Autumn...What's That?

Apparently, there really is a season called Autumn. I always thought it was a huge myth concocted by the card companies to sell Halloween and Thanksgiving. In my world (Sacramento), we went straight from 100-degree August into 95-degree September to 85-degree October to cooler November. Then winter came. Then I moved to Washington. (England had an autumn but nothing as dramatic as the one we're having here.)

But this Autumn thing, well, it's full of lovely surprises:

1. I will actually use my coat before November.

2. I can wear 3/4 and long sleeves. In fact, I'm avoiding short sleeves.

3. All the pretty colors on the trees. Well, except the evergreens.

4. Rain in September.

5. Soup for dinner on a gray day.

6. Using the fireplace and the heater and my comforter in September!

7. Leaves swirling down around my car as I drive down the road.

Yes, Autumn is a very nice new friend of mine.

In other news...

How's the job going?

Going well. It's 45 6th graders, so I have my hands full. I have a couple of little toe-rags but you'll get that anywhere. I'm working on them. Monday we'll start a bit of Music Boot Camp, Cooper-Style. After all I am Lt. Brat Cooper, USAF Ret. (daughter of Lt. Col. Cooper, USAF, Ret.).

But the school seems happy with me and I already have a couple of little gals who think I'm great.

How are the babies?

Growing like weeds and cute as buttons. They have made a habit of having their midnight wrestling match in my room. I often wake up to one of two things: two kittens attacking my feet (thank goodness it's cold enough that my feet are protected by a comforter) or they're sleeping contentedly and I'm twisted up in some way so as not to disturb their slumber. We have to fix this problem because Mom thinks I'm stealing them, Millie is disgruntled that she doesn't have me all to herself, and I have to get up and work and hardly need to wake up all twisted from trying to avoid rolling over on the kittens.

So yes, as a matter of fact, they have taken over the house.

And every time I wake up to find them wrestling or snoozing, I can't bring myself to mind too much. Because they look at me and purr. Yes, I am a big softie.

Scrapbooking

Current tally has the last year's worth of pictures in four books. I'm going to have one for each term (Fall, Spring and Summer) and a seperate one for the France trip, because we took a lot of pictures.

The Fall term book is almost done, and I'm about halfway through the France book. Finally got all of my digital pictures made into prints and I'm having a ball putting the scrapbook together. It's a great way to relive some wonderful memories.

And that's the news on this end. It is rainy and cold today, and a hot cup of tea and some scrapbooking are beckoning.

Cheers,

Meg

First Day of School

The lessons are planned
And typed up with care
The printer is working
I'm not pulling my hair

I'm ready to go
And excited to start
Tomorrow I'll share
My love of my art

It's only 6:30
I'm finished already!
So I'm gonna watch Lord of the Rings
Then it's time for beddy!

Sorry...I know it's cheesy, but, oh well.

So, tomorrow I start my new job. I'm all prepared--I have my lessons planned for the week. I'll see the same group of kids every day...what bliss! They might actually retain something.

This week is going to be heavy on the singing and rhythm games. I have some tricks up my sleeve that are fun. Some I'll use every week, some I'll only pull out every once in a while. I've typed up my plans. Even though I'm not required to turn them in, it is always a good idea to have it handy. I have to have a map. I've chunked the activities into 10-15 minute times, as I have learned that kids' attention spans can be very short.

I'm quite excited--teaching has proven to be a calling for me, and I love the energy and vitality the kids bring. I hope they will be a good group. It certainly seems that the school is well-organized. The few times I've been there, the kids have been respectful to the staff from what I've seen. Not that there are many of them out of class unattended.

Imagine that...

So if you happen to think of me at 11:30 tomorrow, send me a little "good luck" as I teach my 6th grade music class. : )

Cheers,

Meg

Growing Girls

I have more pics of the babies to show off. They're getting bigger every day, and, of course, they are still adorable.

First, here's my own sleeping beauty, Millennium Joy:

Now, some baby pics...

