What's The Big Deal?

I find myself living in a "retail-challenged" area. Shopping options are limited here. So, about a year ago, it was a really big deal when a Nordstrom's opened in a Cincinnati suburb. There is a mall there that is quite "frou-frou", where they have valet parking and all the women dress up just to shop. Except they don't call it a mall... it's a "town center". All the high-end shops are there. I've been to this town center occasionally because that's where the nearest Apple store is. It's a special trip for me, as it's about an hour up the road.

Yesterday I decided to check out the new Nordstrom's for the first time. A long time ago when we were visiting San Francisco, I went to the Nordstrom's there. I was impressed with the selection, the service and the ambience. But yesterday... the one in Cincinnati was a big letdown! Not much selection, and most of it I can also find at my local Dillard's. The dressing rooms were nice, but small and none of the platforms they used to have at Lord and Taylor, where you can stand and look at yourself in all your glory. And the service... what service? I walked around for fifteen minutes and no one offered to help. Finally I found the dressing room on my own. I was met in there by a service person who apologized for the lack of help. She said they were in the middle of a "thing". I had no idea what she was talking about. After a while I realized they were all gathered around a couple of customers who were trying on jeans. I think they were all friends. There was non-stop chatter about this brand and that brand, and how each pair made their butts look... on and on and on. She told me she would check back with me, but she never did.

Finally, I just left without a word. They didn't even notice. I wandered on over to Dillard's and found all the selection and service anyone could want. Nordstrom's? Why bother?

Big Night in Cincinnati!

The Cincinnati Reds became Central Division champs last night! There were fireworks and champagne at Great American Ballpark. Home run in the bottom of the ninth inning... it doesn't get more exciting that that!

What Do They Put In These Things?

I have become addicted to Krispy Kreme doughnut holes. It all started a few weeks ago, when I noticed them in my local market. I decided that one or two holes after dinner as a little dessert wouldn't hurt. It would satisfy my sweet tooth without doing too much damage to my diet. The problem is... I can't resist them. I swear they put something addicting into these things. I see the box sitting there and I am drawn to it. Then I eat one, and I can't stop.

This morning I checked the Nutrition Facts on the bottom of the box. Here it is:

Five doughnut holes: 200 calories, 11 total fat grams, less than 1 gram of dietary fiber. According to Weight Watchers that equals 5 points. Five points! Ack! That's one quarter of a day's worth. I can't lose weight if I keep this up. Remember, I'm not eating a whole doughnut... just five little holes, each about one inch in diameter!

I want to lose weight. I'm not trying to look like some model in a magazine, or some movie star. I'm not that unrealistic; I just want to look like myself twenty years ago and twenty pounds lighter. I look at pictures of myself when I was thinner, and I want to look like that again. If I looked like that once, I should be able to do it again, right? Not if I keep eating doughnut holes. So, I am afraid I will just have to stop buying them. I know where they are in the store. I will have to avoid that aisle because if I see the box I will pick it up. They speak to me... the siren song of Krispy Kreme!

Enough Already!

Ninety degrees! Every day this week it's been at least ninety degrees here. Yesterday we broke the all-time record at 95 degrees, and today it's supposed to be record-breakingly hot again. It's been ninety degrees and over all summer... July and August were the hottest on record. I am SICK of the heat! We are also in an officially severe drought. Everything is dry. Trees are losing their leaves before they even turn their autumn colors. The grass looks like straw. It's horrible!

Officially, it's autumn. It ought to look like this:


I am longing for autumn to get here for real. To see the colors, to feel the cool breezes and the crisp air. To wear sweaters and light fires. My favorite season is being stolen from me this year. First, our spring was cut short by early heat. Now our autumn is being stolen by lingering heat. I have a feeling that our winter will be as unseasonably cold as this summer has been unseasonably hot. There are no longer four seasons here... just brutally hot or bone-chillingly cold! I need to live in a more moderate climate.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game!

Where do you go on a Friday night in Cincinnati? A Reds game! As you can see, it was a beautiful evening.


The Great American Ballpark sits on the banks of the Ohio River. That's Kentucky on the other side of the river.


The ball park was full of fans wearing red.


We had a great view from our seats behind home plate.


The boy in front of us with his parents was celebrating his 13th birthday.


In front of him, the cutest baby girl sat with her parents. She was wearing a red tee shirt that said "My First Reds Game" on the front.


The game went 12 innings, and she stayed awake the whole time.


She was paying close attention... not to the game, but to the fans sitting behind her. At one point in the game, when she was facing forward, they put the fan cam on her and she was on the big screen.


A fun night was had by all! (And the Reds won!)

Not A Lot of Fun Lately

Last week my left arm went numb, and my hand was tingly. The doctor sent me in for some tests. I spent all day Friday at the hospital, being tested. I had an ultrasound of the heart, an ultrasound of the carotid arteries, and an EMG. Found out I have carpal tunnel syndrome. Probably from typing on my laptop. I am supposed to wear a splint on my wrist. (I think it all started when I discovered Freecell!)


Last week I had to go to the dentist... again! There is a certain tooth that won't hold on to a filling. They keep putting it in and when I floss it comes out. My husband says "don't floss there any more" but the dentist insists that I should. Maybe I will suggest they use super glue next time... It worked in Italy!


Today I went to the dermatologist to have a mole removed. I thought to myself "I've been having a lot of procedures done recently". I've spent too much time during the past week sitting in medical and dental offices. There are many more fun things I could be doing. Between the doctor's office, the dentist's office, the hospital and the dermatologist's office, I've been in a lot of waiting rooms recently!


I did find out something interesting this morning, as I was leaving the dermatologist's office. There was a sign posted about their "family". I found out my dentist is married to my dermatologist! And I had never even realized it. It is a small town.

Since today is only Monday, I hope I have some more fun experiences to write about before the week is over.

Will Disney Pay For My Therapy?

This is Disney... looks all happy and playful, doesn't it?


Well, I know Disney has a dark side. I grew up on Disney, and it affected me for life. I have been taking anti-depressants for years, and I blame it all on Disney.

Remember Bambi? It was all sweet and lovely... and then Bambi's mother died, in a very scary way. I was just a child, and that affected me. I cried. I was scared. I took it to heart.



And Dumbo... what they did to his mother. She suffered, she cried. It was cruel. I cried, too. What does Disney have against mothers anyway?



But, no, not just mothers. Fathers died, too. I refused to see the Lion King because the little cub's father was cruelly killed. I knew I couldn't handle that.



Worst of all... Old Yeller. It wasn't even a cartoon. It showed a real boy, and a real dog. The boy loved that dog. The dog loved that boy. They were best pals. We all know how love of a dog can be. And what happened to the dog? And how did that boy feel? It was just too much. Why Disney, why?



Now that I am all grown up, I still can't shake those feelings. It's too easy to be sad. A child doesn't need to be exposed to all that sadness. And I don't think much of all the Princess stuff, either. Now every little girl grows up thinking she should be a princess. All those little girls growing up with that sense of entitlement can't be good. Have you seen shows like "My Sweet Sixteen?". Unh-huh... think about it.