Conservative thread: We're still smiling!

[wonderlanne]

I guess I'm in the minority. Our postman is very sweet and helpful, and he does a great job for us — through snow and sleet, as they say. Our newspaper delivery person is actually a family — mom, dad, and 2 kids — and I don't think they have much money. They are utterly dependable and so pleasant and kind. I'm happy to give both a little something at Christmas to thank them for their job well done all year. I really just thought it was something most folks do. Now, tipping the pilot when the place lands safely — that's not a bad idea!

all i can say is that i tried!

hey...what's up with deepak chopra's sparkly glasses?

 

[wardfamily1]

Hey guys! Just crossed the Alabama line and will be in Mobile in about an hour. So we still got a looong way to go! I shall pop back in after awhile.

Get to DHS bright and early so you can get a Toy Story Fast Pass! That is my new favorite ride at DHS!

I hope you have a great time, I wish I was there.

 

[Michelle67]

I give out cookies instead of tips. I can't afford tips...but cookies go a long way. My BIL, on the other hand, is a garbage man on Long Island, and he makes OUT on the tips. A lot of this customers tip him in booze, and he's okay with that. A six pack on top of this can, a fifth of Wild Turkey on that can...he told me one time someone left a paper bag with a note for him...and it was marijuana. He don' do dat...but he thought it was pretty funny.

Okay, so the brilliant snowman idea didn't work out so well. I don't know if it's because the temp dropped or what, but I could NOT get the snow to stick together at all when I went back out. It was just powder. So...plan B. And it's okay to laugh at plan B too, btw. I found a 1/4 sheet of plywood in the garage, and I took it outside and became the human snow plow. I couldn't make it work pushing it, so I jammed it into the snow and then walked it backward toward me, starting in the middle of the driveway and going to each side. I'm sure I looked utterly ridiculous but ya know what? It moved snow! I made it almost half way down the driveway before it got too dark to see what I was doing, and I got it down to 2-3 inches on the ground. I can drive on 3 inches!

I probably should have eaten first...because now I'm exhausted, my blood sugar is tanked, and I'm too shaky and tired to get my wet clothes off. Ooops. I just sat here and ate a couple of Voortman's Christmas wafers. You know, those wafer cookies with the creme between the layers, but these ones are dipped in chocolate and have sprinkles on them....kinda nasty but definitely a sugar blast. Pizza's in the oven and I'll be fine. Just need to recover, so...here I am!

 

[wonderlanne]

I give out cookies instead of tips. I can't afford tips...but cookies go a long way. My BIL, on the other hand, is a garbage man on Long Island, and he makes OUT on the tips. A lot of this customers tip him in booze, and he's okay with that. A six pack on top of this can, a fifth of Wild Turkey on that can...he told me one time someone left a paper bag with a note for him...and it was marijuana. He don' do dat...but he thought it was pretty funny.

Okay, so the brilliant snowman idea didn't work out so well. I don't know if it's because the temp dropped or what, but I could NOT get the snow to stick together at all when I went back out. It was just powder. So...plan B. And it's okay to laugh at plan B too, btw. I found a 1/4 sheet of plywood in the garage, and I took it outside and became the human snow plow. I couldn't make it work pushing it, so I jammed it into the snow and then walked it backward toward me, starting in the middle of the driveway and going to each side. I'm sure I looked utterly ridiculous but ya know what? It moved snow! I made it almost half way down the driveway before it got too dark to see what I was doing, and I got it down to 2-3 inches on the ground. I can drive on 3 inches!

I probably should have eaten first...because now I'm exhausted, my blood sugar is tanked, and I'm too shaky and tired to get my wet clothes off. Ooops. I just sat here and ate a couple of Voortman's Christmas wafers. You know, those wafer cookies with the creme between the layers, but these ones are dipped in chocolate and have sprinkles on them....kinda nasty but definitely a sugar blast. Pizza's in the oven and I'll be fine. Just need to recover, so...here I am!

OH MY GOSH!!!!! i cannot believe all that you have done today! clever with the plywood, good for you! what now, a hot bath and some pizza?

 

[Michelle67]

Well, I'm eating the pizza right now. Eventually I'm hoping to have the energy to drag myself into the shower.

 

[wonderlanne]

Well, I'm eating the pizza right now. Eventually I'm hoping to have the energy to drag myself into the shower.

pizza sounds comforting and delish. i'd colapse if i had done what you did.

