Saturday Lite

• Just thought you might like to chuckle along with me at these sad-but-true mostly customer service encounters. They're not my own, but they just as well could be. Nothing like a little common sense to engender confidence...

Oh dear.....

I was at the checkout of a K-Mart. The clerk rang up $46.64 charge. I gave her a fifty dollar bill. She gave me back $46 .64. I gave the money back to her and told her that she had made a mistake in my favor. She became indignant and informed me she was educated and knew what she was doing, and returned the money again. I gave her the money back. Same scenario. I departed the store with the $46.64.

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I walked into a Starbucks with a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for a Grande Latte. I handed it to the girl and she looked over at a little chalkboard that said 'buy one- get one free.' 'They're already buy-one-get-one-free,' she said, 'so I guess they're both free'. She handed me my free Lattes and I walked out the door.

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One day I was walking down the beach with some friends when one of them shouted, 'Look at that dead bird!' Someone looked up at the sky and said, 'Where'?

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While looking at a house, my brother asked the real Estate agent which direction was north because, he explained, he didn'twant the sun waking him up every morning. She asked, 'Does the sun rise in the north?' When my brother explained that the sun rises in the East, and has for sometime, she shook her head and said, 'Oh I don't keep up with all that stuff.'

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I used to work in technical support for a 24/7 call center. Oneday I got a call from an individual who asked what hours the call center was open. I told him, 'The number you dialed is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.' He responded, 'Is that Eastern or Pacific time?' Wanting to end the call quickly, I said, 'Uh, Pacific.'

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My sister has a lifesaving tool in her car designed to cut through a seat belt if she gets trapped. She keeps it in the trunk.

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My friends and I were on a beer run and noticed that the cases were discounted 10%. Since it was a big party, we bought 2 cases. The cashier multiplied 2 times 10% and gave us a 20% discount.

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I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area, so I went to the lost luggage office and told the woman there that my bags never showed up. She smiled and told me not to worry because she was a trained professional and I was in good hands. 'Now,' she asked me, has your plane arrived yet?'

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While working at a pizza parlor I observed a man ordering a small pizza to go. He appeared to be alone and the cook asked him if hewould like it cut into 4 pieces or 6. He thought about it for some time before responding. 'Just cut it into 4 pieces; I don't think I'm hungry enough to eat 6 pieces.'

Sky Watch Friday

I'm not officially linked yet, but here's my first Sky Watch.
(Compliments of the Provincetown Monument and

complete with a gorgeous evening breeze)

Thursday 13 Early: Provincetown Part 3

1. Imagine stealing a half hour each morning and another late each afternoon to stroll along the bay. I've been blessed with a thousand opportunities to do just that, at this very spot.

2. This is the Provincetown Monument. You can climb to the top for an amazing view of the town, harbor, and ocean.

3. You'll find this message prominently displayed on the back of the Provincetown Trolley.

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4. Ahhhhhh.

5. This is the Provincetown Artisan Cooperative. I'm proud to say I was its developer and Executive Director--watching it grow and thrive along with 12 local artisans who make every single thing in the shop by their own hands.

6. Not to mention the Co-op has the best view in town: sand and sea from every window.

7. This is probably an odd shot to post, but I'm hoping you might see the magical quality of our little place. The Cape is known for its remarkable light and in Provincetown, surrounded by the Atlantic ocean and bouncing prisms of sun, the light just glows.

8. How's this for a view while grilling? Along the entire 3 mile length of Commercial Street, it's actually commonplace.....

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9. Here we have a local art display by a local artist--plastic dog bowls placed on a stretch of sidewalk, all for the purpose of raising funds to help animals. Donations are dropped in whatever bowl you wish.

10. The Unitarian Church in Provincetown is a mix of religions, nationalities, sexual preferences, and occupations. I've been to many Sunday services there and I've always walked away knowing I am part of something much larger than myself.
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11. Provincetown hosts Family Week, The International Film Festival, Holly-Folly Holiday Shopping, The Blessing of the Fleet, The Portuguese Festival--you get the idea. This last week was the annual meeting of the Provincetown Bears. What is that, you might ask? Well, despite the stereotypes, not all gay men are effeminate. In fact, some are downright lumber-jack-ish. Thus the birth of the "Bears". (Please don't ask me to explain the reference to leather). I noticed that the Bears brought along friends, wives, sisters--wearing tee shirts with a pictures of honey pots. If you are wincing by now, please attribute this information to free speech and the writer's belief that it's best when decent people are free to be who they are.

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12. This is the Town Hall, across from Cabot's homemade taffy machine, and also the site of a certain individual's camera's view of Commercial Street.

13. And finally, if you have any doubt about God or a higher power or whatever you might call a force for good, I submit this as confirmed proof.

