Clip Up, Clip Down.. learns (me!) sandra, tvgp
its one of my favorite nights to work at ricks picks; the October brew crawl.. like, my very own personal parade of slightly intoxicated people in such a variety of costumes..
and i had the great pleasure of pouring beer with Adam, of cool beer works. -from cool, California.. a city. (Or country rather..) I did not even know existed until last night.. and.. if you are curious too, 'it is 6 miles northeast of auburn'
which I can quote and recite and repeat, but there is no map in my mental files for where auburn is, so..
anyway.. we poured cool beer's very popular 'blond diva' and their 'paranormal pale ale.. /both get a thumbs up from (me!)..
and the blond references come to no end.. "I'll take a tall blond". " I want a blond". "Give me a blond". Etc, etc. and, you could see every now then.. the husband with the dark haired wife, -asking for a blond..
this slight irritation.. and some of the brunettes felt, let's say, under appreciated and under represented.. but when I saw first hand, just how popular.. I see now why Starbucks.. and any variety of retail centers use this marketing technique.. It gets results!
and I wanted in the worst way to have a come back line, for all these references.. something that would elevate the non-blonds..make people laugh, but I never did..
" I prefer blonds'
and I said, 'we have a gentleman here...'. -because these things get locked in the brain like nursery rhymes..
anyway.. trust me here.. I was thinking, -if the brunettes and red heads felt under appreciated.. Please imagine us silvers.../gray, white, salt n pepper..
if you had two kegs and offered. 'Blond diva or gray haired lady...
but may I make that recommendation to cool beer works and Starbucks..
now, I am aware gray haired lady might not be your highest profit center.. but even the bible recognizes euphemisms..
'Crown of splendor!'. /then we stand a higher chance..
and before I switch to clips up.. let me say, great pleasure meeting and pouring with you Adam.. a former police officer (thank you for your noble service!).. and, in love with his girlfriend from 17 years ago...
is he going to propose?
***
my favorite costumes.. I mean I love it all.. ! .. but the men who dressed like the hosiers basketball players with short-shorts.. Too funny! and then the male tooth fairy in all white tank top dress, with a tiara and tennis shoes and one big tooth on the outfit..
sexy with a sense of humor... you win!
***
my most delightful conversation however, was not with one of the slightly intoxicated adults in costume..
my most delightful conversation was with a radiant young girl from alisal elementary school.. and during our highly engaging conversation, she mentioned something about 'clip up..'
"What is this.. clip up? I've never heard of this before.."
and she explained, as only a 3rd grader (2nd?) with high school communication skills can, that
"Clip up and clip down.. is where.. if you do something you are not supposed to.. clip down.. and if you are good for the day.. Clip up."
"What are they clipping.. your hair? Your skin..
and she went on to explain a color coded clip system which is quite similar to our national security terror threat warning system:
apparently.. Blue is at the top.. highest up your clip can go.. Stellar citizen! and then there was yellow and orange.. don't do that again type warnings.. and..
RED! the lowest your clip can go.. the bitter end.. And! If you get clipped down to red for your unstellar behavior in the classroom,
You cannot get clipped back up! Once in red; you stay in red..
if you get clipped from blue to yellow or orange.. You can behave your way back to blue... But RED!
and so I said, " here is the most important question I have for you about this fascinating color coded clip system
K.. let's say you... Well not YOU, because you stay blue.. Stay blue for me OK.. but let's say someone gets clipped to RED
How long does that last? For a week, for the year, for a day?"
and that's when I learned it only lasts for the day. The next day.. everyone starts again from blue. And the Christian in me loves that system.. Every single day his mercy is new..
Fresh start; try again! -the way Joyce Meyer teaches it, you never fail a test...but you do get to take it over and over and over again, until you pass.
/I'm being tested with keith write now.. as in
write now! I am resisting the urge to see if I can remember where he lives without an address or directions..
***
I can see my keys from here..
***
but! honey... if you think I'm gonna make this easy and convenient for you..
you are as delusional as I am...
in Jesus great name... Hallelujah~amen!
the heart seen... by (me!) sandra, tvgp
... speaking of cool beer...
ill be pouring again tonight: with cool beerwerks for the brew crawl in downtown pleasanton.. and you know, i totally enjoy being surrounded by slightly intoxicated happy people... so, "cheers!". -type cool beer in the search bar of this blog.
A taste of my own medicine.. (me!) WriteousMom
my reputation is well known.. not writeousmom, not fun & exciting mom, not way cool mom..
-boring mom. because how many times did my children want to do something interesting/exciting/adventurous..
but i forced them to do something educational/cultural..
"not again mom.. come on.. we'll be the only teenagers! its gonna be all old people and us.."
"No.. This is for whole families! I promise! It'll be really fun, you'll see.."
-and of course.. they were the only teenagers. it was only interesting for me, and they did nothing but wait for it to come to end..
***
meanwhile their dad is taking them and all their friends on boat rides, tubing, knee-boarding...
