The Curtains in My Den

The open curtain that let the world into my den just hours ago is being closed now to shut the world out. There is no real reason to shut the curtain. Yes, it is dark outside and someone could see in with the curtain open and the light on – but only if they had a sixteen foot ladder.

So what’s the big deal? Why bother closing the curtains each night only to have to open them each morning? It has to be purely psychological.

At night, with the curtains open, I feel more vulnerable – more exposed. Even though I know no one can see in, I feel the weight of unseen eyes. Several trips to the window to peer down at the empty street below fails to alleviate the uneasiness of the exposed window.

Maybe part of it is symbolic as well. To open the curtains is to greet the new day. Sunshine pours in making everything bright and cheerful. With the light comes hope and promise of another day in Paradise.

When the curtains are pulled shut, I’m saying good night to the world outside. I’m going into my refuge for security and reflection. My mind turns to evaluating the day and making plans for the next morning when I’ll once again open the curtains to greet another day.

CSI vs The Closer

Ok, I have always liked CSI and CSI:Miami. They have interesting cases with two great leading men that are opposite in their approach to crimes yet the same in that they keep themselves somewhat removed from their staff. Well, until Grisom and Sarah got involved romantically anyway.

But I have to ask a question – why do the women dress so inappropriately for someone doing what they do? Why do their boobs hang out? Why the need for skin tight clothes? No doubt in an effort to catch the male population – but the men wear appropriate clothing and the women still watch. We don’t need to see chest hair to think “H” is sexy.

I am a big fan of the new series “The Closer”. Kyra Sedwick looks and acts like a “real” person which I think adds to the charm of the show. She is firm yet compassionate to her crew. I love her stubbornness and yet sometimes she seems scatterbrained. It made me laugh when she would get lost driving to crime scenes. I think the writer’s attention to these details, combined with a great cast, is what made this series such a huge hit. I never miss it.

Maybe future writers and producers will take note of these small things when they introduce new series.

Banks and Self Checkout

In our county we have a credit union that is unlike any bank I’ve ever seen before. Maybe all banks will be like this eventually, I don’t know. I found it odd and kind of intimidating at first but after using it a couple of times, I kind of like it.

When you walk into the building there is a receptionist who greets you and directs you on where you need to go if you aren’t familiar with the building – or, in my case, the first visit to the place. There are tables for you to handle your paperwork if you did not prepare ahead of time. There is also a sitting area that somewhat resembles a doctor’s office waiting room.

Along one wall are what appears to be telephone booths. You pick one that says “open” and pick up the telephone receiver. There is a tube beside a monitor for you to put your paperwork into – the kind of tube that you use through the drive-thru. After you hit the “send” button, the monitor in front of you flickers on to reveal the face of your teller. She can see you via a camera above the monitor.

You do everything while talking into the telephone receiver and she sends you back whatever you requested. It is all rather cool, if a bit impersonal. As I left I mused over the whole experience and wondered about how our civilization is eliminating human contact in much of what we do.

For example, Wal-Mart has self checkout so you can elect not to talk to a cashier. You can checkout, bag your own things and quite possibly not say a thing to anyone the entire time you are there.

The Library has recently added self checkout lanes as well. It is meant to get people through the line faster because checkout lines kept growing longer and longer which is disrupting to the flow of foot traffic through the lobby area. You stick your card in the machine much like a bank ATM and then lay the book down on the scanner. Your receipt prints out what you checked out and when each item is due – that’s it, your done and can go on your way without ever saying “hi” to anyone.

Gas stations have used the “pay at the pump” system for years – eliminating the need to go inside to stand in line to pay for gas. You only have to go in if you want something like a fountain soda.

Now, mind you, I’m not complaining. I love self checkout at all three places. I love being able to check myself out and bag my own items at Wal-Mart. Sometimes the cashiers just don’t bag things in a way that I consider logical. The Library self checkout saves me standing in line while the patron at the counter gabs with the circulation attendant. I love talking to them as well – they are a fountain of information about new authors or give me info on what is going on downtown. However, if I’m in a hurry, I love to self check.

As far as paying at the pump – I will drive to a different gas station rather then go inside. I also love that the driver’s bureau sends my renewal sticker in the mail and I can change my address online – eliminating the need to stand in line at the DOT.

However, part of me can’t help but wonder where are all these displaced workers are doing for jobs??

Use Common Sense Please!

Yesterday was a very busy day at work. Thunderstorms were so bad last night that streets flooded up to the bottom of people’s car windows. It was just amazing. I loved listening to it while at work.

People, however, were being idiots trying to drive through the water and then calling us when they got stuck. We told them it was too bad – there was nothing we could do until the water subsided and that they knew the risk of stalling before they drove into the water. One lady was afraid to stay in her car but didn’t want to get out either because, if she rolled the window down, the water would come into her car. We suggested stalled people call tow trucks.

One guy noticed his sailboat was breaking away from the dock he had it anchored to. Instead of waving goodbye to it, he runs and jumped on. The anchor breaks off leaving the sailboat to the mercy of winds that were so strong trees were uprooting. His friend called us from dock trying to get us to go out – we wouldn’t. We do have boats but they are small and not meant for treacherous seas. We let the Coast Guard know but they weren’t going out either unless the boat started sinking.

It all turned out OK – the boat hit into land before it went out into the Gulf. Guess this guy felt the sailboat was more important then his own safety or life. Dumb ass.

It kind of irks me that people do really idiotic things that jeopardize their lives and then expect us to risk the lives of our people to save them. I’m sorry, your life is no more important than anyone else’s. I’m talking about the really stupid things like what this guy did or when, during a hurricane, people think going out to sight see is a good idea. Once the winds hit 45 mph, we are done – we won’t come out until the storm is over. It is why we tell people a hundred times a week that they need to be prepared for every contingency.

When did people stop looking after themselves and start expecting law enforcement and the fire department to take care of them? Some of the calls we get, I can’t believe the people didn’t call a vet, call a doctor, call the hospital, or use basic common sense. Or, use the internet. I had someone call and ask me how to bait and catch a snake. How in the world would I know the answer to that? He wanted a snake for a pet but didn’t want to buy one.

Common sense people. Be prepared, be diligent and most of all – be safe out there.

Ball in Tub Game

I am on my way to bed – it is a mere 2 am. However, on my way I walked by the bathroom. Simon had been in there for quite some time making noises that I couldn’t identify. I wasn’t too worried about it but as I passed by I saw what his fascination was.

He had his favorite ball – it is a red stripped little ball that he can carry around in his mouth – and was playing ice hockey with it on the smooth tub surface. He’d throw it up and it would slide down the slant, gaining speed as it passed him and he’d pounce on it. Over and over the ball goes into the air or he bats it around like a hockey putt.

I stood watching him for a few minutes before he noticed me. He quickly jumped out of the tub and walked out of the bathroom as if I had discovered a big secret of his. Even now, as I’m sitting here typing this I can hear him in the tub again. It amazes me he can come up with such silly games. He is a cat and, though we like to project human emotions on them, he is just a cat. I guess he must have dropped the ball in there one time when he was carrying it around and thus invented this game of his.

Whatever the case, his antics surprise me. Wish I had a video camera – seeing him sliding around the tub really gives one a good laugh. I think we could all benefit from a little more laughter in our lives.