Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Absent-minded Strawberry

Yesterday was a pretty exciting day, Grainiacs.  But it didn't start out that way.

I woke up and every bone (probably muscle) in my body ached.  I got out of bed hunched-back and my legs wouldn't move except for a shuffle.  I felt like Rip VanWinkle waking up from a 50 year nap....could it be?  Could I be 100 years old instead of 52????  Nope, it was my walking exercise!  I remember now.  Timing myself to walk to work.  I'm really ashamed to say when I timed the walk it only turned out to be 1.9 miles.  My eyes were playing tricks on me.  I could have sworn it was a 2.5 to 3 mile jaunt to work!  I think I've mentioned many many times before....my rural town does NOT have good sidewalks.  I was bemoaning this fact with a customer and she remarked that our elementary school STILL does not have a sidewalk.  Sidebar:  it is a new school-- this being it's 3rd year in existence so you'd think that our civic leaders would get a move on and lay a sidewalk so the children don't have to walk in the ditch or worse the street!  No, our city leaders are more worried about fining people because the next door neighbor dog has knocked over your garbage can yet again-- $200.00 fine!!!!  We have a young couple in our church who is "trying" to get ahead but city government keeps fining the pants off them for various reasons and they aren't the only ones.  We have an elderly lady in our community who loves flowers.  She was fined $94.00 because her flowers were keeping her from cutting her grass and weeds.  Amazing!  You ask, well appeal to the judge.  He seems to be in on it!  And if you don't pay, he'll throw you in jail.  I'm asking you-- do I live in Dodge City in the 1800's????  The same few continue to govern this town and they (or their ancestors) have done so since the Land Run.  Okay, enough of my soapbox on that.  There are plenty of things to brag about.

I don't have an exact count but our ladies collected OVER $700 at the brunch for SoleMates.  That means an over $1400 check was written to the organization.  The leader was brought to tears.  And guess what?  Money is still coming in.  We live in a generous time and I thank you for your generosity!  I can't post pictures of the kids (obviously!) and we aren't supposed to know who the recipients are (for privacy reasons) but I might be able to get a few pictures of the actual shoes!  The great thing about this program is the woman in charge takes the children or meets up with them at Wal-Mart.  The parents or guardians are not allowed to go back to the shoe department.  This is time that the children get to pick their very own shoes.  Not shoes that Mom or Dad want them to have.  In the past, the parents have pointed out which ones they want the kids to have and the leader noticed the fallen faces of the kids when they succumb to parent's wishes.  She decided that next year that the kids go with her and parents remain behind in a different department.  She also found that she needed to cut or mark on the shoes on the inside so that parents wouldn't bring back the shoes and get money in exchange.  We live in a fallen world.  Thankfully, the employees of Wal-Mart noticed this type of transaction right away and let the organization's leader know immediately what was happening.  That is a good thing about living in a small town.  Think positive, Strawberry!!!  LOL

I will get off my soapbox and continue getting ready for work....oh one more thing...I was so busy yesterday that I missed eating my mid-morning snack.  My stomach didn't even growl to say "You who, I'm hungry down here!"  At 11:53 I received a phone call from a Texas friend driving from KS through OK and on to TX.  She called to say that she was in my little Rural Town.  So I hopped in my car and met her at the fast food joint.  We talked and she ate and I didn't realize it was time for me to head back to work.  I didn't eat there because I didn't know how many calories were in a taco or a bell so I headed back to work.  I still wasn't hungry but called College Girl (aka Rat Mom) to bring me a slim-fast or atkins shake to tide me over till evening....plus I still had my mid-morning apple.  I have to say, this was not the brightest plan but I didn't have time to plan out the meals.  Interruptions will happen, Grainiacs.  It's best to know what items you can eat at a restaurant BEFORE you get that call to come and meet.  Tonight I have some homework.  I'm making a notebook listing what I can eat at the various fine dining places here in Rural Town.  Taco Bell, Taco Mayo, Sonic, Braum's, Kentucky Fried Chicken--aren't I blessed?  LOL

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