Friday Night Date and a Derby Party on Saturday

We tried the "new" Old Bag of Nails (pub food, noisy bar) in Upper Arlington last night with 2 other couples. The Arlington Bag had moved from the Tremont Center near our former home on Abington Rd. to that messy scramble of partially built buildings at Kingsdale on Tremond Rd. Because of the congestion and parking, we'd avoided it up until now, but we all managed.  We found a handicap spot as we were drivers for someone who needed that. There was a lively crowd, lots of middle age and some families. Since it is in a retirement building (Covenant) squished next to the new community center we weren't sure what to expect. The menu was much as we remembered from 25 years ago, and we got the Cobb Salad. The others ordered breaded fish (one order can easily serve 2 and hand helds. 

We asked the waitress to guess the combined years of marriage, but she failed the test. 185. 56 + 64 + 65. We tipped her anyway. She was very sweet and very young--but then, everyone looks young to me! It was an evening with a lot if reminiscing--the days of black and white TV, the old wringer washers, Bill and Joyce met because he was in the Army in the town where she lived, and the rest of us avoided the military because we were pregnant or had a baby, first jobs, first apartments, and most of that was over home-made apple pie with ice cream at Jerry and Joan's home after our restaurant meal. We all get together fairly often, so I don't know why we had so much story telling. Age I suppose. No one else to talk to who remembers this stuff--plus our kids are tired of our stories!  We all have or had summer homes and Bill and Joyce will be leaving in a week or so for Put in Bay on Lake Erie. Jerry and Joan go to Boyne City on Lake Charlevoix in Northern Michigan.  We sold our place in Lakeside on Lake Erie in 2022 after 34 years.

We're going to a Derby party tonight May 4, and I've been wearing the same fuchsia hat for about 5 years. Today I found a new white floppy hat for $3 (still with store tags) at Volunteers of America and wrapped it in blue flowers from the old hat to go with my blue shirt and multicolor floor length skirt I got at the Discovery Shop (cancer) for $6. 

And while I was looking for a hat at the VOA, I just happened to see a Laurel Burch tote for $3. I have one of her umbrellas from 30 years ago. https://colorfulcritters.com/laurel-burch-handbags-totes/ I don't know if it's an old one or new one (she died in 2007) licensed with her name. It looked unused. I love her whimsical designs.

While I was at the VOA I asked the clerk for a tape measure so I could determine if a cute pair of light weight summer pants would fit. She didn't speak English, which has never happened to me in that store. She gestured to the store manager, who also spoke very little English, but figured out what I needed. They were fine. $3.

Now I need to look up the horses who are running, and who are the jockeys.   We each place a $2 bet.

Kentucky Derby 2024: Meet the jockeys in Saturday’s classic (horseracingnation.com)

The 2024 Kentucky Derby lineup features a competitive field of colts and jockeys. Here’s a look at the full lineup:

1. Dornoch (20-1) - Trainer: Danny Gargan, Jockey: Luis Saez
2. Sierra Leone (3-1) - Trainer: Chad Brown, Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
3. Mystik Dan (20-1) - Trainer: Kenneth McPeek, Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
4. Catching Freedom (8-1) - Trainer: Brad Cox, Jockey: Flavien Prat
5. Catalytic (30-1) - Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr., Jockey: Jose Ortiz
6. Just Steel (20-1) - Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas, Jockey: Keith Asmussen
7. Honor Marie (20-1) - Trainer: D. Whitworth Beckman, Jockey: Ben Curtis
8. Just A Touch (10-1) - Trainer: Brad Cox, Jockey: Florent Geroux
9. (Encino, scratched)
10. T O Password (30-1) - Trainer: Daisuke Takayanagi, Jockey: Kazushi Kimura
11. Forever Young (10-1) - Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi, Jockey: Ryusei Sakai
12. Track Phantom (20-1) - Trainer: Steve Asmussen, Jockey: Joel Rosario
13. West Saratoga (50-1) - Trainer: Larry Demeritte, Jockey: Jesus Castanon
14. Endlessly (30-1) - Trainer: Michael McCarthy, Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
15. Domestic Product (30-1) - Trainer: Chad Brown, Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
16. Grand Mo the First (50-1) - Trainer: Victor Barboza Jr., Jockey: Emisael Jaramillo
17. Fierceness (5-2) - Trainer: Todd Pletcher, Jockey: John Velazquez
18. Stronghold (20-1) - Trainer: Philip D’Amato, Jockey: Antonio Fresu
19. Resilience (20-1) - Trainer: Bill Mott, Jockey: Junior Alvarado
20. Society Man (50-1) - Trainer: Danny Gargan, Jockey: Frankie Dettori
21. Epic Ride (50-1) - Trainer: John Ennis, Jockey: Adam Beschizza

  

These are not race horses, but may be the first original art I purchased. Artist is Alison Adams, and I purchased it at Manchester College.  1958. She may have been on the faculty.