 

[MeghansMommy]

Michelle - we're getting pummeled with snow too. Gonna head out soon to shovel the driveway. We've broken two shovels this week alone.

Hey Guys

Anyone read the "What do you give your Postman, etc.," thread? Almost all of the people there said they don't give the postman, newspaper delivery person, etc., ANYTHING at Christmas — and they're quite proud of that fact. I'm shocked! I thought most everyone gave such workers a little something at Christmas. Heck, I gave the homeless guy who stands at the corner with his little sign $5 today (and I usually only give him $1 or $2). It's Christmas, for heaven's sake! Where is everyone's generous spirit? Am I nuts?! Don't most people do this?

We give our mailman a $25 gift certificate to Applebees. I think it's important to give him a gift for two reasons: He's a great guy and gives us great service, but more importantly he looks out for us and our neighbors. I hate to say this, but sometimes the mailman (or woman) can be the first responder in case of an emergency. He told me last summer that during his career he has found two people dead in their homes. He looks out for us and my elderly neighbors.

As for our paper carrier, I have never seen him, but I leave a card taped to the door with some $$ in it. He's a good paper carrier.

 

[Grog]

Buying gifts for men isn't nearly as complicated as it is for women.

So, don't worry, this timely list of rules will answer all your
gift-giving questions for the men on your list.

Rule #1
When in doubt, buy him a cordless drill.
It does not matter if he already has one.
I have a friend who owns 17 and he is yet to complain.
As a man, you can never have too many cordless drills.

Rule #2
If you cannot afford a cordless drill, buy him anything with the
word ratchet or socket in it.
Men love saying those two words.
"Hey, George, can I borrow your ratchet?"
"Sure. By the way, are you through with my 3/8" socket?"

Rule #3
If you are really, really broke, buy him anything for his car.
A 99-cent ice scraper, a small bottle of de-icer, or something to
hang from his rear view mirror.
Men love gifts for their car.

Rule #4
Do not buy men socks. Do not buy men ties. And never buy men bathrobes. I was told that if men were supposed to wear bathrobes, jockey shorts would not have been invented.

Rule #5
You can buy men new remote controls to replace the ones they have worn out. If you have a lot of money, buy the man on your list a big screen TV with the little picture in the corner.
Watch him go wild as he flips and flips and flips.
Forget the program - your entertainment will be watching him have fun!

Rule #6
Do not buy any man industrial-sized canisters of after shave or
cologne. Men believe they do not smell - they are earthy.

Rule #7
Buy men label makers. They're almost as good as cordless drills.
Within a couple of weeks, there will be labels absolutely everywhere. "Socks. Shorts. Cups. Saucers. Door. Lock. Sink."
You get the idea.

Rule #8
Never buy a man anything and then tell him he should read the
instructions because the box says, "Some assembly required."
It will ruin his special day. He will always have parts left over.

Rule #9
Good places to shop for men include: Home Depot, Wal-Mart, $ Dollar Store, Lumberyard, Speed Shops, RV Center and Goodyear Tire, Pool Halls and Pawnshops. Napa Auto Parts and Sear's Clearance Center are also excellent. It doesn't matter if he doesn't know what it is. "From Napa Auto, eh? Must be something I need. Hey! Isn't this a starter for a ''68 Ford Fairlane? Wow! Thanks!"

Rule #10
Men enjoy danger. That's why they never cook, but love to barbeque. Get him a monster barbeque with a 100 pound propane tank. Tell him to build a deck for it.Tell him the gas line leaks. Oh the thrill! The challenge!

Rule #11
Tickets or Pay per View to any NFL or NHL ball game is a smart gift. However, he will not appreciate tickets to "A Retrospective of 19th Century Quilts."

Rule #12
Men love chain saws. Never, ever, buy a man you love a chain saw. If you don't know why, refer to rule #7 (remember what happens with a label maker?)

Rule #13
It's hard to beat a really good wheelbarrow or aluminum extension ladder. Never buy a real man a stepladder. It must be an 'extension' ladder.

Rule #14
Rope. Men love rope. It takes us back to our cowboy origins, or at least the Boy Scouts. Nothing says "I love you" like a hundred feet of 3/8" yellow or blue manila rope.

Rule #15
In lieu of good rope, consider getting him a heavy-duty extension cord. It should be at least 75-100 feet, and it must be either bright yellow or international orange. He'll use it for everything, even if the job is only 10 feet from the power outlet.

