GPS

A friend posted the cartoon WTF: Fun Fact 1199 to my Facebook timeline.

I answered, "See my BLOG article WHAT I LEARNED FROM MY BROTHERS (CLICK HERE) where I was informed that I also possess PMS, SAT, and SPC which means:

"A bitch who knows everything and can prove it!"

GOOD GRIEF!

Twenty-one years ago, a couple attempted to sell their baby here in Washington Court House. My sister-in-law Sheila was made aware of the intended transaction and thwarted it by threatening legal action. I told them I would give them the money the woman had offered if they would not give away our flesh and blood because at that time, I thought the man was related to us; I later learned that he is not. The couple left town shortly thereafter. Although we knew of their whereabouts throughout the intervening years, we have had no contact. They kept the child, had another child, divorced, and have children by other mates.

Sheila and I often wondered if we had done the right thing by foiling their attempt to dispose of their child. Perhaps--probably--the child would have had a better life here in Washington Court House than the one she had traipsing across this country with those reprehensible people. I have also kept track of the woman who tried to buy the baby.

That child they tried to sell died last year at age 22. That is certainly a tragedy.

On Facebook, I see the writings from the couple commenting on the anniversary of their daughter's death and their great grief. How dare they be posting this hypocrisy?

What should I do about such phony sorrow? Les and Gerald suggest I just ignore it.

I tried just to leave it alone on Facebook and allow them to garner sympathy from other readers, because that was their obvious motive in publishing their supposed anguish but I posted the following: "Remember when Sheila changed your plan?"

Of course, they will surely "get" the enigmatic meaning! I have had no response. They probably did not know I have been tracking them on Facebook.

I don't have a word bad enough for these ghouls!

SEARS' COMPLAISANCE

I was stunned--and pleased--to see an answer from Sears posted on my BLOG article WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A RELATIVE. The article detailed my umbrage and Sears' response to the problem with my Sears kitchen range.

See my BLOG article which details my problem with the Repair Department of Sears on Thanksgiving Day; also see Sears comment to me on my BLOG...CLICK HERE

This is my response to Sears:

Thank you for responding to my BLOG article concerning my problem with attaining service from Sears. I am providing the information you requested.

Sears number I called {from my warranty book): 1-800-469-4663
Date of initial telephone conversation: Thanksgiving Day afternoon, November 28, 2013
During that conversation, I was told that a Sears repair person would be at my home on Friday, November 29, 2013, between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. On November 29, 2013, prior to 5:00 PM, I once again called the Sears number to confirm the appointment. At that time, a woman told me that my appointment was scheduled for DECEMBER 20, 2013, (yes, that's DECEMBER)! I asked, incredulously, "Are you crazy?" During my conversation with the woman, my husband came into the room and announced that he had just received an e-mail from Sears (at his e-mail address) informing him that our appointment was scheduled on DECEMBER 30 (yes, the THIRTIETH of DECEMBER!), 2013.

I hung up the telephone and made other arrangements to have my range repaired. A repair person came to my home that EVENING, November 29, 2013, dislodged the wires to the oven, which enabled me to use the burners; informed me that he needed to order a part; on the following Monday, December 2, 2013, he returned, installed the part, and my range was repaired!

In my home, I have the following Sears products: kitchen range and microwave, washer and dryer, refrigerator, dishwasher, sweeper, treadmill, and nearly all of my husband's tools are Craftsman, but I can assure that, with future purchases, I shall consider other brands than Sears.

FINAL OUTCOME: My "Case Manager" Joey called me to let me know how concerned Sears is about my displeasure. They are sending a $50.00 gift card. I told them: "I will accept it with grace."

