Card Bashing

Once upon a time, in my teenage years, I would spend ages scanning the Hallmark store for the “perfect” card that conveyed just the right sentiment. Especially when it came to my friends. The ideal card was one that had some long and drawn out joke on the front and a side-splitting punch line on the inside. Also, the ones featuring chimpanzees dressed like people were a popular favorite. Hoo boy, those were the best! Monkey card, anyone?

I must have gotten the greeting card bug from my mom, who often buys two cards per occasion: one funny and one tear-jerker. Also, Mom is of the mindset that a greeting card is a quintessential element of the gift-giving process. You could choose the perfect gift, but without a card, it’s just not complete.

In recent years, I’ve changed my tune about cards. I owe my change of heart on two things: Mike has never been one for cards, and I think cards are a tremendous waste of paper and money! I mean, have you seen the cost of those things!? It’s highway robbery, I tell you!! 4 bucks for a folded piece of paper and and an envelope that will most likely end up in the garbage. Plus, companies like Hallmark expect you to buy cards for all kinds of occasions that should not require a card. For example: St. Patrick’s Day, 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Cinco De Mayo, I could go on and on. Don’t even get me started on the sound-effect cards! Buy a REAL gift for God’s sake!

Another thing about cards that annoys me is that most people just write “Dear so-and-so, Love, yours truly” and that’s it! They’re a crutch for all those inarticulate folks out there who have no idea what to say to their loved ones — even I’ve been guilty of it on occasion. My mother is an exception; she always includes a personal note. If you look at vintage greeting cards, all they ever said was, “Happy Birthday” or “Seasons Greetings” and people had to come up with the nice words. It didn’t matter if it was poetry, it just mattered that the person took the time to say it.

So anyway, I didn’t mean for this entry to be a rampage about cards, but it looks like it’s ended up as such. I only brought it up because my Mom’s birthday is next week, and I have to either buy her a nice card with just the right message or make one. It’s looking more like I’m going to make one, since I’m such a cheapskate right now, and there’s no way I’m going to disappoint my otherwise awesome Mom!

Tags: Miscellaneous

Weekly Tweets from 2009-06-28

• Had to turn around 40 min into our 5 hour trip. Forgot to drop off key for our cat sitters. Looks like we’ll arrive ar 2am now. Ugh. #
• Feeling crummy, so I’m procrastinating, procrastinating, procrastinating. :( #
• RT @ljc: Ooooh I can’t wait to see this! Ponyo - http://www.apple.com/trailers/disney/ponyo/ #
• I totally passed out on the couch in mid-crochet… I’m such a craft junkie. Woke up all groggy to the phone ringing. #
• It would be a lot more peaceful if my pre-pubescent neighbor wasn’t outside making voice-cracking groans followed by high-pitched giggling. #
• Hours after being in the sun, I’m finally noticing that I’m a little sunburned! :( Break out the aloe! #
• http://twitpic.com/8a97r - Probably shouldn’t climb a 20ft ladder my myself huh? #
• Yet ANOTHER pair of birds is trying to nest on our house… Must plug the proposed nest site. #
• Thinking that having coffee at 8PM was maybe a bad idea… #
• RT @sitepointdotcom: Help send a msg 2 Microsoft that using Word 2 render HTML emails in Outlook is dumb. http://fixoutlook.org (Please RT) #
• The monster weeds in my garden look more like plants, so I’m going to be lazy and leave them there… for now. Is that so bad? #
• I finally learned the perfect word to describe myself! Procraftinator. http://bit.ly/FbO0B #
• Note to self: Summer isn’t the time to start a large crochet project. My lap is on FIRE! #

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Weekly Tweets from 2009-06-21

• You’d think my doctor’s office made enough money to have a holding service, instead of giving me a freakin’ busy signal! #
• It may be early yet, but I’m so psyched about my new blogroll of Halloween related sites! Time to get inspired! #
• I have to keep telling myself: Today will be a productive day, dammit!! #
• Neighbor stopped by asking about a logo design… I think my price scared him! :( #
• OMG you ROCK! Thanks for emptying the dishwasher. ;) #
• Don’t get me wrong, I love camping, but it feels so nice to put on a little bit of makeup and style my hair. #

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Craigslist

So if you’ve noticed my flicker stream lately, you’ve seen a lot of strange random items I’ve photographed. The truth is, my garage is overrun with junk — trappings of a former existence, apartment living, and various cast-offs that are too nice to simply throw out. The budding environmentalist in me cringes at the thought of good items languishing in a land fill. Mike and I were toying with the idea of throwing an all-out garage sale, but we’re far too lazy for that. Lose a whole weekend sitting in the driveway watching people peruse our crap and try to nickel-and-dime us for that Bombay Company Jewelry Box that’s easily worth $20 bucks; NEVER!

I LOVE this Weird Al song!!!

So up on Craigslist it goes. And why not?! I’m home all day now, often without much to do. Plus, as sick as it sounds, I enjoy the human interaction; even if they are strangers. Some of the things I’ve sold so far: That jewelry box, a big wad of turquoise tule, vinyl gaming chairs that Mike HAD to have (I got his permission first), old bathroom light fixture, shower curtain and other old bathroom stuff, office chair, new curved shower curtain rod (lost my receipt), among other things. And someone is supposedly coming today to purchase my old kitchen baker’s rack. All in all, we’ve made a pretty good chunk of change. And with that money, I’ve been able to do a little Goodwill shopping. I’m hoping to have the garage cleaned out by the end of the summer. It’s been far too long since I was able to see the floor in there!

I’m embarrassed to say that this is pretty much what our garage looks like right now. This picture was taken last year, but not much has changed. The mess is slightly more organized, and just imagine four big rolls of bamboo fencing since this pic was taken before the fence project, as well as two boxes for a new toilet (for the powder room) and various bathroom project items! Trust me, it all fits in there!

Tags: Homeownership

Weekly Tweets from 2009-06-14

• Rain again! Seriously!? #
• I don’t care if quiet hours aren’t for another 40 min your childern should NOT be screaming at the top of their lungs at 9:20! #
• Ah, the weekend… our campsite silence has been broken by screaming children and frat-boy whooping. #
• Why must I always be the first one up? #
• Camping in the rain sucks… slightly suckier when you forget a part of your tent’s rain fly.. oops. At least it’s not a crucial part! #
• Poor thing! This is what I have to deal with: http://bit.ly/scsXR #
• Ah, the neighbor’s kids must be home from school for the summer, because their dog has been alone outside barking ALL MORNING! #
• Hoping that rain in the forecast doesn’t dampen our trip too much!! #
• It looks like the cats had the last laugh. I came downstairs to find a dead chipmunk in the den. Poor chippy! #
• Pinkie nail has reached “coke nail” proportions. Better file that bad-boy before going camping tomorrow. #
• Who decided that Janet Jackson was good holding music for my insurance company!? Ugh. #
• THIS close to spilling coffee all over myself! Phew… nice save! #
• The downfall of hugging people at church: the lingering smell of someone’s aftershave mixed with my own perfume… YUCK! #

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