Velveteen jeans from Talbot's

If those terrific jeans you got at the resale shop are a little snug, put them on while they're still damp (always wash those bargains) so they can stretch a bit. Loving these velveteen jeans I bought yesterday at Volunteers of America on Henderson Road. Talbot's, $1.50.   I checked on line.  A 5 pocket straight leg fit below waist velveteen pants is about $90 new, on sale $47. I love a bargain.

I think the color is "indigo." I called them navy.

Thursday Thirteen--Thrift shop buys

Today's Wall Street Journal has an article on Alicia Kan giving up her executive look wardrobe for a more relaxed look. She sold her designer clothes and reinvented herself. Three years ago I lost 20 lbs. and since I already had an old wardrobe (retired in 2000) and didn't need anything new, I discovered The Discovery Shop, a resale thrift shop that supports cancer research. I found much more than clothing. Here are some of my favorite buys:

1) Silverplate flatware, Reed and Barton 1776, service for 8, with all the serving pieces, $35. I use this set for every day and thoroughly enjoy it.

2) Soup bowls to match my fine china. Not the exact pattern, but close enough that I won't have to pay $50.00 a piece to buy them. I have Countess pattern in Syracuse China, and the bowls are King's Court, Wedding Band pattern. $4.00 each.



3) A CD of Urbie Green and Umpteen Trombones. I used to play trombone and this CD is fabulous! $1.00




4) Two beautiful Christmas cups, $1.00 each. Dunoon Stoneware Scotland, Jane Brookshaw (she has a series).

5) At least 5 pair of dress khaki slacks for my son to wear to work, $4 each. All name brands and in good condition.

6) Jeans and cotton slacks for my husband to wear for Haiti mission work; then they leave their clothes there. Some were better than his own. $3-5.00 each.

7) Numerous pairs of lined wool slacks, made in USA, with natural waist fit, already professionally shortened with dry cleaning tags still attached. Various sizes as my weight changed. Average cost $5.00 each.

8) Pendleton pants suit, tan tweed, short jacket, fitted waist, lined slacks. $25.

9) London Fog raincoat, zip liner, $10.

10) White dress pants suit, summer. $25.

11) Coleman, light weight zip front jacket, blue and gray, for my husband. $5.

12) Cat's Meow buildings, 2 bookstores and a library, $3 each.

13) Talbot and Coldwater Creek jeans--black velveteen, pink, red, charcoal gray, olive, burgundy, all new with tags. Natural waist, some with a bit of lycra or little extra fabric for eased fit in hips and legs for the "mature" woman. Average price $4-5. Anyone need red size 8 jeans? Too tight now. Won't zip. Can't sit.
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Blogs coming and going

Today I've taken down links to Doyle and Gekko, both of whom I met on Usenet about 14 years ago. Don't know if they have stopped blogging, or changed URLs and didn't let me know, but they're gone. I added Dana from Chicago who has an interesting cooking site with nutrition fun facts, and Mary Baker, one of the moms who appeared on Glenn Beck this week (there were 3 with blogs, but I didn't catch the others' URLs), and Thifty Rebecca, who seems to have about as many blogs as I do, but this is the one to which I'll link. I occasionally shop at Thrifts, but she's really good at the accessorizing. I just never got into wearing jewelry, belts, cute shoes, etc. but I can see that makes a difference. A few rings and the occasional pin is about it for me. No ear lobes to speak of (although they do grow with age) and the necklaces make my skin itch. I added Namaste a few weeks ago.

Please visit my new links and say hello.

Floor lamp update

New Year's Resolution number 5 was to buy a floor lamp. I've now visited four stores, so yesterday I stopped at a large builders supply chain, which will remain nameless, because I like the store. I stopped there after my mail run to the church's suburban location, telling the return campus receptionist I'd be about 15 minutes late. After browsing the shelves, I settled on one not-as-ugly-as-the-others, which had two lights--a 100 watt that reflected on the ceiling and a movable arm with a squirrely, low energy bulb that was supposed to be "full spectrum" to help with reading. The box in 3 languages was explicit about that low energy bulb--13 watts. All I could find on the shelf was a 15, so I lugged the box, now getting a bit heavy, to the service desk. Two handsome young people looked quite blank when I told them the problem, and the young woman got on her cell phone and called someone. Many older people think sales staff are being rude or ageist, but I suspect they just know nothing or aren't trained. Then the woman-child said, "He first has to cut some wire for another customer than he can help you." I stood in the light bulb aisle about 10 minutes, then returned the box to the shelf. No one came.

Usually, the only people in these warehouse supply places who know anything are the gray haired part-timers who have retired from something else, got tired of golf and want to get away from their wives' honey-do list. Also, I suspect there has been a serious staff cut back, because I've never had a problem at this store getting help.

All was not lost, however. I stopped at the Discovery Shop (cancer donations) because occasionally entire rooms of furniture are donated (a truck was there). No floor lamps, and the clerk said they go fast. She knew exactly what I was looking for. But I did find a beautiful pair of navy blue velvet jeans which look unworn for $5. Not a lamp, but they are a reminder that I need to stay with my exercise program (was a size 8 last year, these are size 10), New Year's Resolution 6.