A rare quiet moment on Dad's lap:

A little bit of Wrestlemania:

Bella sleeping:

Enjoy!

Unemployed No Longer

I got thinking yesterday as I drove home from a successful interview at the local Mervyn's...

I've been having a major identity crisis these last couple of months. Think about it: The California Girl moves to small-town England, loves the people, hates the job. Moves home except that home is no longer California but Washington, a state that All-American Anglophile has spent about 4 days of her total life in.

My driver's license says California. My address and car tags say Washington. My bank account is English.

I still wobble between English English and American English. I still miss Burnham-on-Crouch. And to top it off, unemployment for the foreseeable future loomed. Even the video store wasn't interested!!

Just goes to show, when it rains, it pours. Yesterday I interviewed at Mervyn's and was promptly offered a job, providing I successfully prove I'm not a drug user. After the interview I went to Poulsbo Police to get fingerprinted for my teaching certificate.

Today I had an interview of sorts at the local school district. They need someone to cover 6th grade choir for the rest of the school year. It's only one period a day, but with subbing (especially once cold/flu season is in full effect), I'd be working a lot.

So I went over to meet the middle school principal and she asked if I can start on Monday! I said, "Yes!" I have a key to the choir room (I will just add here that the school has an incredible music wing...beautiful facilities) and everything!

They will have to put a Washington-certified teacher in with me to start, until my own certification is finished. But they are so excited to have a qualified musician, they are willing to do this, and to help me speed up the process. Having three years of previous experience is helpful in this situation. Basically all I have to do is prove I'm not a criminal (hence the fingerprinting). Fantastic.

As I drove home I cranked the music up in the car and let out a squeal and a very girly, very high-pitched, "I'm going to teach again!!!"

It was only after this little outburst that I realized that I am truly, sincerely, happy to be going back into the classroom. And that, my friends, after everything I've gone through in the last year, is the best news of all.

Movies

Movies I recommend...to go with the books list from yesterday. Once again, they're in no particular order.

1. Bridget Jones' Diary A classic. I am Bridget. I saw this movie long before I read the book and walked out of the theatre thinking, "Finally, someone made a movie of MY life!" I have not yet met a woman who does not like this movie. The second one is cute, but definitely not on my list of classics.

2. Forrest Gump This movie is one of the few that can still make me laugh and cry any time I watch it. It gets poked fun at ("Life is like a box of chocolates...") but I love this movie. Just goes to show that anyone can do great things, and "stupid is as stupid does."

3. Lord of the Rings trilogy I was only introduced to these movies in July, by Kathy. Not only did I agree with her that Aragorn is one lust-worthy dude, but I agreed that the story is wonderful and the movies themselves masters. The acting, special effects and attention to detail are superb. I have now seen all three extended DVDs--with subtitles, and I'm going to tackle the books.

4. The Usual Suspects Haven't seen this? Run, don't walk, to the nearest video store. This became a cult classic and has a huge following, but I saw it (I'm normally not into this type of movie) because it stars the one, the only, the wonderful Kevin Spacey. He earned Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Verbal Kint. The movie twists and turns and keeps you guessing...who is Keyser Soze? Watch and find out.

5. Miracle It's light, it's fluffy, it's Disney. It's basically what you get when you add a terrific true story (the 1980 USA Hockey Team beats the Russians for gold), 20-odd adorable young skaters-turned actors with bad 70s haircuts, Kurt Russell, and a phenomenal soundtrack. I loved it in the theatre, and I love it still. It's a feel-good movie with a lot of heart, and is very accurate, according to the men who lived it.

6. Bend it Like Beckham Indian girl in London loves football (soccer to us Yanks). Her parents want her to be ladylike. She wants to be able to bend a ball like Beckham. What ensues is an adorable movie with great performances by everyone and a wonderful blend of Indian and British culture.