***
so anyway.. the colleges have created a clever way to wean the parents away from their beloved children, and the opportunities were as follows:
a brew crawl to visit the local pubs in the area. ("I love handcrafted beers!").
a wine stroll to do tastings at the local wineries ("I love going wine tasting!)
-horseback riding along the coast. (I love the coast!)
But as it turns out.. -something to do with either
1. signing up too late, or
2. children's revenge
I did not visit the breweries, or the wineries, or see the coast.
; no..
I was instead on the library/cultural tour. envisioning all the other parents drinking beer, or tasting wine.. galloping along the gorgeous coastline..
while I was staring at historically significant items attached to a board, labeled and framed.
I could literally hear my children's voices.. with hints of gratification and whispers of sarcasm..
'having fun mom?'.
-telepathically I whispered back, 'ok we're even'
and telepathically i heard them say, 'even?! -do you know how many of these things you dragged us too... we have only just begun.'
***
and in truth.. i really did love the tour.
I mean, I would have loved it even more if say, -they combined the beer/wine tasting along with the visit to the library.. But still
What Nationality Are You? I ask again with a smile...
stood behind this perfectly happy customer in line.. and had to snap a picture "CH!"
-original post Tues March 18th, 2014:
Q: "what nationality are you?" By (me!) Sandra, tvgp
My sister reminded me recently about how we dreaded that question in our youth. -reason being, everyone else seem to have a solid answer that would roll off their tongue, and we never actually -knew. Ask two different parents; get two different vague answers, which seemed to change if and when we asked again. Truth is, I don't think they really knew.. So, 'heinz 57' became the standard reply.. Colloquial term borrowed from whatever kind person thought it up first.. 'A big mix.. 57 different nationalities; american muts'. -now, we've since traced a lot of irish.. Indian, French.. And lots more..But I have always also known, not by blood but by observation, that I have Italian in me. I learned this in the fourth grade when the principal stopped me mid-sentence and said, "sandy I want you to sit on your hands". -and when I did.. I couldn't talk anymore in complete sentences, -only stutter. I need my hands to talk. Word on the street was that Italians talk with their hands.. So obviously then I must have Italian in me. I also learned along the way that I must be part black. I learned this first when I was at the movies.. And the white audience sat so quiet and still.. But the black audience would get all involved in the story and talk out loud to the screen.. I'll never forget the first time i was told to 'shhhhh' at the movies.. 'You are not my people' I thought to myself.. 'They are!'. And so that's how I knew I was part Italian and part black.. But I had this confirmed at church and on the dance floor.. I also remember in elementary school being taught about the spirituality of the native Indians.. How they respected the land and each other and how they were dominated by the 'white man' with guns. In those stories I always related better with the Indians.. I believe in rain dancing and honoring spirits.. So really, I figured things out on my own along the way: I am part Italian, part black, part Indian. I learned I was part Asian during a stroll at a flea market.. My white friends/family always dressed me in matching clothes that were 'in season'. It never much mattered to me.. Well, that is a bit of an exaggeration... What happened is that I observed that this was VERY IMPORTANT to my friends and family, and so it better become important to me too.. But at the flea market I saw a beautiful Asian Woman.. She was wearing striped pants that in no way complemented or matched her print blouse. The colors did not match, the patterns each did their own thing.. And yet she seemed as happy as could be. So even if my family didn't know officially via professional genealogy research or DNA tracking.. I knew I was part asain too. Italian, black, Indian, Asian... The O'Riley sir name would lock in my irish heritage.. And the fact I love beer and green is my favorite color.. But -keeping my arms still when I dance? If I can't talk without my hands it only stands to reason that I cannot dance without my arms.. The same thing happens: my feet can't move only stutter.. So that helped me start figuring out percentages: like I must be only half irish... Also, I shared some kind of connection.. Unexplained but profound the first time I saw Russell crowe on the big screen... And I knew! In that magical, I intuitive, mysterious way, that -whatever he is; I am that too. What is he? Anyway.. One day we will make this all scientifically valid.. And all that.. But I know I have relatives from Spain! And Russia.. And based on my reaction to certain climates: I am Hawaiian.. Took to the hula like a coconut to the tree.. Plus, its what I was designed for; to be cracked open. -what about you? If I pick your brain for your thoughts instead of your finger for blood; who are you? Who are your people?
"thank you!" mr mcmillion from (me!) sandra, tvgp
(me!): "no way.. that's a fun name, -really? McMillion" /because I was sliding his credit card through the machine, and I often read names to find them first in the customer data base.
mr mcmillion customer: "yes.. and my friends like to joke and call me mr. thousands"
(me!): "that's just funny.. what's the origin?"
mr mcmillion customer: "Irish"
(me!) " wonderful! ~those are my people.."
mr mcmillion customer: "you are Irish.."
