When we ate at Higgins for Jeremy's birthday I was fascinated by the staff's attire. "They're all wearing solid-colored shirts," I said.
"So what?" said Kris. "Everyone wears solid colored shirts."
"Not me," I said. My shirts all have stripes and plaids and assorted patterns. Few of them are simple solids.
"I know," Kris said, sighing.
While preparing for the Rather Large Yard Sale last week, I dragged a bunch of my old clothes from storage. I had five boxes labelled SHIRTS (M), TROUSERS (32), TROUSERS (34), etc. As I began to sort the clothes for sale, I realized that I liked these clothes. These were the clothes that I wore regularly before I grew fat. I couldn't sell these. Then I realized that I could wear most of these clothes now. In fact, the clothes in my current wardrobe no longer fit; they're too large.
Gradually I'm assimilating these old clothes into my wardrobe and filtering others out. The bonus? Most of my old shirts are solid colored! A few of the shirts are plaid, but mostly I've t-shirts in solid-colored earth tones and dress shirts of various hues (including some that are boldly colored RED and YELLOW.)
It's as if I've re-vitalized my wardrobe at no cost.
Kris and I went for a bike ride this morning. We rode down past Good's Bridge and then turned onto one of the dead-end roads in the river valley. We rode to the end, counting the cats and the dogs. I admired the farmhouses — each of them set on a couple of acres — wishing that one might be for sale. They're so close to town, but most certainly in the country. The ride was very nice.
When we returned, I cleaned the shed, as I do once every spring. I carried all of the bags and boxes and baskets onto the lawn. I sorted through the stuff, making piles (tools, books, junk, etc.). Because of our recent efforts to purge, surprisingly little made it to the trash today.
During the project, I discovered a couple of fun items. First, here are some of my old yearbook photographs:
(Coming soon: seventh-grade yearbook photos of the entire geeky gang!)
I also stumbled upon this old letter:
17 November 1995
W. D.
BMG Classical Music Service
Indianapolis, IN
46291-0050Dear W.,
Are you people insane?
Several months ago, I received a CD from you which I blindly opened assuming it was something that I had ordered. Much to my chagrin, inside was "George Jones Sings Hank Williams Greatest Hits". I was flabbergasted. Was this CD even OFFERED by BMG Classical Music Service? I knew that I didn't receive it due to a "missed" mailing because (a) I ALWAYS return my cards and (b) I doubt George Jones' CD was a featured selection.
From past experience I know that returning a previously opened CD is more trouble than it's worth, so I kept it. I showed it to my friends and we all had a good laugh. My brother mentioned that he might like to have it, so I gave it to him. He doesn't think it's that great; perhaps you should remove it from your list of offerings. In any event, I PAID for that CD which I had never ordered.
Then, I received a disc of French Violin Sonatas featuring Kyoko Takezawa. While it is possible that I may have ordered this, I highly doubt that I did. I don't like violin sonatas. I don't like Debussy. I am only mildly fond of Saint-Saens. (I do like Ravel, but not his violin sonatas.) I kept this disc, too, since I considered that maybe the fault was mine.
Finally, a few weeks ago I received another CD in the mail. Wary due o the fact that I KNEW I hadn't ordered anything recently, I determined the contents of without opening the package. Inside was a disc of Beethoven Piano Sonatas. I knew I hadn't ordered this, so I refused it.
Yesterday, I received a postcard (which I've enclosed). It claims that I recently returned Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. Now, while I DO remember ordering this CD, I know that I have never received it. I certainly would not have refused it, as I've always wanted them on compact disc.
During these three incidents, I have been constantly frustrated by one fact: BMG Classical Music Service INTENTIONALLY makes it nearly impossible to be contacted by phone. This is ludicrous. If I could reach you by phone, I could clear things up in minutes. Instead, I have to resort to mail.
Between the incorrect mailings and the lack of a phone number, I've become VERY dissatisfied with your "club". Please cancel my membership IMMEDITATELY. You can be sure that I've related my experiences to several friends and colleagues who have considered joining BMG clubs.
In response to your postcard, please DO send me the Bach Brandenburg Concertos. But, if I receive the Beethoven Piano Sonatas instead I'm going to be pissed off.
Also, it would be a nice gesture on your part to forward an e-mail address (much preferred) or a phone number which I could use to contact BMG Classical Music Service more efficiently. Printing one on your mailings would be better yet. You might also want to consider improving your computer systems so that this sort of thing doesn't happen in the future.
Sincerely,
J.D. Rothp.s. I just got off the phone with my brother (who was not listening to the George Jones CD mentioned above). He claims that he, too, has received items from BMG that he never ordered. What gives?
Oh, the silliness of righteous anger...
We had the Kropf kids over for dinner tonight. They brought their burgeoning families. (It's fun to call them the "Kropf kids" even though we're all over thirty by now.)
Over the course of the evening I found Diego's nickname: "El Grande". I give all the kids nicknames, but they don't work if they're forced. They have to come spontaneously. (Of course, in some cases I adopt pre-existing nicknames. Thus, Harrison is "Hank", which Jeremy had promised to call him.)
After dinner, Daphne (21 mo.) and Antonio (3-1/2 yrs.) were sitting with me at the table. Antonio and I were finishing our Blueberry Crumb Cake. Daphne was fussing; she wasn't completely content.
J.D.: What do you need Daffy?
Antonio: Why do you call her Daffy?
J.D.: Why do I call you Pepe?
Antonio: Because it's cool.
It's great when I can get the kids to buy into the nicknames I've given them. "Because it's cool." Heh.
On this day at foldedspace.org
2003 — Spring Images of springtime.
2002 — Wireless Andrew and Dana have been raving about wireless access for several months, but I hadn't paid much attention to them. They rave about lots of things.
I often look at me shirts and find that I only have solids. I like them better, but in order to be a little less predicable I went out and bought 5 'pattern' shirts. Now I find that I wear those much more often. Strange.
You brave soul, I hide me 7th-9th grade photos. I like all of the other years.
You answered poor Pepe's question with a questions, how annoying.
After having company over must of yesterday, I am reminded (like I am every year) that more stores need to be opened on Easter. I have things to return and pick up that I would have done yesterday if I had remembered that today was a 'dead store' day. Damn religious holidays.