7. American Beauty Another Kevin Spacey classic. He is fantastic as Lester Burnham--funny, sad, pitiable. Annette Benning is also impressive. This movie is funny, shocking, sad and never dull.

8. Cool Runnings Another Disney sports movie. This is very loosely based on the first Jamaican bobsled team, but the writers took major liberties. Still, what you get is a lovely product--hysterical moments and a cute-without-being-sappy moral at the end. Who can top the classic line, "Cold?? I'm freezin' my royal Rastafarian nenes off here!"

9. Pride and Prejudice The 5-hour version by the BBC is the only version worth seeing, in my opinion. No one can possibly top Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy and Jennifer Ehle as Lizzie Bennett. I could add countless other performances by a Who's Who list of British thespians. In addition to great acting and the fact that it's Jane Austen's classic story, the attention to detail in this movie--from colors and fabric types to locations and hairstyles--is amazing.

10. Band of Brothers I didn't pay much attention to this 10-hour HBO miniseries until we bought it for my dad for Father's Day. Pretty soon I was drawn to the TV by cute guys (Damian Lewis and Ron Livingston, among others). I was held at the TV by my interest in World War II history and the absolutely fantastic story of Easy Company. I immediately bought the book (which was on my book list) and I have now even seen a few of the places associated with Easy Company and D-Day.

11. Love Actually Okay, it's not the most perfect movie on the planet. I admit that right up front. But every time I watch it, I laugh, cry and when it is done, I am smiling--no matter how crappy I felt before I put it in the DVD player. Now that is a good movie! I particularly love the airport scenes at the beginning and end of the film, having had a few of those reunions of my own.

12. Mr. Holland's Opus Beloved music teacher. I saw it when I was in high school--where we had our own beloved music teacher. I am now a music teacher. What's not to love about this movie?

There's other movies I enjoy, of course, but this is my short list.

Meg Recommends

I have been wanting to do a blog post of books and movies I love and recommend to others. Here it is. Titles are listed in no particular order.

1. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith Kathy urged me to read this delightful book. It is told through the eyes of 17-year-old Cassandra, who lives in an old castle with her eccentric family. They are befriended by their rich neighbors and nothing is the same after.

2. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling I never really thought I'd enjoy these books, but read them after hearing several people rave about them. From the first chapter of the first book, I was hooked. Magic, mystery and friendship guide Harry through his adventures at Hogwart's. I now have both the American and British sets.

3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee This is one of the most beautiful stories ever written, in my opinion. I have heard it described as sad, which it often is, but I always feel so uplifted after reading it.

4. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen It is a truth universally acknowledged that this classic book is well worth reading. I first read it in high school, after seeing the BBC adaptation. I love this story.

5. The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America by Bill Bryson Bryson is the funniest travel writer I've come across. I loved this book because everything he says about our huge, crazy, wonderful country is absolutely true.

6. Jemima J. by Jane Green Fat girl loses weight, gains...more problems? This one was funny, sad, and thought-provoking. I read it at a time when my own confidence was floundering and it really made me think about some things...

7. Acting Up by Libby Purves I read this little gem in France, and was thoroughly sad to flip the last page. It tells the story of a British family affected by the daughter's involvement in the Iraq conflict and their transvestite son finding his way in life. It is often funny, sometimes sad and always full of immense heart.

8. Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose This is the story of E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne--from Normandy to Hitler's Eagle's Nest. Yes, the very book that Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg made into a hit HBO miniseries. The me of Easy Company were of that great generation who fought and died in World War II. This book, though filled with dates and times and events, also tells the human side of the story--the friendships, the losses, the bonds forged at basic and carried through to the day the company was disbanded--when victory was accomplished in Japan.

9. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Definitely worth a read--in my last year of high school, I did a report on Fitzgerald and an essay showing the parallels between this book and the author's own life. It is a terific look at the Jazz Age decadence and how it seduced--and ruined--many a life.

10. Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers I found this book at the Folsom Public Library when I was in 7th grade, and read it cover to cover. I remember sharing it with my social studies teacher, and her telling me, "This book is written for students much older than you. Good for you for reading it." It tells the story of a young black man and his buddies in Vietnam. It affected me so profoundly that I bought my own copy, and I still have it to this day.

11. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss I never paid much attention to this book until I saw it as a gift idea for a graduate at Border's book. I bought it for Summer when she graduated from Chico, and it hit me that this book's message is one we all need from time to time. Just a little reminder that we have brains in our head and feet in our shoes.

12. Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson This is how I discovered Bryson--I saw this book on display at Borders a few weeks before I left for England. I figured it would be the perfect pre-departure read, and indeed, Bill has a way of highlighting everything about England that is wonderful and worthy of attention. A good read--one I recommend without hesitation. Though try The Lost Continent first.

13. Bridget Jones' Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding These are CLASSIC books. They gave the world a vodka-chugging, cigarette-smoking, verbally incontinent spinster Singleton who embarasses herself at every opportunity. Real women the world over "Hallelujahed" with such vigor, that many a blouse was vodka-stained. Bridget is my hero--not because she, an imperfect woman, finds love but because she never apologizes for being herself.

Coming soon: Movies

The ABCs of a Great Weekend

A is for Aweseome and Amazing Heather and I had a great time this weekend. It was fantastic to catch up with her and watch chick flicks and go shopping.

B is for Bridget Binges We binged on Bridget and Mark (watching both movies back-to-back) and on the standard delightful treats we enjoy on such occasions: Cheesy Poofs, Chocolate and Sour Strawberry Belts.

C is for Cosmopolitan Chicks Consuming Cosmopolitans Copious cups of Cosmos...

D is for Depositing our Derrieres on the Divan We did spend a nice chunk of time watching movies and relaxing this weekend. After partying like rock stars in Seattle, we needed it!

E is for Earnhardt is Enticing Even Heather had to admit that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a cutie. She was even so kind as to sit through a race with me. I just couldn't turn it off--my boy was running in the top 5 for the first time in months.

F is for Fit Firemen at Fado Oh, my...we went to an Irish pub called Fado and saw fit firemen de-frocking for fundrasing. Well, taking their T-shirts off, anyway.

G is for Granola-Gobbling Girls Let's just say that the number of granola-eating, dreadlocked, blue-haired, flannel-wearing ladies in Seattle is quite high. I do not have a problem with this. In fact, I have to celebrate it, because a gal like me, who wears eye makeup on a regular basis, dresses in cute clothes, and has soft, silky hair, really seems to catch the eye of the men of Seattle. ; )

H is for Hysterical Happy Hugging What happens when two gal friends haven't seen each other in 8 months meet up at an airport...

I is for Insane Incidents Like having a girl try to hit on Heather. Or our silly drunken selves not inviting the cute guy to sit and have a drink with us. Or going up 520 feet in the Space Needle when hung over.

J is for a Jefferson County Jaunt Heather got to see the basic parts of Jefferson County that I do business in. We relaxed at Mom and Dad's place, window-shopped in the Victorian town of Port Townsend, and drove through Chimacum and Port Hadlock.

K is for Krazy Kittens Kracking us up Safe to say that someone with her own cat named Sweetie is going to love Bella and Duchess.

L is for Laughing Like Lunatics I can't possibly share what it is that made us laugh at one particular moment because 1. It's a girl thing and 2. I can't explain it in writing. But suffice it to say that we laughed so hard we both cried and I nearly drove us off the road.

M is for Mango Martinis Many Mango Martinis in the hotel room while getting dolled up for dinner.

N is for Nodding off in the car While we waited for the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, we both had to crank our seats back and have a cat-nap. Hangovers!

O is for Ogling the Opposite sex There are some handsome, fit men in Seattle. Mmmhmmm....

P Partying like Princesses Or rock stars. Because that's what we did on Thursday night in Seattle. We continued that on Friday morning with room service and we even trashed the room. Okay, we only left the towels on the floor.