(me!): "yes.. and you know how I know... it's not because I did a 23 and me, or anything.. or genealogy.. I know i'm part irish because I started drinking beer and writing poetry at a young age"
mr mcmillion customer: laughs. "I'm having my history researched.. turns out I have some (?) /can't remember first thing he told me.. and Indian..
(me!) "that seems like a cool thing to get to learn.. enjoy this gorgeous day"
***
-and forgive me.. but, I don't take it as seriously.. and ive met a number of people now who have traced their origins through dna.. send a sample/receive results via mail.
not one person has ever questioned...
so, I guess everyone assumes 100% accuracy on the part of the system/process/results..
but, ive worked in many places.. 100% accuracy is pretty hard to come by
and I joke with my kids, like.. I swear to you, people put so much faith in the system/results, that they could be obviously one thing (say, physically, obviously -Asian, but if there paper work says, they are African American and Indian, -that is what they believe they are. period.
this fascinates me. and sends my mind on another one of those..
what it means to believe..
***
also, -because of inter-racial, international, global love/romances/one night stands, etc. between already blended ethnicities.. this will become less and less significant, important over time..
who you are.. how you identify yourself... what you're made of...
fast forward a few scores in your imagination and tell me how important this is:
i'm .03 Mexican, .007 irish.. .5 African American .7 Italian 8. .12 indian 9. .18 Chinese
.3 Polish etc., etc.,
"so, you are all that?"
"yes.. i'm all that.. and then some" /according to this paper...
CH:
I am many things...***
In, Jesus only knows.. name, amen.
MONEY, mOnEy, MoNeY! By (me!) Sandra, tvgp
Time travel a little so you can join us for lunch yesterday at red robin. Me and my.. Ottimo pasto. <-----TTOD. (Temporary term of endearment):
Split a double cheese burger.. Steak fries.. Cold beer..
Watch a little sports action on the TV monitor above.. Football. And what-do-you-know.. Inevitably the subject of Rice comes up:
In case you are reading this from a great time distance, the upshot is this: RICE is the last name of an NFL player who -video- reveals, hit his fiance in an elevator.. Knocking her out, I believe, then dragging her out on the floor.. -something like this..
Very domestic; very violent.
He was initially suspended for two games; then six; and ultimately after the video evidence "surfaced" and left unquestioned what actually took place.. -public outrage, and now he has been entirely cut from the NFL. K.. I'm just providing an outsiders/layperson summary..
My hot date for lunch.. Rick, who may I remind is a retired police officer.. He thought.. This punishment was a little extreme. That perhaps the three strike rule would be better suited to the crime of domestic violence.. So, if I heard him correctly
-and trust me that I did because I asked him to repeat himself for me at least three times to be sure.. And yes, he thought..
If you punch a woman one time.. There should be some type of consequence; if it happens a second time; a slightly greater consequence.. But if it happens a third time! "You're out!"
K.. The three strike rule for domestic violence.
Externally, I remained very calm. Very calm and open..
It is a good practice I've learned to stay open to other peoples points of views..
But, had he, in that moment, started choking on his food, let's say..
It might have taken me a couple extra seconds to try and remember whether or not I knew the Heimlich.. /which would make me no better than..; -write.
So, I took another bite of my half of the double cheese burger.. Which was outrageously delicious by the way.. And I had a fry or two, and a sip of my beer.. I caressed his back; gazed affectionately into his dark brown eyes.. And then after enough time had passed.. I said,
"So let's say you own a bank. You're the C.E.O. of a bank or something.. And you have a star employee (one of my favorite analogies this bank one..)
He is on time everyday
... never calls in sick..
Gets along with everybody..
Lands your bank some of its greatest clients and contracts...
K?"
And he was like, 'yeah.. Got it. Got it'
Then I go.. "But you caught him stealing money one day?"
And then he was suddenly, absolutely, confident and definitive in his reaction: "fired! -he'd be fired"
"No second chance?" I ask.. "No second chance." He confirmed.
And so, I was like.. "Okay.. So for domestic violence; punching a woman.. Three strikes. But if your caught stealing MONEY.. No second chance?"
Isn't that fascinating.
Now.. When I said it like that to him, I don't think he liked the way things were sounding to him.. So, he went on to clarify his position:
Namely, what he wanted pointed out, is the distinction between
On the job. And,
Off the job.
That is; if you are an employer.. You have authority over what policies/procedures; rewards/consequences; you can and will employ to given employees -while they are on the job
But what they do, before or after work, (off the field) is outside of your authority. So..
If you have an employee who punches another employee during working hours.. -fired.
I asked his permission to blog our conversation.. He expressed some concern that I might paint the picture a different color than he had on his brush.. And that I might be in some way attacking..
"I don't use my blog that way; never have.. I will write it and let you read it and you can make any corrections you'd like in comments.."
And if he asked me to remove this post altogether for any reason
. I would; just like that. One click; unpublished.
It has been my blogging etiquette for as long as I can remember.. I think its only been about 5 or 6 times that someone has asked me to eliminate a post for one reason or another..
