried to restrain myself, but they were very kind to say that I was invited to sit with them and stitch if I wanted...which I wanted but had no strength to do but you can believe my mouth was flapping (I know you all find that hard to believe). The projects that these stitchers were working on were fabulous....big pieces, like Long Dog Samplers, no little one night projects for these stitchers. The weather was gorgeous...sunny, not real hot and during the day not too cold, so the stitchers were able to sit outside on the rockers for a while each day to stitch. All the stitchers were excited to meet Ruth Sparrow (designer Behind Twisted Threads) who along with Stasi Buhrman (she ran Ruth's shop when she lived in Ohio) were having a mini retreat here and helped Sara and I with this retreat. In fact, Ruth and Stasi cut fabric for me during the retreat (thank God!). Debbie H. from Enfield, Ct., brought me the most gorgeous roll-up for needlework...the colours were so lush, deep burgundy prints...wonderful which I've already got in use as we speak. I had admired hers last year so was surprised and thrilled when she brought me one as a gift. There were some new faces this year at the retreat and it's always nice when newbies are included. Our own Linda W. joined Stacy S. this year and Jean M. a firecracker in her 70's was attending and she was the spirit of the event. She was so much fun to be around. While I had warned everyone about my Thursday night T.V. schedule, I slipped out early exhausted which was a good thing because Sara told me the next day that they didn't even watch Survivor they watched Ugly Betty....now you know if I was there that would not have happened. Good thing I left. Anyway, ladies it was a pleasure to have you here and a lot of fun to boot!

Windy but beautiful

Yes, the wind will darn near blow you away, but the sun is shining and it's a beautiful day here in Ocean City. The waves are kicking up a bit, but who cares, I'm not going swimming anyway. Yesterday marked the beginning of the second season here in Ocean City. Sunfest which was held Thursday thru Sunday of last week marked the official end of the summer season. And were we busy, good Lord, the folks were here and they were shopping. Debbie L. was here for a convention, and Phyllis Y. also came down and we had a mini retreat over the weekend, so I'm now officially back on track. I don't know how that is possible since I don't think I stitched one thing, but my mind was on track and I was thinking of picking up a needle, it's just that hands weren't connecting with my brain. But...when I got up each morning I stitched like a banshee (I'm assuming they too stitch) from about 4:30 a.m.-8:30 a.m. So folks, it's official...I'm back to stitching. The problem now is I'm so backed up (with stitching that is) that figuring out what to pick up next is a problem. I'm swamped with fabric, patterns, etc., and still have so many unfinished projects...HELP!!!! And much to my surprise, I got treats from the girls...and we all know I love my treats. Phyllis brought me the cutest tins, and there were probably 5 of them in the bag (and thank God they still had the chocolate in them). They are so cute and a few of them in different sizes in the shape of a hershey kiss....and then a couple of square tins from Hershey. I can't wait to stitch something for them...it's going to be special. Thanks Phyllis, and Debbie, brought me a pattern that I was dying for and have checked ebay for almost a year a few times a week to see if anyone was trying to sell it. It's a Just Nan stitching case done on pink gingham linen...cute cute and cuter. She also brought me a Merry Cox kit (yes the fabric and thread was in it)... and the Kelmscott Needle minder with the seahorse....all I can say is "SCORE". I am humbled by the generosity of stitchers. Thanks Debbie, I love my new stash. I'll take it one day at a time, but first I still have to finish Theresa W's jamboree ornament/whatever. Debbie brought down many of her almost finished projects, she's been working like a dog...and Phyllis brought down her sheep with every one of his blankets done (well 2 she finished here), and she brought her On The Bay piece which was beautifully stitched. I love their trees, and the finished piece looked just like the oil paintings you see in older Victorian homes. I loved it. And Debbie (also like a child with shiny objects apparently...decided to start and almost finished the new Crescent Color kit with the quarter moon and alphabet. I couldn't believe how quickly she stitched that because she was actually here for a seminar for work). Yesterday as Debbie and Phyllis were saying good bye in walked Shiela F. & Trudy E. to start their retreat. And...they brought gifts for Sara, Mary and me. They brought us black and white cookies from Wegman's. Needless to say, it took me less than 30 seconds to rip into the packaging and take a bite...oh, my these are good. I did hold my self back and ate only 1 yesterday...God only knows what I'll eat today...in fact I'm going back now to get one so I have the strength to finish this blog. My God...we have become a retreat hotel...and thank God. There isn't a stitcher in the world who would cause any problems (or is there), so we love our stitchers. So yesterday afternoon we had show and tell with them (well we didn't show anything, but we were very good about looking at theirs). My God, Shiela must have done 20 ornaments for Christmas gifts...gorgeous and so much work involved. And she finished them herself...beautiful! Trudy brought a Betsy Stinner piece that was lovely as all Betsy's pieces are. She also brought a stained glass piece by Stoney Creek and inserted in their frame and it too was striking, and then she brought out a tray in which she had inserted an iris done on canvas...exquisite. You know after viewing all this beautiful stitching, I was even in more of a mood to stitch so Sara told me to skip working the desk and go on home, which I did so I could get stitching...and I stitched. I see the light at the end of the Theresa Wood tunnel, but it's still a distance away. I really feel I might just complete this before Jamboree...I know I can, I know I can. Now...I've filled you in on stitching, but now I have to rant about something. At the store our policy on closing is...if you are in the shop when we close, you have the right to shop as long as you want. O.K., that said, if you are in the shop after it closes, I mean any shop, would you not feel a little urgency to finish shopping and get out? Well, the two women yesterday felt no such urgency. They strolled around, and talked, and strolled some more and then while one of them looked around the other came to the counter to fascinate me with her tales...which so didn't do the trick. First as so many like to tell me, "I've done one of everything in your store." Well first of all that's a load of crap, even I haven't done one of everything, and frankly judging by the 2 things which she purchased, she wouldn't buy anything over the price of $7.00 to begin with. I mean she talked about needing a new pair of readers until she saw the price was $13.00 and then she decided that was too expensive. And it wasn't so much what she said as the fact that when she said it her eyes rolled back (almost to the back of her head) and her mouth would go into the strangest shape so I was so distracted by that I couldn't quite focus on what she was saying, so I was a mess by the time these ladies left the shop, and tired I have to say. I was thankful it was my last day in the shop this week. I'm just too tired and definitely need a break. It is now Saturday night and I'm finishing up some of the work on my desk...long overdue. I can't figure out how it keeps accumulating...I get it down and the next day it's piled up again. anyway, Shiela and Trudy left today so we are without retreaters at the moment, however, Staci B. and Ruth S. are due in next week along with the stitchers from the Delware Valley Guild...oh, we're excited. Now, I would be remiss if I didn't discuss Survivor which had it's 2 hour debut on Thursday (I think it was). Anyway, how long has this show been on...7 or 8 years and wouldn't you think by now that each person who wants to try out would be watching every episode for tips? Well, apparently Jan (I think her name was) missed all 7 years or the idiot would have know to pick strong men and not pick mothers like herself. For God's sake people you are challenged in strength categories most of the time and who does she pick for her team...every weak person she laid her eyes on. Now that doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with those people...I'm sure they are lovely, but if winning a million dollars depends on your winning challenges based on strength...well so long mom and hello to the big strapping dude standing next to her. Now having said that, she is certainly not the only loose nut that was on her team (they got rid of her 2nd so they won't be able to blame her any longer)...there are a few weak players on that team...in fact, this is going to be a season where I feel the other team will win every challenge. So much for the 60 year olds. You know what is truly sad...I looked at her and thought, my I would never even consider doing this at her age, kudos to this woman, and then they said her age....60...the same as me. I thought the woman was older than I was.... I'm beginning to think perhaps I should look in a mirror and be truthful to myself. I never think of myself as 60...I'm not sure how old I really think I am...but never 60. I also look at the ladies around me who are 60, and I went to school with and they don't look 60 either to me. Am I lying to myself or what? I do live in a fairy wonderland (or at least it seems that way at times). Oh, by the way, the needlework show is still on-line although I think Sunday may be the last day....so if you want to see some new stuff, take a look. They even have a company where they use 4 letter words I'm never allowed to use (although I do)...but I found it shocking to think someone would actually stitch the "F" word and hang it up somewhere. I can't imagine doing such a thing....not that it's wrong should any of you do it. Maybe I'd do it as a joke...no, I don't think I would want anyone thinking I'd stitch it or hang it. I may be a prude...I'll let you know! I'm going to publish this tonight since I've been writing it since the beginning of the week. Have a great Sunday, come on down when you get a chance because there aren't so many people here now.

