Welcome!

This blog contains my thoughts and opinions on many subjects. You'll read about children, working, family, life in general, home care, marriage, divorce, the weather, my likes and dislikes about products, etc. Trust me, I have an opinion about everything!

These are MY opinions and no one else's. You don't have to agree. You don't have to continue reading if you don't like what you see. But keep in mind, there's a little bit of me in all of you!

So - on with Fits -n- Giggles...........

Copyright 2007 - Stacy Ahrendsen - All Rights Reserved

Sunday, August 19, 2007

A Man's Pockets

I was standing in line at my local convenience store this morning waiting to pay for my breakfast pizza. The older gentleman in front of me was paying for his coffee, when he reached into his pocket to get some change.

Now, this action in and of itself is nothing unusual, but what he pulled out of his pocket made me giggle.

A kernel of corn fell on the counter.

And that one simple item from that man's pocket told me right away that he was a farmer. Remember, I live in Iowa, where corn is plentiful and the land around me is planted with corn - so finding a kernel of corn in your pocket if you live in Iowa is not a strange thing.

But it got me to thinking.

You can tell alot about a man by the contents of his pockets.

As all women know, a man's pockets can contain the strangest things, and most of them will end up in the washing machine.

Is that man a golfer? I'll bet you'll find a tee or two and a divot fixer in his pockets.
Is that man a mechanic? I'll bet you'll find a washer or nut and bolt in his pockets.
Is that man a construction worker? You just might find some nails.

Anyway, when I got to work I conducted a little experiment among my male coworkers. I asked several of the men I work with to empty their pockets for me, so I could see just what kind of man they were.

Let's see- (Real names have been changed to protect the guilty!).

Bob, the computer draftsman, had the following items in his pockets:
  • a memory stick for his computer
  • a small flossing pick
  • coins
  • Lifesaver peppermint candy
  • car keys
  • chap stick
  • a small pocket knife

That's a lot of stuff for one pocket. You can tell that Bob knows a bit about computers because only computer geeks carry memory sticks in their pockets. He also likes to keep his breath fresh by regular flossing and the occasional breath mint, and he may possibly need to cut something.

Keith, a project manager, had very few items:

  • coins
  • paper money held in a money clip
  • BUT, the money clip also folded out into a pocket knife

You can tell that Keith doesn't like much in his pockets, which means he likes things neat and orderly OR he just plain doesn't like the extra weight. But at least he can afford lunch. Notice that he also may need to cut something.

Paul had the following things in his pocket:

  • coins
  • 2 phones - 1 for work and 1 personal
  • keys
  • breath strips

You could tell by the phones that Paul needs to be available for whoever thinks he's important. Paul also likes his breath fresh but doesn't seem to need to cut anything. When I asked him why he didn't carry a pcket knife he said he used to carry nail clippers which he used to cut his nails, but he stopped carrying them when he got obsessive about cutting his nails all the time!

And last but not least there is Jeremy - a cost analyst.

  • coins
  • keys on a key chain
  • no pocket knife

You can't tell much about Jeremy by the things he keeps in his pocket. He says he keeps most of his stuff in his car (including a pocket knife) because he doesn't like stuff in his pockets. But there was one item that told a story. The key chain he had his keys on was a small baseball mitt given to him by his son. As you might guess, he is a huge sports fan. He coaches at the high school and middle school levels and is very involved with our local sports teams. And I guess he only cuts things when he's driving.

By the end of the day I had looked in 25 pockets.

I found signs of their work.

I found signs of their personalities.

I found items that let me know they were carpenters, plumbers or office personnel. I found items that told of likes and dislikes.

I was most surprised to find a common theme among the items most men carry in their pockets - coins. paper money, keys, etc. but the most remarkable thing to me was that most men carry a pocket knife.

Remarkable why?

Because most women DON'T carry pocket knives in their purses.

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

I'm A Yard Art Junkie

Driving home last night, I realized that I look at people's yards. Now I'm not talking about glancing at a yard while driving by, but really checking them out.

I find myself looking at the flowers planted, looking at yard decorations, looking at landscaping techniques, looking at how the lawn is mowed, whether there are water fountains or statuary, seeing if they have an American Flag on display. Stuff like that.

Well, there's one yard in my neighborhood that I really enjoy looking at. Every time I pass this yard, I am impressed by how well taken care of everything is. I know how much time it takes to keep a yard in that kind of shape and I am envious.

I said to my son, "I don't know what it is about that yard, but I really like it."
My son replied, "Yeah right, Mom, like you don't know."
I looked at him and said, "What do you mean?"
He said, " You know hwy you like that yard so much."
"I do?"
(Followed by a snort and a roll of the eyes) "Yeah!"

At this point I drove around the block and pulled to the curb, staring at the house and its' beautiful yard as if I hadn't seen it before.

"Okay, tell me then, cuz I'm not getting it."
My son points to the side yard and says, "See it?"
I look....look harder....."See what?"
"The EyCatcher, Mom."
"Where?"
"Hanging from the shepherd's hook. See it? That's the reason you love this yard so much."

And sure enough, there in the side yard that faced the street, hanging in the middle of a heart-shaped shepherd's hook, hung a beautiful EyCatcher Starburst Wind Spinner.

I love yard decorations, but my favorite of them all are wind spinners. Those beautiful works of art that you hang from tree branches, shepherd's hooks or eaves and spin in the slightest breeze are my absolute favorites.

In fact, I love them so much I started selling them at fairs and festivals a couple of years ago. I enjoy seeing the happy looks on people's faces, hearing their giggles and oooohhhss and aaaahhhss when they see my EyCatcher Wind Spinners for the first time.

My son knew before I did, that when I am looking at all these yards, checking them out, I am looking to see if it contains an EyCatcher Wind Spinner. And if it does I wonder if I was the lucky person that sold it to them.