And without hesitation I have honored their requests.
But I find this illuminating.. Enlightening. Most people, -like 100% of the time, if you pose the imaginary bank scenario I posed above
Its just about unanimous that the star employee gets fired.
Stealing money from a bank!
But then.. For other things.. 2nd chances, forgiveness, start over, three strikes..
I have noticed for example, infidelity is treated very differently by different people.. Many couples seem to have a ...
Well for some you're fired, and for others.. 2 game suspension.
Its all fascinating to me. I have a one strike is already one strike too many - youre out policy! for all three: domestic violence; infidelity; stealing money from the bank
I do believe in forgiveness, and hope-you-do-better-next-times
But youre gonna have to do-over somewhere and with someone else...
When we moved on in conversation.. I showed him my cross seen.. And heart seen pictures.. Then he pointed to the fries he had just adjusted into a heart shape.. "Awww, that's so cool, but it doesn't count" I told him.. "It can't be made on purpose.. You just have to find them already made".
"doesn't count?!". -he seemed a little disappointed. -it is definitely picture-worthy though.. The heart seen at red robin in pleasanton.. And look at our receipt; I spy both our lucky numbers..
The unrealized potential! It should be packed... says (us!) robert & sandra mickanen
circa 1978?
Sunday, March 4th, 2025, 2:30pm-ish
A wonderful day, beautiful climate
A chunk of land in downtown San Jose, California advertising outdoor
roller skating, beer garden
“Let’s go check it out!”
*****
The surrounding areas..
just around the corner on the
drive toward:
empty lots, vandalism,
graffiti -loiterers, panhandlers,
homeless.. addicts, abandon buildings
all of this is pretty near, walking distance to San Jose
State University
****
Little cleaner, safer directly nearby; ok people traffic..
****
I went directly to the gated roller skating arena.. the music was pumping! There were several security guards on the
premises
But had I stayed and rented some skates.. I would have been THE ONLY ONE there.. The. Only. One.
****
We have beautiful weather, we have young people, families
looking for something to do besides be on their phones
No one wants to be somewhere they don’t feel safe. It’s such a cool idea.. the potential!
should be packed with young people, -on the weekend nights..
should be packed with families on a sunday afternoon...
This is fixable..
and for the fixing (we work, we vote) we pray.. amen.
master merchandiser by day.. rock star by night (john dell!)
treat to learn one of my co-worker friends is a vocalist/guitarist in a rock n roll band:
and, had the great pleasure of watching his band perform live last night at, what was a new brewery to me
and alex
it's called,
Eight Bridges. -very cool space.. and, turns out Alex is a sprite/water drinker, but
I
I love the hops! so, -gave their hoppy salvation a try, and when I visit in the future, I will order just the same. Pairs very well with live music!
and, nothing but praises for heart stone's lead singer, Samantha Vaughn..
I told alex, "if I could let it out like that... I would never write again." and, the whole band is what you hope for..
talent; chemistry; joy -you can hear those things in the guitars, drums.. and what a range! Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Pink Floyd to Blondie and Bruno Mars..
You were awesome John! -great to see you live. wonderful band!
and, when it comes to dancin' I need the Motown sound; the groove.. so I didn't get out on the dance floor
but there was a lady off to the side, dancing alone, all.. just lost in the music. I told Alex, if I was not self-conscious, I would get out there too. just make up some moves.. it's inside me.
but, I prefer to blend in with a crazy crowd. and the other woman who seemed to respond to the music in a wonderful way.. jumping, moving, taking pictures.. singing along
turns out she is the lead singers mom. Samantha told us, "My mom has that kind of energy 24/7. I only have it when I'm performing on stage."
and, "Thank You!" Alex for checking out John's band, and this new brewery with me..
does make me all dreamy about having live music and handcrafted beer at Alden Lane...
love the outdoor venues! -as a matter of fact.. I was just looking at Alden Lane's parking lot.. like, what an awesome space for a tailgate party...
In Jesus Musical Name, ~amen!
***
heartstone rocked again at R-place in livermore.. the very next night. and, coincided with one of rick cahalls visits to the tri-valley from Tahoe..
they played til 1am, or something, longer than we could stay, but! had we.. I would have cheered for an encore of the ooh, la, la paris song
I have to work hard to keep myself off the dance floor for that one.
and very Pleasanton surprise to cross paths with.. "Shinn!" -the cerebral hyperlinks here are many.. 1. purple heart veteran 2. my only two part profile ever written for the patch 3.the only mother/daughter profile link, because my daughter interviewed him also 3. the veterans day parade 4. -and how the patch profile I wrote, as it is internet searchable, helped put him back in touch with a long lost brother..
he had a friend to visit, so didn't join us at our high top, but -always a spirit lifter to see him..
