Anyone who has ever handled a mass mailing will wince at the following, which I received from my college alumni office:
"Yesterday, we discovered that the recent mailing you received from the Annual Fund had an outside envelope that did not match the response card inside. The mail house which has served the college well for many years reported that they were responsible for collating this mailing incorrectly.
"You will receive an apology from our Vice President and the appropriate materials in the next few days. Your support and involvement is critically important to us, as is your trust that your support be handled in a confidential and respectful manner. I regret this very unfortunate occurrence and hope you will respond positively when you receive this follow-up mailing."
Sure enough, the response card I received was meant for a pair of alums in Brooklyn.
I can only imagine the panic and stress-filled meetings that ensued. Perversely, I'm going to give the college more money than usual this year just to show them I understand how easy it is for mistakes like that to happen.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Pancakes
Actor Michael J. Fox was in Greenville on Friday, Sept. 23, for an art auction and cocktail party to raise money for his Michael J. Fox Foundation, which supports Parkinson's disease research. Among the artworks auctioned off was a painting by Sarah Lamb of Downingtown depicting six delectable-looking pancakes; it brought $13,500!
Team Fox Delaware organized both the party and Pancakes for Parkinson's, the fundraising breakfast that was held the next morning on the Wilmington waterfront.
Team Fox Delaware organized both the party and Pancakes for Parkinson's, the fundraising breakfast that was held the next morning on the Wilmington waterfront.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Big picture
When it comes to Chester County geography, I'm pretty sharp. But cross the line into New Castle County, Delaware, and it's a different story.
I can get to the Delaware location I want from Unionville just fine, but I don't have an overall mental picture of where First State places are in relation to each other, much less how to get from one to the other.
For instance, a friend said her new employer is near the intersection of Dupont Road and Route 48. OK. I could get there just fine: take Route 52 almost to Tower Hill and then hang a right. But until I looked on the atlas, I didn't realize how close that was to Greenville and Route 141, because I usually approach that area by taking Route 41 to Hockessin and then Route 48.
(And by the way, calling Route 48 "Lancaster Pike" doesn't help matters. That means Route 30 to a Pennsylvania native like me.)
I was glad to see that others share this blind spot. A very brainy Unionville grad said she even has difficulty getting from the Wilmington train station to the Concord Mall without returning to her home in Kennett!
(And speaking of things Delaware, happy eighth birthday to Susan Teiser's Centreville Cafe!)
I can get to the Delaware location I want from Unionville just fine, but I don't have an overall mental picture of where First State places are in relation to each other, much less how to get from one to the other.
For instance, a friend said her new employer is near the intersection of Dupont Road and Route 48. OK. I could get there just fine: take Route 52 almost to Tower Hill and then hang a right. But until I looked on the atlas, I didn't realize how close that was to Greenville and Route 141, because I usually approach that area by taking Route 41 to Hockessin and then Route 48.
(And by the way, calling Route 48 "Lancaster Pike" doesn't help matters. That means Route 30 to a Pennsylvania native like me.)
I was glad to see that others share this blind spot. A very brainy Unionville grad said she even has difficulty getting from the Wilmington train station to the Concord Mall without returning to her home in Kennett!
(And speaking of things Delaware, happy eighth birthday to Susan Teiser's Centreville Cafe!)
They heard him
At lunch on Friday a friend told me a Verizon story with a happy ending.
The phones in his elderly father's house outside Coatesville suddenly went dead. The father went to a neighbor's house and called Verizon but got nothing but the automated menu, so he phoned his son for help. My friend got the same menu but kept pushing "O" for "operator" and after 20 minutes got through to a real person. Unfortunately, the operator said he was sorry, but no one was available to do a repair for several days.
"So if my father has a medical emergency and needs help, you'll be responsible?" said my friend. ("Hey, I had 20 minutes to come up with a good line," he explained to me.)
The operator promptly transferred him to a sympathetic supervisor, who not only sent a repairman out that very day but also called both my friend and his father back to make sure everything had been done to their satisfaction. The repairman even took out an old connection that was impairing the quality of the line!
Impressive.
The phones in his elderly father's house outside Coatesville suddenly went dead. The father went to a neighbor's house and called Verizon but got nothing but the automated menu, so he phoned his son for help. My friend got the same menu but kept pushing "O" for "operator" and after 20 minutes got through to a real person. Unfortunately, the operator said he was sorry, but no one was available to do a repair for several days.
"So if my father has a medical emergency and needs help, you'll be responsible?" said my friend. ("Hey, I had 20 minutes to come up with a good line," he explained to me.)
