Long, Cold Winter

In April, 2018, I spent about twenty-four hours in total assembling these three paper sculptures. They came in kits made by a company called Low Poly Crafts. I found them at the One of a Kind Spring show that year. The kits were doable (as you can see) but sufficiently demanding (the dachshund was a real stinker) that it took me almost five years before I felt like I wanted to do another. 

Low Poly Crafts was at this winter's One of a Kind, so I bought a squirrel... 

and a sloth.  

These are product photos, not my finished efforts.

According to the package descriptions, these are of even higher level difficulty than the other three.

Just the thing for a long, cold winter.

Thanks for reading!

Have a great week!

Karen

Unexpected Outcomes

An Unknown Soldier

I was in Whole Foods last weekend, looking for egg replacer. I showed a picture of the product I wanted to a young man who appeared to be an employee of the store.

He sprang into action, scanning the shelves. He soon presented me with an egg-carton-like package and asked if it was what I wanted. It looked like a replacement for scrambled eggs (I wanted a replacement for baking) but it was hard to tell, which is what I said.

So he ripped off the label and opened the carton. I could see then that I definitely did not want the product. Nor, in its current condition, would anyone else.

I left the store empty-handed, but with a better understanding of why Whole Foods is so expensive. 

In another grocery-related incident, Bruce and I were walking though Allan Gardens, heavily laden with recent food purchases. The Gardens are a mess these days. There are people living in tents everywhere, and the main path has been obstructed by a hoarding erected around the greenhouse. 

Several inches of freshly fallen slush made it treacherous underfoot. Two women had illegally parked their car on the one path cleared for pedestrians.

As I squeezed past the vehicle I said to one of the women "You have a lot of nerve parking here."

Nothing in my words conveyed that I required an explanation, but she offered one anyway. She said, "We're bringing charity to the people in the tents!"

"Of course you are," I said, in a tone Bruce has described as venomous (I'd say unimpressed).

That was all it took for the woman to lose it. She shouted at me to FUCK OFF, plus other instructions.

I ignored her. But found it interesting that someone so full of charity could also be so angry. As Bruce and I continued on our way, I heard her telling her companion what a terrible person I was. 

Both episodes just go to show that, no matter what you intend when you start a conversation with a stranger, you never really know where you might end up.

Thanks for reading!

Have a great week!

Karen

Wrong Shoe, Wrong Foot

Not made for walking: "shoes" at the Bata Museum

I was in negotiations for a job this past week. A job, the more I think about it, and the more I hear from the person I'm negotiating with, that I don't want.

I find myself in this situation because I still wonder, even after three years of happy retirement, if there isn't a paid job out there that would be fun, interesting and remunerative enough to make me want to put up with all the other nonsense having a job entails.

But, even as the offer was made this week, I was thinking, "Wait, if I do this then I won't be able to go on that trip, or take this course, or do that other fun thing."

Also, the pay wasn't just low; it was ridiculous.

This all came about because someone asked me if I'd be interested in working with them, and I said "yes, but on a part-time, temporary basis." Evidently, all they heard was "yes."

Maybe I've learned my lesson this time. Next time I hear that question, I'll just say no.

Thanks for reading!

Have a great week!

Karen

 

Mightier Than ... The Virus

The photo above shows the Bluma Appel Salon at the Reference Library around 11:30 in the morning last Sunday.

The crowd was at least 500 people when we were there. I'd also say there were as many women as men, as many young as old (though no strollers, which was a mercy), and lots of racial diversity among them.

What on Earth, in this day and age, and at this stage of the pandemic, would draw such huge numbers? Was it a comics convention? Was it stamps? 

Take another look at the photo below.

Any idea what would attract this kind of mob?

It was pens. These are photos from the Scriptus show, an annual event showcasing pens, fine paper and ink. There were some ball points and gel pens in among the wares, but mostly, there were fountain pens. Used fountain pens. New fountain pens. Five hundred dollar fountain pens. Fountain pens so coveted by those in attendance that they arranged themselves three deep around the tables and examined the nibs with jeweller's loupes. 

I bought a cool pen as a gift for a friend, and Bruce had to wait outside because there were just too damned many people.

Thanks for reading!

Have a great week!

Karen

Filmore chips in for public health.