and speaking of friends,
Rick had a friend to say hi to at mavericks in Pleasanton -but,
don't you know, we somehow
honestly I have no idea how conversations take the twists and turns they do, but, ice cream got mentioned, and then I got to go on and on again about how, after going without ice cream for decades it feels like,
I learned about the soy ice cream at creams in Livermore.. "and I can eat ice cream again! I am so, so, happy!"
and so, we parked for this quick side attraction... cold and raining out, but didn't matter... perfect for ice cream
then off to mavericks where I met one of his long time friends of 30+ years mary kay.. an outstanding country line, and country free dancer -and a spectacular live band here also..
it is the first place I will bring my aunt betty Sandra /that's a hard but important change to implement..
when she comes for her next visit. She loves the country music and dancing! don't know if we can talk her onto the mechanical bull.. bad back,
but -good dancing feet! and I smile here to remember her at barones.. dancing with the biggest smile on her face.. "i have a blister on my foot, but I cant feel it write now"
drink + live music + dancing = Band-Aid
but..
church soon, and cookie-bakin' prep for my mom's upcoming 32nd (?) annual cookie exchange party. so have to close here
feel very blessed and grateful
"Thank You!" Jesus.. amen
"thank you!" mr mcmillion from (me!) sandra, tvgp
(me!): "no way.. that's a fun name, -really? McMillion" /because I was sliding his credit card through the machine, and I often read names to find them first in the customer data base.
mr mcmillion customer: "yes.. and my friends like to joke and call me mr. thousands"
(me!): "that's just funny.. what's the origin?"
mr mcmillion customer: "Irish"
(me!) " wonderful! ~those are my people.."
mr mcmillion customer: "you are Irish.."
(me!): "yes.. and you know how I know... it's not because I did a 23 and me, or anything.. or genealogy.. I know i'm part irish because I started drinking beer and writing poetry at a young age"
mr mcmillion customer: laughs. "I'm having my history researched.. turns out I have some (?) /can't remember first thing he told me.. and Indian..
(me!) "that seems like a cool thing to get to learn.. enjoy this gorgeous day"
***
-and forgive me.. but, I don't take it as seriously.. and ive met a number of people now who have traced their origins through dna.. send a sample/receive results via mail.
not one person has ever questioned...
so, I guess everyone assumes 100% accuracy on the part of the system/process/results..
but, ive worked in many places.. 100% accuracy is pretty hard to come by
and I joke with my kids, like.. I swear to you, people put so much faith in the system/results, that they could be obviously one thing (say, physically, obviously -Asian, but if there paper work says, they are African American and Indian, -that is what they believe they are. period.
this fascinates me. and sends my mind on another one of those..
what it means to believe..
***
also, -because of inter-racial, international, global love/romances/one night stands, etc. between already blended ethnicities.. this will become less and less significant, important over time..
who you are.. how you identify yourself... what you're made of...
fast forward a few scores in your imagination and tell me how important this is:
i'm .03 Mexican, .007 irish.. .5 African American .7 Italian 8. .12 indian 9. .18 Chinese
.3 Polish etc., etc.,
"so, you are all that?"
"yes.. i'm all that.. and then some" /according to this paper...
CH:
I am many things...
***
In, Jesus only knows.. name, amen.
THAT DANCE STUDIO by (me!) sandra, tvgp
named because, I had a conversation with an adult at barone's music under the stars.. said person was self-conscious about how they danced, and so remained sitting...
I ache inside when I see self-consciousness preventing people from having fun.. life is too short!
I said with a smile, I said, "it's now
how you move.. it's
that you move.." and filled the person's mind with images of people who would love to dance if they could... but injuries, or illness, or immobility in form or another prevents...
so when you can... you should. but isn't that a lesson on how powerful self-consciousness is.. that it becomes your mind.. your way of thinking that prevents an otherwise perfectly physically capable body from experiencing the benefits and joy of movement..
I could on and on,
and I will,
when time allows, but for now..
"I have another dream!" my dancing days are far from over! you know, do you? that I began dancing at Terry Eastwood's dance studio in Hayward, California.. had the Eastwood family as neighbors...
and then when my parents divorced, the cost of dance prevented me from continuing classes..
cry, cry, cry..
and then, I taught, as a teenager, dance classes at Anne's Dance Studio, in San Leandro.. short lived,
and then, I co-created Movers & Shakers Dance class, with Kate Barton, and taught creative story telling dance to children out of Pam's Dance Studio in Pleasanton... -great time!
and,
now.. to understand my next ambition
1) picture a masterpiece painting with great detail..
2) now picture, just the colors used in the masterpiece painting, just swirling near each other; something that can be accomplished by a child, low skill level, but the colors look beautiful next to each other...
that is my point! even if you can't dance like eva igo...
it is true, that when a group of people move together in unison... even if they are not doing something at the master level..
it just looks cool to see people moving to music... together. in sync..
and so,
now I want to conclude my dance teaching career, by opening, THAT dance studio.. where seniors come and enjoy some wine, beer, appetizers..
and we move to music together..
and it's exercise, and it's FUN! and it gets people moving...
move if you can. dance! performance free...