The operator promptly transferred him to a sympathetic supervisor, who not only sent a repairman out that very day but also called both my friend and his father back to make sure everything had been done to their satisfaction. The repairman even took out an old connection that was impairing the quality of the line!
Impressive.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
National news
The Gustavsson family of Kennett Square was featured on page 1 of the "Wall Street Journal" on Sept. 17-18. Christina Gustavsson, age 15, is a Kennett High School student who suffers from the debilitating ailment chronic fatigue syndrome, and the story was about the difficulties that can arise between families and school districts when it comes to educating children with CFS and similar "hidden disabilities that are difficult to observe, evaluation or understand."
In addition to Christina, the reporter, Amy Dockser Marcus, also spoke to Sharon S. Bennett, director of special education for the Kennett Consolidated School District (yes, the reporter got the district's full name correct); Christina's parents, Nils and Michelle; and their attorney, Charles Pugh of West Chester. There are also two photos of Christina, and the story even carries a "Kennett Square" dateline.
In addition to Christina, the reporter, Amy Dockser Marcus, also spoke to Sharon S. Bennett, director of special education for the Kennett Consolidated School District (yes, the reporter got the district's full name correct); Christina's parents, Nils and Michelle; and their attorney, Charles Pugh of West Chester. There are also two photos of Christina, and the story even carries a "Kennett Square" dateline.
Tell a friend!
And speaking of empty buildings, I see that Newton's on State Street has closed. At least it lasted longer than the previous two restaurants in that space, Courtney's and Trumpets.
Taking action
I took a three-hour First Aid/CPR/AED class last night at the Exelon office building. It was excellent, and I appreciated the variety of methods that Glenn, the American Red Cross instructor, used: lecture, videos, discussion, demonstrations and actual practice using class members and mannequins.
One thing the instructor stressed was the importance of recognizing that an emergency exists and taking action. I think a lot of us are so used to being spectators -- we grew up watching TV, after all -- that we see ourselves as bystanders rather than as participants in what's going on.
I noticed that when I was fence-judging last week. When a horse fell at my fence, it took me a split second to realize that I wasn't sitting at home watching sports on TV; it was my responsibility to get up and do something.
By the way, just FYI, the Red Cross certification is good for two years now instead of only one year. Also, check out whether your health-insurance plan covers the cost of the course ($71). Mine did.
One thing the instructor stressed was the importance of recognizing that an emergency exists and taking action. I think a lot of us are so used to being spectators -- we grew up watching TV, after all -- that we see ourselves as bystanders rather than as participants in what's going on.
I noticed that when I was fence-judging last week. When a horse fell at my fence, it took me a split second to realize that I wasn't sitting at home watching sports on TV; it was my responsibility to get up and do something.
By the way, just FYI, the Red Cross certification is good for two years now instead of only one year. Also, check out whether your health-insurance plan covers the cost of the course ($71). Mine did.
Walking out
This damp morning I helped exercise some Penn-Mary-Del foxhound puppies that will soon be out with the Andrews Bridge hunt field. It was their first time out on leashes, so you can imagine how excited they were to get out of the kennel. All the puppies in this year's three litters have names starting with M, and I walked Mary Kay and Mapquest and my friend Susan walked Manners. (Some of the others were Maybe, Mulan, and Makewell.)
They were so cute! The first time they encountered a log they had no clue what to do, so we helped them over. The second time, they were like, "Oh! A log! I can do this!"
It was a great workout being pulled around the fields and through the woods by these puppies.
When I got back home my own dog glared at me and sniffed my jeans like a suspicious spouse.
They were so cute! The first time they encountered a log they had no clue what to do, so we helped them over. The second time, they were like, "Oh! A log! I can do this!"
It was a great workout being pulled around the fields and through the woods by these puppies.
When I got back home my own dog glared at me and sniffed my jeans like a suspicious spouse.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Newlyweds
I was walking to my car in a parking lot the other day and saw a pickup truck with "Happy Ever After" written in big blue letters on the back window. Aww, I thought, how sweet; that must've been the car that the bride and groom drove off in after the wedding.
I can tell you this: the honeymoon is over.
The wife was unloading the kids from the truck while shrieking at the husband, using a fluent stream of profanity. She made it very plain to everyone in earshot that she is not happy about being pregnant again, did not want to be sick and miss her own wedding, and does not appreciate the husband making her feel awful.
I didn't hear the husband's replies -- if he even got a chance to say anything.
It was a little depressing.
I mentioned this to a lawyer friend of mine, who promptly cited a case in which a man was arrested for violating a local law (she wasn't sure of the state) that banned cursing in front of minors; he uttered a curse word after his canoe tipped over. He was convicted but won on appeal on First Amendment grounds.
