Spin off - special treats you only get around the holidays?
angelaid_gw
7 years ago
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mamapinky0
7 years agoLucyStar1
7 years agoRelated Discussions
A 'spin-off' thread........
Comments (33)Thinking back on these memories has brought to mind perhaps the funniest prank I was ever involved in. When I was a Sophomore in High School there was a store in my home town called the Fiesta shop that sold all kinds of high end collectibles from around the world. In one corner of the store they had a small area with rare gourmet foodstuffs. One day while browsing through the store we found a can about 5" in diameter and 2" deep that contained a whole canned octopus. Understanding that it was at least 500 miles to the nearest sea shore it then goes without saying that we had never seen an octopus except pictures in a book or on TV. The can was $7.00 and this was at a time when men on top union labor contracts were only making $1.75/hr. At least once a week we went by the store to see if anyone had bought it yet, but it was still there so we got the silly idea to pool our money until we could buy it, just to see what an octopus really looked and felt like. It took us nearly three weeks but we managed to get the money together and we bought the can. There we were walking down main street tossing the can back and forth and trying to figure out how we were going to open the can when my buddy Tom S. got the silly idea, lets go to the Sears store and use one of the can openers on their display rack. Off to Sears where we opened the can, then went out to the alley to pour the liquid out and see what an octopus looks like. We pulled it out of the can and took turns holding it, examining it, then it hit us, what in heavens name do we do with it now? We surely were not going to eat that nasty thing. Suddenly my buddy Norm grabs it and say "Come on guys, I got an idea". Back into Sears we went, this time heading to the appliance department. There it was, right in the middle of the appliance department, a brand new Kenmore wringer washing machine. In those days they used to put water in the demonstrators and drop some poker chips in so the ladies could see the action as the water sloshed around inside. Norm casually walked by and dropped the octopus in the washing machine, then we went and sat on the stairs going up to the second floor and watched the action. About ten minutes later a lady was innocently browsing through the appliance department when she happened to look in that washing machine and saw the octopus swimming around in the water. Instantly she went ballistic, screaming, hollering about monsters and such. The salesmen ran over to see what the problem was and they went nuts too. What the hell is that thing? How do we catch it? Somebody call the cops! The cops arrived and by that time one of the sales clerks had gone to the hardware department and got a pair of huge pliers which he used to grab the octopus, heaving it out on the floor where the cops pounded it with night sticks, then stomped on it until they were sure it was dead. By this time my buddies and I were nearly falling down laughing as we scrammed out the back door of Sears and ran home....See MoreAnybody else here get treated like a leper around the holidays?
Comments (16)I apologize in advance, because this is going to be similary "unsupportive," but here goes ... What makes you so sure that what is going on here is that you are "excluded from many parties because [you are] a single, older woman"? Are you really being treated as a "leper"? Or just as a drag? You say you don't want a "pity invitation," but it sure sounds like you do. In fact, it sounds like you don't even mind not being included as much as not being asked. But how often do YOU invite THEM? Of course it's harder for one to entertain many than vice-versa, but it's not impossible, and you don't need to do anything fancy or as big or as frequently as they could do (if, for example, financial situations differ) -- just an effort to show you're a giver, not just a taker. Story 1: Many years ago, I had a single friend who used to complain frequently that married couples never include singles. I made a point of always inviting her to any party we gave, because I didn't want to be "treating her like a leper." It was a few years before I realized: SHE NEVER INVITED US out or over to her home -- not even once -- or even me separately. That's when I stopped inviting her to everything. Story 2: When my father-in-law died, my mother-in-law complained that the married couples ignored her. The other widows in her condo were wonderful about calling her, though, and she did lots of things with them -- until the instant she got a new boyfriend; then she dropped them all with blinding speed, and they soon stopped calling her, too. I thought to myself, "What goes around comes around -- she'd better hope he never dies." And now he has, and she would rather complain that "everyone excludes widows" than pick up the phone and call friends -- couples or singles -- and see if someone wants to go out or even just come over and watch TV. But why should they call her if she never calls them? Story 3: When my dad was in the later stages of Alzeheimer's, and then after he died, my mom made it a point to call her friends -- couples and singles -- and arrange evenings out a couple of times a week. Once a month, she gave a dinner party, mixing people who don't know each other well. She is CONSTANTLY busy, and she doesn't keep track of who invited whom -- but I know there are plenty of invitations and calls both ways. She is the most popular person I know, with both couples and singles of all ages. Story 4: My husband and I took a page from her book and give parties now, too. Our guests include singles and couples, old and young -- the more of a mix, the better, in fact. The sole criterion is who would help make the conversation good. Ergo: fascinating, friendly single people are prized guests; selfish, boring couples are out. It's not just parties, either -- I call both couples and singles when it's time for a movie or dinner or whatever. Do you see the point I'm getting at? People invite guests who are fun and interesting, and who reciprocate hospitality. Single or couples -- doesn't matter. Being single is no excuse for expecting always to be the invitee, for whining that you're being ignored, or for imposing guilt. Married people who commit these social sins soon find themselves "treated like lepers," too -- so don't assume that if you are lonely it is because others are cruelly excluding you because of your single status. Ask yourself honestly who YOU would rather include: someone who calls you once in a while him/herself, and who is a cheerful, low-mainenance guest when you do the inviting ("Sounds like fun! What can I bring? And do you want to go for coffee before then?"), or someone who answers the phone, "Oh, I haven't heard from you in ages. I thought you forgot about me. No, of course I'm free this weekend -- as usual, I'd just sitting here alone. Well, if you can get a ride for me, I guess I can try to come ... will you be serving anything I can eat?" You say, "I don't know anybody else who doesn't already have plans, so I can't start my own party." That's not a function of being single, it's a function of waiting until everyone else would have plans -- the same would happen if a couple waited too long to invite. Ditto transportation. I don't know if you are in a position to learn to drive, or if the distances are short enough to make an occasional cab practical, or not. But perhaps there would be a way to solve the transportation hurdle if that really is an obstacle, not an excuse. The phone works both ways, folks. The way to have a friend is to be one. Sorry for being so harsh, and for butting in where I may not be welcome, as I am not currently single. But we were all single once, and most of us will be again, willingly or not. I just wanted to offer "your married friend's point of view."...See MoreSpecial treat on last night's hike (3 pics)
Comments (13)I do hike alone at this wildlife sanctuary if I can't find someone to go with me. It's just a a short distance from my office so is a perfect retreat after a harrowing day. I feel perfectly safe there but carry pepper spray in the event a human animal gets a little aggressive. :-\ This Bobcat showed no fear and sat in front of us (I was there with a neighbor gal) for a couple of minutes before casually getting up and walking into the bushes. After crossing a small bridge (6 ft or so), my friend and I traveled down a small trail off the main trail only to discover it was a dead-end. When we turned around to head back to the bridge I looked up and the cat was just sitting there ahead of us, right where we had just passed. He was between us and the bridge. My neighbor was *very* nervous even after the cat left the trail. I stopped to peer into the bushes and saw it sitting calmly about 15 feet in, blending perfectly with a log it was sitting in front of. I hike this area at least twice a week and it was my first Bobcat sighting. Jodi-...See MoreSpin off of the Time Share Sales thread. . . .
Comments (6)Sue ... ... you scamp! ... you rascal, you! ole joyful P.S. Well ... since "AAA" batteries usually come with multiples in a package, at least you and your friend could share the cost of providing motive power for your new acquisitions! o j P.P.S. Preachers/clergypersons are sales people, as well. Have you ever had one treat you with such changed demeanour when s/he disagreed with you over some issue? o j...See Moreeld6161
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