/by that I mean, not THAT our performances will be free to the public, but rather, there will be no public performances of the dances we create. we just have fun amongst ourselves. removing that pressure, adds to the joy!
In Jesus is my eternal dance partner's -name, amen!
MOUNTAIN MIKES and the MIDNIGHT BULLETIN, by (my!) LEONARD STEGMANN
honestly! there is nothing not contest worthy between my children. who's first to the car, who's first to touch the front door, who's first inside, who's first to the computer, and here
at mountain mikes pizza"who can hold their finger on the hot pizza the longest?"meanwhile, i'm with cold beer and the fifth edition of the midnight bulletin; cracking up!i'm laughing so hard i make the owner laugh, and the one other patron laugh.. and they don't even know what i'm readingleonard stegmann.. you were just getting warmed up when you stopped the presses. i love this story!the midnight bulletin. october, 1985. number five. green. (plus/love the cover! what they really think of you)words/pg 2/leonard stegmann:it all started when the jug that i keep pennies in became full. roll 'em up, cash 'em in and start over, i thought cheerfully. so the next time i found myself at the drive-up window at my bank i asked the girl in the glass booth for some penny wrappers. when the cylinder returned it contained a total of six wrappers.
"we're a little low," said the girl in the booth.
"you're a bank, for chrissake," i didn't say.
went to the local lucky's later that day. asked the cashier if she might have any penny wrappers.
(i am still laughing!) she answered politely that she didn't.
"we're a grocery store, for chrissake," she didn't say.
waited in line twenty minutes at the bank next door, and was amply rewarded with about twenty wrappers. i returned home delirious and rolled up my pennies.
(still crackin' up).went back to the bank the next day, but they wouldn't take the pennies since i didn't have an account there.
(smilin'/laughin')returned to my bank, (the name of which i won't mention because first interstate would probably sue me), waited in line and then told the teller i wanted to cash in these pennies.
(sip while smiling). fine, i was told, but first i had to write my account number on each roll
(spit/laugh).i quietly stepped aside and began the task. i'm not unreasonable, and i realize that there are reasons for this requirement. i mean, some less-than-honest type could make up a batch of 49-penny rolls and could have
(okay.. i am laughing so hard right now) hot-footed it to nevada before the bank knew what happened, taking a cool thirty or forty cent profit with him.
having written my account number on each roll
(this is as funny to me right now as it was yesterday in the pizza parlor), i got back in line (why make trouble?) and soon found myself unloading my pennies in front of a large and somewhat grumpy teller. she stared at the first two rolls as if they were test-tubes full of the AIDS virus, and then began to load them into a plastic tray, sighing mightily as if atlas had just asked her to hold the world while he went for a pack of cigarettes
(two good ones in a row!/sooo funny)"how much ya got?" she growled.
"excuse me?" i said
(i cannot. can. not. stop laughing)"how much money is here?"
i thought of taking a chance and saying there was fifty thousand dollars there, but i suspected she was too sharp for that old trick, so i told the truth and she parted with the nineteen bucks as if it were her own.
"excuse me," i said, "but could you spare a few more penny wrappers?"
(this is the funniest story of all time). in today's orderly plastic world there's so few opportunities to experience true danger. and with a look that could kill small animals she huffed away and returned shortly with the booty.
i have a few hundred pennies left, which i intend to roll up and cash in. after that, however, i'm going to change my method of loose-change organization. i'm going to use my now-empty jug for the nickels, dimes, and quarters. and i'm going to take the one or two pennies i accumulate each day and toss them directly into the trash. i've got enough problems.
you are a riot! this is a treasure of a story! thank you! ~s.c.
AMELIA'S WINS PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD! AT BON APPETIT TOASTS & TASTES OF FALL P.P.I.E. FUNDRAISER
this shot up to the top of my favorite night's in 2008 list write away..
it was the p.p.i.e.'s (that's pleasanton partnerships in education foundation): bon appetit toasts and tastes of fall ~ culinary event ~ fundraiser.
tickets were like, $60 each, so no chance i would have been there if not for working at amelia's
(thank you gita/vinit again!) and being invited by chef steve to help out.
let me start by telling you what help out meant: it meant first, getting dressed up.. and i've not had many opportunities/reasons to get dressed up, so very excited about that
good, valid reason to put on my favorite long black gypsy skirt with sequence embellishments around the bottom, my high heel black boots, and found a pretty black top with a fancy open paisley shape near the neckline with a diamond-looking gem at the point on the clearance rack at macy's
and i must share here, a fashion-first for me. i went into that dressing room with 7 or 8 different blouses.. tried the black one mentioned above on first, and it fit so perfect, felt so comfortable, and hit so write within my budget, that i never did even try on the other blouses. just took it off and went straight to the counter to pay for it
next day, i think it was.. chef steve tells me maybe saturday is off.. i won't be going.
