Susan's Scribblings the Blog

Monthly Archives: February 2023

• A Shelved Topic

  Posted at 4:28 pm by kayewer, on February 25, 2023

  

  I completed assembling the curio cabinet. It’s filled already.

  The task was more involved than I anticipated, because the instructions didn’t provide as thorough guidance as I needed. The initial steps were finely detailed, with large photos of hardware assembly, but suddenly the illustrators left out the directions to help assemble the top shelf and the doors. They chose instead to include full-body photos of two people placing the panels. It was as if somebody tore the entire Battle of Hogwarts out of a Harry Potter book and expected the reader to figure everything out anyway.

  Four of the six glass panels were in place, so World War III began when I needed to add the last three pieces without a panel falling or the hardware slipping. I tried loosening hardware to allow space for the install, then I removed the top and tried to put the door panels in first, but every effort nearly cost me damage to the glass or injury to myself. It took several tries, and over half an hour, not to mention some harsh language, tears, intricate thought and planning to get it done, but in the end it was finished. The sense of accomplishment as I emerged, sweaty and winded, from the battlefield, was intensely satisfying. It was also gratifying to put the instruction sheet through the shredder while performing an appropriate conqueror jig.

  After finishing the assembly, I had the task of filling the cabinet. That was the fastest part of the entire project, because the items I had to display outnumbered the space I had. If I knew I needed the help of a math expert to calculate how much of a cabinet I would need at the start, I would have hired one from the nearest university math department.

  After shifting and stacking my collection inside, I still have items left over, so my new task is to figure out how to shelve the extras. Do I buy another cabinet and start over? Admittedly that is not my first choice, but it may be the only one that is sure to work. Rather than go through the same assembly issues, maybe simple shelving will work better.

  This is the problem of collecting things; finding ways to house them while displaying them with pride.

  And knowing when to stop collecting, so you won’t have to buy another thing on which to display them.

  Wish me luck with that.

  Share this:

  • Facebook

  Like Loading...
  Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

• Parking Lot Karen?

  Posted at 5:57 pm by kayewer, on February 18, 2023

  

  I am familiar with discussions on Reddit in which people ask for validation when something caused them to behave in a way that they now question. AITA, or “Am I the A**hole,” is a topic mined by influencers and stay-at-home moms alike. Often the response is “not the a**hole,” because the other person involved took that title away by causing the reaction in the first place.

  This story is similar but poses the question, “Did I just meet a Karen?”

  I managed to pull into a choice parking spot at the local supermarket, on the end closest to the store, with a berm beside me on the right, and near enough to the cart return that I could snag a cartlet (what I like to call those squat two-level small shopping carts) with no difficulty. This is a store that I have had issues with lately, because they stopped offering hand baskets and no longer place the carts against the wall near the door; you must obtain one from the return area on the way in or juggle your items in your arms.

  Fortunately, I found a single cartlet in the corral, and merrily wheeled my way inside. After picking up nearly everything on my list, I bagged my purchases and headed to my car.

  Here is where the subject of the question comes in; I placed my bags in the trunk, when a voice some distance behind me says, “I’ll take your cart.” I turn around, ready to hand the cartlet over to somebody approaching the store, but the person is not behind me. She is in her car with the window rolled down.

  I start to smile and say, “Fine, I’ll leave it here for you,” but didn’t get a chance to.

  She then adds, “And your parking spot. Just make sure you can get out okay.” I pulled in, you see.

  Well, I was rather flabbergasted. But, being cool under the circumstances, I replied, “It’s fine; I’m headed that way,” pointing to the west as she was headed east. I promptly got into my car, backed out and made for the exit.

  She wasn’t anybody I’d recognize as important; just an ordinary lady who, on my quick examination, had one of those round-faced casserole-toting housewives looks about her. Think a cross between June Cleaver and Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter.

  She met the requirements of entitlement for certain. Imagine thinking to yourself, “I’ll just drive up to this lady and demand her cart and parking spot.”

  So, did I meet a Karen or not?

  Share this:

  • Facebook

  Like Loading...
  Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments

• The Name of Love

  Posted at 4:58 pm by kayewer, on February 11, 2023

  

  Terms such as “love” and “hate” are so misused they have lost their meaning. With Valentine’s Day approaching, it might be wise to look at what these terms do to our daily lives.

  Love is defined in the dictionary as an emotional fondness for another person, which can also be elevated to an intense sexual attraction. An attraction for another can be all-consuming to one’s mental state. It is not truly a term one can assign to a blouse in the department store (though one can be excited by the prospect of adding it to one’s wardrobe).

