Merry Christmas from Social Security

I got a letter today from the Social Security Administration. It read, in part:

"We are increasing your benefit amount to give you credit for additional earnings which were not included when we figured your benefit before."

My benefit check that will arrive just before Christmas will reflect this new amount, PLUS the difference between what I should have been paid between February 2009 and October 2009. I worked full time between March and August, along with a few small job assignments in September and October. Those earnings had social security taken out. It's nice that I'm going to get an adjustment.

The letter also says that if I disagree with their decision, I have the right to appeal.

Disagree?? Appeal?? I don't think so. I'm going to take the money quietly and have a Merry Christmas courtesy of the U.S. Government.

Obsession

I've never understood the frenzy about all things "Twilight". I read the first book only because it was a choice of a book group that I participate in. I didn't like it and therefore, didn't read the rest in the series.

I know there are girls, women and maybe a few guys, out there who are counting down the days until the next movie comes out. Not me. I'm going to pass on that one. I guess I'm just a little too old for all things "Twilight".

I've thought that the obsession and frenzy is a little harmless, until today. I was watching "Rachel Ray" while walking on the treadmill. She had the "Twilight" costume designer on the show. The designer and others selected three "Twilight" crazed teenagers to have makeovers, right down to the hair style and color, as their favorite "Twilight" character.

Will someone explain to me what is healthy about being a dead ringer for a character in a movie and a book? These girls were so excited to be walking around looking like someone else. What's wrong with being you? These teens already had bedrooms full of every possible "Twilight" memorabilia known to mankind. Why feed the obsession by making them over to look like someone who is a fictional character.

I just don't get it.

Marshmallows and Chocolate

Aidan: Grandma, do you have any marshmallows and chocolate?

Me: No, I don't. What kind of chocolate?

Aidan: You know, chocolate.

Me: Do you want marshmallows in a bowl and put ice cream syrup over them?

Aidan: No. Chocolate. The kind of chocolate you break in pieces.

Me: You mean a chocolate candy bar.

Aidan: Yes. You take it and smash it between crackers.

Me: Oh. And you melt the marshmallows, put them on the cracker with the chocolate.

Aidan: Yea. You smash it together.

And there you have it. How to make S'Mores from a four year old.

The sun's going down on me....

Between watching grand kids, doing a little shopping, and attending the vocal recital of a young lady we know, the husband and I went to Antelope Island with a group of young people to watch the sun go down. I hiked three miles, round trip, to get these pictures.



I had never been to Antelope Island. It was hard to imagine that this quiet, tranquil place was twenty minutes from the metropolitan area. I think we have an outing for the grand kids in the future.

Why didn't I think of it then?

I'm sure that we have all had a great come back pop into our head after the opportunity has passed. I had one today.

I was at a retail store on my lunch hour. While waiting to check out, a guy walked up to the check stand and asked one of the clerks if the store carried a particular item. She told them they didn't. He responded with "Oh, f... (expletive)". The clerk and others in the area were a little surprised at his response. When I left the store, I wished that I had turned to the guy and told him that he needed to apologize to the clerk for his language. There was no reason for using the word he did.

Oh, how I wish I had thought of it at the time.

Geez!

Before I had to pick up my grandson today from preschool, I thought I had plenty of time to stop by a fabric store to get fabric for a new sewing project. But things didn't go quite like I had planned.

After I found material for my project, I headed to the cutting table. There was a line of 3 or 4 women in front of me. But I wasn't worried, since there were 3 employees cutting fabric. I figured that I still had plenty of time to go pick up Aidan after the fabric was cut and paid for.

My turn at the cutting table put me with an employee who was left handed (nothing against you lefties out there) who was using right handed scissors. It was a little awkward for her so she was a little slow cutting fabric. (You lefties can relate to that.) But I was still OK time wise.

She cut the last piece of fabric, turned it over and discovered dirt smears all over it. I suggested that she should cut me another piece because I didn't want to take the fabric home, wash it and find that the marks didn't come out. She said that she'd have to check with a supervisor to see if she could do that. The supervisor said, "Of course, cut her a new piece." At this point, I realized that I was probably dealing with a new employee who didn't know store policy on such matters. Cutting the new piece took some more time. But I was still OK time wise.

When it came time for her to scan the three pieces of fabric for pricing, she had problems with the scanner. She had to consult three other employees before she could get it to work right. I started to get a little concerned about the time this was all taking. But she ended up getting it scanned when I had about eight minutes left before I had to pick up Aidan. All I needed was to check out.

I moved to the check out counter just when the supervisor decided it was time to change cashiers. The replacement cashier ended up being the one who had waited on me at the cutting table. There was one lady in front of me with just a couple of items so it wouldn't take long for her to check out. But wait, her debit card didn't work. She tried it again. The cashier didn't know what to do.

By this time, I had less than five minutes to get to the preschool. I put the fabric on the counter and told the cashier, "I'll be back for this. I have to pick up my grandson from preschool." and left the store. After all, I couldn't leave a four year old standing in the snow outside his preschool wondering where his ride was.

Like Riding a Bike

I grew up with a mother who was a master seamstress. She made just about everything my two sisters and I wore....dresses, play clothes, coats, party dresses, formals and wedding dresses. My sisters and I also had very well dressed dolls since she made a multitude of dolls clothes over the years. Each new doll at Christmas time came with a hand made wardrobe made by my mother.

Mother often would take me shopping to look at what was new in the stores and to find out what I liked. The shopping trip would end up at the fabric store where she bought fabric, etc. to duplicate my favorite, must have, item. Often, the item was duplicated without the benefit of a store bought pattern. She just made it up from a pattern of her own making.

I learned the basics of sewing from Mom and took some sewing classes as part of my unfinished college major of Clothing and Textiles. When my kids were little, I did some sewing for them. But not to the extent that my own mother did for me. Over the years, my sewing efforts became basically shortening pants and making a few simple items. Finally, the sewing machine saw such little use that I let my daughter take it.

A little while ago, my daughter showed me a pattern she bought for a Halloween costume for her little girl. Since I had neglected to teach her how to sew when she was younger, I knew that the project was a little more than she could handle. I told her I'd help her with it and hopefully, teach her a little bit about sewing in the process. Then I wondered whether my very rusty sewing skills could be resurrected to tackle the project.

Well, I found out it's like riding a bike.


All the Little Red Riding Hood costume needs is the cape and pantaloons that my daughter is working on.