"but.. but.. i got a pretty blouse and made a hair appointment.. you're not allowed to change your mind.."
and so i think there was some shuffling done behind the scenes to include me after all.
i'm very grateful, because the next part of helping out meant leading everyone (chef steve & tony) to the carr america center. and i know write where that is because that's where the poetry, prose & art festival was held one year, and that's where centerpointe church was held inbetween their old and new locations.. and with my broken compass, usually i'm the very last person to be asked directions, but in this paricular case, with such confidence i could say, follow me boys.. and lead the way.
next it was my job to sit in chef steve's truck and listen to music while him and tony carted things inside the building, -because someone had to watch the stuff, write..-
and then it was my job to fill a bucket with water and bring it to our table, and then unwrap a few condiment containers.. and then, get this..
mix and mingle with our table partners. because each restaurant/chef's table is paired with a principal from one of the schools in the district, and a corporate sponsor
in our case, the principal was colleen henry, the principal from lydiksen elementary, and the corporate sponsor was shawn batoy, who sits on the p.p.i.e. board and works for robert half international. two of the coolest people you could hope to share a table with...
[hear my daughter's voice.. whenever we drive by...
is it robert half. -international? or robert. -half international?]
i hit it off with colleen write away, because i found out in no time that she is a fellow writer.. and not just a fellow writer, but a self-published fellow writer.. her and a best friend, had some time ago, during and in the aftermath of their mutual divorces, written an erma bombeck-ish, tongue n' cheek story about their experiences with divorce/single motherhood.. took them three years she told me.. and you know i have got to get my hands on one of those books! -which she believes she still may have available somewhere in the boxes in her garage..
in any case.. she was delightful, fun, light-hearted, generous, and i liked her immediately, but got even better when i learned that, like me.. she doesn't much cook
poor chef steve.. there he was with some 600 bacon wrapped shrimp, TWO grills..
and two women.. but neither one of us fighting over the chance to learn how to cook those shrimp
enter corporate heroine sponsor write here: because in walks shawn batoy, who knows her way around the kitchen..
thank God! -that shifted things so that chef steve actually had some talented/competent help with the grillin' and colleen and i were free to do what we do best,
drink. ~ i mean ~ .. open wine bottles and pour wine. and when i say, what we do best, i mean, between cooking or pouring
the opening part was a little tricky.. i've not used that type wine opener before, so cut a few corks in three, but .. after opening some 20 bottles, i started to catch on..
so this was how i helped out all night; this was, ~my job: open wine. drink wine. pour wine. visit with people and tell them about amelia's..
(waiting for full time position to open..) "and do you know about our new expanded menus? our live chef on friday nights?... we're on the same street as the farmer's market.. let me give you one of our cards.." smile. pour. next...
the wine by the way,
was.. was..
let me think..
because at some point, a man named david in a blue shirt, came to our table and told us.. he held
up a bottle, and pointed to the label, and explained in great, sophisticated detail, the name.. the grape, the location.. the year.. but he went really fast.. and i didn't have a pen and paper, just my ears.. so although colleen and i listend with every intention of sharing this information correctly with our guests.. the information seemed to disappear in random pieces in the air
did he say saugivnon blanc? he said, savin-yawn something..
and he said, grov-s, (ahs) not graves.. with a long A sound,
even though that's what was on the label
i never could say it with any confidence.. always a question mark..
"we really like this wine.. what is it?" and i would say.. sahvin-yawn blonk? and then instead would just pick up a bottle and let them read the label.. and here's the thing.. i don't think saugivnon blanc is mentioned anywhere on the label...
[have labels competely forgotten their role, i wonder]
colleen found her way around it by saying, and very professionally, i might add, "it's a light, french, white.." and just kept pourin'
i would later learn david is the husband of debi covello, who is the p.p.i.e's executive director..
enjoyed meeting them also; and here they are here:
and rarely, once i think, i felt a slight hint of guilt not working the grill, but chef steve said to me.. "you can be eye candy"
and i know what eye candy is, so i gave a yeah-write thanks, and thought to myself, .. definitely not eye-candy.. eye-broccoli maybe.. but definitely not eye candy
but i can report here, there were lots of beautiful women, in beautiful/sexy dresses to admire throughout the night..
great part of the fun, seeing everyone dressed up, with the men all very handsome, the women with their hair done, extra make-up, pretty outfits, shoes, and jewelry
and i got to see/visit with lots of people i've come to know over the past several years.. several parents from the kids schools and/or activities, former neighbors, other restaurant owners i've come to know, oh, look my ex-husband.. dan/teresa.. people from my writing circles, church circles, arts/crafts circles..
and that's write! jim & pam ... jim ott.. met him for the first time here -carr america center- during the poetry/prose/art festival.. and billy collins.. it's a lucky place i think
and many, many, people i met for the very first time, but know i will see again soon at amelia's.. because everyone ~ everyone ~ was falling in love with chef steve's bacon wrapped shrimp with cayenne pepper sauce
there was never a time steve and shawn were not refilling their pans with more bacon wrapped shrimp.. the aroma.. the sound of the skillet.. the hot, enticing, delicious shrimp, all red n' pink and sizzlin' fresh from the skillet.. that addictive spicy, cajun flavor..
seems like the fresh cooked batches would disappear quicker than our two star chef's could cook 'em -and our table was never without a line..
