"Sampling" is "Stealing"!

Today I was shopping at our local Sam's club and picked up a bag of Brownie Brittles.  I'm not much of a shopper, and usually take a list and stick to it.  But a couple years ago, I tried Brownie Brittle and LOVED them!  When I saw the display of them at Sam's I was done shopping and hurrying to the check-out, so grabbed a bag on the go.

When I got to the check-out and put the bag on the conveyer belt, I noticed that my bag had been opened, then zipped back shut.  These are the economy size bags and are made to reseal so you can eat a few, and keep the remainder fresh.

"Oh!  I didn't see that this bag had been opened.  I don't want this bag," I said to the associate.  She set that bag aside and started my check-out process while I ran back and got a good bag. 

I couldn't believe that someone would actually open a bag to sample or eat some of the product, then seal the bag up and put it back!!!  People!!  What are you thinking?!?  This is stealing, plain and simple!

I have shopped and observed people in produce sections sampling the produce.  Popping a couple of berries or grapes in your mouth and eating them is stealing unless the market put out a sample for tasting purposes.  Even if you buy the fruit, you can't eat any of it until you check out because it is sold by weight.  To do so IS STEALING!

I can't believe I have to point out that sampling is stealing.  In what world can adults not know this?  It is shameful!!!

Oh How Gauche!

 

 

Recently on Facebook, my son started a conversation about what you would like to have your farts sound if you had a choice.  Some of the answers were very, very humorous!  But I have friends who think that discussing “farts” (or in more correct terminology, flatus) is very gauche!  If you are offended about these conversations, I apologize for the offense.  It’s just that in our family, we talk about, laugh about, and even sometimes ponder the act/smell/sounds of farts.

For instance, have you ever wondered why expelling flatus makes a noise?  Think about this. Even baby farts make a noise. Now, remember when you were a kid and wanted to learn to whistle. Contrary to popular belief, there is more to whistling then just puckering your lips and blowing. Not that easy. But farts? Oh no...farts make a noise...you don't have to try. You don't have to learn "how". It just happens.  Makes one wonder why we were created that way. My theory is that sometimes there is a not so nice smell that accompanies that noise, so we were created that way to issue an audible warning that if you hear that sound, you may want to relocate your body...and fast.

My son pointed out that not only do they make a noise, but different noises too. “Some grumbly as though your butt is grumpy. Sometimes like a whine, as though your but is sad... “ He went on to say that he feels the magic of farts is that it's a surprise every time!

Now…If you feel disgusted with this conversation, let me tell you another truth about flatus.  I was a nurse in younger years.  And there is no one who is more interested in flatus than a nurse.  If a patient farts, it is a good sign that things in that part of their bodies are working.  We (nurses) like flatus.  Flatus to a nurse is a very good thing because it is a sign that bowels are working, and a hospitalized patient always runs a risk of constipation…another gauche topic to some.

Let me just finish by saying, into every life a little flatus must come.  It is a natural part of how we are made.  It is a part of the plan of life.  We may not like it.  We may not like to talk about it. But it is a natural part of living.  And as a person who believes it is best to “embrace” life in all its aspects, I imagine I will continue to talk about and laugh about farts…even if it is considered “gauch”!

Global Warming: Fact or Fiction

Is global warming fake?

Take a survey.  You will find people who will tell you that global warming is very real and very concerning.  You will find people who will scoff and say there is no such thing as global warming.  I personally can’t confirm nor deny it.

What I can do is tell you that I was born and raised in Minnesota.  And I can tell you that winters there do not seem as bad as when I was a kid.  I can remember snow drifting up on the back of the house, covering the downstairs windows, and coming up to the base of the upstairs windows.  A person could open the upstairs window and step right out onto the snow.  Winters don’t seem to be that bad anymore back home.

For sure, the weather is different then when I was a kid.  We seem to have more flooding, more tornados, worse hurricanes, and more blizzards.  Is this due to global warming?  I don’t know.

But one thing is for sure.  It isn’t going to hurt a thing to live like global warming is a fact.  Cutting back on pollution and following cleaner manufacturing methods are good things, whether global warming is a fact or fallacy.  Living “green” is a good choice. 

Never Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth

When I was a kid, I remember watching kid shows like Bozo the Clown, Azel’s Treehouse, and Captain Kangaroo.  Usually I enjoyed the content, as any kid would and did.  But I remember one episode that really bothered me and does to this day.

I can’t remember which TV show it was for sure, but in my mind I think it was Bozo.  I apologize in advance to the Bozo show if I am laying the blame at the wrong show’s door.

It was Christmas time, and there was a witch character on this particular show.  That I remember well.  And there was a clown who tormented the witch with clues and hints about what he had purchased for her.  One of the hints was the first initials of the item he was going to present.  HD. 

This excited the witch, who was convinced that HD stood for the new-fangled hand-held hair dryers that were becoming very popular at that time (we call them blowdryers).

When the presentation of the gift finally came, the witch opened her gift to find a towel.  She was furious!  The clown assured her that a towel was indeed a hair dryer.  But that didn’t calm the witches rath at having gotten a towel instead of the electric hair dryer she had imagined she was going to receive.

This was supposed to be funny…her indignation was supposed to make the children laugh, along with the clown’s confusion at what the witch was so upset about.  And the audience made up of children didn’t disappoint the producers.  They laughed at the antics of that clown and witch.  I felt disgusted.

My mom had a saying (okay…my mom had a bunch of sayings) that one should “never look a gift-horse in the mouth”.  At my young age, I understood the meaning of this…that a “gift” should never EVER be ridiculed or looked down on.  A gift was a wonderful thing.  It represents thoughtfulness on the giver’s part, and deserves gratitude on the recipient’s part.  The gift-towel was not graciously received with thankfulness.  It was ridiculed.  That bothered me so much that even 50 plus years later, remembering it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Some people feel “cheated” if they receive home-made gifts, or inexpensive gifts…some people feel “cheated” if they receive anything but a gift card or money.  I can’t understand those feelings.  Handmade gifts to me are the best…they represent a lot of personal thought and time sacrificed by the giver.  However, I understand that not all have the time or talent for handmade gift giving.  So just because I really appreciate the handmade item, it doesn’t mean I don’t equally appreciate the purchased gift.  I don’t judge by the expense of the item.  I am thankful that someone thought enough of me to give me something.

Not long ago I received a gift from a friend, and was later told by one who knew that the item that was given me was “re-gifted”.   Some people may gasp when reading this.  I personally was not offended.  So this friend received something that they either didn’t want or wouldn’t use, or both, but thought of me and reasoned that I may enjoy the very thing they didn’t want.  I appreciated being thought of, and I have used this gift over and over again.  I really like it!

I am also not offended to receive something that is second hand.  Now having said that, let me clarify that there is a difference between “used” and “junk”.  I don’t think I have to define the difference.  I believe we all know that difference.  But there are often things in the thrift shops or garage sales that I would enjoy having but maybe wouldn’t spend money on it for myself. What is wrong with someone else blessing me with that item as a gift?  I think that would be very thoughtful of them.

Never look a gift horse in the mouth.  In other words, realize it is the thought that counts, not the gift.  Or in other words besides the other words…be thankful for all you receive.  Every gift is a blessing.