Maxine Monday

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Won't you be my neighbor?

A week or 2 after moving into my house, I received a letter in the mail addressed to "My Neighbor".  It had been sent through the mail and even though the return address was from my own street, I didn't realize it was from my next door neighbor!  Not only did she mail it, she included a stamped, self addressed envelope inside.  There was an insert saying something about believing that eating right can help prevent cancer - and she had volunteered to spread the message and solicit donations to a cancer foundation of some sort, for research.  Ahem.

I remember thinking at the time - what a crappy way to welcome me to the neighborhood - by asking me for money!  When you're new to a town, you move in hoping your neighbors are at least friendly, you don't expect them to come to you for a cash donation to their favorite charity. And what a weird way to do it!  I felt kind of backed against the wall - like - I'm new here, I don't want to offend anyway, so maybe I should send some money.  NO!  It felt like blackmail.  It aggravated me and I threw it away.  So now - I suppose 10 months is long enough to wait to send out another request.  Again sent through the mail with a self addressed, stamped envelope and the same printed request for a donation.  From next door.  WTH???

What I really wanted to do was to write a snarky response and mail it back in the envelope she so kindly provided.  I've done that with companies who continually send me things in the mail I don't want after I have asked them to stop.  Spend their money by using the postage paid envelope they send you kind of annoys them when they realize you aren't sending the answer they want.  But no.  I threw the envelope away.  Again.  This woman lives right next door.  I have never met her, never even seen her.  I don't want to make an enemy, but I really hate what she is doing.  Not sure why it annoys me so much - because she is sending these letters to targeted people?  Her neighbors?  You feel more obligated that way and I don't like feeling like I'm being put on the spot.

What would you do?

Do I LOOK hard up? (does anyone say "hard up" anymore?)

It's amazing how many emails I get about dating - SENIOR dating (THANKS! THAT makes me feel good!), Jewish dating (I'm not), and apparently someone thinks I might like to meet a nice Chinese girl!  Um .. NO.  And then there are the emails from famous people (for me??  REALLY?) like Angelina Jolie wanting to share her diet secrets with me! Give the girl a sandwich for goodness sakes - doubt she has done any dieting in quite a while!

And no matter what I do, no matter how many times I block them they always come back.  I'd be glad to forward any of these emails if anyone is interested.  :)  Because I'm really not.

Maxine Monday

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Telling it like it is.

Leaving a work appointment the other day, I stepped out of an office into a hallway while buttoning my coat. There was an elderly woman with a walker slowly making her way toward me.  I stopped, thinking she might be entering the office I just left and I would hold the door for her.  She got closer to me, stopped, looked me in the face and said:

"PUT A HAT ON!  IT'S COLD OUT THERE!"

I laughed as she shuffled past me, only to hear:

"PEOPLE ARE SO VAIN THESE DAYS!"

Well she told me, didn't she??  The funny thing is, she is right.  That's exactly why I don't wear a hat, it will mess up my hair.  Me thinks she spoke from experience and now she just doesn't give a damn.  What freedom!

There IS evil in the world.

Ben & his friend Jerry are evil.  Look what they have created!

Nothing good can come of this.

**Edited - I ran across this picture while doing a Google search.  It is not in my freezer.  Not that it won't be tomorrow, I can't promise that.  :)

Maxine Monday

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