Unfortunate Sign-of-the-Times

This past Wednesday evening, yes, the day before Thanksgiving, we found out that our local camera/scrapbooking store was closing. "Corporate" decided to close a number of Cord Camera stores in OH. I can be open minded and understand that they needed to considered the bottom line and that maybe, if they kept those stores open, then the entire company would go out of business. But, in an strange way, that store gave me a sense of community. It provided a home town feel. I knew that I could always stop in there for anything specific to cameras. I could get great service from the experts - service that I could not get from a [bigger] big box store like WalM or BB.

Additionally, Cord had a FANTASTIC scrapbooking department. They had product that was not found at Archivers or WalM. Several sales associates knew me by name or face and greeted me when I was there. Their marathon crops were GREAT - 12 hours of uninterrupted crop time - pure BLISS! And, if you wanted a cup of coffee, a burger, pizza, or a taco, Caribou, Steak and Shake, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell were just steps away. No need to get in your car and drive. This, too, reinforced the hometown feel that Cord provided to me.

Oh well, maybe one day when the economy is better, Cord Camera or something similar will return. Until then, there is a beautiful building on Rt 82 in Macedonia OH, once teeming with memories, laughter, families, and friends, that is now dark, cold, empty, and silent.

That time of the year...

Yes, it's that "wonderful time of the year" - creating digital Christmas cards! I always try to get them ordered by Thanksgiving so that I can write them over the weekend. Ever receive cards that include a letter summarizing a family's events for the past year? It is a great way of catching up on their lives. Well, I am a woman of few words. This means that I select one significant travel moment and memorialize it on a Christmas card - just the pic and the location. Fortunately, now multiple pics can go on one card. Fantastic! A few more pics to tell our story!

I create several cards:

• a cute one of the cat - sent to those who would prefer to see the cat over us
• a standard one of me and my s.o. - sent to those who would like to see us
• a quirky one - sent to those who may or may not appreciate my odd, bizarre, off-the-wall humor

Which one will you get this year?

No More Strobe

Ok. I am upset. Earlier this week, Sirius took away one of my favorite channels - "The Strobe". Yes, I enjoyed listening to the disco classics of the 70s when I was in high school. Now they are again distant memories. In its place, I have discovered "1st Wave" - the new wave music of the late 70s/early 80s. It reminds me of my favorite station when I was in college - WLIR. Although the station was "on the Island", it came in clearly in The Bronx. They played U2, INXS, etc before they made it to the pop charts. This begs the question, if I have moved away from 70s Disco and to 80s New Wave, will I one day catch up to contemporary music again? Hmmm. Stay tuned...

Happy Belated Birthday, Marry

Hi Marry Hunter, nee Van Gunst. I lost touch with you a long time ago but I still think of you. Yesterday, September 14, was your birthday. I hope you had a happy day.

Wedding in Vegas

This past March, we were went to Las Vegas for our neighbors/friends/pokerbuddies' wedding. I wanted to make a special wedding card for Joe and Wendy. BoBunny Press' "LOVE" chipboard album inspired me! (Please forgive the quality since I used my cell phone to take the pics).

Day-after-New-Year Resolution (Follow Up)

Slacking on this resolution... gaining more than losing. I really need to turn this around!

Goodbye George Carlin and Bozo the Clown

Two other icons from my childhood recently passed away...

I remember watching George Carlin on the Flip Wilson Show when I was a child. My husband and I were fortunate to see a Carlin show in Akron a few years ago (after missing a show in New Jersey many years earlier due to a snow storm). I will miss his humor. 06.22.2008

What can I say about watching "Bozo the Clown" as a child? Lawrence Weiss (Larry Harmon ). 07.03.2008

Goodbye Jim McKay

I grew up watching ABC's Wide World of Sports with my dad. At a time when there were only 3 major networks, 3 minor channels, and one public channel in NYC, that show was the highlight of a weekend afternoon. I will always remember the show's introduction and will never forget the "agony of defeat" as a skier fell off of a ski ramp. More importantly, I will remember Jim McKay as a wonderful childhood memory.

Choices...

Tux has occasional bouts with indecision!

Laundry Detergent Caps

No update yet on the laundry caps. I hope to come up with something "crafty" before summer ends...

Laundry Detergent Caps

We were talking about this earlier today,so it's still on my mind...

I admit it. I am a pack rat when it comes to those colorful laundry detergent caps. I cannot part with them. From time-to-time, I consider what I can make out of them. I just found a site with numerous suggestions. One of my favorites was to make a small hole in the cap, fill with water, and then place on the soil of a potted plant. This creates a slow-release watering apparatus.

I have a thought to make a light fixture panel. maybe take a peg board, put small white string lights through the holes, and cover with the plastic laundry caps. This needs more thought since I am not sure that the caps will stay in place.

Talking with a co-worker, we discussed inverting the caps,drilling holes in them, putting small white string lights in them, and use them a lanterns. I will need to search the web for string light options and any fittings that may be available. I will keep you posted...

Day-after-New-Year Resolution

I resolve to lose 10 pounds sometime this year. Stay tuned.

Blog On

This is my first blog. Please, no extreme criticism - just yet...