Of Toothbrushes and Gas Prices....

Yesterday I took part in a market research "shop-along" where I

met with representatives at a Target store so they could take me to the toothbrush aisle where I was to pretend I was "shopping" for toothbrushes. They were interested in what I would buy, my thought process while picking them out, why I chose the toothbrushes I did, my thoughts on the store display and why I purchased the amount of toothbrushes I did.

Okay, maybe I have a toothbrush fettish or maybe I am just parnoid I will be caught without toothbrushes but I usually buy 8-10 toothbrushes at a time. I just never know when one of the kids is going to leave their toothbrush at someone's house on a sleepover, or when they will get strep and we will need it replaced, or when a friend is over and forgot theirs or when someone will drop one in the toilet by "accident". :) So I like to keep spare toothbrushes.

After the store meeting they came to my home and interviewed me on "oral health issues". I have never had to think in so much detail about brushing, flossing and rinsing and the WHY's of what I do and WHY I think like I do! After the interview they wanted to see WHERE I do said brushing, flossing and rinsing. I showed them and they took pictures of my toothbrush stash along with my toothpaste and mouth rinses!

For my time in this interview I was paid $85 in cash and given a $40 Target gift card. I would say that it was worth exposing my toothbrush stash (pictured above)!! :)

As if my day couldn't get any better, check out the gas prices here in central Kentucky!

Carrying On With The Business Of Life....

Back in August I bought a big bushel basket of mums to adorn the front sidewalk. They were beautiful -- full of bright yellow blooms and many more buds that promised to shortly deliver even more beauty. I was thrilled with my purchase. The hot summer Kentucky sun can be brutal on plants so I knew I had to keep it well watered and I did for quite some time.

As summer was drawing on, my beautiful plant didn't look quite as beautiful as it had when I first bought it but it was hanging in there. Even though it was being beaten down by the burning sun and was periodically panting for water, it still survived. Its once yellow flowers were now turning more brownish-yellow in color but it was still a very lovely plant...until October.

October brought less water than the earlier months (okay, I forgot to water the plant but Mother Nature didn't help out either) and my once beautiful mum turn brown -- flowers, leaves, everything -- as it died. Even in death it was attractive -- a bushel basket of dried mums. And besides, brown is and autumn color, right? So, I left it on the sidewalk and even decorated it with spider webs for Halloween -- it fit right in!

Then comes November with our nation's election. Yesterday was not what I had hoped for politically for our country and I've felt a little down about that. This morning I took Jacob to seminary and upon coming back home I saw my dried, brittle dead mum had the smallest splash of color. Could it be a new bloom amid the dead leaves and spent flowers? It was indeed! It was fascincating, in fact! I have not watered that dead plant for well over a month and we've had no rain to give it new life but there it was. It somehow survived its trauma and it is carrying on with the business of life.

How fitting for the day after the election. I think it is my symbol of hope. Yes, I worry about the direction our country is heading in with the election results in, but I also know that the God is in charge. He knows the beginning from the end and my trust is in Him. With that knowledge, in the end, we will be just fine.

Me, A Poll Worker Again???

I use to be a poll worker up until about 3 elections ago. I started working at the school 3 years ago and found it hard to do the polls on my only day off from school -- it was a long day only to come home and crash then wake up early the next day to go to work again. So I gave up being a poll worker....until today.

I went to vote today and found that one of the two precincts in the building was swamped with people. People were lined up down the hall, some in the wrong line, no one really knowing if they were where they needed to be to vote. I asked the poll workers if they want me to help and they were elated at the suggestion. I began to help by asking which precincts they were in and by their answers I knew which lines they needed to be in and directed them to the right place. After about a half hour of policing the hallways, our town clerk and another election specialist lady came to check on things (because they got an earlier call of desperation from the poll workers) and when they saw me they asked if I wanted to work today! I thought about it and said I could do that! They said they would pay me too! They knew me because I had worked the polls for 6 or 7 years prior to giving it up so I am familiar with the rules and procedures. It was actually fun to be back in the throes of the election excitement again!

So my day that was going to spent at home taking care of family things got left behind for the election polls. But, I feel good..... like I have done my civic duty. :)

"I Voted"....

Election Day is finally here. I am thrilled to do what I feel is my right, my responsibility, and my obligation as a citizen of this great nation -- to vote. I will proudly wear my "I Voted" sticker to let all who see me know that I have embraced my right and responsibility and voted my conscience.

I hope that Americans everywhere will be doing the same.

Quick...Fill Up The Car!

What a lovely Monday to find gas prices well below $2.00 a gallon! And I thought that $2.09 was something to be happy about! I will enjoy while it lasts! :)

Sunday Pepper Smiles....

So I called my friend Patty tonight and while we talked I was making dinner -- stuffed peppers from the wonderful peppers that were given to me yesterday. The very first pepper I cut the top off this is what I saw.........

NO KIDDING -- A SMILING PEPPER!!!!

I freed the smiling man from the pepper... and he was still smiling!




It's AMAZING......the things that make me happy! :)

Saturday Peppers....

My neighbor called me late this afternoon to ask if I wanted some peppers. She had two bags of them and was looking to give them away. I sent the girls to get them and then set to work to wash, de-seed and cut them up so I could freeze them. I also saved out some of the larger peppers to be able to make stuffed peppers for dinner tomorrow night. I can honestly say that it has been years since I've made stuffed peppers! I am looking forward to Sunday dinner already!




The end product -- 4 quart sized bags of peppers!