Toy story

Just finished listening to Donald Trump on Joe Scarborough's morning show on MSNBC. He said something that clicked with me. Talking about how China makes stuff we should/could be making ourselves. Then he said, "We can make our own toys." Bingo. That's my new cause. Easier than environment or domestic violence for sure.

So. When I win the lottery, I will put my money in a manufacturing plant. It will make uni sex toys. I will have to come up with a clever name that does not include the word sex. Move over Mattel. (They have a big distribution center in Fort Worth somewhere. Their toys come from China.)

This would be the company roster:

Board of directors: Me, all family members

CEO: Me, because it was my idea.

VP Research and Development: Jack. He would be the person to oversee toy inventions, how they work, and predict future trends, etc.

VP Marketing: Michael (have you seen his audition video? Someone post that please). Jenny too. These two so bring out the best in each other, which would benefit the company.

VP Legal: John, of course. Find the loopholes and hide the ... no, we won't be that kind of company. John would make sure we stay ethical and give back to the community.

VP Human Resources: Andrea. Dealing with soccer parents has given her the experience to handle any kind of personnel development. Any.

VP Product Testing: All the grandchildren and Paulie. Isn't that a beautiful thought?

Until I win the lottery, I will continue to dream of the day little boys everywhere can ask for an Easy Bake Oven (made in USA) without fear, and little girls get to play with something besides dolls.

Do you believe in miracles?

Do you believe in miracles? That's the line made famous when the U.S. hockey team beat the Russians in 1980. It was repeated when U.S. hockey team beat Canada a couple of weeks ago during the Olympic Games. I used it today and it wasn't about hockey.

Paul is reading a book. A fiction book. His first since ... well, ever maybe. For sure since we've been married. He says he's enjoying it. Right now he's in South Carolina; earlier this week he was in Mexico. He ASKED me for something to read because he knew he'd have all this down time at airports and on planes. I chose Hoot by Carl Hiaasen. His books are set in south Florida, one of Paulie's favorite places on earth. He's read EIGHT chapters already. I am so proud of him. Truly.

I do believe in miracles!!

The R word

I got news this week that a former newspaper colleague is retiring. What?? I used to play racquetball with his wife. Seems like a few years ago, not 25 years. I haven't kept in touch and was briefly taken back by the news. I was going to write today about how retirement is now the R word, but then I looked up my old friend on Facebook. His picture shows a healthy, good looking, gray haired, active person. Smiling. He's in full scuba gear and no doubt his wife is somewhere nearby, also in full gear. Boomers. They/we make retirement look good.

Congratulations Lloyd Cunningham!! Paul and I are right behind you.. 8 years and counting.

BTW: did you know there is a website called rword? It doen't refer to retirement, or Republican. You can look it up if you want. That makes me think: do all the letters of the alphabet have their own website? I didn't check. Not enough time, gotta get ready for work.

Difference of opinion/perception

Question: How is it that two people can look at the same picture and see something entirely different?

Answer: I wish I knew.

I guess when two people have come to look at the same picture, it makes a difference what pictures they've already looked at. That can change perception.

I guess it also can change perception if one person saw the picture last year and the other person viewed it 10 years ago and so on. Even though the picture is the same, perception evolves.

I guess it also can make a difference if one person has studied the artist and the specific piece of work and the other person hasn't.

I guess it also can affect perception if one person respects the artist and the other doesn't.

Ok. So there are some explanations why one person can see something the other person doesn't see. Now the questions become: Is this OK? What if the differences generate bad feelings on both sides? What if one person is especially attached to the picture, but the other person can take it or leave it?

Why can't we all just get along?

What is tapioca?

What is tapioca? That's the question we had at lunch the other day at the Thai restaurant (see previous post). Our lunch came with a sweet soupy tapioca dessert. That led to the question, what is this tapioca? None of us knew for certain.

Here's the definition:
a food substance prepared from cassava (a root) in granular, flake, pellet or flour form. Often used as a thickening agent.

Ok. I guess it is in pellet form that I know tapioca best. Pudding and drinks. In pudding it's palatable for me, in drinks (boba or bubble tea) it's not. Because I respect others who do like the boba form, I will not describe what it looks and feels like to me.

That's it. Tapioca. It's kind of a cool word.

I love Thai food

I had Thai food for the first time yesterday. LOVED it. I had stupidly avoided it because of the curry thing. I don't really care for a lot of curry. What I learned yesterday is that curry done well, and mixed with other lovely and tasty spices is good. Really good. I didn't find my courage yesterday as much as I am part of a small group from my agency reviewing restaurants in our Fort Worth neighborhood. I had to go along. It's part of our mission. We have to be brave enough to walk through some scary doors. Not all restaurants are created equal, especially the little ones attached to a store or gas station. But we are committed. Last week it was a tiny Mexican restaurant, this week Thai. I think yesterday I may have permanently stained my white shirt. As my John pointed out: It was worth it.

Addie's first pony

Addison got a pony this weekend!! It stays at grandma and grandpa's house. Her little feet touch the floor and she easily pushes herself up and down. The more she jumps up and down, the more the horsie talks. Sometimes you can hear it galloping too. So cool. So cute.