After extensive fan-blowing, dehumidifier-running and adrenalin-pumping, the carpet dried out and we moved forward and made our little Thanksgiving feast - just me, hubby, kiddo and the pets.

We had a wonderful day, and today was even more enjoyable. We attended our Village Christkindlmarkt - a craft/gift show augmented with German music, food and beverages held outside, but in heated tents. My husband is an aficionado of a German deli near his office, and they happened to be one of the event caterers. The deli manager recognized him, greeted us warmly and set us up with some great food. Mmm, nice weiners.

;)

Anyway...

After our late lunch, we wandered around the craft "markt" and I found myself sniffing some super-scented locally-made candles. The fellow managing the booth (I think it may have been the owner of the business, itself) took great interest to introduce me to some specific scents they developed  - my husband, still floating on a cloud of potato pancakes, Thuringer sausages, and two India Pale Ales, encouraged me to get 5 sets of votive candles. It was a "buy 4 - get 1 free" promotion so all in all it wasn't a bad deal. I got home and checked out the candlemaker's website.
Its funny but the way he had the candles displayed for this suburban event was very different from the more "edgy" quasi-s&m style he has on the website pictures (ie - no faux-leather straps and stud piercings on the candles today!)

No matter - they smelled great and I'm feeling even more confident that my home will become beautifully perfumed after the carpet craziness this week. If you like the freshness of Yankee Candle's "Greenhouse" (which is now only available from them online in the winter) you may want to try Raw Candle's "Spring Moss" - its WONDERFUL - clean, green, and serene. I also got the "caffeinated" - my daughter, the almost-8-year-old Latte fanatic, chose that one! It does smell amazing...can't wait to burn those on a chilly Sunday morning while dad is in the kitchen making waffles. Mmmmm!

Living with two dogs leaves its *ahem* "mark" on your daily living - especially if your home has carpeting. I decided to have my carpets professionally steam cleaned. Now, I am so depressed because it seems that I spent $130 to create a bigger problem than existed before cleaning.

 I own a Bissel extractor which does a pretty good job as far as removing liquids. In the past, if there has been a "doggie don't" situation, or even something as innocuous as a coffee spill, I have blotted, made a mix of oxyclean and hot water, scrubbed the spot and used the extractor. I just felt it was time to do the whole room, as was recommended by countless "expert" opinions and carpet manufactures that I have read.

I contacted Sears home service and tried to get an appointment earlier in the week, but I was stuck with today -the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Everything I read noted that "truck mounted systems" offer a more thorough cleaning than home units. That they can blast super-hot water into the rug and then utilize a super-extractor to remove most of the dirty water. The carpet will be damp but with fans/air circulation, should dry within a few hours. I figured that would be okay if I went with a morning appointment - that by dinnertime I'd be able to move everything back and begin setting the table for dinner tomorrow.

Last night my family and I moved most of our items from the living room into our basment and our bedrooms. Remember - my house is just over 800 sq. feet - not much room to put things like furniture and such. This morning, I completed the furniture moving with the exception of the larges furniture pieces which had nowhere to go!

As instructed, I vacuumed the carpet. I was pleased to receive a call telling me the technician was going to be right on time for the appointment. The technician walked in my front door, and immediately I was glad my daughter was down in the basement with the dogs. The technician was a transgendered person, apprently still in transition. He/she was about 6'4", huge "man hands" but dyed and possibly permed red hair tucked up into his/her cap, layers of shirts on that still didn't hide the breasts, and an appearance of full face makeup. This person also had a name that was obviously made-up - it seemed like a stage name for a drag queen based on the spelling. The TG/TS issue didn't bother me as much as the attitude I got. This person seemed like he/she was on the defensive or had a very judgemental attitiude. He/she also seemed critical of my housekeeping skills, although I know that is a tactic to try to upsell cleaning products and services. Whatver the reason or motivation, I did NOT appreciate it whatsoever. He/she was giving me the creeps. I kept thinking of "Silence of the Lambs." Nice.

While working seemingly efficiently, I felt uncomfortable asking too much or criticising anything of him/her. I just wanted that person out of my house as soon as possible.

I asked when I could begin moving furniture back into the room - 2 hours? Maybe 4?

"You need to let this dry for at least two days," the technician replied.

I nearly lost it. The technician made a snide remark as he/she left that I didn't really understand.

How the HELL was I going to live in my house when we now had no functional bedrooms (both full of furniture), let alone have Thankgiving with NO DININING ROOM!?!?

I felt the carpet. It was SOAKED. Not "damp." WET.

I ran into the basement, retrieved the Bissel, and began sucking up DIRTY BROWN WATER with my little DIY extractor! What the F***?!?!? My HOME CLEANER is sucking up water that the truck mounted extractor was supposed to get? I must have gotten up over 1.5 gallons of filth into my machine. It was all I could do not to cry.

I hate to be a complainer but I don't have $130 to toss around each day just for fun. I called Sears and spoke to a manager. I explained that I was sucking up dirty water with my crappy little home unit - so why did I blow cash on  something I could have done better myself?