Some of us are crazier than others...and I think I've found the craziest one of all!

It's been a while and people are starting to question what's happened to me, but I'm fine, I've just been in the shop morning, noon and night, however, Wednesday night was my last evening shift and now I'll just cover Renee's shift until next week and then I'll be back to normal (well, whatever I consider normal). First the weather update....we did fine during last weeks hurricane, which truth be told was nothing but a little wind down here. We saw very little rain and certainly not the rain that usually comes with this kind of storm, and I have to say the guests in Ocean City didn't even bother to leave town. They were out and about even in the windest of moments (which by the way is not a safe thing to do because there is flying debris). We even opened for half a day in the shops and then I said the heck with it, let's take a day off (half day off) and Pat and I closed up and went home. This week the weather hasn't been the best. While it hasn't rained it's been overcast every day and we've seen the sun only once late in the afternoon, but I have to tell you that didn't stop the Bike Week bikers. My God, there are millions of them (or does it just seem that way?) But these are not the "hells angels" bikers, they are your next door neighbor kind of bikers (mostly..there are just a few who look like they could qualify for the hells angels though). And while it's really noisy with the engines being reved for 40 minutes before they pull out of the parking spot, it's all in good fun and we'll live through it. Now my crazy lady story...I have had an unfortunate event take place....it's really aggravating more than anything, no it's not so much aggravating as irratating.... and I can tell you I have found someone who could qualify for the craziest person I've met...no I haven't met her so she's just crazy, and I do mean certifiable....but that's just my opinion. Now I'll let you form your own opinion. Judy T. and Debbie L. had flown to Ireland last year to take a C.A. Wells class. Judy just loved her and has taken several classes from her. Debbie also enjoyed the class and was looking forward to another as well. So I decided to try to get C.A. down here to teach. Now getting in touch with her is like contacting the Pope...you know she's there but you have to jump through hoops. The one time I finally got in touch with her she couldn't talk because she was on her way to Europe (I have found that's her reasoning every time you are fortunate or perhaps that's unfortunate enough to get in touch with her.) Anyway, long story short I handed the job of getting this woman down here to Sara because after a couple of weeks of e-mailing and messages on her answering machine I was less than thrilled to deal with her. So Sara started the process. She did speak with her (just a moment though as she was leaving for Europe...I don't know why the hell she answers the phone is she's on the way out the door to Europe, and if she isn't on her way out, then she has 5 minutes to discuss her class.) So...she agreed to come and then it was time to pick what we wanted to do. That actually went smoothly...about the only thing that did. (another shop owner had given me a warning about C.A., so I was always expecting trouble). Last week Sara got an e-mail or call asking us how many attendees we had coming so she could get her supplies ordered before her (you guessed it) trip to Europe. So Sara informed her that at this point we had 13 attendees, however, we were having 2 big events in the next month and we felt certain that we could get the 2 more she said she needed, but we couldn't guarantee it...so we said 13. She said, "Oh Sara I am sorry to cancel but I have to have 15 students in EACH class. With the travel and materials and time/expense it just doesn't make sense to teach for less than a full class. Again, I am sorry to cancel---I was so looking forward to meeting you and Sally." (that is the e-mail she sent) So I e-mailed her and I said, "I'm curious to know C.A. exactly what expense are you incurring since I pay all your transporation costs, food, lodging, the fee to have you teach here for the weekend, and the kits, so what fees are you speaking of?" And her reply was....get ready for this.... "the expense of my time." She cancelled because 13 people apparently isn't worth traveling here to teach...2 more would have made it worth her time. Now this people, is the craziest thing I have ever heard (and I've heard a lot), so C.A. Wells, becomes the craziest woman, in my opinion, especially in the needlework field (and again, I've meet some doozies). The expense of her time...I'm not sure I'll ever get over her telling me that. I had Ruth Sparrow teach here when there were only 6 or 8 of us at the time. I've never once had a teacher care if there were 2 or 20...they get paid the same fee/hour or day whether there are 2 0r 20. So what the hell difference does it make for God's sake. Well to C.A. Wells, the difference between coming and not coming. Now you may wonder why I didn't just lie and say 15, well first, because I shouldn't have to...and secondly, I would have had to pay for the 6 kits and if you don't attend the class she doesn't let you keep the kits...so she would have had the money for 6 kits which would have been back in her hands to resell. I think it's a shame in an industry which is struggling to keep people interested and involved, and bring new people in, that this woman has this elitest attitude. However, she does, she's out and everyone who did sign on for the weekend will be receiving their deposits back. And that's my crazy lady story for the day. Fortunately, she is the only person I have had contact with who has used that excuse. So the next time IRS sends me a letter saying they need a copy of something I'm just going to write them back and say it wasn't worth the expense of my time to search for it.... Saturday morning...well another night of Harleys zooming down the street and I could deal with that, but the Harley next door which they reved up for at least 20 minutes this morning right outside my window...well, that was a bit much and now I want them gone...gone I say...as I have a monster head ache from it all. And our "stalker" is back once again so my Sara is freaking out. As you may know, we have lost all but one of our foreign workers...and while at this point it's almost a relief, that does mean that we, the few that are left, are having to do multiple jobs. Add that to having Renee out for a week means I am unavailable since I've been in the shop for both shifts and Sara has had to man her shop and there are days where Vernon has to man his shop and Mary is stuck at the desk and has Solomon. And of course we don't have the luxury of Roy in the laundry room since he had the nerve to pass away in June. The children were very optomistic in June but by September that optomistism has turned to pessimism and I can tell you it's been tough keeping the ship afloat. So when a fresh face (I use the term loosely) showed up asking for a job, Sara and Mary jumped at the chance to get someone doing the yard work and laundry room. This young man is from Nepal, and no offense to Nepal, the only 3 other workers from there were fired with a weeks time, so I wasn't holding out too much hope for this guy, and it's a good thing. Vernon and Sara would show him how to do something, like fold a towel, and they would go back into the laundry room a few minutes later and he couldn't seem to get it right...folding a towel mind you! Forget about sheets, he just rolled them in a ball apparently. From day one I kept saying, "Get rid of him...we only have a few more weeks, Renee will be back next week and I'll take the laundry room...but get rid of him..." but Vernon who wouldn't fire you no matter what you did, kept saying, "no I think he'll get it." So I was up in the shop yesterday (where else) and Vernon comes storming in with steam coming out of his ears and says, "Get his paycheck ... he's too stupid to work here." I asked what he had done this time and apparently Vernon thought perhaps he was capable to painting one of the rockers out front that we use on our porches. Well, apparently he was wrong. Sara says and I quote..."Mom, you know those fake candles they sell which has the dripping wax running down the sides...well that's what the chair looks like...big blobs of paint running all over the place down the rocker and since he was painting in the little bit of sun we had...it's hard so now we have a rocker which has to be sanded down (more work) and repainted completely." So...you would think that firing the young man would be the end....but then you would be so wrong. He refused to take the paycheck so Vernon ended up telling him to take it and leave or Vernon was just going to throw it on the ground and close the door (which is what happened) and then he hung out at the laundry room door for an hour or so just waiting for it to be opened so he could once more ask for a job. This went on for a few times until Vernon threatened to call the police. Last night as Natalie was clocking out she said, "there's a guy from Nepal standing in the hallway who is looking for a job." So Sara looks out and it's him again. It's starting to freak Sara out so I said, "Go tell him we don't need him as we have already hired someone else." So Sara and I walked out and she told him what I said, and he kept asking her to please hire him back and she kept saying, "I don't have a job for you we have someone else doing the job." The problem with the foreign students is they don't understand what you are saying...the problem with this guy is ... well we haven't decided yet, except he doesn't take rejection well. The problem last night is ... a tenant was in the lobby and Sara calling the guy a "stalker" certainly didn't do anything to keep the tenant calm, however, he went out back to see where the "stalker" went because he was concerned for Sara and myself. To me it's all in a days work, but to Sara and the tenant, well, it isn't. So Sara calls Vernon to get him in on it...or to wake him up, I'm not sure. So then Vernon comes down. Now it's time for me to go home, so Sara says, "I'm walking mom out, but make sure you have a walkie talkie on you in case." I said, jokingly, "Get out the stun gun Vernon." And the next thing I knew Vernon was also walking me out. Now I was feeling a little edgy...but I made it home safely, and since everything is where I left it, Sara and Vernon also made it through the night. It's a new day...I can only anticipate the madness that will be our lives today...in the meantime....it's good to be back...and I'll talk to you soon. Thanks for all the e-mails asking if I was alright...good to know I'd be missed if something did happen. Have a great day...here it is perfect, Lots of sun, some humidity but not high, a slight breeze coming off the ocean...yes, it's almost paradise if you were in Motorcycle heaven.

Last Weekend of the year....