Q is for Quick Quotes Between the two of us, we can quote the entire first Bridget Jones movie. We're working on the second.

R is for a Rigorous Retail Relay Nordstroms, Ann Taylor and Old Navy will never be the same now that Heather and I have stormed through. And I might add that thanks to these shops, we looked adorable at dinner and the bar on Thursday evening.

S is for Super Seattle and Sightseeing with Space and Sci-Fi Seattle is a great city, and home to the Space Needle (great views but the damn thing sways in the wind) and a Sci-Fi museum, where Heather got her fill of Star Trek memorabilia.

T is for Totally Twins It is quite freaky how many times in one weekend we could be looking in opposite directions at a shop, then simultaneously turn, point at the same object and say (in stereo), "Oooh, that's cute!!"

U is for Understanding and Unburdening I still have some homesickness for England. It comes and goes. Heather has had her share of big adventures in life and it was great to really talk about what made me leave, etc. And to get her perspective of what I was going through working at St. Peter's.

V is for the Views We had a decent view from our hotel room, but the view from the restaurant at the top of the hotel was amazing. As was the view from the top of the Space Needle. There is the view of Seattle from the ferry as you ride towards Bainbridge Island. And we can't forget the view of Ludlow Bay from the neighborhood. Lovely!

W is for Walking and Wishing We Weren't Wickedly Wrecked from Cosmos We walked across downtown Seattle and back. We did not take my car. We did not take the bus or the tram or the monorail. We walked. And burned off some of those mango martinis and Cosmopolitans from the night before.

X is for Xtremely X-rated Thoughts Well, not too X-rated (after all, this blog is PG!) but you sit around drinking cosmos while surrounded by Fit Firemen De-frocking and see where your thoughts lead...

Y is for Yawning It's late (past midnight!) as I write this, and it's been a hell of a weekend. Needless to say, I'm tired.

Z is for What I did this afternoon I had a two-hour nap after dropping Heather at SeaTac. We both knocked ourselves out this weekend but had a wonderful time doing so!

Harmonious and Approachable with a Great Eye for Design

Heh....

(I got the link from Shae's blog.)

Your Blogging Type is Kind and Harmonious

You're an approachable blogger who tends to have many online friends. People new to your blogging circle know they can count on you for support. You tend to mediate fighting and drama. You set a cooperative tone. You have a great eye for design - and your blog tends to be the best looking on the block!

What's Your Blogging Personality?

Certification Process and Masked Bandits

First, I have to share this (blurry-sorry!) pic of the Millikins and Bella:

[No longer available]

Everyone is getting along pretty well, though Maggie basically ignores everyone and keeps to herself.

Now, the other news:

I've been busily filling out some paperwork today for my WA State certificate. It's like any other application for any other teaching certificate: Name, date of birth, Social Security Number, promise of first-born child, etc. This one also includes (this made me laugh, actually), the question, "In the past 10 years, have you ever engaged in any conduct which resulted in the damage or destruction of property? (For purposes of questions 2 and 3, property includes both real and personal property owned by you or another. Do not list damages done as the result of an automobile accident.)"

Okay...well, if you really take this literally, then I'm sure I have. I've accidentally dropped a glass in Mom's kitchen. Hell, for that matter, probably even in my own kitchen, when I had one. There's also that bottle of salad dressing (mine) that shattered all over Kathy and Derek's counter and floor. I am constantly engaging in klutzy behavior, so, yes, I have, in the last 10 years, done things which resulted in damage to property--my own and others'.

Thankfully, I am 98% sure that the application does not refer to general klutzy behavior, but that of malicious intent. Whew!

At some point, I decided a quick break was in order, so I went downstairs to make a nice cup of tea (side note: I found Tetley "British Blend" at Safeway the other day--same flavor as the stuff I drank in England. Bliss!!). I was waiting for the water to boil when Mom said, "There's a raccoon on the porch! Wait--there's two!"

