Invitations to fundraisers are descending upon this Muggle's house like the onslaught of Hogwarts letters that Harry Potter received by owl post. The going rate seems to be $125 for a dinner, but don't forget to add in what you'll spend for drinks and at the inevitable silent and live auction as well (we all need another piece of autographed sports memorabilia).
But one invitation tops them all. Each ticket for this ball, held at a swanky hotel in Manhattan, costs $250. Which seems excessive until you read the invitation closely: the Open Bar starts at 7 a.m., with dinner at 8 p.m.
Some typos the spellchecker just doesn't catch.
Thoughtfully, the invitation also includes hotel room rates, perhaps in case you need a nap before dinner.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
The Fair
Everybody's getting ready for this weekend's Unionville Community Fair (when we're not dealing with stink bugs, that is).
Kids are scrutinizing their artwork and Lego models, assessing their chances of winning. Two friends who have chickens have already started sorting their eggs by color and size. And I'm sorting through recipes, trying to decide what to bake for the competition. I asked a friend if he thought I should enter my ginger snaps.
"No," he replied promptly. "Give them to me."
Kids are scrutinizing their artwork and Lego models, assessing their chances of winning. Two friends who have chickens have already started sorting their eggs by color and size. And I'm sorting through recipes, trying to decide what to bake for the competition. I asked a friend if he thought I should enter my ginger snaps.
"No," he replied promptly. "Give them to me."
Starbucks and Staples
Don't even bother honking at me: I refuse to make a right turn on red coming out of the Longwood Shopping Center onto Route 1. There's just not enough sight distance to see oncoming cars speeding toward you on Route 1, especially those in the far-right lane, which is supposed to be a turning lane but which impatient motorists use as their own private passing lane. It's a horrible intersection.
Twenty years ago -- when the Coffeeklatsch gentlemen still met at the Longwood Inn -- I remember seeing a plan depicting that stretch of Route 1 as it could be if every property were developed. It showed new traffic lights, new shopping centers and a greatly widened Route 1. It seemed highly unlikely back then, but sure enough, it has come to pass in every detail.
Twenty years ago -- when the Coffeeklatsch gentlemen still met at the Longwood Inn -- I remember seeing a plan depicting that stretch of Route 1 as it could be if every property were developed. It showed new traffic lights, new shopping centers and a greatly widened Route 1. It seemed highly unlikely back then, but sure enough, it has come to pass in every detail.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Rummaging
Who knew? Our area, it seems, is a hotbed of high-quality garage sales. A friend who is a seasoned shopper told me over breakfast the other day about her hobby. She goes out bright and early every Saturday morning and stops at any number of these sales, mostly picking up inexpensive items that she stockpiles for use in her many volunteer jobs (it helps that she has an SUV and a house with a lot of storage space). For instance, she buys pieces of furniture and gives them to a charity that furnishes apartments for veterans down on their luck. Recently she found little necklaces, for $1 each, that she'll give as Christmas presents to underprivileged kids.
The attraction is not only buying useful things inexpensively, but also the excitement of never knowing what treasures you'll find.
As a bonus, she said, it was also fascinating to see the inside of the Chalfant Mansion at 220 N. Union St., which was open a few Saturdays ago for a sale (she loved the fireplaces).
The attraction is not only buying useful things inexpensively, but also the excitement of never knowing what treasures you'll find.
As a bonus, she said, it was also fascinating to see the inside of the Chalfant Mansion at 220 N. Union St., which was open a few Saturdays ago for a sale (she loved the fireplaces).
Good one!
Bumper sticker spotted on a truck at the Unionville Post Office: "I May Be Old, But I Saw All the Cool Bands."
Former Fans
Two dog-lover friends reacted viscerally to the surprising news that Michael Vick will be the Eagles' starting quarterback.
One friend vowed to rename her rooster, who had been dubbed "Eagle' because of the greenish cast to his legs. "Steeler" is a possible new name.
And a lifelong Philadelphia sports fan said he will now watch the Eagles only so he can root against them.
One friend vowed to rename her rooster, who had been dubbed "Eagle' because of the greenish cast to his legs. "Steeler" is a possible new name.
And a lifelong Philadelphia sports fan said he will now watch the Eagles only so he can root against them.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
When I Was Your Age...
Dr. Ken Ginsburg will be speaking at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 at Patton Middle School on the topic of building resilience in children.
"Today's children face a great deal of stress: academic pressures, heavy scheduling, media messages, peer pressure and family tension," according to a press release for the talk.
Certainly today's kids do face unique pressures, but we wish that before deciding they lead such miserable, stress-filled lives, parents and kids would spend a few minutes chatting with members of "The Greatest Generation." Perhaps they'd gain some insight into what it was like growing up when hardship meant something far more serious than being seen with last month's electronic gadget.
"Today's children face a great deal of stress: academic pressures, heavy scheduling, media messages, peer pressure and family tension," according to a press release for the talk.
Certainly today's kids do face unique pressures, but we wish that before deciding they lead such miserable, stress-filled lives, parents and kids would spend a few minutes chatting with members of "The Greatest Generation." Perhaps they'd gain some insight into what it was like growing up when hardship meant something far more serious than being seen with last month's electronic gadget.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Tick Tock on the Clock
The pupils at one local elementary school are getting an early taste of the real world.
According to an e-mail from the principal, the only acceptable excuse for being late is a doctor or dentist appointment. Not acceptable are excuses such as "missing the bus, running late, forgetting your lunch, etc."
And in another school announcement, the rules for a fifth-grade art contest state that "any entries with misspelled words will be disqualified."
Welcome to the working week, kids.
