*******
It could be just a coincidence or perhaps more likely, due to the high heat we've been having, but I have not seen a single person running or jogging or walking in the street since the day one of the residents of our development died after being hit by a car. There are a few people out doing their exercise of choice, but they have uniformly been on the sidewalk when I have driven by. I would prefer, however, to think that there has been a collective epiphany among all the joggers, etc. that they are really safer on the sidewalk. At least, I hope that's what happened!
*******
I talked with Ratchlet a bit today. They are on vacation on the Gulf Coast this week and having a good time. As she described their activities so far, I was extremely glad to hear that they are generally taking it easy (well, as easy as an active 10 year old will allow them to be!) Ratchlet even made a lot of progress in catching up on all the magazines I share with her....5 months worth!! That's a lot of magazines, so I know she was at least sitting quietly reading at least part of the time! I hope she remembers how to relax even more!
*******
Our development has the good (??) fortune to receive two separate monthly newsletters focusing on this area only. Even though there are many, many residents I really don't think we need two newsletters. Actually, given the fact that neither one of them is worth the paper its printed on, I don't think we need ANY newsletters....especially not these newsletters! One is slightly better than the other, but just barely! Most of what is in there are generic "articles" or ads for local businesses.
We got one of these gems today and it has 20 pages! Among the scintillating articles are:
1. "Diet Tips for a Healthy Summer" (Yawn!)
2. "Getting to Know Your Irrigation Controller" (Ooo, I hope he's 6'1" with big blue eyes!)
3. "Nature Watch -- Cicada Cycles" (I didn't know cicadas even HAD bicycles!)
4. "Diagnosing Autism?" (The question mark means ......what? And what does it have to do with our neighborhood??)
5. "Kids Stuff -- Getting Muscles" (distributed by KidsHealth,Inc and promoting their website)
6. A Coloring Contest --- Subject: Eagle superimposed on top of a Flag captioned, "Happy 4th of July" (Really timely, don't you think??)
7. There's also an article updating us on the Chamber of Commerce activities...(Ummmm, there are no businesses in our development!)
Luckily, they don't try to charge us for these journalistic nightmares, which is good because I think they are written by robots! I won't talk to robots (i.e., recorded messages) on the phone and I certainly won't read boring, uninteresting, and banal drivel that must be written by robots , nor will I pay for the privilege!. I have LOTS of more interesting and better written articles right here in blogland!!
Well at least this month, there is no reminder about all the different naughty activities that will result in a FINE....things like parking on the street in front of your OWN house!!!!
*******
The family across the street holds a "Backyard Bible Club" for kids each summer. It's held in early evening while it's still light and only lasts about an hour and a half. The kids seem to spend a lot of time chasing each other and/or playing basketball. Now, I'm no Biblical scholar, but I'm pretty sure there is no mention of basketball in the "Good Book". Must be some other Bible! :)
*******
Have you been to Garden Ridge lately? It used to be a really fun place for all kinds of interesting "stuff", like artificial flowers, table linens, patio furniture, lamps, home decor, baskets, kitchenware, and so on. They still have a lot of that stuff, but it's just not the same. I can't quite put my finger on exactly why its different, they still had all those things I mentioned. I guess it has more to do with presentation. It now looks a lot more like a warehouse than a showroom. And it felt kind of dim or dirty or something. It was never high-end or upscale by any means, but it didn't seem junky either. I don't know, it's just not as nice. Anyone been there recently? Does anybody know what I mean??
OK, that's a wrap for this session!
I really appreciate your post and you explain each and every point very well.Thanks for sharing this information.And I’ll love to read your next post too.
ReplyDeleteWe left Indiana three months ago. The darkness and gloom was getting to me so we headed toward the light in Florida. After 61 years in the same house...I felt like I was running off from "home" and I was. Before we could sell the house (we were at the paper signing stage) the tornado that came through several months ago threw my trees INTO my childhood home.
ReplyDeleteWe're now recuperating and hoping for better "end of days" in Hernando.
You've hit another of my sore spots ~ joggers in the streets! What in the world do they think the sidewalks are for, and why do they think we should have to be concerned for their safety (and swerve around them & just miss on-coming cars), when they are not concerned for their safety?
ReplyDeleteI think YOU should be writing the newsletter for your development. Your blog is MUCH more interesting than the articles you listed. laurie
I agree. The neighborhood newsletters that are actually put out by marketing companies having nothing to do with the subdivision...and are mostly excuses for ads...are kinda annoying. :)
ReplyDelete>C. Beth:
ReplyDeleteGee, you mean there are others???? EEK! I thought our's were anomalies, not par for the course! That makes it ten times worse, cause that means nobody is even trying to write something pertinent, interesting, and local!
Darn!