Provincetown--Part 2

It took all of an hour to shift gears and wind down. jb and I arrived in town via the ocean route and as we always do drove the 3 or 4 miles along Commercial from the East End to the West End, the sea visible between every opening.
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When we bought the middle part of a house divided into three units, we could afford it only by renting our place out year round for the first three years. Since then we lived there for two years, and now it's rented out year round again. Except this year our tenant and we agreed she would move out and we would move in for a month. It's not totally vacation mode: we're commuting back and forth--work has a way of doing that--but still, this is going to be just fine.

We walk along the walkway to the brick patio we all had installed a few years ago. The bricks have weathered in the two years since I've been back, looking like they've always been there.


We have a little back yard and lots of vines decorating an old and weary shed.
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One block away, jb and I have walked along the bay so often I dream about it. We've planned and schemed and plotted and dreamed. Sometimes the tide is high, sometimes it's low. I've always liked following the tide schedule. Something about being close to the source....

Yesterday the beach was surprisingly filled with scallop shells. jb stuffed them in her pockets, to be used and recycled in some yet-unknown way.
. We walked along Commercial Street, marveling at the yards and flowers and houses and scents of salt and sea. This used to be Robenia's house, and her grandfather's before that. Now it is a complex of condominiums sitting on the ocean. The views are unbelievable.

We stop at the Provincetown Book Stop, a true mishmash of time-gone-by. I never fail to buy a book or two here. The poet Mary Oliver, who lives in Provincetown, is prominently featured.

We return home and stretch out reading for a little while. This room is as cozy and comfortable as it looks. (Note: our place is small and simple--I will post more pictures of it before this series is finished).

I love the houses in Provincetown. (I'll be posting pictures of houses too). We pass this sweet house on our walk to our friends', where good food and good company are waiting.

Our friends are ready for us: drinks, cheese, tuna and roasted potatoes on the grill, fresh green beans, lady fingers and fresh fruit, and good strong coffee.

And finally we head home and follow the brick walkway to our back door. I read some more, do whatever I want, and fall asleep with the windows open and the ocean air welcoming me back.

I'll be damned. Maybe you CAN go home again....

Provincetown--Part 1

We begin our three and a half hour ride with Stella in the backseat and plenty of cheese, apples and scones to nibble on. True to form, jb and I cut off the main road as soon as we cross the bridge to Cape Cod. We travel along Route 6A,

marveling at the abundance

of trees and landscapes.

Cape Cod homes are precious. Even in their simplicity.

We nonchallantly passed this, turned around,

and drove back so I could take this picture.
A worldwide tourist attraction, the Cape has its full share of honky tonk.

And incredible flowers.And the ocean with its light and soft breezes.

Within hours I am proudly wearing my beach teeshirt and flipflops. Walking. Reading. Catching up. Slowing down. I lived here for two years and I haven't been back for the last two years. I'm surprised how little has changed.

Introducing the Artist Known as Ces!

Woo Hoo! Please allow me to introduce this first class beautifully designed book which features four of CES' moleskine illustrations. My photo skills do not do them justice, but I can guarantee this could be a big break for Isabella's career. Not to mention well deserved recognition for my dearest friend Ces.

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You can buy the book from Amazon for $ 16.50 and you should. It is terrific. (One of the illustrations could be my big break as well, since it takes two people to be best friends and I may be one of them).

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Did I mention the book is terrific?

Thursday 13: Two Great Things

Mr. Ryan comes to visit and the Garden comes of age.

1. He brought provisions.

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2. And his walking shoes.
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3. He found things to carry...

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5. He kissed Ducky

6. And had drinks with JB.
7. When he left we were all lonely.

8. We occupied ourselves by driving down the street to the local farmstand for the last of the strawberries and the first of the blueberries.
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9. We worked in the yard and garden, planting annuals and perennial flowers, buying new shrubs, and getting ourselves ready for summer living.

10. JB set up the little water garden in front of our kitchen door and weeded her grasses in the back yard. They've doubled in size since we planted them last summer.
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11. I was excited to see the first green bean in the vegetable garden.
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12. I finished the shade circle in the front of the house....

And finally began and planted a second shade garden on the backside--mostly hostas and ground cover with a few annual coleus' thrown in for color.

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13. We bought three lace capped hydrangeas for a weird spot behind our brick patio and popped in a few majestic foxgloves. The hydrangeas will take a few years to reach a few feet high, but every summer their purple and blue flowers will return.

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The irises I planted last year came back by the dozens, not to mention JB's grasses

smiling in the background.
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14. The finale, and just about the best part: fresh flowers all season long.
These two great things have made me very rich.
(kj thanks the universe)