I'M BAAAAACK - Almost 6 six year

 I don't remember what caused the decline and eventual ceasing of my blog postings.  I'd like to say life got so busy and so interesting that I no longer had a moment to spare but that was not the case.  We did move three times and did some traveling during the time I've been quiet but that really should have given me more fodder, not caused me to go silent.

Life changes:  Husband retired; moved 3 times; sold vacation home; started cruising; yearly + trips to Europe; and getting older.

Small business and fear of the internet.

I just read a post that has been circulating since 2002 that Pepsi has printed the Pledge of Allegiance on its cans and omitted the words "under God".  The post is untrue.  Pepsi is a huge conglomerate and probably can afford to lose a few customers though I'm sure they don't want this kind of publicity.  But it makes me think about the small "mom and pop" businesses and how quick their reputation can be tarnished by someone spreading a rumor or a bad review.  Many businesses are resorting to putting in the small print that if the customer publishes a negative review before the business is given the opportunity to correct the problem the customer is opening themselves to a lawsuit.   When I read reviews I generally ignore that one negative if all the others are positive.  But let's check our sources before posting.  The days of "I saw it on the internet, it must be true" are over.

Alaskan Cruise

Last month my husband and I took an Alaskan Cruise, gifted to us by our daughter and her family.  It was our first cruise and now we are smitten with that form of vacationing.  We have traveled a lot and seen many wonderful places, but we have never unpacked and let others take care of us.  The towns we stopped in; Juneau and Skagway, had the typical high priced tourist restaurants and souvenir shops, but if you sought them out there were places operated by the National Park Service that gave you some history and ideas of the surroundings.  We took advantage of the lectures on board the ship to have some knowledge of what we were seeing the next stop on our trip.

Speaking of souvenirs:  They are almost the same everywhere in North America.  They just have a different name emblazoned on them.  What I don't understand about shopping on vacation is why someone would buy expensive jewelry so far from home from a jeweler you know nothing about.  In Skagway we met a couple who were traveling by auto.  She said the night before she was in a jewelry store when the cruise ships set sail.  The owner actually said "the ships have left, everything is now 50-75% off."

I would like to see more of Alaska, perhaps in a car and a camper.  However, some of the most wonderful things can only be seen from the water.  Daylight in July is from 3 AM to after 10 PM.  Plenty of time to stare at some amazing scenery.  I hope you get the chance to travel there someday.

You say potatoes, I'll say ...

I live part time in Idaho.  I frequently have to correct people from saying Iowa.  Several have said "what's the difference?"  Yikes.   Upon telling many relatives and friends we were going there the query was "Why?"  Visit and you will understand.

Style?

A shoe fashionista I am not.  My poor aching feet desire to keep moving rather than look stylish.  But I draw the line at some ideas of comfort.  These I would not wear even to do yard work.

 But here's an idea I understand.  There is the "what if" fear when trying to toss keys.  This would at least get them out of the junk drawer.

Boeing Aircraft and a poor idea.

Two announcements were made yesterday.  #1 was that airlines are about to decrease the allowed size of carry-on baggage, reducing by 1.5" all measurements.  #2 from this time forward Boeing will be building the restrooms much smaller to allow for more seats (not toilet seats, but passenger seats).  How can that be possible?  This is a very bad idea.  I have heard stories of people being trapped in the restrooms and having to remain there until the plane lands.  I'm picturing a vending machines of Depends in airport terminal restrooms.  I'm also picturing (unfortunately) the rapid decrease of sanitary conditions within this confined space.

Accomplishment

My first garage/yard/tag sale was the 2nd year of my marriage.  I had begun to replace those hand-me-down items that I first set up housekeeping with and it was time for them to go.  It was a learning experience.  A woman walking up the driveway fell facedown for no apparent reason.  My first thought was "I wonder if she does this for a living", expecting a lawyer to call.  A guy wanted to pay me coins for some old kitchen chairs, I told him firewood would cost him more than what he wanted to pay.  And then I had to ask a woman why she was buying an old trophy.  She told me her husband would take the eagles off the marble and glue them to an ashtray to hold burning cigarettes.  That's when I realized there is a buyer out there for just about anything you want to get rid of.

Today I joined my friend in her garage during a neighborhood garage sale.  Those are best because they bring more traffic.  I judged my success at cubic feet gained from the disposal of items, rather than the money they brought, though I did come home with enough to make the effort worthwhile.  And as I always say after a sale, well it's more money than I usually make on a Saturday morning.

I stopped by the Goodwill drop off on the way home and donated those items that had already been through two garage sales and only brought home a few boxes that fit easily on the back seat of the car.  One box full is going to a consignment store, the other books to the resale shop.  So I have emptied most of a walk-in closet just this week.  Patting myself on the back.