Rule # 16
Never, ever buy them house slippers. Only leather moccasins.
They will think they are Tonto or out camping somewhere. Macho thing.

Enjoy your shopping!

(from an email I received)

 

[MeghansMommy]

Buying gifts for men isn't nearly as complicated as it is for women.

So, don't worry, this timely list of rules will answer all your
gift-giving questions for the men on your list.

Rule #1
When in doubt, buy him a cordless drill.
It does not matter if he already has one.
I have a friend who owns 17 and he is yet to complain.
As a man, you can never have too many cordless drills.

Rule #2
If you cannot afford a cordless drill, buy him anything with the
word ratchet or socket in it.
Men love saying those two words.
"Hey, George, can I borrow your ratchet?"
"Sure. By the way, are you through with my 3/8" socket?"

Rule #3
If you are really, really broke, buy him anything for his car.
A 99-cent ice scraper, a small bottle of de-icer, or something to
hang from his rear view mirror.
Men love gifts for their car.

Rule #4
Do not buy men socks. Do not buy men ties. And never buy men bathrobes. I was told that if men were supposed to wear bathrobes, jockey shorts would not have been invented.

Rule #5
You can buy men new remote controls to replace the ones they have worn out. If you have a lot of money, buy the man on your list a big screen TV with the little picture in the corner.
Watch him go wild as he flips and flips and flips.
Forget the program - your entertainment will be watching him have fun!

Rule #6
Do not buy any man industrial-sized canisters of after shave or
cologne. Men believe they do not smell - they are earthy.

Rule #7
Buy men label makers. They're almost as good as cordless drills.
Within a couple of weeks, there will be labels absolutely everywhere. "Socks. Shorts. Cups. Saucers. Door. Lock. Sink."
You get the idea.

Rule #8
Never buy a man anything and then tell him he should read the
instructions because the box says, "Some assembly required."
It will ruin his special day. He will always have parts left over.

Rule #9
Good places to shop for men include: Home Depot, Wal-Mart, $ Dollar Store, Lumberyard, Speed Shops, RV Center and Goodyear Tire, Pool Halls and Pawnshops. Napa Auto Parts and Sear's Clearance Center are also excellent. It doesn't matter if he doesn't know what it is. "From Napa Auto, eh? Must be something I need. Hey! Isn't this a starter for a ''68 Ford Fairlane? Wow! Thanks!"

Rule #10
Men enjoy danger. That's why they never cook, but love to barbeque. Get him a monster barbeque with a 100 pound propane tank. Tell him to build a deck for it.Tell him the gas line leaks. Oh the thrill! The challenge!

Rule #11
Tickets or Pay per View to any NFL or NHL ball game is a smart gift. However, he will not appreciate tickets to "A Retrospective of 19th Century Quilts."

Rule #12
Men love chain saws. Never, ever, buy a man you love a chain saw. If you don't know why, refer to rule #7 (remember what happens with a label maker?)

Rule #13
It's hard to beat a really good wheelbarrow or aluminum extension ladder. Never buy a real man a stepladder. It must be an 'extension' ladder.

Rule #14
Rope. Men love rope. It takes us back to our cowboy origins, or at least the Boy Scouts. Nothing says "I love you" like a hundred feet of 3/8" yellow or blue manila rope.

Rule #15
In lieu of good rope, consider getting him a heavy-duty extension cord. It should be at least 75-100 feet, and it must be either bright yellow or international orange. He'll use it for everything, even if the job is only 10 feet from the power outlet.

Rule # 16
Never, ever buy them house slippers. Only leather moccasins.
They will think they are Tonto or out camping somewhere. Macho thing.

Enjoy your shopping!

(from an email I received)

I know this email is supposed to be funny, but with my husband, it's the absolute truth. It's the same for my dad too. Honest to Pete, it's the truth for both of them. ETA: Oh, for my BIL too. Yep.

(And some of those things listed, I'd like too...)

 

["Got Disney"]

Hey Guys

Anyone read the "What do you give your Postman, etc.," thread? Almost all of the people there said they don't give the postman, newspaper delivery person, etc., ANYTHING at Christmas — and they're quite proud of that fact. I'm shocked! I thought most everyone gave such workers a little something at Christmas. Heck, I gave the homeless guy who stands at the corner with his little sign $5 today (and I usually only give him $1 or $2). It's Christmas, for heaven's sake! Where is every one's generous spirit? Am I nuts?! Don't most people do this?