CULTURE SHOCK

I went to the local Chinese restaurant to buy gift cards and there were several people lining up to pay their bills and I said, "Go ahead; I'm not in any hurry." I sat down on a bench next to a man who appeared to be Indian or Pakistani. He said, in a very loud voice, "I've been waiting an hour." I asked, "For what are you waiting?" He said, "I ordered SIX spring rolls and they brought the wrong thing." I said, quietly, "They probably had to make some; I don't think spring rolls are a normal choice here; I think they are either Thai or Laotian." He continued with his rant and it was so bad that a woman emerged from the banquet room to see about the commotion. I said, quietly, "You must stop screaming; don't you understand that there are cultural and language difficulties between you and them!" He said that he ordered the spring rolls for his wife "all the time". One of the waitresses came over to us and tried to explain to him that the man who had taken his order over the telephone misunderstood and had prepared the wrong thing. That only aggravated the situation; he kept shouting that he ordered them all the time and he asked, "How do you think it would be if I ran business like this?" I said, "I can't believe that you are in business acting this way! You probably have problems with communication just as they do!" That obviously angered him as he said, "What do you know; you're an old woman!" I said, "I know this much: YOU are very rude and it's obvious that you DO have language problems!" He kept ranting about their incompetence. I said, "These young people are trying to take care of you and if you continue screaming, I will call the police as you are causing a disturbance and upsetting everyone here!" He didn't say any more.

A young man came forward with a package and the man opened it to look inside and he said, "THIS isn't what I ordered!" I leaned over and I looked inside the bag and I said, "I count SIX spring rolls; are you hoping to cause such a ruckus so you don't have to pay for them?" He took money from his wallet and threw it down on the counter and stomped away.

I yelled, "How about a tip?"

The young woman came from behind the counter with tears in her eyes and hugged me and thanked me. Several other people came to console her. I said, "Maybe he'll go to the Nagasaki restaurant to get them in the future!"

PENNINGTON BREAD KIDS

My friend Patty's daughter Susan posted a recipe on Facebook for "Crack Sticks" (see recipe) with the tag line that they are "addictive". I screaked at Les, "OMG, look at these; Mother used to make these when we were kids; she called them roll-ups." Les said he didn't remember them. I said, "We weren't as poor when you came along!" Her recipe was the same as the one posted here: flatten the pieces of bread with a rolling pin and add ingredients; sometimes Mother would add fruit.

My father, two of my brothers, and my husband worked at Pennington Bread and before the prevalence of "Bakery Thrift Stores", the employees were allowed to bring home the day-old products. (click here to see my BLOG article DAY OLD BREAD)

Although we always had plenty of bread, none was ever wasted! Dishes made from stale bread were staples: French toast, bread pudding, and "dressing" (how "stuffing" for turkey, etc., ever became known as "dressing" is beyond my comprehension!) were common and Mother also made "roll-ups".

Pennington Bread Company was purchased by Flowers Bakery and the plant closed; the Pennington label is now owned by Klosterman's. I bought a loaf of Pennington bread at Walgreen's today.

There was an award-winning set of television advertisements featuring the by-then elderly Morgan Pennington, the owner of Pennington Bread, giving grandfatherly advice to a grandchild. I would always make snide remarks about his being a hypocrite!

When those aired, I can recall a woman who had worked with my father and brothers at Pennington Bread, told me, "If I tell you something about Morgan Pennington, will you promise not to ever say anything?" Expecting something downright salacious, I said, "WOW! What is it?" She then told me that when Morgan Pennington was young he used to steal the tips of waitresses. I started laughing uproariously and I asked, incredulously, "That's it--that's the big secret--Hell, I thought you were going to tell me something scandalous!"

I remember going to Christmas parties at Pennington Bread and I can recall that not all of the kids got presents. Even as a kid, I knew that was so WRONG! But it taught me a very valuable life lesson: in my future work life, when I was in the position of making decisions about company Christmas parties, I always made certain that EACH child received a present of equal value! I guess I did learn something from the old skinflint--NOT to be like him!

"CRACK STICKS" recipe

1 loaf of bread, crusts removed
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
3/4 cup butter, melted

Flatten slices of crustless bread with rolling pin.

In a bowl combine powdered sugar and cream cheese.

Combine granulated sugar and cinnamon and set aside.

Spread 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese/powdered sugar mixture on each slice of flattened bread. Roll up, jelly-roll style.

Brush with melted butter and then roll in cinnamon/sugar mixture.

Place on an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake 20" at 350 degrees until golden brown. (My mother used to turn them over after 10 minutes)

HAPPY NEW YEAR