No Phone Zone

Posted July 25th, 2010 | Permalink

As all of my friends and family know, I don’t have a phone. I mean, I don’t have a cell phone. We have a land-line at home, but that’s it. My husband doesn’t have a phone either. Are we phone snobs? Absolutely.

I had one about 6 years ago, when I had a different job and commuted 45 minutes each way to and from work every day. I talked on the phone all the way to work and back; sun, rain, snow, sleet or hail. I found out that I need to concentrate while driving. Who knew? I felt it gave me the liberty to be late to work, because I could always call and say, “I’m running 15 minutes late”, or “I’m just going to stop at so-and-so on my way in,” as if when my staff knew where I was, it meant I wasn’t late. People called me ALL THE TIME, no matter what I was doing or where I was, and I always felt compelled to answer the phone. I felt like I was “on call” all the time. If I didn’t answer, or had my phone turned off, or left it at home, they would ask, “Why didn’t you answer when I called? Is something wrong?” No, nothing’s wrong. I just don’t want to talk to anyone right now.

So, when I started my new job, only a few miles from home, I gave it up. And happily. That was six years ago. I’ve never looked back.

But of course, I didn’t escape the phone syndrome altogether. I still have to listen to everyone else’s conversations wherever I go: the grocery store, while I’m walking the dog around the block, the playground, the beach, even the movies sometimes. It amazes me. I guess it shouldn’t amaze me anymore, but it does. You really can’t decide between skim and 1% without making a phone call? Can you really enjoy the surf and the sounds of the beach if you have another teenager yapping in your ear (”Oh, I know it, it was, like, are you kidding me? Right?”) ? I get so annoyed having to listen to other people’s private conversations. And the worst? The worst to me is when someone is in a line, at a store, and they talk the entire time they are being cashed out. No eye contact with the store employee. No acknowledgement that they are even there, helping them, waiting on them, being kind to them. Because I’ve been on the other side of the counter, and I know that it’s RUDE.

So today, I was SO thrilled when this happened…

I was in a local spot, grabbing some lunch, in line to pay. I was second in line behind a young woman in beachwear and flip-flops who was chatting animatedly on the phone in the attitude of her early twenties: “oh my GOD, I know, right? She SAID that?” She put her things on the counter and continued her conversation without pause, opening her wallet as she chatted. But nothing happened. The cashier didn’t move. She just stood there with one hand resting on the counter, the other hanging at her side, looking at the chatty customer. About 15 seconds or so, I’d say. The customer was still chatting away, not noticing the pause.  I was just thinking to myself, “Get off the phone!” when the cashier said this to the customer…
“I’m sorry, but I’m going to have take her first (pointing at me), until you finish your phone conversation.” As she said this, she lightly gestured to this sign, taped flat to the counter.

hang it up!

There was a brief, “Oh, okay…OH, oh, I see…” as the customer struggled to peel her attention away from  her conversation to understand what the cashier was saying, and as it sunk in. She immediately said into the phone, “Okay-I-have-to-go,” and abruptly flipped her phone closed. (I would have hated to be the person on the other end of that conversation – is that really what it’s come to? Cuz, you know, hanging up on people is kinda rude.) She then moved her attention to the cashier, who began to ring in her things. I’m sure she felt a twinge of embarrassement, but it was light at best as she said to the cashier, “You know, that’s actually pretty cool,” referring to the sign on the counter.
“Well, yes, see, we feel that we’re going to be talking to you, and we should have your undivided attention. It’s really only polite that if we’re going to give you ours, you should give us yours…” explained the cashier, who by the way, was a young woman, about the same age as her customer. I couldn’t help thinking that she had some serious Moxie – to enforce that policy as strongly and politely as she did.
The exchange continued for a few more moments as the transaction was completed, and the customer walked away to a table where I later noticed she had sat down and pulled out her phone again as she ate.
When I approached the cashier, all I could say was, “That was awesome.” She smiled a big grin at me. It was obvious, that she LOVED that policy. She’s passionate about it. While I don’t think it was “fun” to enforce, she believed in it full tilt.

I almost danced to my car. Man, that made my day.

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Win a Custom Halloween Costume!

