Cottage Girl's Rants

Nester

Aside from the explosion of green, pink, red, white, and purple colors of spring, a true sign of the season is literally right outside my front door.

This brown dove decided she would like to make her nest in an empty plant holder that is nailed to the side of the porch wall. I found her there this morning sitting very still and puffed as round as a ball. Later she was still sitting there and another bird - the father perhaps? - was standing on the rim of the plant holder next to her, also very still. I wondered if they knew I was watching them from behind the window of the front door, and thought that if they stood very still I would not notice them. Later in the afternoon I looked out and saw that the nest was vacant, so I peered in to see if she had left any eggs. Nope, just a jumble of twigs. Finally, it was revealed that the momma bird had indeed laid an egg and is now, as I type this, sitting over it patiently.

Below are the only two photos I could get without scaring her off.

   

Green Mountains Majesty

I just returned from a five day vacation to Northern Vermont. Let me just say, Vermont is one gorgeous state. If you ever have the chance to visit, you must go! There are mountains and valleys and picturesque farms, and more (green) trees than the eye can see. Also, a lot of tourists like to drive through New England during peak leaf season in the fall, but early spring is just as beautiful as all the trees are budding and blooming with reds, pinks, yellows and greens. I wish I had been a bird so I could have soared over all that beauty. I also got a kick out of the "Moose Crossing" and "Bear Crossing" signs posted along the interstate, but was glad that neither moose nor bear decided to cross while I was cruising on by, although it would have been neat to see either one moseying along the side of the road. I don't know, do moose mosey?

Everybody loves a bargain

I live in a highly affluent county. Developers/people buy houses in my town that were built before 1995, tear them down, and rebuild those environmentally inefficient McMansions. The majority of people here, and there are many exceptions to the rule, live like money is an entitlement. They spend it because they can.

Today I went to one of those big church tag sales that occur once a year to raise money for charity. My town, with all its high rollers, definitely likes to support its share of charities. We have many things that take place here during any give month where one can donate money to a worthy cause. Anyhow, back to the tag sale. It opened at 9:00 AM, I got there just at that time and the parking lot was already full. I found a parking spot at the far end of the lot, hopped out of my car and proceeded towards the sale. Now, if you've never been to a tag sale, there are usually rooms and tents full of stuff other people have decided to discard from their homes and their lives, in order for some other person to purchase it and take it home for a fraction of the original cost. My first attempt to peruse the handbag area, thinking I might find something decent what with all these affluent women donating their unwanted Name Brand purses. Yeah, right. Anyhow, I bend down to rummage through a bin and another lady comes over, pulls the bin closer to her, and starts ripping through them like she was digging for buried treasure. It was so rude! I thought to myself, "If she really needs a worn out backpack from 2001, she can have it." Then I got up and walked away. I also tried to look through the photo frames and other items, but gave up after a few pushy women tried to bore their way into my space.

I just don't get it. These women could buy anything they want, anywhere they want, whenever they want, and they are trying to scrap it out for a measly used picture frame or chipped teapot? What gives? I like going to tag sales to see what eclectic or kooky item I can find, for fun. I don't need to buy someone else's junk. But some people act like it's a competition. Like they will find a Picasso hidden behind an old needlepoint work from 1977. When I run up against these types of people, it only makes me feel better because I am not one of them. I will not fight you for that 25 cent candy dish. You can have it. But please, try to show some courtesy and let me enjoy the search for my buried treasure.

Happy Memories

• Taking a surprise trip to an unknown destination, driving through cornfields and arriving at a magical destination
• Sitting around a campfire at night listening to stories with the shadow of the mountains set against a starry sky
• Seeing a special someone for the first time, in person
• Riding bikes along the trail on an early spring day and then stopping for lunch at a funky little restaurant, our bikes parked on the grass
• Summers in California with my friends
• The unexpected package filled with goodies and a mixed CD of new songs
• Laying in bed with the window open on a balmy evening, listening to the crickets chirp
• Spontaneous lunch at a new restaurant, sitting at the bar and sharing appetizers
• Driving home from the dealership in my first new car that I paid for myself
• The applause I received after finishing my final lap in the pool in order to pass my swimming test

An Elephant Never Forgets

Have you ever heard the expression, "an elephant never forgets"? Well, I don't know how one would train an elephant to do this, but it's quite amazing. See for yourself.