It's finally hear and yet it's still hard to believe that it's over. It seems like we just celebrated the 4th. I say this with just a touch of sadness...because no matter how aggravated I get with parents, and with people calling DMC string...I will still miss the friends we've made through stitching. But, on the other hand I get to see my in town friends again, friends who can't visit often in the summer and I'll be glad to see them again. The days of rushing about are about over and we will be back to our laid back ways in Ocean City. People who move here from the city just can't understand how anything gets done here. And while it's improved greatly over the past years, you will still be scratching your head if you hire one of the "old school" people to do work for you. For down here the call of the ocean has caused even the most efficient people to take time to look at the ocean, go surfing during the day and leave work for later...after all it's not going anywhere. Someone years ago said to me, "I called the plumber and he said he would be here on Tuesday...it's now Wednesday and we still haven't seen him." My reply, "Did he say which Tuesday." Because down here when they use to say Tuesday they meant it, but if the surf was good, Tuesday this week would become Tuesday of next week. We were use to it, but new people just scratched their head at the way we worked. I frankly miss the old days, where you knew everyone and everyone knew you. Of course growing up here that was a definite disadvantage, but as an adult it just felt good. Ocean City is no longer that sleepy little village I knew, it's become a major city in Maryland, at least in the summer, and it's a sleeping giant in the winter, with crowds on the weekends and then Mondays back to just locals. When I was growing up in Ocean City we had one movie theatre only open on Weekends and never showed anything but Grade D movies...just awful but how we loved going. Now we have multi plex theatres with all the latest movies and I haven't set foot in a theatre in years. Last time we took one of the girls and a friend and it was Rob (the jackass) and myself, it cost $40....of course that included popcorn for us and a drink...but $40. I was appalled so now I buy the DVD and pop my own darn popcorn and open my drink from the supermarket and it's a lot cheaper....plus I don't have to put up with people talking, whispering, kids shouting at the screen and running up and down the aisles...yes, I can watch it again and again if I want, yes, I do not yearn for the good old days when I went to the movies. COMCAST UPDATE: When poor Mary showed up for work yesterday and I told her what happened with my cable she of course, blamed herself and took on the Comcast offices. She called for a supervisor who wasn't in, and ended up talking with the person to whom she had spoken regarding the disconnect of her cable. He then talked to someone, told her a supervisor would call her back and he actually did (what a shocker). The long and short, after she got done telling him he was going to lose my business...he got them to go back to my house and reconnect the cable...and I didn't have to be there. Now my question is...if I didn't have to be there in the first damn place, why the hell did I go through all that crap with that idiot on the phone. This is the type of thing that drives me right up the friggin wall. I explained the entire situation to the person I spoke to and she starts talking about her damn aunt sitting at her house for her. Honestly, where the hell did customer service go? Have you seen any lately? I hope you have if you've been in our shop. I know Barbara C. saw it today when Renee waited on her. Renee said Barbara was being very patient as Renee got hit with a return, sale and the bracelet going on all at once. In fact it wore Renee out...she had to sit a spell to get over the excitment. But I'm sure there are times when people thing we don't have good customer service. And I include myself here...I get screwed up at times and forget something I was suppose to do...or I'm too tired to really get that smile on my face when you walk in...I have good intentions when I arrive at work at 9:00 a.m., but by 4:00 p.m. I'm starting to show wear and tear, and by 9:00 p.m. forget about it, I'm done...stick a fork in me because people I am done for the day...I'm on remote at that point and waiting for the door to close, which if you noticed this year is happening 15 minutes early. It use to be that I would sit there until 11:00 p.m. if you were looking (didn't even matter if you were purchasing anything)...I would wait for you to be done. This year, I lock up at 9:45 p.m. and that's it. I don't ask you to leave, but no one gets in the door after that. And this year I've been in the office closing out things by 10:15 or 10:30 p.m. And of course in the hotel we've had our moments. Did I tell you about the women last weekend who reserved a room for 5 and then brought 6. If you have never been here our rooms are small, we're not a Holiday Inn kind of place. These buildings were built in the 1928 and back then rooms were small. So while all the rooms have a private bath, a/c, etc., they sleep just 2 or 4 (in some rooms we can put a cot or crib for the 5th person). Anyway, these two idiots came in after calling for directions all the way from New York...we heard from them every hour giving us their location...then they get to 8th Street and can't figure out where we are. There are 2 hotels on 8th and the boardwalk..we're right next to each other, but some people just can't figure this out. (DUH!!!!) Any way we talk her in and here they come with the grandson from hell who they spend the entire time screaming at. Joey don't do this, Joey don't do that...honestly, next