I can tell you this: the honeymoon is over.
The wife was unloading the kids from the truck while shrieking at the husband, using a fluent stream of profanity. She made it very plain to everyone in earshot that she is not happy about being pregnant again, did not want to be sick and miss her own wedding, and does not appreciate the husband making her feel awful.
I didn't hear the husband's replies -- if he even got a chance to say anything.
It was a little depressing.
I mentioned this to a lawyer friend of mine, who promptly cited a case in which a man was arrested for violating a local law (she wasn't sure of the state) that banned cursing in front of minors; he uttered a curse word after his canoe tipped over. He was convicted but won on appeal on First Amendment grounds.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Road turn-back
If you're interested in hearing about West Marlborough Township's plans to take over maintenance responsibilities for certain rural roads from the state, there's a meeting at the township hall in Doe Run at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29. As a township resident who loves my rural road, I would be there, but alas it's the same night as the Denim & Diamonds opening night gala for the Unionville Fair.
And guess which event offers dinner catered by Triple Fresh.
And guess which event offers dinner catered by Triple Fresh.
Eventing event
I had a hugely fun day fence-judging at the Plantation Field International Horse Trials on Saturday. Twice before I'd helped out some friends who are experienced judges, and they (and the wonderful volunteer coordinator, Melissa) assured me I could handle it on my own -- though I begged to be assigned an easy, uncomplicated fence to monitor.
Your job as a cross-country fence judge is to sit at an obstacle and report in on your walkie-talkie whether each horse clears it, refuses, or falls. Mostly they clear it just fine, though there were plenty of falls at the challenging Fence 10A right next to mine, even among the highest-level riders.
Because you are right there where the action is, you get to hear the riders talking to their beautiful horses: "Good boy!" exclaimed one woman after her horse simply soared over the intimidating Fence 14B. And from where I was sitting, I could see the riders galloping full tilt (yes, time counts) south toward the fences closer to Route 82.
While concentrating on the rider numbers and who's coming next, you also have to play traffic cop. Folks aren't always aware that they are walking along a path that a galloping horse is going to be occupying in about 10 seconds. I got plenty of practice saying "Oi!" and "Yo!" and "Heads up!" in my best outside voice.
It take a lot to pull together a big three-day event like this, and I have to say that it was beautifully run. At the 7:30 a.m. briefing, the officials gave us clear explanations of what to do and what to watch out for (including any harsh treatment of horses). During one of the divisions I was assigned a slightly tricky fence where the riders had an option of what to do; before they started, the head guy came out and explained exactly what was and wasn't permitted.
When fences were damaged, the repair crews were there immediately. Folks in Gators drove around the course efficiently collecting our score sheets and passing out bottles of water.
Many of the competitors came up to me and thanked me for volunteering -- including some of the big names in the sport. Very nice.
To top it off we were even given coffee and donuts, a delicious lunch, and great T-shirts.
If you remember the weather Saturday, it was cloudy and a little bit chilly. Thank goodness I just happened to bring an extra pair of warm socks!
Your job as a cross-country fence judge is to sit at an obstacle and report in on your walkie-talkie whether each horse clears it, refuses, or falls. Mostly they clear it just fine, though there were plenty of falls at the challenging Fence 10A right next to mine, even among the highest-level riders.
Because you are right there where the action is, you get to hear the riders talking to their beautiful horses: "Good boy!" exclaimed one woman after her horse simply soared over the intimidating Fence 14B. And from where I was sitting, I could see the riders galloping full tilt (yes, time counts) south toward the fences closer to Route 82.
While concentrating on the rider numbers and who's coming next, you also have to play traffic cop. Folks aren't always aware that they are walking along a path that a galloping horse is going to be occupying in about 10 seconds. I got plenty of practice saying "Oi!" and "Yo!" and "Heads up!" in my best outside voice.
It take a lot to pull together a big three-day event like this, and I have to say that it was beautifully run. At the 7:30 a.m. briefing, the officials gave us clear explanations of what to do and what to watch out for (including any harsh treatment of horses). During one of the divisions I was assigned a slightly tricky fence where the riders had an option of what to do; before they started, the head guy came out and explained exactly what was and wasn't permitted.
When fences were damaged, the repair crews were there immediately. Folks in Gators drove around the course efficiently collecting our score sheets and passing out bottles of water.
Many of the competitors came up to me and thanked me for volunteering -- including some of the big names in the sport. Very nice.
To top it off we were even given coffee and donuts, a delicious lunch, and great T-shirts.
If you remember the weather Saturday, it was cloudy and a little bit chilly. Thank goodness I just happened to bring an extra pair of warm socks!
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