We give $25.00 Outback restaurant GC to all the teachers....11 to be exact...and the same for the postman. Cookies for the Garbage man to eat in his truck. And cookies also for the UPS guys and occ hot chocolate...I see them every week they Deliver my husbands weekly checks. We tip much higher and also volunteer our time.

I grew up poor and have been financially blessed the last few years so people that make less we like to give a little. Gave a homeless guy $20.00 yesterday...well DH did.

I say if ya have it and ya can afford to part with some than it is a nice gesture...but if ya dont ya have to take care of yours before taking care of someone else with your money. But there is always your time to give and that is free. And that goes for all year around.

I did not read that thread and not being able to give is one thing but being proud of it is another...just cant understand that kind of thinking. But this is the DIS and nothing someone says here should surprise me....

 

[wonderlanne]

Buying gifts for men isn't nearly as complicated as it is for women.

i guess i'll need to return those quilt show tickets first thing.

(they left out shop vac)

 

["Got Disney"]

i guess i'll need to return those quilt show tickets first thing.

(they left out shop vac)

What is quilt show tickets?????? DH has been talking about starting a coin collection ...so I got him some gold coins and a Coin collecting for Dummies book.....man they make those Dummies books for everything don't they

Does anyone here collect coins?

 

[wonderlanne]

[QUOTE="Got Disney";29297673]What is quilt show tickets?????? DH has been talking about starting a coin collection ...so I got him some gold coins and a Coin collecting for Dummies book.....man they make those Dummies books for everything don't they

Does anyone here collect coins?[/QUOTE]

i was just kidding! sorry...

update: will this make up for the shock/disappointment?

American Museum of Quilts and Textiles
766 S. Second Street
San Jose, Ca 95112
408/971-0323
The American Museum of Quilts and Textiles is located in San Jose, California. The museum has been in existence for over ten years. They have six to seven exhibits a year from either their private collection or from artisans and collectors. If you would like more information, please contact Beve Pevarnick, Executive Director at (408) 971-0323.


of the men i buy for, one is nuts for tiki stuff and the other always wants "oh...nothing."

 

[debbieandroo]

I guess I'm in the minority. Our postman is very sweet and helpful, and he does a great job for us — through snow and sleet, as they say. Our newspaper delivery person is actually a family — mom, dad, and 2 kids — and I don't think they have much money. They are utterly dependable and so pleasant and kind. I'm happy to give both a little something at Christmas to thank them for their job well done all year. I really just thought it was something most folks do. Now, tipping the pilot when the place lands safely — that's not a bad idea!

I give out cookies instead of tips. I can't afford tips...but cookies go a long way. My BIL, on the other hand, is a garbage man on Long Island, and he makes OUT on the tips. A lot of this customers tip him in booze, and he's okay with that. A six pack on top of this can, a fifth of Wild Turkey on that can...he told me one time someone left a paper bag with a note for him...and it was marijuana. He don' do dat...but he thought it was pretty funny.

I do the cookie thing, too....my sanitation crew [PC I know but I feel funny saying 'garbage people' but they do include men and women] are so sweet - if I forget to roll out my garbage can, they do it for me and they always roll it back to my gate...so I left them a couple of cans of popcorn and some homemade goodies -- that was two garbage pick-ups ago...and they stopped rolling my can back to my gate. I guess I should have given the hooch instead!

And I want to be Robin's kids' teachers - woot-woot on the gift cards!

Okay, so the brilliant snowman idea didn't work out so well. I don't know if it's because the temp dropped or what, but I could NOT get the snow to stick together at all when I went back out. It was just powder. So...plan B. And it's okay to laugh at plan B too, btw. I found a 1/4 sheet of plywood in the garage, and I took it outside and became the human snow plow. I couldn't make it work pushing it, so I jammed it into the snow and then walked it backward toward me, starting in the middle of the driveway and going to each side. I'm sure I looked utterly ridiculous but ya know what? It moved snow! I made it almost half way down the driveway before it got too dark to see what I was doing, and I got it down to 2-3 inches on the ground. I can drive on 3 inches!

I probably should have eaten first...because now I'm exhausted, my blood sugar is tanked, and I'm too shaky and tired to get my wet clothes off. Ooops. I just sat here and ate a couple of Voortman's Christmas wafers. You know, those wafer cookies with the creme between the layers, but these ones are dipped in chocolate and have sprinkles on them....kinda nasty but definitely a sugar blast. Pizza's in the oven and I'll be fine. Just need to recover, so...here I am!