time leave Joey home. Anyway, Sara sees they have 6 people so she says, (and since I was a witness I can report she was very pleasant...probably because I was a witness)...anyway she says, "I see you have 6 people so I can't put you in the room you asked for but I do have a suite which will accommodate you." They asked how much it was and then said, well that's a lot more than the other room and we want the other room. So Sara explained fire codes, etc., and said again the room will not accommodate 6 people. She looked at me and I mouthed "get them the hell out of here" so she told them that since there was no deposit on the room they could certainly go somewhere else as there were plenty of vacancies in town. They were indignant that we would suggest they go elsewhere since they thought that had a room here. Sara explained for the 3rd time that they could have a room here just not a room that will only hold 5 people. So the grandmother decides to call her daughter who actually made the reservations (the daughter back in New York). Now I've met plenty of New Yorkers in my life...in fact Ellen S. lives in New York city and she's really lovely, friendly, goes with the flow, follows the rules, she and her Husband Sweeney both do. Sweeney is a retired New York Policeman. So believe me I know there are plenty of wonderful New Yorkers...but people, these are the New Yorkers that they stereotype in the Movies. The grandmother was a screamer over everything the kid did. She didn't know how to talk...she just screamed. And they didn't listen to anything you said to them. They were on a one track course and could seem to swerve off of it. Then the daughter calls me...and she says "Yes I have a reservation at your hotel and my mother tried to check in and you told her she couldn't have a room." I said, "Excuse me, but you mother was told that because there were 6 people they couldn't have the room you reserved but we do have a suite which will accommodate 6 people." And then this idiot says, "I forgot about 1 person, so you are going to penalize my mother because I forgot one person." Folks we at the Lankford are like IRS (who's fighting me too...a whole other story)..if you count these children when you file your taxes, then we count them too. She went on about her poor mother and the children were standed in Ocean City with no where to stay, at which time I said, "Madam you mother is not stranded, she has been on the phone outside for over 1/2 hr. calling every hotel in town, all of which have offered her rooms and she is still trying to find the cheapest alternative." She then hung up the phone and we haven't heard from them since. Yes ... these are the times I won't miss...Anyway, it's after 10 p.m. and I've got cable back so I'm heading home to watch T.V. before they cut it off again. Have a great day.

Cable Companies are the new pain in my butt...

Yes, I arrived home last night at 10:30 p.m., tired and looking for to another reality program on Bravo and got the surprise when I turned on T.V. to see that I had no cable. At first my mind went instantly to "did I pay the bill" and then I knew I had since there were no bills sitting on my desk (O.K., no old bills). But since it was 10:30 p.m. I popped in a movie and moved on. This morning after arriving at work, I called Comcast and explained that I had no cable and that they had turned it off when they turned off Mary's (she's gone the direct T.V. route). Now, apparently they can disconnect without me being at home, but to reconnect, well I have to be there during their "window". So I said, "I work 7 days a week...I am not home for 3 hours at a time during the day." So she says, "Well, we can schedule it on Saturday...let me find 3 hours..." to which I replied, "Well, I believe Saturday would fall within the 7 day work week and like I said, I work." To which she says, "Well, anyone can be there, it doesn't have to be you." So I tell her, "there is no one there but me and I work." So she says, "Well, when I can't be at my house my Aunt comes and sits there for me." Now isn't that lovely...I'm not sure was she saying her aunt would come sit at my house for me? But now I'm digging in my heels.."Well, I don't have an aunt or anyone else that can do that for me." So she says, "Well we can't put in a service call without someone in the house." So I said, "Well put in for a disconnect then since you've already done that without me in the house and disconnect the internet service as well and stop sending me bill." She says fine and then switches me to disconnect who wants to know if they can forward my service to another address and have it connected before I get there. O.K., so you can connect my service to another address prior to my arriving, but you can't connect me to the house I live in and have lived in for years because I'm not home? I'm not getting this people...is it me? Anyway, the end result...I've disconnected my cable! There will be movies in my future until I move home....or reading both of which I like. And let's face it, how much time am I really awake at home...very little. This should be an interesting process. No reality...no, my reality for the next 5-6 weeks. We'll see who breaks first...(I'm not taking any bets on this one.) It's been a couple of hours since I started the blog, I was winding down from my rant when I got the mail and what was in the damn bag...my Comcast bill. That put me over the edge once again so I sent my Comcast a letter telling them exactly what I thought of them. We all know how much they are going to care...but now I'm seriously thinking about turning to Direct TV. I just can't make up my mind...so I will be without T.V. for a few days while I ponder Direct TV and longer if I go back to Comcast (bastards that they are).