I hesitated about complaining because I was genuinely afraid of the technician. I noted to the manager something to the effect of,"I don't wat to get the technician in trouble OR have him (?) come back to my house."

THANKFULLY the he/she had already gone onto another job in Chicago. So the manager told me that they need to have the "opportunity" to rectify the situation and will send another crew out to just run their extractor over the carpet a few times. Well, considering I already busted my ass sucking up dirty water with my own machine, I didn't much see the point of that but its better than nothing. I would have liked a partial refund but mostly, I want a dry house so I can put everything back where it belongs.

I called my husband at work to vent about my experience with the unusual carpet cleaner.

He asked for clarification: "So, was this person a she-to-he or he-to-she."

"It was a he-to-she," I replied.

"Oh," he remarked, "you got to expereince the Softer Side of Sears?!"

Hmm, I may have already used this blog title before...

...but no matter, it applies here again.

This weekend, I helped my duaghter, a second-grader, put together an assignment to make a "Dino-rama" - a diorama display of an assigned dinosaur. The "exhibit" had to caontain the dinosaur, plants, animals, food & water sources, and other dinosaurs from their era.

Our assinged reptile was SALTOPUS.

Salt-o-pus...there are so many bad jokes but I will refrain...

Anyway, apparently little is known of saltopus except that they were found in what is now Scotland, were about the size of a cat, and had many small pointy teeth. It is assumed that they ate insects and/or carrion.

Since they were dinos, WE assumed that their babies hatched from eggs. So I cleaned an eggshell, and also made "clay" from a mix of cornstarch, water, and salt (LOTS of salt). She shaped the Dino and then made a baby to fit into the eggshell. (Our idea of a "gimmick" for her display.)

After air-drying, she painted the dinos and the eggshells, and I began taping up the box, and basically doing the portions of the project that weren't totally kid-safe, like using big sharp scissors and the hot glue gun.

We decided to glue rocks around an oval of blue paper to simulate a pond (water source.) My daughter convinced me to let HER pull the glue gun trigger while I held the tiny pebbled in my fingers.Two second-degree burns on my finger and thumb later, I reclaimed the glue gun helm and we eventually finished the project. She made a "key" to explain what each of the display elements are (they are marked with coordinating numbered red dots.) She also has to give a presentation to her class about saltopus and the triassic period. Note that the "food sorce" (as she spelled it on her Exhibit Key) are two dead bugs I found in/on the frog habitat. I hot-glued them right into the scene!

Here's a picture of our handiwork, minus the blisters:

This morning I decided to listen to my alma mater's student-run radion station as I browsed blogs, news stories, and bank accont infoormation as I sipped my morning coffee.

Monday-Friday mornings they broadcast Jazz from 5am-12:30pm with breaks for news on the hour (or half-hour?)

Anyway, it turned out an old radio friend of mine was dj'ing today. In my college days I was a devoted alterna-rock dj, and also had fun doing a hiphop show as well as working in the administration of the station - eventually working my way up to the (elected) position of General Manager my senior year. But this British gent - I believe he was either a gradate student or employee of the University or possibly both - always played the smoothes jazz - always listenable and enjoyable to my ears. He is the longest-continous DJ at WNUR - over 2 decades on the air as a VOLUNTEER! Kudos to Flavian for a job well done!

If you are looking for some great jazz music that you wil likely hear nowhere else, you can listen right on your pc each Friday morning, CST, from 7-10am:

http://www.wnur.org

Enjoy.

I was tagged my MemeGrl about BOOKS. Hmm, this meme doesn't give me much opportunity to make sarcastic remarks. Oh well; here goes:

Book Meme

Total number of books I own:
They are almost all reference/how-to books. Our house is too small to store books; plus we have a FANTASTIC local library, so I try to check out something new each week. I save money and shelf space that way.

My daughter has an insane number of books; her bookcase is overflowing.
 
Last book I read:

I started Laurie Notaro's Idiot Girl's Action Adventure Club but (imo) it was a piece of cr*p so I returned it. Prior to starting that, I finished Girls Gone Mild by Wendy Shalit. Don't go by reactionary reviews; she makes valid, thoughtful, intelligent points about the expression of sexuality among girls and young women in our culture that (for Moms like me) are a wake-up call. Prior to that, I read How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill, which I really enjoyed.


Last book I bought:

I just ordered 4 educational books from Barnes & Noble on Catholic "fun facts" and trivia (did you know there were such things?!) plus an old-school Baltimore Catechism for my daughter to supplement her religious education and sacramental preparation.

As far as reading for myself, I almost always get them from the library. I usually only purchase reference books.


5 Meaningful Books

The Bible (honestly - I use it often as a reference tool, but also enjoy reading the OT poetry/psalms when I'm up at the cabin and want to relax)


Ways of Seeing by John Berger. Although it has been maligned in recent years, it changed my mindset about many issues in college.

Any number of memoirs that have offered me new ways of looking at and reacting to/with people, relationships, and personal spirit.

Holidays On Ice by David Sedaris - (ok, well the audio book version) this is meaningful because it has become a beloved Christmas tradition for my family; we listen to it as we drive across country to Pennsylvania for Christmas and all laugh aloud. "Little elf, oh little elf!..."

