Random Act of Kindness

Today is not the official Random Act of Kindness day, or anything like that. But, I have a funny story to tell you, and I thought the moral of the story would be a good way to remind you to practice Random Acts of Kindness.

A couple weeks ago now, my DS and I went on a little trip. In the airport in Baltimore, Maryland, I was compelled to act.

You see, there was a fellow female traveler walking briskly through the terminal hallways, just a little bit ahead of DS and I. We had arrived at the airport farily early for our departure, so we were not in need of brisk walking ourselves. As DS and I strolled along, I noticed this woman. I think I blanched a little bit at what I saw. I said, "OH dear! Someone needs to tell this woman! I've got to tell her!" I looked at DS and asked if he noticed what I did. He did. ::gasp::

I said, "I've got to catch up to her!" I sent DS to our gate and trotted to catch up.

No, she did not have her skirt tucked into her undies, no one wears skirts to travel much anymore. No, she did not have toilet paper stuck to her shoe. No, she was not half undressed, or anything undressed in anyway. But, the problem was all behind her and she was blissfully unaware. You see, she had 1/2 a potty seat cover stuck in her pants.

Now, because she didn't know what was going on. She had no need to be worried about what was following her. I am certain that SKADS of people saw what was traveling with her, but NO ONE stopped her. I was trying really hard to catch up with this lady with out running so I have no clue if people were laughing or not. I have no doubt that there were more than a few fingers pointing and snickering.

I did catch her, thankfully, right in the vicinity of a ladies' room. I got right next to her and put my arm around her shoulder. Surprisingly, she did not box me in the nose! I did not make eye contact with her but spoke right to her ear as she tried to slow down and stop.

"Don't stop," I said calmly. "You have a problem, that's not really that bad. But, you might want to stop in the ladies' room and take care of it."

She began flayling about her person for a bit, but I said to her, "Don't look, just go right her in the bathroom and take care of it."

I have no idea what happened next, because she did just that, slid into the bathroom.

As I walked back to DS, who immediately asked for a report, I sighed a big sigh of relief. Can you imagine if she had gotten on the plane with that! She might have been trapped on a flight full of people whose faces would have been burned into her memory of embarassment. Or maybe not.

But the point is that someone stopped her and helped her out. I can't tell you how many times I've had something on my face and I've wondered how many people saw me like that! It only takes a few minutes to help others. Don't let anyone with a potty seat cover hanging out of their pants ever pass you by! Do not stop to wonder how that happened (it will be amusing and the person will get past you before you realize it!)! Just go, and help the poor person....after all someday it WILL be you who needs help!

Some Gift Ideas for Next Year, Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institute

Just a few trinkets I'd like to unwrap someday! Well...a girl can dream, right??

Crafty Moments

Best DC Sight??

Can you read what this says?? It is a little "ad" for an airline stewardess in the National Air and Space Museum. It says, "Stewardess...is your smile friendly and sincere...make up neat and natural...shoes repaired and shined?" EEK!! I couldn't resist taking a pic of myself so obviously not meeting up to those standards! But, back in the day...I sure did wish I was one of those girls!

More DC Sights

This last one is the "pile of loot" from Night at the Museum. It's a "throne" that the "resurrected" Pharoah made for himself. The throne itself is supposed to be Archie Bunker's chair.

DC Sights

Pictures of Diablo sights

From the last two weeks of life

It feels as though I have been absent! I've done a ton of stuff in the last two weeks or so. For example, I've been to Baltimore, Maryland; and Washington, D.C., as well as toured Mt. Diablo State Park a little closer to home. I have a lot of pictures of all of that to share with you. OH, and how can I forget the latest cards and stuff I've made??? That's all here too! So, take a look through my life from the last two weeks. I've organized them into DC pictures, Diablo pictures, and crafting pictures.

Ode to Basil

Oh, Sweet Basil!

Such high hopes

I fear it was all dazzle

for now we are dopes

because our basil

is about to fazzle...or fizzle!

**We were excited to plant a few little gardeny things about a week after we moved in. Here you see the picture of our little basil plant. But, I fear it may not make it through the summer. Last week our temps rose to 104 and little basil about cooked in the ground. I'm hoping that I'll bring him back around.

DH and I are becoming true tree huggers! We learned a trick for watering the garden in an eco-friendly, drought condition way. This trick was suggested in the newspaper. When you are going to take a shower, as you wait for the water temp to become just what you like, put a bucket in the shower, under the flowing water. Leave the bucket there until the desired temp is reached, move the bucket out of the shower, and take your shower. Then, use that water to give your plants a drink. How funny is that??!! Well, we did it this morning and hand plenty of water from our two showers to water little basil and his friends. DH couldn't believe that he would be so green!! :)

The Fog Crept in on Little Cat Feet....on to the top of Mt. Diablo

This was our view this morning. We've had three days of rain.

It's been what we needed. Can you see the little tiny dots on the

hill? That's a little herd of cows! Hope your Tuesday was Sunny!

Fancy Dinner

My DH (darling husband) and I actually had a date last week! We met some Midwesterner friends at a famous restaurant in Berkley. It was fun to connect with friends from "home" when we've only been here for a few weeks! We enjoyed our time out with them and the food was pretty good too! DH had squid...eeeww! I had to take a picture of it, and I tried a bite. It was really salty. I had pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, so did one of our friends, the other had the Halibut. http://chezpanisse.com/ is their website. We ate in the Cafe which is above the very upscale restaurant. The head chef is Alice Waters who is a pioneer in the locavore movement. Locavore refers to the idea of using as much locally grown food as possible. Unlike Justus Drugstore in Smithville, Missouri, who lists all their local producers and suppliers, there was nothing like that noted on the Chez Panisse menu. If you live anywhere close to Smithville, or if you are taking a trip to Kansas City for any reason, you MUST visit Justus Drugstore! Their website is: http://www.drugstorerestaurant.com/

Rainy Day

It is a rainy day here today. I kind of like the rain. It is somehow a quiet influence on the day, causing some introspection and a little bit of peace. That's because it is not a rain storm, no thunder or lightning. And, since there is no snow here in our part of the country, the rain tends to produce some of the same effects that snow does in the Midwest.

This beautiful magnolia blossom is from a tree in the front of the Historic Elms Hotel in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. I took this picture on Easter Sunday. That day's weather was much like the weather that we are having here today.