Good Lord, it's hot, muggy and I'm tired!

Yes, it is hot, humid, muggy and generally not a pleasant time for those of us who are height challenged (in normal talk that means fat). I'm telling you it's hard to breath in this weather and where the hell is the 66 degrees at night? If I didn't turn on my a/c I'd be dead! Anyway, we've started the slow down in Ocean City as we slide into Labor Day. At night I've been able to stitch some (that's exciting for me since I haven't finished Theresa's little surprise), but I do have a hard time staying awake, and pleasant, forget about that...if I even acknowledge you at this point it's a mistake. I can't smile anymore...don't know where that went, perhaps when I heard the 3 millionith person call the DMC threads ... string! That is, and I do not lie, what I've heard people call this for the last 3 days. Where are my stitchers I ask? String...obviously not stitchers. And the questions..oh, my God and then my favorite question..."Do you do O.K. here?" I just love that, like they really give a crap whether or not I do alright...I'm not talking stitchers, I'm talking about people who have no interest, walking through, and felt that was an appropriate thing to ask. Needless to say, they don't get much of a response...I do acknowledge them however, under my breathe I call them assholes...that's acknowledgement isn't it? And because I'm such a lady I do it under my breath instead of out loud, at least I don't think it's out loud. I'm starting to have a stage whisper (translated that means normal talking voice) like my mother had. I always had to watch what I said around her because you never new what she was going to say and while she thought she was whispering, she said it out loud and then if I said, "Mother the entire store can hear you." She always answered that no one could hear her because she was whispering. (God love her, she was clueless when it came to this). We once went into a store and I noticed that an ex-neighbor's wife was working there. Now this girl was crazier than a "bedbug" so I was warning mother not to say anything about her. So as we approach her things are going well, we both say hello and chat for a second and I'm thinking, Great we made it without mother saying anything to embarrass me and then she struck. As we are about 1 foot away from her mother says, "She doesn't seem as crazy now does she?" I'm telling you I could have put a muzzle on her at that point and yet she thought she whispered it while I could have been standing in the next room and heard her. Well, I have become my mother after all. In some ways that's great and in others...well, let's just say it's not great! I just wish I'd gotten her cleanning gene...that woman would make your bed if you got up to go to the bathroom...while I sleep on top of the bed so I don't have to make it. And you know my theory on dust....it's protective covering for the furniture, only to be discarded when company's coming...which I won't invite over because I don't want to take the protective covering off the furniture. It's a vicious cycle! Yesterday I was in Sea Trader hell from 10-4 and then Salty Yarns from 4-10..long days putting up with White Star Tours...yes they are in town again and looking for their ever elusive bargains. They must think Ocean City is an outlet...they don't even bother to come in, they open the door yell, "Anything on sale?" and if you answer no they just close the door and move on. I'm not sure they even care what you sell, but then does anyone. We've been asked for cigarettes, band aides, well, you name it we've been asked.

Old Friends and new....

Now that the summer is winding down, I want to say thanks to all the stitchers who stopped by the shop and introduced themselves. When you came in and asked if I was Sally, "the writer of the blog" my first instint was to lie because I'm a bit embarrassed by my rantings, but in the end I did admit who I was because I do take responsibility for what I write, good and bad. But it's a wonderful feeling to have people tell me they get a laugh, because that is what I hope you get out of it. I'm not bashing anyone or any group really, just pointing out the reality of what I experience. So thanks to Kathy C. who was here over the weekend for stopping by. Kathy actually stays at the hotel to be closer to the shop..you can't get any closer than that unless we start putting cots in the shop for you to sleep on (and don't even suggest it or I might do it.). I can't believe in 2 weeks it's Labor Day and summer will have ended as far as I'm concerned. We'll still be open at night for a while, but the crowds are already gone as families are preparing to get their children back into school. Last night in the shop it was so lonely, very few people came in...well, people came in but only to stop me from playing with my DS..they weren't really shopping. And might I add, I've had people coming behind my counter lately and I have to tell you that annoys me. One woman last night while paying was closer to the cash drawer than I was...I'm not kidding she was standing over it as I was trying to get her the change. And she saw nothing wrong with it. Most people come out of the fog and realize they are behind the counter, apologize and move away, but this woman...she was there until the transaction was over...and I was really annoyed, so if you come in to the shop, please don't do that or I might have to open a "can of Whoopass" on you (I just had to say that...I love that saying). Oh yea, let me ask that you please don't try charging 10 cents in our stores...yes, 10 cents. In the shop, Shell Stocked, someone actually charged 10 cents. Sara about passed out when the bag came upstairs and she found that little surprise. While we have never put an amount on what the base level charge should be...I'm pretty sure no one would allow anyone to charge only 10 cents and people if you don't have 10 cents with you...then don't shop for anything small that would cost under $5. For God's sake give the merchants a chance to make some money...by the time the bank takes their cut, and the charge company takes their cut...there's nothing left from 10 cents. It's been a few days and I'm back and madder than a wet hen. We have watched the building next door slowly turn a corner of their property into a dumping site...and I do mean dumping. Since June they have accummulated 3 sofa beds, a toilet, a stove hood, and several wooden platforms. We've waited for the city to do something, especially since the sofa beds were not partially sitting on city property. We watched city workers drive by everyday and still in 3 months no one made a move. So this week we went into action. Sara started by calling city hall (a crap shoot if ever there was one). They passed her to waste management (right department but with a glitch) who told her to call to have it picked up. The glitch...if you call the city to pick up your trash they charge you. So Sara explained that we didn't own the property, we wanted the city to come and speak with the owners and get the situation taken care of. Now before you think.."why didn't you just go to the owners of the property"...they are not people that we have been able to deal with in the past...they own all the Sunsation T-shirt stores on the East Coast and couldn't care less about anyone but themselves..and they certainly don't care what their properties look like,"...hence we have to contact the city. So the waste management rep then connected us with the building inspector's office...which makes no sense since it wasn't a building problem. But we went alone merrily thinking someone would do something (how foolish of us). So they said they'd send the building inspector out and we knew it was a dead end since this is the same man who let the building on the other side of us put in windows which weren't up to code. But we went along, after 2 days I called and went through the same bull crap! We waited another 2 days and then I really got mad and e-mailed every council person, the mayor and every head of every department in the city telling them I had enough, and someone better do something. Well, we got action people...however, having said that only two of the council people responded, the only women on the council and two heads of departments, Hal Adkins and Sam Villani, and I'm grateful for them all. Hal got his men on it first thing this morning and had the whole mess cleaned up in no time. Meanwhile the mayor e-mailed me telling me he had riden his bike past it several times so he knew all about it. What a jackass!!!! Knew about it but didn't deam it important enough to do anything....unbelievable. And who was he contacting...Director of planning and building...like that's the right department. Honestly, this guy doesn't have a clue! He did give me a slight reprimand (like I give a crap) over my remarks regarding the building inspector who I suggested was on the take...perhaps I didn't suggest it but just down right stated it. I'm sure that remark will come back to bite me in the ass...but I don't give a damn. Anyway, I serious believe several people are on the take down here but I can assure you not Margaret Pillas, Nancy Howard , Sam Villani, or Hal Adkins. Governments are no longer for the people or by the people but have become more "them against us." It's time we took it back....from local to federal. Needless to say I'm feeling a little better not having to look at the dump out my back door. Yes, it's returning to Paradise once again...the air is cooler, the breeze is back, the ocean is churned up but lovely and sparkling...the beaches aren't as crowded...and I got my car back (o.k. I'm $900 poorer, but my car is back). Life is grand once again. I hope it's great for you too...have a great weekend....talk to you soon.

