Friday, August 28, 2009

Friday Fragments - Electric Avenue


Time for Friday Fragments again – the brilliant idea of Mrs. 4444 over at Half Past Kissin’ Time, who organizes this revelry every week (in fact, she’s the HEAD reveler, which I think makes her in charge of beverages AND entertainment). Go check out who else is feeling random; you’ll be glad you did.

* In this very rural part of Maine that I live in, the addresses used to be things like RR 1, Box 280 or whatever. A number of years ago Maine decided to get on board with 911 systems, and everybody was assigned a number and street. A lot of streets were previously unnamed. Since many of the streets only have one or two houses on them, the towns allowed those people to choose the name of their street. This led to streets named after the folks who lived there (Simoneau Rd., Greta Ave., Record St.) or the landscape (Shady Lane, Pine Tops Blvd., Pleasant View). Sometimes they get creative (Hardscrabble Rd., Catmousam Rd., Nonesuch Place) or just plain weird (Seboomook Dam Rd., Umbazookas Ln.). Unfortunately for me, I live on Main Street, and thus did not get the opportunity to name my address. Too bad, because if I did, I would have snatched up Abbey Road before the people down the street got it. I always wonder if they’re big Beatles fans or if they have a child named Abbey. Maybe I’ll stop in someday and ask.

* I dropped Alex off at the high school yesterday, and was amazed anew at the outfits the girls were wearing. I’m lucky, I guess, because my boys were pretty easy to deal with on the clothing front: T-shirts and jeans, pretty much every day of their lives. They tend toward black t-shirts, but never got into goth or that odd too-big pants phase, with jeans hanging off their butts and their boxers showing. Some of the girls at the high school, however, seem to get most of their clothing from the Rural Hookers of Maine store. My mother would NEVER have let me out of the house in ultra-short skirts or shorts and low-cut tops. I wonder when it became popular to look like a prostitute? Even if I like the look, I think it becomes a sanitation issue – if they’re wearing thongs under there, when they sit down, what exactly is between them and the chair that 25 other people sat in today? Just wondering.

* I’ll be glad when the freshman parents get the clue about how to drive through the parking lot at school. It’s scary enough dodging the kids who just got their license and clearly do not know how to drive, let alone park, without dealing with parents who can’t comprehend one-lane roads or basic drop-off procedure. Rule number one: do not stop in the drop-off lane and proceed to have a 10 minute conversation with your child about what time you’re going to pick them up, what they had for breakfast, or why you don’t like rap music. Drop off your kid and keep moving; we have stuff to do.

* Within 6 miles of my house there are 4 Dunkin Donuts (for you city folks, this might not be a big deal, but in my rural area, it’s a lot). There is also one Tim Horton’s. Mr. Horton was a fairly recent addition to the landscape, and I welcomed him with open arms. His pastries look amazing, and there are a lot more lunch choices there. However, I don’t visit him any more, and I’ll tell you why: They don’t make decaf coffee after noon. I drink decaf only, and I’ve been this way for about 10 years. I used to have a big problem with migraines, and getting off caffeine was a big part of the mostly-successful solution. I like to swing through the drive-thru and pick up a decaf to help sustain me through Lacrosse games or track meets, because it gets cold on those bleachers. If you go through TH at 4:30 or 7:00 PM and order decaf, they say “We don’t make decaf at this time of day; you’ll have to wait while we brew some.” It takes 4 minutes to brew decaf, plus the time it takes them to prepare your coffee (and probably bitch to each other about how irritated they are that somebody asked for decaf). FOUR MINUTES is a long time in the drive-thru with some moron in a Volvo behind you, drumming on the steering wheel and staring daggers at you. Isn’t evening the time people SHOULD be drinking decaf? Tim Horton, you disappoint me.


* I'm off to prepare for my job interview. I can't tell you how much all the good wishes mean to me. I'm nervous, but it's a hopeful kind of nervous. I feel like I'm as prepared as I can be, and I got a pretty good night's sleep last night, so my mind is as sharp as it gets. I've practiced my interview questions and my confident, charming smile. I've done everything I can do. Feel free to send a little prayer or positive thought my way at 1:00 Maine time. I appreciate your support more than you know.

23 comments:

Caution/Lisa said...

They really don't make decaf after noon? I would think it would be the other way around. I love THo's, so I'm sorry to hear about that little glitch.

The girls wear no clothing so that they can engage in getting to base 2 & 3 during my English classes. Yes. You read that correctly. It's enough of a problem that I now have to put in the syllabi, "No sexual activity during class."