I walked over to the door, and sure enough, there was a masked bandit, staring back at me. Our presence at the windows made them a bit nervous, so both raccoons went back down the steps to the bark below.

I crept outside onto the deck to watch them, and they sat and stared warily at me before turning to climb down the rocks onto a trail behind and below our property. Then I noticed a third one. They crept into some bushes and I went back inside. Couple minutes later...

"Hey! They're back!"

All three of us crept outside this time. This made them quite nervous, so they climbed back down the rocks and sat on the trail staring up at us. Dad started throwing some stale bread down and they happily went for that.

I have a feeling we're going to be seeing more raccoons when word get out that Doug's Diner has great service.

We stood and watched them for a while, enjoying them. We think they're a mama and two yearlings. They're quite sweet, though. Well, to watch anyway. I wouldn't want to tangle with them!

I admit I'm really enjoying seeing the wildlife around here. They were here first and I respect that it's hard to make a living when you're a bird or a squirrel or a raccoon. We make efforts to coexist peacefully with them, and give them a wide berth to avoid anyone (human or animal) getting hurt.

In other news, I had a lovely (and too short!) chat with Kathy on the phone today. I called to ask if I can use her and Derek as character references on my certification application, and we chatted for 20 minutes--all that was left on my calling card. It was lovely to catch up and hear the gossip from St. Peter's (more of what I was used to).

That said, I feel like working on my scrapbook. Off I go!

Cheers,

Meg

Now I Can Exhale

I probably don't need to remind anyone about how stressful it was for me to see my year 11s through their GCSE Music exam and coursework submission. It is impossible to truly convey how hellish it was to achieve this--I wanted so very badly for my kids to do well, and yet I didn't have the experience teaching this course, and they had been neglected and let down by their previous teacher.

In retrospect, I can see that we essentially did a two-year course in a little under eight months. Eight months! At the beginning of this, I had no idea what I needed to teach these kids. They did not have the confidence they needed to do well in composing. We rolled up our sleeves and muddled through, and finally 4 of the original 6 completed all coursework and sat the exam.

The exam was quite gruelling--the questions these kids are asked are on subjects I did not learn about until university. They sat it in May and we all heaved a huge sigh of relief. It was now out of our hands--we had done the best we could do.

Results came out on August 19th, and it's taken a bit of time for Kathy to find out what they were. This morning I had an email from her. The subject said, simply, "Grades." I opened it with some trepidation.

One B, two C's and one D!

In GCSE grading, the top grade is A*, followed by A, B, and C. These are the grades required by most higher education facilities for admission. D, E and F grades are lower levels, obviously, but a D is not as bad as it would be in the States. The lowest grade is G, and then there is U, for unclassified, for students who don't submit enough to warrant any grade.

Needless to say, I'm quite pleased. Kathy pointed out that I should be proud:

I think, given the start these guys had and the sharp learning curve you had when you started here, these grades are stupendous. Well done!

So, pardon my bragging and my self-congratulating, but I really feel like I need to shout from the rooftops that my kids and I achieved something really good, starting from ground zero.

I am tremendously proud.

Animal Crackers

Some little bits about the animals in my life...

Happy Birthday, Millennium Joy!!

Today is my girl's 6th birthday. I can't believe it's been almost 6 years (December) that I've had her. I've loved every minute of it.

To celebrate she's had her daily Tuna Time and now she is having a nice nap behind the warm computer monitor.

Another Baby Picture

Bella and Duchess have established themselves. They seem not to care that their position in the feline heirarchy of this household is at the very bottom.

Here they are (sorry it's a bit blurry), hugging each other while sleeping on Mom's lap. Needless to say, we can't get enough of them.

I Break for Raccoons

Indeed, I do.

Today I ran a few errands and as I drove towards the Port Ludlow gas station, I had to slow down and let a raccoon cross the road. There he (she?) was, with the striped tail and burglar's mask, sauntering across the street as though there weren't cars coming in each direction.