It's almost over.........

Summer is winding down and for Sara and myself that comes with a mixed blessing, while we are all exhausted and short tempered by this time of year, in the off season our finances are not as free flowing as they are in summer, but if we have to choose one or the other, Sara chooses less money, while I choose summer. But at 60, I'm definitely tired and looking forward to sleeping in and going home early. What I won't miss, people sitting on my steps and arguing using every cuss word in the English language. You know, my mother always said "Don't hang your dirty clothes out for other people to see, " and I've some what lived by that rule. Now you may be thinking..."I don't think so." But I do because while I will reveal what I think is funny or aggravating in my life, I don't reveal everything...really I don't. but listening to men scream at the women in their life has always aggravated me, and is what prompts me to say to the men, "you need to keep each other in check, and when you see one of your fellow men abusing verbal or otherwise, a woman you need to step up and say, that is no way to talk to someone you care about." I listened to that jackass scream at that woman for about 45 minutes on my steps. I kept thinking, I'm going to have to go out there (the only thing that stopped me was I was not dressed as I just got ready for bed). I've got to tell you, I don't know why women let their men talk to them like that. Walk away ladies....just walk away and tell them quietly that when they can compose themselves then they can speak to you. That woman just sat there taking it not saying a word. God, it's too much for me. I can't imagine sitting there taking that. But anyway, that I won't miss. Or the people that rent from us and then get here and say, they were told that it was on the lower floor...or that the price was different...or we had a pool...now folks, the way we cover ourselves in this is each reservation clerk has to mark on each reservation what the person has been told, (rate per night, location of room, # of steps, no elevator, check in and check out dates, what the bedding is, etc.) and yet they still come and insist that they were told we had a pool, or they were told they would be on the first floor when they are on the 3rd floor...it goes on and on.) We even remind returning guests of all these things...we take no chances. But what happens is that people call many hotels, don't take notes and then pick us because we are less expensive and then tack on everything they liked about 100 of the other hotels they called. So they convince themselves that they are getting the best room in Ocean City with all the amenities of a Hyatt Regency, with the cost of the Lankford Hotel. For those who aren't familiar with this hotel, we are the oldest hotel still in existence on the boardwalk. Our rooms are small, but clean and everything has a private bath, but we don't have microwaves, refrigerators, desks, private balconies in our rooms. We tell everyone that calls we are not the modern day hotel, but quaint and well preserved. So will I miss the people who don't listen and then bitch and complain? No I will not, I say good ridance to you folks and next listen to what people are saying to you. I also won't miss the folks that has used our parking lot as their toilet all summer...that I really won't miss at all. This winter I'm going to learn how to tell them in Spanish to zip it up or pull it up and get away from my property. Now, what will I miss....the people who treat the Lankford as the gem that it is...the customers from across the bridge who visit us in Salty Yarns only in the summer. But in the off season we can spend a lot more time with our customers talking...and you know I love that. I won't miss the men that adjust themselves anywhere they are standing, although I'm sure I see this off season as well. I'll miss the Thrasher's French Fries and Alaska Stand hotdogs. I won't miss the heat and humidity which we've had most of the summer but have had a break from it in the last week. I won't miss second shifts...I'm too old to be working from 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. until 10:30 or 11:00 p.m. So while I'm looking forward to the off season, I leave summer with a few regrets. O.K., I just went down to the laundry room to help the kids fold towels, and there was a man standing in the parking lot, not 5 yards away from me, facing me, and had to adjust...what the hell is that about? And he had a smile on his face the entire time, not even embarrassed that I was there. Geez...this I won't miss. We haven't had a "pee" sighting now for at least a week...thank God! But that also means Vernon has been unable to use his stun gun...I'm not sure if he's going to be satisfied going through the entire summer without using it...we might have to just stir up something just so he can zap someone. With my luck it will be 'yours truly'. Oh my God, I just heard the front desk clerk call Sara to tell her someone got locked out on their own balcony. Honestly, it isn't rocket science people...first of all to keep your balcony door locked on the 3rd floor, with no stairs or any other balconies near you so there is absolutely no way for anyone to get to your balcony is ridiculous. We've gone through this at least once a month this summer with the same unit. One family locked themselves out so much we went up and unlocked their balcony door and told them not to lock it again. I may do something this stupid once, but 3 more times...come on people...get those brain cells going. I'm not sure who is up there today, but last time it was the grandmother...3 times the grandmother. Perhaps they should have left her butt home. And with that I'm going to drag my butt home... Good Night and Have a great day tomorrow.

It's Paradise once again...

