Department of Waylaying- Handle it!

Chapter Wednesday,
"Well, this day was coming, Sam. We are not buying a vehicle from this company again unless we see results this time," Simmy stated emphatically.
"They still aren't planning to do anything about the handles? What about the new problem?"
"Well, this woman phoned me from the 'department of waylaying' telling me that our warranty would be void if we didn't do x,y,z. First, of course, she was telling us we needed to get service things done that will cost us money."
"What?" Sam was mad now. "Did you tell them that we've tried to ask them to fix things but they just stroke us with bull excrement and then expect us to be happy? And... what about all the goof-ups and mistakes that you were so 'forgiving' of when you wasted half a day and then had to come back again for the same problem?"
"Waverley probably doesn't get to hear about how patient we've been. Oh, but I haven't been patient with them today. Even J.P. tried to do the old, "Ooh, your warranty is almost up so we should really get that looked at," Simmy said.
"What did you say to him?" Sam asked.
"I told him that any company worth their reputation would have handled the handle problem better, right from the first day. I told him if that had happened while his kids were in the car... he'd think differently about the situation. That was very serious. How can they not see that?"
"What did he say to that?" Sam asked.
"Nothing, maybe he was actually trying to envision that. I'm giving him the benefit of my doubt here." Simmy offered magnanimously.
"How did he respond about the 'gear thing'?" Sam asked.
"He said we really need to get the vehicle in while it's on warranty, so we don't have to pay for that out of our own pocket."
"I said that a warranty doesn't help us if they don't honour it and fix things so we don't have to come back again and again for the same thing," Simmy was so frustrated. "Those band-aids are made of too much gauze and not enough glue, so to speak. I told him that the company is not set up in a good way and that I realize that he doesn't have control over that part but... the company cannot expect the 'front-line' service people to work within the parameters set by the company... i.e. take all the complaints without the power to change the outcome."
"And he said?" Sam waved his hand as if to say, 'come on, I want to know his response to that.'
"He listened, so I continued. I told him that the service guy I spoke with had asked me to tell him if I wasn't happy so that he could try to deal with it. I told J.P. that those front-line people cannot be 'afraid to lose their jobs' and the burden for all this cannot be on the customers' shoulders. The top people, the people who create the systems, cannot be 'untouchable.' Those types of systems have got to be eradicated."
"He said?"
"Nothing to that... he listened." Simmy stated.
"He kept asking me questions about how many times we've complained, etcetera, and I finally told him he's got all the paperwork there and that I am busy. He should just do his (I think I said 'friggin,' I know that's not professional) job."
"Good girl. He's got to make it happen now." Sam said.

Reality Christmas

Chapter 120 Tuesday (cont'd)
Everybody is fragile, in one way or another. Being gentle with each other is a good thing.
As Simmy was about to go to the shoppe in the morning, she saw a vehicle coming down the road... honking and veering directly for her driveway.
It was the madman, mailman.
Simmy got out of the Hummer to roll the garbage can and recycle bin into the back yard.
The mailman jumped out of his car, came towards her with determination and said, "Hey, hey, look at that. Is that service or what? I'm going to be the best mailman you've ever had serve you." He fumbled with the mail and chuckled saying, "Now, if I could only read to see if these are yours."
He handed Simmy a small stack of mail and Simmy replied, "Sooner or later, we all have to admit we need reading glasses."
"I know, I know," he said.
There were three Christmas cards and each one was a blessing in its own rite.
"Oh, I love sparkles so anything with sparkles is always lovely. I like how they land on your fingers and then if you happen to rub your face, then they light up your face and I love it when they get all over the floor so that the bottom of your socks... sparkle. A card from family..."
"I love old Victorian houses. I know they're drafty and hard to keep up but 'don't they just touch the heart with sentiment... that one came from Walt, which means commander of the army, and Linnea, which means Linden tree."
Then, there was one more...

a Christmas card from Mission without Borders... a reminder that things aren't always sparkly for everyone. It is interesting to me that what we would photograph and call art and maybe even put into 'National Geographic' is someones' existence, every day... and (whispering softly) I wonder if they think it is artistic. And... it doesn't look very sparkly to me. It kind of reminds me of my Grandmothers' house, except this one does look like it is even better than the one she owned.
Adopt a child somewhere this Christmas... and change the world, one child at a time.