YouTube - Elephant Paints Self Portrait

Good help is hard to find

So I bit the bullet and went to a temp agency to inquire about some work. I detest temping, but at the moment this is what I must do. Anyhow, I walk in to this internationally known placement agency and there is no one in sight to help me. Let me back up, as I walked through the doors, a young woman was walking out, whom I assumed to be the receptionist; she didn't even acknowledge me. I sat down and waited for her to return.

She comes back in and asks if she can help me. I tell her I have an appointment and she gets me the necessary paperwork and closes me in a room to fill it out. I'm telling you, this woman had about as much personality is a doorknob. She barely greeted me, didn't even introduce herself and couldn't even crack a smile. Then I meet with one of the "Managers" who is probably half my age, or may have just graduated college, nice enough, but totally clueless. It's obvious she didn't read my resume because the answers to her questions could be found ON. MY. RESUME. We proceed with the required chit-chat and then she leaves. Little Miss Pleasant Receptionist (not) then takes me to a computer in another room so I can take an Excel test. Doesn't say two words to me. I'm thinking, great...my future employment is in the hands of teeny-boppers who can't show common courtesy.

I swear, I didn't see one person working in that office over 30, not that anyone younger than 30 can't be professional, but I wasn't feeling too confident in their abilities. What happened to good customer service? I guess when it comes to this game, we unfortunate temps are just bottom line numbers.

Woolly

I got these woolly lambs for my three nieces to give to them on Easter. Are they not the cutest? I totally want one for myself, but there were exactly three left of the shelf at the store and I snatched them up. I was carrying them in the shopping cart as I roamed the aisles and several people who passed by commented on how cute they were. I should go to this store in the next town over and see if they have any more. Seriously, I want one!

Spring

Happy first day of spring! I am so glad we are moving towards warmer, greener days. This morning I even saw buds on the oak tree branches. A sure sign of good things to come. It's still cold and drastically windy here in the northeast, but I hope it's warm and sunny where you live.

Random Thoughts & Observations

A few weeks ago I was in a municipal office building and needed to get a tax form. The office building was old and dingy and the inside of the tax office was like stepping into a time warp. There were two men there, one sitting at a desk and the other who came over to help me. I swear, I felt like I was back in 1979. This guy was from 1979. And when he spoke to me, it was all in riddles, either that or he was trying to show-off how much he knew about the exact tax form I needed. He also spoke in a soft voice and told me to "knock 'em dead." The whole time this one-sided conversation was taking place, the other guy at the desk heard every word and got the form I was looking for before Mr. 1979 finished his monologue. All I can say is: time warp + old government office = creepy.

On a lighter note, a friend of mine who is 94 (that's right, 94, it's true) gave me copies of photographs of her in her younger days. We're talking 1930s. The funny thing was that the outfit she had on in the photo would not be out of place in today's fashion trends. I really enjoy learning about other people's lives, seeing who they were, where they're from. I realized that I only knew my friend on a specific level before I began spending time with her. She has a great attitude, and I hope I have as much spunk and spirit when I'm 94.

This week I've realized how small my hometown really is. I can't sneeze in the grocery store without it being reported back to some member of my family.

I am addicted to bodycare products, specifically, thick creams and lotions that smell like coconut. Yum! And lip balms, but I have way too many of those.

The other day I smelled a hint of spring in the air...soon, very soon she will be here in all her green flowering glory.

In Bloom

A friend gave me two amaryllis bulbs for Christmas, and they have been blooming non-stop since January. These beautiful blooms are so nice to look at everyday. Also, we've had a few warm days over 50 degrees, a hint that spring is just around the corner. It will be nice to see the green again.