You know you've got my prayers. Can't wait to hear what happens with the interview:)

Eternal Lizdom said...

Would you believe that we had no DD here in Indy for YEARS? THey were here, they left, and have finally returned- the Prodigal Donut Shop.

And I love the street naming fragment! I wanna live on Umbazookas Ln.

brainella said...

DD is my fave. They have the best coffee ever. I was never impressed with Tim Horton. Maybe I'm just biased but Krispy Kreme has the best donuts. :)

4 Lettre Words said...

We have a Hardscrabble Rd. here, too.

Love some Dunkin Donuts!

Praying the interview goes very well!!

Unknown said...

You're prob on your way to the interview as i write this so sending positive energy.

what's with Timmy's not making decaf after noon? that's weird! I'm Canadian so I miss Timmy's. LOOOOVE Tim Bits. And there are very few donut shops in Alaska and no chain ones at all, isn't that weird?

Stacey said...

Best of luck with your job interview!

Happy Friday!

joanne said...

I am sure that you will do ab/fab at the interview today..;p

Claudya Martinez said...

Have a great interview. Remember, they want you to do well too.

knittergran said...

It's 4:42 and I've just turned on my computer for the first time, so this is a retroactive "Good Luck on today's interview!"
I'm sure you did great!

Stacy Uncorked said...

Here's hoping your interview was stellar! :)

No decaff after noon? That's just so wrong...

Princess Nagger will be an oddball when she gets to high school, because there's no way I'm going to let her dress like a hooker. :)

Happy FF! :)

claudia said...

Hooker clothes in high school...the better to distract you with my dear! DRIVES. ME. NUTS.
Luckily my girls were all decidedly trained by me to not even want hooker type clothing. YAY! for that one little favor!
DD, KK any donut shop could be my favorite right now, I don't care...not gonna go there!
I'm hoping your interview went perfectly!

Lori Skoog said...

OK OK so how did the interview go?

Mrs4444 said...

Oh, man! An interview?! How did it go?

That's stupid; you would think it wouldn't be that way in the afternoon-Strange.

Thankfully, I don't have to see that kind of dress at our middle school (only a few skanky girls trying to be "sexy.) However, the high school has plenty of it. Times sure have changed, haven't they?

OMG, Caution Flag! Wow.

mub said...

I hope your interview went well!

That's so cool about getting to name the streets. I would've been one of those vain people that named the street after myself *L*

Anonymous said...

Dropped in from Joanie's. You're so sweet to share a puzzle at this stressful time for her. As for how the teens dress: I wore a catholic uniform in MY day. So did MY daughter. If I had to dress a teen fashion plate now, I'd be broke, busted, and at the poor house.

Laura ~Peach~ said...

school here has dress code... not that they follow it if they think they can get by... my Mj is a voilator (ok last year she was this year so far shes good)
love the naming of the roads ...
hope the interview went well! as always i am BEHIND!

Nonna said...

I can relate to everything your wrote about in this post.

I am appalled at the way some young girls dress now but I can also remember the '60's. We were all pretty racy with our beehive hair, Cher black makeup and tons of that awful blue eye shadow, white lipstick and hiked up skirts. (BTW, I used to steam iron my hair on the ironing board with a pressing cloth and use spray starch to get it as straight as Cher's was back then and sleep in coffee can sized rollers too.)

You were sent to the girls vice principal if you had 3 runs or more in your nylons and asked to take them off or your parents would be called. At least we had some rules and girls had to wear skirts or dresses. Now anything goes !

As Cape Cod Turns said...

Please don't even suggest that store to my girls. I have a hard enough time trying to explain to them why it's not a good idea to look like a hooker (or one of their music idols).
Hope your interview went well!

Anonymous said...

Yes, I can't believe some of the clothes (or lack of clothes) that teenage girls wear.

How cool people got to name their own street!

Cupcake Blonde said...

Missed you last weekend while I was in Maine! :)

I love the fact you think of girls' bare butts sitting on chairs 25 other people sit on and worry about the sanitation issue. :)

Good luck on your job interview!!

Caution/Lisa said...

How did the interview go? I've been praying!

Evansmom said...

When is your second interview? You obviously rocked the house on the first one!! I am sending oodles of positive thoughts your way.

katy said...

I've lived in the same spot for 24 years and have had 3 different addresses. I think they have their 911 stuff down now, or at least I hope they do.
Hope everything is well in your neck of the woods.