Squaring the Circle of Liberty

Chapter 120 Tuesday
Liberty... that was the word that was threading through Simmy's mind this morning. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
"This must be what my folks are experiencing these day," mumbled Simmy. "They're experiencing liberty and I'm trying to wade through the lack of liberty I was given as a child and I'm wondering how to knit those two, that square and circle together."
Simmy had read a little bit about Thomas Hobbes this morning, which, of course, led her to think of Calvin, from her novel... (just make the leap even if you don't understand how I got there) Calvin is a cameraman.
This, of course, led her to think about, and mentally write a scene where Calvin is the brunt of jokes with the parallel personage of 'Calvin and Hobbes' being aligned to his personality. Sacrilege!
Calvin the cameraman, will, of course, be offended that he is not given his due respect and seen as a rebel. After all, he does view life from his circular lens standpoint. And, he knows that the filmed image passes through a rectangular opening just before the film plane creating this rectangular image because part of what the lens is transmitting is blocked.
This understanding, of course, helps Calvin to know that Lucy and Ethel are often hiding things that would make their character flaws evident...
("Calvin was quite used to the stagey duo and wasn't much surprised by any lack of propriety. "Don, Bart, and I were were working on the 'Set' so it would be picture perfect when J.P. wanted to shoot." Calvin looked up with a steady gaze and calmly swung his eyes back and forth, much like a fisherman gently moves his line on a hot summer afternoon. He just met their emotional bluster with his steady gaze. His 'behind the scenes' position left him out of the fracas, but he didn't mind shedding some light into a dark corner every now and then.") Taken from April scene- 'Soup Reveal'
So, reversing the image, should make the liberty of the circle... squared up? Pun intended.

Venerable Inuksuit

Chapter 119
As Simmy thought about the last 24 hours, she realized that all is well that ends well but in between... Holy Hannah... things can get directionally confusing if communication isn't kept up.
The timing of phone calls and the new habits of aging parents who have a new-found freedom that comes with being in the 'don't need to answer to anyone' time of life resulted in some moments of panic for Simmy on the weekend.
Sam and Simmy headed out to the country to check on the footloose and fancy free old folks.

• They never used to leave the house until 10 a.m. 
• They didn't go to church if it was -20 C. 
• They usually checked in with, and left a message with one of their daughters if they left the province. 

After finding the old folks happily ensconced in their home Simmy listened to her Dad sheepishly explained why they had gone to church the coldest morning of the winter, so far.
Ahem! The preacher, that morning, lived across the street and, yes, was a second cousin as well...
After getting all the information, it was actually funny, VERY FUNNY!
As Sam and Simmy drove down a few streets of this small city whose origin meant 'keeper of wine or maker of wine,' they came across some snow art gathered into a sort of 'Inuksuit Village' on someones' yard.
According to www.inukshukgallery.com, inuksuit are monuments made of unworked stones that are used by the Inuit for communication and survival. The traditional meaning of the inukshuk is 'Someone was here' or 'You are on the right path.'
All the irony, of the old folks breaking with tradition creating some harried moments, was not lost on Simmy and the motto of this small city, in the middle of the prairies, rang out in happy church bell pronouncement.
... WHERE PEOPLE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE...or, for sure, neighbors who are preachers... Oy!

Hallelujah Jalapeno Chorus!

Chapter 118
Sunday morning... knees felt swollen, throat was itchy and a little thick.
What do I want for breakfast? Simmy decided in a second... jalapeno potatoes, yum!
The potatoes in question had created quite a scene just a few hours ago on Saturday evening...
we start the scene in Sam and Simmy's kitchen...
"Okay, so how many of these jalapenos do you want me to put in the casserole? The recipe says 2-3 but I'm making tons of potatoes," Sam said.
"Well, put all 7 of them in, then," Simmy said.
"Are you sure?" Sam was hesitant.
"Yes, but be very careful you don't touch your face or anything when you cut the jalapenos. Check for rubber gloves under the sink," Simmy added.
Simmy continued sewing but, in a minute or two, got up to check if Sam was handling things .
"You have to remove all those seeds or the casserole won't even be edible."
"I know," said Sam. He sounded perfectly in control and confident.
Ten minutes later, Sam gasped and rushed into the bathroom. Gasping and choking ensued. It sounded critical.
Simmy rushed in and asked, "What happened?"
"I rubbed my eyes by accident," Sam was croaking, crying and gasping and trying to hold his breath, all at the same time, hoping that the intense pain would subside.
"I warned you about that," Simmy said, very mildly and worriedly considering the painful gasping.
Simmy ran downstairs and 'googled' the cure for this particular mishap.
"As I thought,... milk," she grumbled as she ran back up the stairs. Opening the cupboard, Simmy picked a thin, fluted champagne glass, mainly for the size of the rim that looked perfect for tipping over the eye and letting the milk bathe the flaming area.
She filled it 3/4 full and dashed into the bathroom and offered it to Sam who was still moaning, gasping and kind of squealing like an injured animal.
"I can't use a glass, I'll break it," he said.
"Well, splash it in your eyes." Simmy backed away from the situation to give Sam some room to writhe.
Twenty minutes later, Simmy had the jalapenos chopped into tiny bits... Sam was handling the milk for the sauce and the casserole was almost ready to go into the oven.
"You're going to have to forgive the potatoes before they're ready for supper or you won't enjoy them," she commented casually.
Construction son came bounding up the stairs as the event was over and Sam said, "I thought you'd have to call an ambulance."
Construction son looked at Sam with are you serious? written all over his face.
"I really did!" Sam said, still reeling from the barely subsided pain.
"You're going to have to learn to sew if you can't manage cooking," Simmy said frankly.