So, do I know five bloggers who haven't been tagged on this?
I never tag anyone. So, if you find it interesting and want to brag about how erudite you are, and need some blog copy, then...here ya' go!

My daughter has been sick with some sort of virus since Thursday evening. Initially we thought it was Strep Throat because the school nurse sent home a "warning" letter that it was going around the class. The throat culture revealed no Strep infection but I had already sanitized nearly every exposed surface in the house with Lysol.

Since I have not yet had a flu shot (and that is what she seems to have - some kind of virus) I have continued the spritzing and constant hand-washing to ward off any chance that I could get it, too.

I think I am too overwhelmed from the inhalation of disinfectant sprays to write anything cogent today.

I witnessed the weirdest thing today.

My beloved beaver coat was in need of a pre-winter cleaning and some minor repairs. After asking around the 'hood for a good furrier repair shop, I was directed to a local family-owned shop about a mile away. I called ahead to ask if an appointment was needed, the gal stated to just come on in anytime during their business hours.

I pulled into the parking lot and noticed a new Porche Cayenne parked in front of the door. I walked into the store with "the beav'" in tow. A young woman approached me and asked politely if I could "hang out a bit" until they finshed with another customer.

 I had never been in this shop before and I noticed two large garment racks full of coats of varying lengths and colors. Initially, I guessed it was a tag sale of pre-owned coats and thought of walking up and browsing just for fun. But I sat quietly on the leather sofa and waited while I watched a woman whose age seemed to be a mystery (at least, from afar.) She was bleach-blonde, thin as a rail, and dressed in a black CATSUIT with the legs tucked into black, furry yeti boots. I noticed her hair piled on her head and it looked like a discarded wig, until I surmised that it was hair extensions she mangled into a sort of ponytail. I then glanced over at her friends/sisters/companions who appeared to be in their 50's or 60's. In contrast to  their blonde pal, they were conservatively dressed and had on simple wool jackets. Neither of them tried on a coat.

I ambled around the store as I waited and got a full view of the blonde shopper. She had tell-tale signs of plastic surgery because her face looked...not to be unkind, but she didn't look 100% human female. I then realized she was trying things on from these racks, and then after she spent a bit of time at the front counter, the exausted-looking salesman began carting both racks out to the Porsche. She called to him, "Just put them in the backseat!" The salesman came back into the store noting he couldn't fit them and could she please pop the hatchback to store some in the trunk? "Oh, this new car is smaller than the BMW was," she lamented to her suddenly quiet companions.

I wondered for a moment if I was witnessing a re-run of Ab-Fab because that is what the scene looked like: incredible excess to the point of madness.

For a moment I guessed that perhaps she was a retailer and was picking up merchandise for her boutique.

When I went to the counter to have my cleaning and repair bill rung-up, I asked, "Were all of those coats for her?" It really wasn't my buisness to inquire, but the salesman had no problem telling me, "Yes, she bought 30 coats for herself. She's a big coat buyer."

30.

30 NEW fur coats. Since I saw a number of full-length numbers, I am guessing her tab was about $80,000 plus tax.

My bill came to $240. A relative bargain, I mused.

Remember the classic Calgon TV commercial:

Chinese Wife: "My husband, some hotshot!"

I utter that phrase often, although my husband's hotshot comments have little to do with his laundry techniques.

Example:

Last night, he saw me reach into the refrigerator to grab an Activia Light yogurt for dessert. For the uninformed: Activia yogurt is purported to promote digestion and relieve symptoms of constipation.

"I skipped taking Activia for a few days and I noticed the effects of that," I noted.

He replied, "Oh, so you were having no Activia from your Crack-tivia, huh?!"

My daughter had fun last night. I escorted her around the neighborhood as she rang doorbells dressed as Cleopatra. I made this costume for her - including putting beads and braids on her wig. We designed the makeup together - she even wore false eyelashes. She looked really cool.

What was strange was that virtually none of the kids at school knew who she was; only adults. SHE knew about Egyptian queens of ancient times, but that may be because she has read kid's versions of the bible, with really great illustrations of the Egyptian princess saving baby Moses. OR because she has visited art and natural history museums to see ancient art and artifacts. OR...because she isn't a culturally/historically illiterate stooge like way too many Americans these days *sigh*

On a disturbing note, one boy in her second grade class came to school in a black velvet and leopard print suit and hat with a large gold chain necklace. He was a "pimp" - in SECOND GRADE!!!!! Possibly more disturbing were all of the little boys admiring his outift, saying, "Hey, Louie, cool Pimp outift!"

*sigh*

SINCE I try to watch my refined sugar intake, and since we typically get very FEW trick-or-treaters, I try to buy treats that won't tempt me when there are leftovers.

We are giving out Charms mini-lolipops, fruit-flavor tootsie rolls and individually wrapped/pre-packaged rice crispie treats. This way, I can use any leftover RC treats in hubby's lunch bag, and he can take the other items to put in a candy dish on his desk.

What are you giving out to visitors tomorrow night? What is the weirdest thing you have ever RECEIVED (or your kid's have received?)