Love so sprang at her, she honestly thought no one had ever looked into it. Where was it in literature? Someone must have written something. She must not have recognized it. Time to read everything again.

Annie Dillard, "The Maytrees"

(ten points if you know the location where this was taken...)

the customer is always right on my last nerve.

Firstly: I do not mean to bite the hand that feeds me. I'm grateful to have a job at this particular moment in history.

But sometimes I wonder if my job is a secret reality tv show.

This is why: the distance between the quality of work we're expected to accomplish and the tools, directions, and information we're supplied with is laughably gaping. I'm probably the only one who notices when 'red currant' is spelled 'red current' on everything from jam to scented candles, but EVERYONE suffers when dutch ovens are featured on the front of the ad, we get sent FOUR OF THEM, and we run out by 2pm on Sunday.

This is where the reality tv challenges kick in: how many irrationally angry customers (who each will DIE WITHOUT A DUTCH OVEN) can you pacify before you lose your mind? Who will get that final phone call for Christmas ginger snaps on January 26 (ginger snaps that were gone by Dec. 18), or a martyr-of-frustration response when yes, it is December 12, and the Advent calendars are OUT. All your kids want is the chocolate anyway, which we have pleeeenty of. Who can tally the most "will you be getting any more?" questions regarding a weekend ad full of "Limited quantities, no rain checks" stuff?

No shift is safe; no day is clear, weekend or weekday. Every hour is a test of patience, humility, and just how flexible your sense of humor can be. I am of the opionion that every human being should, at some point in his or her life, work in retail and in the food service industry. You will never treat people the same way again.

And sorry, we are out of the free bags advertised three weeks ago. No, we do not have one hidden in The Back for you, just for you. I'm sorry you were out of town when the ad was in the paper, I really am. We just didn't get your memo in time to save you a two-dollar run-of-the-mill canvas bag that looks just like the other seven bags you have at home. Please stop crying- I already feel guilty enough.

lately

this mild winter (I know, the only place having a mild winter this year) has been good to Toby's paws and on our nonexistent vet bills.

we got to spend an all-too-short weekend in Fairplay with some marvelous people.

we played a lot of poker... and a lot of mafia.

some of us flew planes and crashed them.

some of us even went and got engaged!

this is my lovely sister-in-law and her fiance... at a murder mystery party. (why we like to play so many death-related games, I couldn't tell you.)

(he's wearing his "weekend breakdancing" clothes.)

and in order to fully participate in said murder mystery party, my husband's facial hair started out like this:



...and went to this:

...and the moustache didn't last longer than 24 hours. I wouldn't have it. He's now down to just the soul patch and some scruff.

and there you have it.

the last two weeks have called for a lot of picture-taking, for some reason... don't get used to it.

for the love of LOST

...if you've never seen it, and you try to jump in now, I don't blame you if you hate it. I would too. You simply have to watch it from episode 1, season 1. There is no other way. And for me, I love the back stories and I love growing attached to the characters and becoming invested in them as time goes on. The show has its lulls and pitfalls, but it always manages to rally and redeem itself shortly thereafter. I used to weep about every other episode, and I haven't done that in about a season and a half- but I'm holding out hope for the future. If I started watching the show today, I would be done after about 32 minutes. So, I identify with Evangeline Lilly so much in this clip! (just the first clip. don't watch the remaining 10 minutes. very un-funny.)

"maybe it is written, no?"

If you shell out the money to see a movie in the theater any time soon, please please please go see Slumdog Millionaire. I don't think watching it at home would do it justice- seeing (and hearing) it in the theater was so powerful. It's shocking and funny and beautiful- it will break your heart and lift it in the same moment- and the soundtrack is amazing. The young kids in the beginning of the movie are truly slum children from Mumbai. Some of the movie is in subtitles, but you won't even remember it. It cleaned up at the Golden Globes, it's nominated for 10 Oscars, and it deserves all the credit it can get.