  Love brings out feelings of compassion and empathy and is often caused by like-mindedness between two people. Each is inclined to look out for the well-being of the other. They share an understanding of common opinions, feelings and life goals. Often two people in love share at least a few common likes and dislikes. There is joy in doing things they like as a couple. At the same time, they can individually pursue interests they don’t share. Neither needs to feel bad about liking something the other doesn’t.

  Hate, on the other hand, is defined as a feeling of extreme dislike or hostility. It can also not be used for that blouse in the department store, because its existence has a possible purpose in somebody else’s life. Somebody may be excited to find it, but it may not be the style for you. You really don’t hate the blouse, but you don’t find it appealing.

  When it comes to people, we tend to choose who we love or “hate” based upon what we feel comfortable with. We sort out our experiences, our information or misinformation, and decide this person is okay and that person is not. The differences between people, however, are not really important. You may not find something in common with somebody, but another person may.

  
  That brings us to the polar opposite of love.

  Hatred is usually a mistaken term applied when fear is truly the feeling at hand. Bullies, protestors, political activists and the like attempt to not allow the thing they fear to exist. The problem is that often what they fear has always existed; people simply choose a time and place to draw attention to it. It’s one topic today, but another tomorrow. Whatever the subject, the topic of hating is usually what comes out when we fear something we don’t understand. It’s the easy path to hate, rather than to let matters be.

  Hating people is the lowest one can go, and yet we perpetuate the idea that it’s okay to leave some people ineligible to be loved. This group is better than that group; this person is lesser than that person, and so on.

  This coming Valentine’s Day will be depressing for countless people who have nobody who loves them. Some people have never known love in their lifetime.

  Let’s repeat that: there are people on Planet Earth who have NEVER known love in their lifetime!

  It must be okay, because it’s going on right now.

  Does that make you fearful?

  It should.

  When we face what we fear, we often find that love has a purpose behind what we choose to see.

  Everybody deserves to be loved.

  Maybe it’s time we overcame our fear of love.

  Share this:

  • Facebook

  Like Loading...
  Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments

• Assemblers Assemble

  Posted at 6:47 pm by kayewer, on February 4, 2023

  

  I didn’t expect my week to go like this. Originally my plan was to spend some time during the week assembling a curio cabinet, but the demands of work and life put it off. When winter made it too cold for my car to start–first time it’s ever happened (yes, honestly) –I decided I should spend the time I would have been running errands working on the project.

  Sometimes, however, the simplest of projects can become a daunting task.

  The instructions that came with the cabinet contain pictures and a full inventory, and the instructions in English are well-done compared to some that come from overseas Amazon merchants. However, the visuals don’t tell the whole story. The cabinet comes with a safety feature to secure it to the wall, but not a screw for the wall itself; only one to attach it to the cabinet. The screws to put the feet in place came with two more than in the illustration. The exploded graphic pictures don’t show how to assemble the bolts and screws, and some helpful explanations appear lacking.

  The issue is this: I don’t want to end up working through all the hardware and realize I used the wrong nuts or bolts or screws. I’m experienced in Ikea, but not fluent in imported assembly from elsewhere. Perhaps they should learn to illustrate in Ikea.

  Reminds me of a story my mother told me about a metal dollhouse she and my father assembled for me when I was little. The tabs and slots were not properly aligned, and they toiled through Christmas Eve and into Christmas morning to get it together. They hacked up their fingers, worked when they should’ve been sleeping, got punchy and battered, but still emerged triumphant to bring the holidays to life. They didn’t even have Ikea instructions.

  When things aren’t true to the instructions, it becomes a tour through a special sub-basement of hell. One certainly wouldn’t want to take the tour during the holidays.

  Once dusk came, I had to put the project aside. Daytime will come again, and with it I will need to see if the car will start before the struggle begins again. I will have to resist the urge to drive away (or walk) to the nearest hotel to get away from it all. And I don’t know if a car repair bill is in my future. Gee, I don’t even know if a finished cabinet is in my future right now.

  The next step in assembling the cabinet involves placing glass walls into the base and linking the hardware to combine the corners and sides. The illustrations show two people standing by arrow-straight panels. I could use better assembly instructions instead.

  I’m not one to give up easily. Obstacles are merely challenges. Too many at the same time, though, can be psychologically enervating. The key is to pace the body and shore up the spirit to accomplish the goals and overcome the roadblocks.

  The cabinet will rise. The car will be restored. And atop the mental wasteland of battle, I will stand victorious.

  Share this:

  • Facebook

  Like Loading...
  Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments

• Feedback

  	Eden on Getting the Message
  	Eden on The Unasked Questions
  	Eden on And Her Shoes Were #9
  	Eden on The Poison Field
  	Eden on Final Tally