The weather couldn't be more perfect....while there is high humidity with the temperatures down and the breeze blowing, we've been able to turn off the a/c's and catch some fresh air...oh, my God, it's delightful. I'm sitting here looking at the beach...O.K. there are still people out there and some of them should cover up (do they check the mirror?), but the water is dark but flat..it does look cold..O.K., so maybe the water's not warm enough but this is Paradise for me because I don't go in the water. Growing up here I use to live in the water as a child, but I hit the age of 14 was able to go to work and earn my own money and I forgot about the water. I may love looking at it, but I sure don't want to go in it. So maybe this is just my Paradise...but I'm lovin' it today. Molly and her son Justin were in today and it was so nice to see them. They both have a great sense of humor so it was fun talking to them. Well, I've done it again...I started my ornament for the "ornament exchange" (which has only been an ornament once but has since evolved into boxes, clocks, etc.) and I brought it in to match up some thread and when I took it off the Q-snap realized I had worked it on the width of the fabric instead of the length and there wouldn't be enough room to complete the project...oh, crap! If you knew how many times I've done this you wouldn't even feel sorry for me (which I'm assuming up to this point you had great empathy). The good news...I've got time to start over....but it's still an "oh crap" moment. So far tonight no one has really aggravated me, but I'm on pins and needles waiting for it cause I just know it's going to come..either a worker here or someone passing through the shops, usually not a stitcher. There do seem to be a lot of children on the loose, but I have to say the 3 young girls I had in the Vera Section without parents (they are staying in the hotel which means they get to roam anywhere on the property without supervision) and you couldn't have found 3 10-12 year olds with more respect for elders and manners. Their parents did a good job! See I don't hate children, I just don't like the ones who are precocious, obnoxious, bratty, etc., etc., etc...well, my luck just ended. A father who was suppose to be keeping the children outside entertained apparently couldn't take it for more than 5 minutes and the kids are inside. My night is going downhill quickly. And to make this more painful...we're going to have to disconnect the internet in the shop (which will take away some of the fun) because I can't keep the Ukraine students off the internet while they are suppose to be working. Darn it! Crap just doesn't cover it. Now I can't play while I'm suppose to be working. Believe me this is hurting me more than it is them.

Oh, God, save me from these people...HELP

Yes I said it...I'm about to throw this mother and daughter out on their ear. Frankly at first I really didn't notice them but then they came to the counter and the mother, of course, let's the precocious child do all the asking, the problem with that is the kid didn't understand a word I was saying. So I had to keep saying it over and over and I kept looking at the mother (these were American's people) like..Do you want to take over here? but she just kept ignoring me and letting the brat ramble on. And then I noticed it...this kid was covered with sand...first of all let me say growing up I was taught you didn't wear white after Labor Day (and I don't) and you don't appear on the boardwalk in a bathing suit after 5:00 p.m. and I don't. So the fact that it's after 6 p.m. and this kid is standing here in a bathing suit is a problem for me, but the bigger problem is this mother (and I use the term loosely here) brought this brat in here covered with sand...yes covered with sand. That I couldn't let pass so I said to the kid, "My God, what did you do roll around on the beach before coming in?" Idiot that I am I thought the mother (and again I'm using the term loosely) would recognize her faux pas and take the child outside at least and brush all the sand off so it doesn't end up on my floor. Well, that just prompted her to take another walk around and now she's asking the stupid questions. Actually, the first question isn't stupid...she asked where the beachy kind of kits are...but after I said, "They are right there on rack 41..and I'm not only pointing to it by walking behind her (she was too stupid to get out of my way) and she stopped at every rack (well there were only 2) and said is this the rack? Now she asked for kits and clearly the racks she kept stopping to look at were charts only...I mean it doesn't take a mental genius to figure out if its a kit or a chart...well, maybe it does. O.K. so she and the brat just came up with their items only to say, "We didn't bring much money because we didn't know....(she never actually finished the sentence)" so she wanted to know how much 2 of the items were so I rang them up, then she says, "I don't suppose I have enough for this (a $6 Mill Hill kit)..." Now I already told her the 2 books were $13.78 and she brought $18.00 before she then asked if she had enough for the $6 kit. O.K. so in your head you add $13 & $6...and if I am correct that would be $19. Clearly $18 isn't enough, but her brain couldn't do that high math apparently. Even after I told her it would be $20 she stood there fanning out her $18.00 and looking at me like I'd forget the other $2 and just give it to her. Now I'm become a charity for sandy, annoying people...I don't think so. My God, it's Sunday and there is no charity left in my bones today. But today hasn't been all bad...Stasy S. was in with her parents, Carolyn (my finisher..although without stitching lately there hasn't been anything to finish), and Lou, Carolyn's husband. So we had a good time talking and catching up before sand girl hit the shop. But now I'm forced to go sweep the shop to remove all evidence of her, although as she was leaving she asked if I'd hold the other two items and she'd come back tomorrow. Crap, if I had know that I'd have given them to her just to keep her out (well, maybe not). Well, it hasn't been 2 hours and she's back....and now she brought back another woman and a baby, but I am happy to report that the sand girl has changed out of the bathing suit. But the woman is as big an idiot was she was 2 hours ago. She lets the baby knaw on one of the Mill Hill kits all around the shop but doesn't bring it up to pay for it and tells me "I've decided not to get the chicken kit." Yea I guess not now that that kid of yours has slobbered all over it. I'm telling you it's all I could do not to bitch slap her...but I refrained simply because I didn't have the energy. Now I have to replace the 'chicken kit' packaging. Fortunately he didn't get through the bag so the kit is actually safe, just not the outside packaging.