However, we were dismayed to learn that in some schools teachers can no longer use red pen to mark mistakes; apparently it is "too alarming" to the pupils. Green and orange are acceptable alternatives. We are alarmed by red ink, too, but only on financial statements.
According to an e-mail from the principal, the only acceptable excuse for being late is a doctor or dentist appointment. Not acceptable are excuses such as "missing the bus, running late, forgetting your lunch, etc."
And in another school announcement, the rules for a fifth-grade art contest state that "any entries with misspelled words will be disqualified."
Welcome to the working week, kids.
However, we were dismayed to learn that in some schools teachers can no longer use red pen to mark mistakes; apparently it is "too alarming" to the pupils. Green and orange are acceptable alternatives. We are alarmed by red ink, too, but only on financial statements.
Girl Scouts
Your Blogger, who was an avid Girl Scout in her youth, is delighted to hear that the scouts are still extremely active. The local scouts recently had a "Gals and Pals" event for girls and their fathers or grandfathers at Anson B. Nixon Park in Kennett Square. Upcoming events include a sleepover on the Battleship New Jersey, an engineering program at the University of Delaware, a nursing program, "Local Lore" at the Brandywine River Museum "and then the usual hikes, camping, orienteering, dances and field trips and leadership opportunities," according to Karen D'Agusto, who is still very involved with scouting even though both her daughters are grown. E-mail her for more information at kdagusto@aol.com.
Unforeseen Consequences
The other day a friend of mine broke two ribs when, in his wife's words, he served as the airbag when his horse fell on a slippery road. (The horse is fine.)
And this reminded me of a sad event that happened at the Epsom Downs Racecourse in England in 1913. At that time women were fighting for the right to vote in England, and the "suffragettes," as they were called, were becoming increasingly militant. One of them, Emily Wilding Davison, went to the Epsom Derby on June 4. Her exact motive is unclear. Some think she may have wanted to attach a suffragette flag to the bridle of King George V's horse, Anmer (as impractical as that sounds). Others think she wanted to become a martyr for the cause (even though she bought a round-trip train ticket to the race).
Carrying her banner, she walked out onto the track in front of Anmer and, as will happen when you step in front of a galloping horse, was trampled and fatally injured. The jockey, Herbert Jones, suffered a mild concussion but was haunted by the event the rest of his days. Anmer went on to race again.
Ironically, apparently Miss Davison's actions damaged the suffragette cause, providing the men who ruled the country with another argument against granting women the vote: if a well-educated woman like her could perform such an act, they feared, what would less-educated women do?
In 1918, women in England were finally permitted to vote -- as long as they were over 30, had their own household, were married to the head of a household, or had a college degree. The right to vote was not extended to all women over 21 until 1928.
And this reminded me of a sad event that happened at the Epsom Downs Racecourse in England in 1913. At that time women were fighting for the right to vote in England, and the "suffragettes," as they were called, were becoming increasingly militant. One of them, Emily Wilding Davison, went to the Epsom Derby on June 4. Her exact motive is unclear. Some think she may have wanted to attach a suffragette flag to the bridle of King George V's horse, Anmer (as impractical as that sounds). Others think she wanted to become a martyr for the cause (even though she bought a round-trip train ticket to the race).
Carrying her banner, she walked out onto the track in front of Anmer and, as will happen when you step in front of a galloping horse, was trampled and fatally injured. The jockey, Herbert Jones, suffered a mild concussion but was haunted by the event the rest of his days. Anmer went on to race again.
Ironically, apparently Miss Davison's actions damaged the suffragette cause, providing the men who ruled the country with another argument against granting women the vote: if a well-educated woman like her could perform such an act, they feared, what would less-educated women do?
In 1918, women in England were finally permitted to vote -- as long as they were over 30, had their own household, were married to the head of a household, or had a college degree. The right to vote was not extended to all women over 21 until 1928.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Halyomorpha halys
A surefire conversation starter: "So how do YOU deal with stink bugs?"
The nasty, smelly little creatures, sensing the cooler temperatures outside, are flocking into our homes. Literally dozens of them gather on my walls, curtains and windows. They get into closets. They fly slowly, with a droning noise, and land with a little thud on the wall -- or worse yet, on your shoulder or pillow.
And you can't squish them like houseflies, because then they emit the foul odor that gives them their name.
So I vacuum them up. I don't even bother to unplug the little Oreck vacuum because I use it so often. Other people drown them in the toilet, flushing after every dozen or so victims, or scoop them up, take them outside and crush them. Another friend goes outside with his tennis racquet and flails away at them, sometimes taking out two at once!
Yes, I know what you're thinking: I really do need to get out more often.
The nasty, smelly little creatures, sensing the cooler temperatures outside, are flocking into our homes. Literally dozens of them gather on my walls, curtains and windows. They get into closets. They fly slowly, with a droning noise, and land with a little thud on the wall -- or worse yet, on your shoulder or pillow.
And you can't squish them like houseflies, because then they emit the foul odor that gives them their name.
So I vacuum them up. I don't even bother to unplug the little Oreck vacuum because I use it so often. Other people drown them in the toilet, flushing after every dozen or so victims, or scoop them up, take them outside and crush them. Another friend goes outside with his tennis racquet and flails away at them, sometimes taking out two at once!
Yes, I know what you're thinking: I really do need to get out more often.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Apples
Barnard's Orchards has officially opened "the madness and wonder that is pick-your-own" season, according to its Facebook page. In addition to apples, there's also delicious cider, pears, vegetables, chrysanthemums and pumpkins at the farm market. This wonderful fourth-generation orchard is located on Route 842 east of Unionville (1079 Wawaset Road). Say hi to Lewis!
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