  The casserole came out of the oven looking picture perfect and truth be told... everyone agreed they were the best potatoes that had ever come out of Sam and Simmys' kitchen. (Photo above taken by Sam)
Suddenly Simmy remembered the "Hallelujah Chorus!" food court video that her sister had sent her...
Enjoy going to church at the food court! or Enjoy the food court and make it church! ??? You decide!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

'Mistress of Castle' magazine

Chapter 115 (cont'd) 
Still filming...
Scene II- Lucy's house- 1962
Just as the doorbell rings with another visitor, Ethel picks up her coat, gets up from the sofa and says, "Lucy, I didn't even notice that I was sitting on the Garbo sofa. Oh, how could you? I've wanted that sofa ever since I saw it in the window at this great store in Chicago called 'Crate & Barrel.' How did you get one so quickly?"
"I ordered it as soon as the 'Mistress of Castle' magazine came out," Lucy answered.

"Cut!"

Afternoon Eggnog

Chapter 115 (cont'd)
Movie scene at Lucy's house- 1962
Ethel arrives at Lucy's for a little Christmas afternoon 'eggnog.'
Lucy hears some noise at the door and calls out, "Is that you Ethel?"
"Yes!"
"Come on in, love," Lucy calls.
As Ethel takes off her coat, Lucy turns on some lights in the living room. The gray Canadian skies make things look much too dark for an early afternoon.
"Are those the lamps I bought for you, Lucy?" Ethel is quite pleased to see them prominently on display. "I'm glad they haven't landed in some dime store. I brought a new drink for you to try."
Lucy gets out the wine glasses. "Mmm, eggnog for me! I'll have to keep it away from the Rabbi if he happens by. It's his fa...vorite," Lucy dragged out the syllables.
Ethel giggles. "Does your church have a Christmas Eve service?" Ethel asks innocently.
"Oy," Lucy scolds, "Shh! That is the December Dilemma. All the intermarriage is creating quite a strain on the synagogues. Who knows what the Rabbi will resort to?"
"So, you're not having a Christmas Eve service?" Ethel said it slower and with a question in her voice, thinking this might get her the answer she was seeking.
"I'm going to a Christian service on Christmas Eve," Lucy lifted her eyebrows as if to say, 'maybe you should leave this one alone, hmm?'
There was a purple mask sitting on the table so Ethel lifted it to her face. Lucy grabbed her Polaroid 160 and snapped a picture. Lucy put the photo down on the table as they waited for it to appear.
"Your eyes look too sad, darling. We'll try again! Come on now, laugh."
Ethel burst into laughter and Lucy snapped another picture. They had a little sip of eggnog while waiting, again.

"Ahh! Your eyes look happier in this photo. You need to give yourself a break with all the family stuff you've been handling lately. Try to relax!"
Lucy grabbed her glass and headed for the sofa.
"Come, we need to sit down and be comfortable. I suppose you've got all your baking done for Christmas?"
Ethel nodded, "Oh yes, a week ago already."
"You would be snatched up by any synagogue if they knew your hard- working hands never stop," Lucy said.
"Isn't that what makes you hide out from the Rabbi at times?" Ethel asked, pointedly.
"Ahh, we all wish to escape sometimes," Lucy admitted.
Snap! Lucy squinted a little too late and then just relaxed as Ethel hefted the camera for another angle.

"Who are you today? Julia Child?" Ethel asked.

"Close, close, I did make a banana cake this morning but I think I've got on a few too many pearls."

"They look lovely," Ethel offered.

"Yes, but don't get them too close to a blender," Lucy mocked.

Ethel strained her head to look out the window. "I think the Rabbi is at the door."

"What?!" Lucy was up on her feet in a second, trying to grab the wineglass from Ethels' hand but she would have none of that as she held it aloft, laughing.

"I was only joking," she begged as Lucy backed off and sat back down. 

"Ethel, that was not funny, today," Lucy grinned and burst into laughter.

"Cut!"