I mention this here not because it is particularly interesting but because I am completely unused to communing with the wildlife. We had raccoons in Folsom, we just never saw them. Same with squirrels...

Squirrel-in-a-Box

Dad has a squirrel box on the back deck, for the squirrels to get into for sunflower seeds, bits of corn, and peanuts. We (cats included) enjoy watching them scamper across the railing, holding peanuts in their little hands, and winning stare-downs with the blue jays.

This morning I happened to have the camera nearby when I saw a squirrel getting something to eat at Doug's Diner (open all winter!).

Of course, I tried to get a closer picture and I startled the poor thing...

But they're not too scared of us--just wary. This little guy hung out for a moment to see if I'd walk away and let him get back to his eating:

Other Animal Stories

I've now seen two does in the neighborhood. They calmly walk among the houses, looking for food. Mom and Dad saw a huge buck in Port Townsend today, and their friends in Sequim (45 miles from here) have a frequent guest they call Daisy. They leave apples for her.

We also have hawks and eagles, and in the Sound, orcas. Not that we get orcas in Ludlow Bay, but once, on a ferry ride from Bremerton to Seattle, we saw some (that was back in December).

I love it--as I stated above, my interaction with wildlife in Folsom was nill. There is something lovely and calming about having them so near. Even knowing that there are bears and mountain lions (gulp) around doesn't phase me too much. I'm hardly going to go hiking on the trails around here, so I figure I shouldn't run into them.

Speaking of wild animals, the kids are back at school at St. Peter's this week. If any of my friends from St. Peter's read this, welcome back and have a great school year!

And that's all for today.

Cheers,

Meg

Electric Personality

A few days ago, Mom and Dad and I went to Petsmart to get some accessories for our new kitties. As we walked in, I set off the alarm.

It's odd and kind of embarassing to set it off when leaving the store, but coming in?

Dad laughed and said, "It's your electric personality." I put the experience out of my mind.

Today I went out on my own, to that Old Navy I found in Silverdale (see previous blog post) and as I left the store, I set off the alarm. Gah! This was pretty embarassing because I had been looking around for a while, I had tried some things on, but I hadn't bought anything. I went over to an employee and told her this happened to me a few days ago, etc. She laughed and said, "You're fine--thanks for letting me know, though." I suppose she realized that if I'd been shoplifting, I would not have stopped.

So I drove over to Kitsap Mall and walked into Mervyn's--and immediately set off the alarm. I stopped in my tracks, said, "Oh, for heaven's sake!" and made a couple of ladies shopping nearby laugh. "Third time this week that's happened!" The ladies offered their sympathy, and we all went on our way.

By this point, I was red-faced and feeling like everyone must think I'm some kind of kleptomaniac. Shopping wasn't much fun now, but I needed to go into the mall for some things. I approached a young man working in the Mervyn's jewelry counter and said, "Right. I'm going to walk out in to the mall. I've been setting alarms off for some reason. I think it's my purse." The guy said, "It could be a tag in your purse, or have you bought new jeans lately?"

Hmmm.

As a matter of fact...

I made it out of Mervyn's without setting off the bells and whistles--not to mention that horrible automated woman's voice that advises you to go to the nearest checkout clerk to get the crap beat out of you. I made a beeline for the ladies' and walked into a stall.

I remembered that in the other new pair of jeans I bought a few weeks ago, there was a tag up near the zipper that you're supposed to take out. I had not seen one in the 2nd pair of jeans (the ones I was wearing today). I searched a bit and sure enough, there was the tag--halfway down my thigh on the outside seam of my right leg.

Who is gonna see that?!?

I ripped that sucker out and got on my merry way. The good news: I set off no more alarms the rest of the day. I went to J.C. Penney's, Target and Wherehouse, and no problems whatsoever.

The bad news: I guess I don't have an electric personality after all.