Posted June 4th, 2010 | Permalink

I know it’s early to be thinking about Halloween, and I promise, you don’t have to think too hard yet. As many of you know, I create custom Halloween costumes each year; some for friends, for my own kids, and some that are ordered from total strangers. They are all handcrafted and created to last for many, many years – to be saved, worn over and over, loaned to friends, and passed down.

I’ve donated gift certificates for custom costumes many times, to help various groups raise money. Now I have the group that’s raising money – my daughter’s Girl Scout troop. I am one of three leaders in the troop and along with the eleven girls we’ve been working very hard all year to raise money for a troop trip to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. We are closing in on our departure date, June 20, and still have some fundraising to do – in the neighborhood of $750.

So, I have set up a drawing for a custom Halloween costume.

And you could be the lucky winner!

  • The winner will receive one custom-made Halloween costume for a baby, toddler or child.
  • If you’re the lucky winner, I will create the Halloween costume of your choice and deliver/mail it to you in time for Halloween.
  • Tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20. I will donate all proceeds to my daughter’s troop to help with our trip fund.

50 Tickets in 14 Days!

My goal is to sell 50 drawing tickets in 14 days. Of course I’d be happy to sell more! Tickets must be purchased by 9pm, June 19th. The drawing will be held on June 20. Tickets can be purchased online (see below), in person, or by mail.

Below are some of my creations for you to check out. And below that are some rules for the drawing, a link to purchase tickets online, and info to purchase by mail.

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Drawing Rules:

  • One winner will be chosen, by random drawing, from all entries received.
  • The winner will be announced on June 20, 2010.
  • Prize is one custom-designed and crafted costume for a baby, toddler or child (10 years or under), including delivery or shipping via USPS, in time for Halloween.
  • Winner must choose costume theme by September 1, 2010 (I am happy to help with this).
  • I have the right to say “there’s no way I can make that!” if winner chooses a costume theme that is beyond my capabilities, in which case we’ll work together to choose something else!
  • Of course you can give your prize as a gift! What a great idea!
  • This drawing is my own personal doing, not that of the Girl Scout troop, or Girl Scouts USA – because that would be breaking the Girl Scout rules of fundraising, and we don’t want to do that.
  • Please contact me with any questions.

To purchase tickets online using a credit card or PayPal, click here:

Quantity

To purchase tickets by mail, please contact me at kate@4squarewalls.com and I’ll email a mailing address to you and get your contact information.

Good Luck and Thank You very much for your support as we make our way to Virginia!

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Another Day on Vacation

Posted June 3rd, 2010 | Permalink

Where have I been? Where have I been? I told you this was a busy time of year for us and I wasn’t kidding. Last week alone we had at least two things going on every evening after work/school, and most nights we had three. Between baseball, lacrosse, theater, girl scouts, work and school, we barely had time to breath, ate at 8:30 pm or later ever night and were just plain exhausted. And that was just last week.

No, I’m not complaining, really. Well, maybe a little. Just giving the full feel-sorry-for-my-pitiful-self excuse for having been absent so long.

But hey, here I am again. Eager to tell you about that second day of vacation waaaaay back in April, as promised.

We began day two with a hearty breakfast at Becky’s Diner in Portland. It was Wednesday, and late morning, so the crowd was very manageable – no waiting for a booth. We ate WELL. Then, we headed over to Hadlock Field for the afternoon Seadogs game. It was a gorgeous day for a game: sunny, warm, clear. When we arrived the stadium was still pretty empty, but it began to fill up fast, and everyone in the crowd was happy to be there on such a perfect day.

The Crowd at Hadlock Field

We took some time before the game to prepare: sunscreen and a foam finger to start. Snacks came later: fried dough, sodas, ice cream.

Enjoying the Game

And of course, Slugger entertained.

Slugger the Seadog
But, the best entertainment of the game was right next to us. In the bleachers across the stairs from us sat a family of 6 or 7. The littlest one, still in a stroller, had us in stitches. I have to share. Take a look, see for yourself.

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[gallery]

After the game and a quick trip home to grab the dog and some overnight things, we headed up to my grandfather’s house. We checked out the view of the cove, smelled the salty air and then headed back to Portland for dinner at Fuji, the Japanese grill. We always love Fuji. The food is good, the chef’s put on a good show at the grill and we always have lots of laughs and leave too full for dessert.

We spent the night at the house on the cove, relaxed and feeling as though the day had been two. It was the perfect way to end a couple of perfect days.

View of the cove in the morning

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