"we voted for you.. " or "where do we vote for you?" -heard this a lot, because not only was this a fundraiser for the schools, but a competition among the chef's and restaurants.
-somewhere, and i'm not sure where.. guests were invited to vote for their favorite appetizer, dessert.. favorite culinary team.. in the silent auction area i believe..
i was pretty sure we had it locked in, but when she announced the winners at 8:45..
amelia's wasn't mentioned. i felt so bad for chef, but he shook it off quick. - she, by the way, was heather quarterman, from kkiq -our local hometown station-
and i loved getting the opportunity to meet and talk with her for a while.. put face/name/voice all together for the first time, - and heather (if she does not mind me saying so.. ) is the very definition of eye-candy.
a beautiful, vibrant blond, with great style and confidence.. completely approachable/adorable, and fun to talk with
and i enjoyed learning she grew up here.. in livermore.. spent some time in journalism.. television, i think.. yes, -intended at first to be a weather girl - lived in san diego.. and by way of many different happenstances, found radio to be the perfect fit.. and is back home, in the tri valley, doing what she loves, and what it sure seems she is meant to do.. -and how cool is that.. to be a personality on the radio station you listened to growing up..
i talked with her in more length than with others, because she is experiencing, to a degree, a taste of what i believe might be ahead for me.. and we talked a little about that.. being recognized.. having people like/dislike you.. she told me she has not been recognized by her voice in stores or other public places, which surprised me, and she followed that by saying, "but i bask in my anonymity"
and it does seem pretty plush.. to be on the radio where it's your voice vs. your face out in the public arena
like with church, i do feel myself with one foot in, one foot out of my ambition to become a famous american writer.. because it is pretty awesome write now, to write what i want, when i want, how i want.. not answering to anyone, not meeting deadlines, or worse.. certain expectations, or to reach a specific audience population; with no book sale quotas to worry about
should i mess with this great freedom? i suppose if i could earn a living another way.. and keep writing like this, i would..
but can't figure out how to earn a living another way.. come to think of it.. i haven't figured out how to earn a living this way..
[skip depression dip, continue on.. ]
where was i? have i mentioned there is live music being played.. gorgeous music.. a tremendous flautist is standing out in my memory.. and that the whole place was decorated so beautifully.. with colorful fall leave decor all around.. glass sculptures filled with wine corks, ribbon, and more ribbon around each table, candles, table confetti, pumpkins.. gorgeous fall centerpieces sparkling everywhere
and it is circular, two-tiers of table after table, with every kind of gourmet appetizer you can think of being prepared before your eyes by all the great local restaurants and star chef's, and a different wine being poured from every table..
i'm not going to retype the menu, but hope i can link it here so you can see how amazing..
and did i mention we are surrounded by huge windows, so behind the scenes of all the lovely, festive people, the live cooking, the wine pouring.. the socializing.. the sky slowly darkens into a moonlit october night
it was an unbelievably wonderful, gorgeous/beautiful, ultra-fun, went-by-too-fast kind of night.
colleen and shawn left around 9:30, i think, so were unfortunatley not there for the surprise good news & extra happy ending
and -almost- neither was i.
i was busy helping chef steve pack things up and carry them to his truck. this time it was his turn to sit in his truck and listen to music while i brought things back n' forth
and i made two trips, with boxes and papers and menus.. but had seen a portable fire hydrant under the table. wasn't sure if each table was provided one for safety, or if it belong to chef..
which it did. so third and final trip back in to get chef's fire hydrant, just exactly as i'm walking through the glass entry doors, i hear heather quarterman on the mic again
"and the people's choice award goes to AMELIA'S.."
i was so happy and disappointed at the same time.. there was no colleen, or shawn, or chef steve to hear it with me..
so i hussled out, and soon as i was within shoutin' distance, hollered out to steve the good news..
then quick gave gita a call to share the good news -on her recorder-
and i'm not sure what goes along with this award.. a plaque? a prize? an announcement on the radio? the website?
but.. it sure was the perfect happy ending to an already great night to see the look on chef's face when i told him..
and i have no doubt, our "live chef" time at amelia's, where he prepares gourmet appeitizers while you watch, sip wine.. beer.. visit.. is going to grow in popularity and become the people's choice for friday nights too..
4:30-7:30p
"cheers & congratulations to you chef steve! to gita/vinit! to everyone at amelia's!
pleasure meeting you colleen & shawn
and thank you to everyone at p.p.i.e. who contributed to this spectacular event!"