Snowman or no, that was a valiant effort - but, goodness! Be careful - your sweet grandson doesn't want to have to visit his grandma in the hospital!

Buying gifts for men isn't nearly as complicated as it is for women.

and I've broken every rule on that list...oh well....now that the two main men in my life are of the canine variety, I can go easy on the power tools...but for me, hmmmm....

 

[Soarin08]

I'm officially in FL! 150 miles to go till Tallahassee.

 

[debbieandroo]

not so great day today -- woke up with a bad headache, didn't even have to look outside to realize the headache was due to the rain, the cold rain....

then, before work, I had the brilliant idea to deliver goodies to our support services/maintenance crew - but it was in an area I wasn't familiar with so I had to park, walk to the entrance [still raining], ask for directions - standard reply was 'you can go rightleftrightleftrightleft, but it would be much easier to park your car around the front.' Hmmm....I'm all about 'much easier' so I did repark my car to find the 'front', only I never quite got the 'front' part so I had to repeat the above scenario two more times, both times toting my treats, which were getting more and more rain-soaked. When I finally got to my destination, the giftee wasn't there so his secretary took it and the look of disdain on her face let me know that she was not impressed with my soggy goodies....

then, at work, I checked my emails [I can't get work emails at home] - as a preface, I have been trying to plan three workshops throughout the state and have spent MONTHS trying to get locations/dates/speakers - we've had to reschedule once already, speakers have either fallen through or not been available no matter what date we set...we had begun to think it was cursed when, finally, the dates/locations/speakers were set *last week* and I sent the announcements for them as soon as they were set....so, reading my emails today, I heard that one, I had chosen a terrible date [this will keep so many people away, said the emailer] and two, I had taken way too long to let everyone know about this [while I was twiddling my thumbs or something]....GAH!

then, I forgot to do payroll...until everyone had left....so I had to stay late to finish it up [thankfully I did remember in time]

but, two bright spots - first, I'm off for a couple of days! [trying not to think about the fact that I work all this weekend] and second, I won this from a local bookstore:

A personal organizer! Not that I would ever need to be organized, of course ... And I am one of those who never wins anything - but I guess I can't say that anymore...

Well, sorry for the rant, I just had to vent a little and y'all are a fab audience of listeners...

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

Soarin', what park did y'all decide on for tomorrow? I'm guessing that if it were up to you it would be Epcot.

 

[wonderlanne]

I'm officially in FL! 150 miles to go till Tallahassee.

wow! pedal to the metal!

 

[wonderlanne]

not so great day today...

wow...you went to a lot of trouble to do a really nice thing.

congratulations on your win...that's pretty neat. i haven't won anything since i was a kid and won some walkie talkies, but my father is always winning really neat stuff.

 

[debbieandroo]

wow - the folks up in the Northeast are crazier than I thought [with the exceptions being Michelle and Honugirl, of course]

To hear the city’s spin, Seattle’s road crews are making “great progress” in clearing the ice-caked streets.

But it turns out “plowed streets” in Seattle actually means “snow-packed,” as in there’s snow and ice left on major arterials by design.

“We’re trying to create a hard-packed surface,” said Alex Wiggins, chief of staff for the Seattle Department of Transportation. “It doesn’t look like anything you’d find in Chicago or New York.”

The city’s approach means crews clear the roads enough for all-wheel and four-wheel-drive vehicles, or those with front-wheel drive cars as long as they are using chains, Wiggins said.

The icy streets are the result of Seattle’s refusal to use salt, an effective ice-buster used by the state Department of Transportation and cities accustomed to dealing with heavy winter snows.

“If we were using salt, you’d see patches of bare road because salt is very effective,” Wiggins said. “We decided not to utilize salt because it’s not a healthy addition to Puget Sound.”

nor do they use sand:

“We never use sand,” said Ann Williams, spokeswoman for Denver’s Department of Public Works. “Sand causes dust, and there’s also water-quality issues where it goes into streets and into our rivers.”

so what happened in Seattle?

“Sunday was full of car crashes, even after several pleas from State Patrol and local police to stay off the roads.

The State Patrol responded to 157 collisions Sunday in King County. …

Between noon and midnight on Saturday, the State Patrol responded to 246 collisions … in King County.” “Snow: Sunday Traffic accidents by the numbers”