Why the Boy Scouts Are Making Me Fat

My doorbell rang yesterday. I opened my door to find two small boys, age 9-ish, on my front porch. 

"Hi guys," I said, stepping outside. "What can I do for you?"

One nervously cleared his throat and stepped forward, clutching a piece of paper in both hands. "Hello. My name is Ryan," he read. "I am a boy scout. I am in troop 5-4-1. We are selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts for--"

"Oh no, not doughnuts!" I said, smiling. 

He glanced up, startled, then went right back to his paper. "--for a fundraiser. Would you like to purchase a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts? They are only $6. We will deliver them."

Spiel over, he let out a big sigh of relief and looked up at me. His friend, a small blond boy, had stood to the side and grinned at me the whole time without blinking.

I glanced at the paper, which was actually an order form with the script at the top. There were no names signed up on the sheet. 

Curses on my sentimental heart. 

"Sure, I'll buy a box," I said. 

"You will?? Cool!" (Is there any better feeling than knowing you just made some kids day by buying the cheap crap they're pedalling?)

I went inside and came out with a ten-dollar bill. "Do you have change?" I asked. 

"Let me ask my mom!" He started to race out to the street where his mom had a Suburban idling. 

"That's okay, that's okay," I said, pulling him back. "Can you take a check?"

"Um..." He scanned the all-powerful, all-purpose sheet. "Uh... hey, yeah! I can!"

Which is how it's come about that I'm having a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts delivered to my door on some random Saturday in July. I LOVE Krispy Kreme doughnuts. The chances of me being able to just toss these doughnuts when they arrive are slim to none. My only hope is to gift doughnuts to all the neighbors. 

After I sample one or two.

Cheers,

Dena

Ms. Harris Has Left The Building...

We're car shopping. For the most part, I am holding it together. 

I hate car shopping. Every car rides the same to me. I feel bad for the salesperson in the backseat, leaning forward to say, "You can really feel the difference in acceleration on this model," because no, no I can't. The acceleration on this car feels exactly the same as the acceleration on the other five cars I just drove, from the Kia to the BMW. No difference at all. 

I'd prefer to test drive in anonymity. I don't want to be pandered or sold to. Just let me get in the car, take it around the block, and leave the lot to ponder my decision. 

"I need to be famous," I told Blair as we drove to yet another dealership. "Famous enough so that I can have my people inform the dealership ahead of time that they are not to speak to Ms. Harris unless she speaks to them first."

"Or make eye contact," said Blair.

"Yes! No eye contact," I agreed. "And they can't stand too close to me."

"Grounds for termination," said Blair.

"Absolutely! They need to be told that if they make eye contact with Ms. Harris or in any way acknowledge that they are breathing the same air she breathes, Ms. Harris will immediately leave the lot and ask one of her people to see to it that their ass gets fired, pronto.'" 

"That actually would be an improvement on what we're having to deal with now," said Blair. (We'd just returned from a not-so-fun visit to a Toyota Dealership.)

One more weekend of car shopping ought to do it. Then we'll make our final selection and I won't have to be on a car lot again for another ten years. 

Ms. Harris has left the building...

Cheers,

Dena

 

Funny of the Week

I bought a bootcamp Groupon with my friends Christie and Kay. We're the oldest in the group, with the other women being in their mid to late 20's. Our strength coach is 28. Last week, Christie, Kay and myself were milling about, waiting for class to start. The other girls weren't there yet. The coach came out and said, "Hey, where are all the young does tonight?" 

Uh... hello??? Want to try that one again? 

We were teasing him and giving him grief and he was blushing slightly as he waved his hands in the air and said, "No, no! You're misunderstanding me." (PAUSE) "I LOVE older women." 

Duuuuude. Noooooooo. 

The rest of class we'd glance over at each other and say, "You see any young does? No? Me neither. Just a bunch of old hags here tonight." 

We're old and we're mean.

Cheers,

Dena

Wanted: One Writer's Theme Song

The good news: I've been talking with my editor at Ten Speed Press and we think we've nailed down the next great cat book idea. (I'd tell you, but then I'd either have to kill you or sic a herd of wild Maine Coons on you.) I need to present her with an outline and sample chapter before it's a definite go, but it looks like it will happen. 

The bad news: I fear my novel writing will suffer (i.e., "disappear") as I pour all energy into writing the cat book. 

It's not the end of the world it that's what happens, but I would really like to attempt a balance between the two books, making the time to work on each. For this to happen, I need to set boundaries around how I spend my time. And what better way to gain clarity on what's important and what's not than to make a list? 

NOTE: I need a theme song I can play whenever I make a list. I make them so often, it would be great to have musical accompaniment. Remember the Picture Pages theme song (see below)? Something cute and fun like that. Anyone out there care to work on that for me?

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