BABBLING...

Heidy-Ho, Blogging Pals!! Welcome!!

A few things to impart to you about things here in southwest Louisiana.

First of all, I completed a series of Physical Therapy visits and am glad to report I am feeling a little better and a bit more confident. I think it was a good thing. I continue my morning walks 6 days each week and am on my way to dropping some of those nasty pounds that showed up when I was so inactive over the summer. :)

The Aunt celebrated a birthday February 1st. It was complete with an ice cream cake, flowers, balloons, and lots of cards. Even though the weather was less than stellar, I think it qualified as a good day!

Speaking of weather, it was 24 degrees outside when I left for my morning walk this morning. It was 25 degrees when I returned. This is NOT the balmy south I remember. I'll be filing my complaint as soon as I can find the appropriate form. As to Al Gore... get over yourself, Al. (You can read my rant to Al from LAST January by clicking on his name.)

So... let's talk about spelling. Yep. You read it right. Spelling. I know it is something that not everyone does well. I understand that. We all have strengths and challenges. Spelling happens to be one of my strengths so misspells catch my eye pretty quickly. I have to tell you, though... you would THINK that the job of editing a newspaper, filling out the marquee for the church, or filming and editing a television ad would REQUIRE someone who can spell... or at least has someone following behind them who can. Wouldn't you? Am I off-base here? Naw. I don't think so. Let me share a few of my most recent eye-catchers:
1) On the church marquee, I found "Saint Benedect" and "Greator" (in reference to greater glory). Now then... I Googled Benedect as I thought there was a slight possibility that there was a saint out there I was not familiar with who didn't want a name that sounded like a fancy egg dish! Nope. No "Saint Benedect" to be found. As to "Greator", I thought just MAYbe someone was being creative and combining "Creator" and "Greater" to coin a new and appropriate word for the marquee. Uh... no. I was right the first time. Bad spelling. *chuckle*
2) On the television, I have recently viewed two ads that just screamed "I probably shouldn't have this job!" relative to the party (or parties) responsible for proofing them. The first was for a local automobile dealership. The text across the lower left of the screen read "Derrider, La." That would be fine... except it is (and we are) in DeRidder, La. Yep. There is a double consonant in there... but the "r" ain't it!! LOL!! Another favorite is for a wood furniture place in the little town just north of here. It is Quality Wood Furniture. Great name. Tells you exactly what they have there... except the bottom of the television ad read "Quailty Wood Furniture." If one could make wood from the quail (an excellent eating bird!), perhaps that would work... but it doesn't... for a multitude of reasons.

Because there are just SO many misspells in the local paper, I don't even have a list. It's nearly every time I glance through it that one smacks me in the face. I don't know if it's deadlines or just staffing issues... but I have begun to think there is a church-going newspaper editor that moonlights making local commercials!! Sigh.

So... let's talk about making small changes in the home. Yep. Found a nice new sink and faucet I really liked. The Man (spousal-unit) agreed to install it. After all, it was the same size and basic shape of the existing one. How hard could it be? :) (Fortunately, he had asked me to line up the plumber we love here to help him drop it in as the new one is cast iron and a wee bit heavy!) When I arrived home three hours after the scheduled "quick drop-in", the plumber's truck was still in the driveway. This was not a good sign, folks. Turns out the plumbing underneath the existing sink had been done by someone who may have gone on to make local commercials!! It was so convoluted, they ended up having to completely replumb in order to make things fit and work. The most amusing part of this? Well, the fact that the plumber's bill was only $5 less than the cost of the new sink comes to mind!! It's a good thing I haven't lost my sense of humor.

Finally, I want to share with you my current experience working with a "Big Box" home improvement store that is 30 miles away from here (meaning a one-hour round trip drive every time we go there). I will state that the folks I mention here have all been VERY nice and VERY helpful... and VERY apologetic. :) Here is the experience thus far:
Go to Big Box store.
Look at countertops to replace two cultured marble vanity countertops in a hall bath and a half-bath.
Give dimensions to Sales Person to get quote.
Wait for call from Contractor to come measure existing vanity tops.
Contractor comes out & measures.
Wait for call from Sales Person for final quote to do work.
Sales Person calls with quote and advises I must go there to "sign the contract" and pay.
A little more than an hour later, I have a receipt... but no new countertops.
Three days later, I am measuring for new mirrors in the two baths.
Notice the measurements to "center of sink" on the Contractor's hall bath sketch are not right.
Call Contractor and leave message regarding measurements.
Call Big Box Sales Person who advises he has heard from Contractor and Contractor will be back out to re-measure. (Does "Measure Twice, Cut Once" come to anyone else's mind?)
Contractor calls next day and advises he is going to come back to re-measure. Weather is awful.
Contractor hems and haws a bit and asks if I am "sure" about my measurements? (Uh... yes?)
Contractor says he will use my measurements rather than drive down to re-measure. Okay. Your call (but I still assume no responsibility although I am right!).
Big Box Sales Person calls this morning to advise that new "center of sink" measurements will not allow for the rectangular sink configuration I want. Sigh. Fine. Oval it is.
Big Box New Person calls shortly after to advise that, even though I charged the full amount on my credit card, a PO (fortunately I knew that was a Purchase Order since she was using acronyms throughout the conversation) had NOT been generated by their system AND she needed to "refund" my credit card for the amount of the actual vanity tops then charge that amount again in order to generate a PO so the vendor would actually MAKE them!!! That became a longer conversation than it really needed to be but I hung in there.
I think there may eventually be two new vanity countertops in my home... but I'm really not sure about any of it.

It's just been so darned much fun lately, I have not had time to post to the blog. I apologize for the length of this post... but didn't want you to miss out on any of the fun!!

Thanks for staying with me. Let me know if you need a plumber. I have a good one. My recommendations on other providers are yet to be determined!

Until next post...