It's been a while...It's too hot and humid to function

I know it's been a while since I last posted...I was tempted the other night. Sara came through the back way and when she opened the back door to come into the shop there was a man with his pants down doing God knows what in front of the door...she just kept walking, he zipped up and joined his wife as if nothing was unusual, and you know, it wasn't that unusual for us. Actually, we're saying he was adjusting himself....yea, that's our story and we're sticking to it. I know I've ranted about this before, but ladies, we need to keep these men in check. Pulling on your underwear to get it out of your crack is one thing...adjusting the balls and penis...well that's just not cool....in public...especially if I'm there. What do you say...men who do this usually act like no one can see it...yes, they feel there is an invisible shield in front of the crotch and no one can see them pushing and shoving...well, men...we can see the whole thing...the whole ugly thing...so for God's sake...stop doing it in front of us. It doesn't make us want to have sex with you, in fact it's such a turn off we may never have sex with you ever, not one time...so you need to go into the bathroom and do the work, or perhaps like this gentlemen go into a public place, try to hide and then do it...did I say gentlemen...oops my mistake, I meant asshole. Now...I've got to move on...Merry Cox has had to cancel her class here, we are sorry to say, due to a health problem she has encountered. We want everyone to keep Merry in their prayers and pray she has a speedy recovery with her issue and that once she's feeling better we may be able to get her back on the schedule. We got the 2008 Prairie Schooler Santa in yesterday so if you are interested in that...give us a call. Also the next section, finally, of the Big Zipper. Don't worry, if you asked us to hold one, we have and we're getting ready to ship them... O.K., it's now Friday afternoon, and it's glorious here in Ocean City...suns is shining, cooler air prevails..humidity gone, yes it's paradise except for one thing...apparently the latest fad for the Spanish speaking population and you know who you are...is to pee wherever it suits them and whenever it suits them. Daylight..doesn't matter...in the middle of a parking lot...they must not have a bathroom in Mexico and that is why these folks just decide to pee wherever they are standing...your parking lot, your yard, for God's sake I don't want to rent to them because if someone is using the bathroom in their room the rest of the group might decide to just pee in the room on the floor. Honestly, what the hell is wrong with these people. I don't mean to generalize, however, I haven't caught this many kids peeing on the property. It was 4:00 p.m., daylight, tenants roaming around, cars parking and this guy just decides to whip it out and pee where he was standing, unfortunately it was on our parking lot, which seems to be the latest urinal in Ocean City. Frankly I am sick and tired of this and the disrespect it shows. And when Vernon yelled at him he had the balls to say, "What? you have a problem?" Honest to God, if he had the stun gun that jack ass would have been electrocuted standing in his own pee...I'm just sorry the stun gun was in the office. I've told Vernon to start carrying it and throw all caution to the wind...just light them up. Clearly I've had it! With this being White Marlin week the town is packed and people are just nuts! Nuts I'm telling you! But I am mellowing, yes, I am. Last night our last (and she was last because when she walked out the door I told Sara to lock it behind her...I had enough)..anyway, this bimbo comes in with her husband, son and daughter. I could tell from what she was lecturing about to her family that she didn't have a clue what she was talking about, but I didn't care as long as she didn't involve me...but you know she just had to do that. She gets around to the other side of the counter where the Troll beads are and she and her daughter start hyperventilating over the beads and they couldn't pick them fast enough off the display. A little too fast if you asked me so I asked them if they had a Troll bead bracelet, and Bimbo looks at me, holds up her arms and points to her God awful dangling earrings and necklace and states, "I make my own jewelry." I see that you do, I said holding back my gag reflex. But I still couldn't believe she was going to purchase all that she was having us pull off the display...and the ones she wanted were at the end of the rod so we had to take every bead off and this went on for several rods and then she looks inside the display and says, "Oh, look at these...retired beads...FOR $42.00? Who would pay that." By this time the idiot that married her started paying attention and said, "How much are the beads she picked out." So I happily announced the beads were all $25 but the sterling silver beads ranged from $28 up. I thought he was going to have a stroke as he told her to put them all back. Now she comes around the counter and is standing inside the counter where we stand as if she is going to wait on someone. She couldn't imagine the beads were that expensive...she gets her beads a whole lot cheaper than that (and may I add it looks it.) So guess who had to put all the beads and charms back on their rods in the proper order...you guessed it...I did. She gives blonds a bad name...crap..this idiot gives women a bad name. You can look at the display and see you aren't looking at cheap beads...and the charms are heavy sterling silver...get a grip lady...pull you blond ditzy head out of your butt and join the rest of us in realityville. Anyway, got an e-mail from Kathy P. and she ordered the Sewing Chest of Nantucket Sister Sailor Sarah Elliot in July, and she has already completed the lid. Congratulations Kathy...this piece is quite an undertaking and you seem to be getting it done in short order. I, of course, have it at home and have yet to put the first stitch in. It was my favorite piece from Nashville this year. Love it! It is now Saturday evening and I still haven't posted this blog...I've been on it for days now....can't seem to hit publish. Pee Report: 4:00 p.m., broad daylight, in front of the world...in the parking lot. We always catch them at the end so they just look at us and walk away with Vernon and Sara screaming until they are blue in the face. So I need a favor...will someone please go into the Spanish district in Washington and some take on Baltimore and pull down whatever sign or banner is telling these folks to come to the Lankford if they have to urinate, and just pee in our parking lot. There just has to be a sign somewhere telling them where to go. So if you could take care of that for me I'd really appreciate it. Thanks so much! I have to tell you that the town is packed for the first time this summer and has been all this week and is going to be packed next week as well, but then it starts to fall off. So if you want to come down for a visit...come in a couple of weeks. The air is still wonderful, no humidity, no rain, sun during the day, the water is trying to heat up, but it's having a tough go with the winds earlier churning the cold water off the bottom and bringing it to the top, but in a couple of weeks it will be warmer. Are you watching the Olympics? Try to put the politics aside and concentrate on the youth of America who is over there competing for our country. We are struggling to find things to be proud of...we certainly can't count on the politicians who have made a sport out of bedding women (you really don't want to get me started do you...John Edwards was the last straw for me)...and the young people in China fighting for medals is a source of pride for me. I'm watching things I would never watch normally, boxing, basketball, I'm seriously not an a sports fanatic, but I'm cheering these kids on as much as possible and taking pride when they win. We can fight over the social injustice in 4 weeks but for the olympics, lets cheer our athletes to victory. Did you see the opening ceremonies...although it's played about 3 times, I've missed everything but the last part where they light the torch...could you believe that guy suspended and running .... honestly they do put on a good show...expensive, but good. Well, I'm going to post since people are now in the shop asking if I'm ill. I am sick and tired of people peeing in the parking lot, but other than that I'm just sick and tired of being sick and tired. It's getting toward the end and we are all a little frazzled around the edges. Poor Sara is doing the work of 3 people and if we didn't keep her drinking booze I'm not sure she'd make it. But hand the girl a glass of vodka and she's good to go. Vernon on the other hand goes to sleep. But we can always count on Sara. Mary goes home everyday around 4:00 p.m. so that is why Sara is working so many hours. Gotta give the girl a spa break....or a Moss Creek break. We're counting the days. Our fall is going to be so busy...we have Jamboree the 2nd weekend in October, then we leave for the Moss Creek retreat and then we hoof it back for the C.A. Wells weekend, good Lord, I need a nap just saying it. Well stitchers, have a great evening...have fun stitching and I'll talk to you soon.