What's Left?

"The whole world can become the enemy,

 when you lose what you love."

~Kristina McMorris

Bridge Of Scarlet Leaves

 Yesterday was Friday, but not just any Friday... Black Friday. A day Alan and I cherish as much as any other holiday celebrated during the year. We look forward to this day, because we are avid people watchers. People are interesting, and Black Friday can bring out the best, worst, and eccentric in the people who clammer for bargains! So, Alan and I make the trek to our favorite place to watch the Black Friday holiday tradition, Union Square in San Francisco.

 

We had planned to leave the house at 10:00 am, but we ended up sleeping in. As midday rolled around we decided to make our way over to the city. When we got there, we found that the crowds in and around the city were larger than we had seen in recent years, so much so, that finding a place to park proved impossible. That, coupled with more than one grouchy driver, also looking for a place to park, made us come to the conclusion that we had just left the house too late to find a place to park. So, with a bit of sadness, we left Union Square, and headed instead for the Embarcadero Center.

 Embarcadero Center is also a wonderful place to shop, but it's parking is always easy to deal with, and with the added attraction of the Holiday Ice Rink, it made for a much calmer day. The trees that line the plaza are all lit up with Autumn color, and the happiness of the folks enjoying the ice rink was downright contagious! Oh my, I love it there! I even took a short walk through Sue Bierman park in search of the famous San Francisco parrots, but they had decided to fly elsewhere in the city, I will have to try again next week. 

Anyway, we decided to leave the city and head home for dinner around 4 pm. When we got home, about an hour later, we heard on the news that Union Square had been overrun by protesters just after we left. Protestors still fighting the injustice that happened earlier this week in Ferguson Missouri. Ferguson... a heartbreaking situation if ever there was one. I remember being told "policeman are our friends" as a child. I remember being told, "If you are ever scared or lost, find a policeman and he, or she, will help you." Sigh. I don't believe that anymore. 

Children are dying. The enemy... what does the enemy look like? Is he black? Is he white? Does he look like a cop? Does he wear a mask? Does she carry a stick? How about a stone? Does the name he or she call me really not hurt me? How about the preconceived notions about who I am and what I am about based on the most superficial information? Will that hurt me? Will the enemy scream in my ear, nearly breaking my eardrum, because I am wearing a leopard print coat, like I was wearing that one year? No... wait... Peta are the good guys, fighting the good fight, right?

Who is the enemy? 

Who is the friend?

As I sit here writing this, it has already been reported that just after the Union Square tree lighting ceremony had finished, windows had been knocked out at Macy's. Protestors were walking to the square with hammers in their hands. Workers at a nearby jewelry store were cowering in the corner of the store. Protestors were shouting... "Black Friday Doesn't Matter, Black Lives Do!"

I couldn't agree more. I haven't purchased a single thing on Black Friday in over 20 years. Not one thing. My heart aches for Michael Brown. I understand the need for protesting your beliefs and will defend it with my dying breath, but not the violence. Not the breaking of windows and looting. It's sad, and desperate and the message gets lost in the violence. 

That's the saddest part... The Message Gets Lost In The Violence. 

And when that happens, what's left?

Leaf Of The Day

Mood: Quiet

~Me :)

It's Black Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

"Shopping Tip: You can get shoes for 85 cents at the bowling alley."

~Unknown

CHARGE IT! LOL. Well, okay, sure, why not? I am kidding... kinda. I did a little shopping last night, after our turkey dinner. It actually felt good to walk off dinner, and get some fresh air, and besides, I recently upgraded my Old Navy credit card, so I had some points to use! And, then, quite by accident mind you, I was approved for a brand, spanking new, MACY*S and Bloomingdales card! How was I approved accidentally? 

Funny story! You see, last year I thought it would be fun to apply for a MACY*S card, after years of not having one. I got rid of most of my department store cards a while back, when I realized I didn't really use them after I got my Visa card. Alan and I make most of our purchases together, so carrying around all those cards just seemed risky. But last year, in a fit of nostalgia, MACY*S was my first credit card, I decided to get one.

Unfortunately... I wasn't good enough for them!

I don't understand why... my credit is perfect. I pay my bills and live within my means, yet somehow, I wasn't their kind of shopper! Maybe that was the problem... I live within my means? Oh, who knows, maybe the stars simply weren't aligned just right. Shrug. But yesterday, while the turkey was cooking, I got a little bored and applied just for the rejection. How come you never get rejected when you want to? LOL. As soon as the website said, Congratulations... you are now a MACY*S cardholder, I looked for the, Hey wait I changed my mind," button but there wasn't one! Imagine that! I only got the Bloomingdales card, to see if the MACY*S card had been a lark! But apparently not, they like me now too... they really like me!

So, later today, after Alan gets off work, we are going to Union Square in San Francisco and watch other people spend money... oh and the ice skaters... oh and the lighting of the Christmas tree... oh and the menorah... Happy 3rd Night of Hanukkah! 

Tis the season!

Black Friday isn't a day anymore, it's a season! So, how about you, it's Black Friday, do you know where your bargains are?

Mood: Silly

Note: The silly girl in the graphic is clip art from a nifty photo editing site called Ribbet. But the bags she is carrying, and the VISA card are courtesy of Alan, he is so good at drawing stuff for me! I love that guy!

~Me :)

Woo Hoo Free Cosmetics!

"When a cat rubs the side of it's face along your leg, it's affectionately marking you with it's scent, identifying you as it's private property, saying, in affect, 'You belong to me.'"

-Susan McDonough

Yesterday, I took a few moments out of celebrating the absence of George W. Bush, by picking up my free cosmetics from MACY*S. It seems that MACY*S, among other stores, got caught price fixing certain cosmetics items between May of 1994 and July of 2003! As a result, the unscrupulous stores mentioned in the ensuing lawsuit, were forced to giveaway, for free, $175 million worth of free cosmetics to those who had purchased cosmetics during those years. Each customer was allowed one product from a list of 19 or so products. I chose Vera Wang's Princess Body Polish (shower gel).

It has such a pretty and light scent. I haven't tried Vera Wang's fragrances before, but after trying it I think I might get the perfume as well. It is fun, and spicy, and I am enjoying it very much. It's perfect for daytime. The fragrance I use most often is Christian Dior's Poison, but I have been using that since I was in my 20's, and sometimes a girl just needs a change. I have been considering making a few changes to my wardrobe recently as well. Alan likes me in skirts, and I enjoy wearing them, so maybe I will wear them more often this year, and now I have a nice new fragrance to complete it all. Kohl's has some lovely styles by Vera Wang, she is my favorite designer, so I will go there soon and have a look see. Maybe something new for spring. SMILE. There's nothing like a free makeup giveaway to make a girly-girl smile!

Do you qualify for some free cosmetics? If you have already picked up your free product, what did you get? What perfume or cologne do you wear most often? Did you know about the lawsuit? You can read all about the lawsuit here. The stores involved in the lawsuit have until January 26th to distribute the free cosmetics. But don't wait too long, it's only as supplies last!

Cosmetics Cases Information Website

-Carly