It's not any better when I can't go to my local Wal Mart without being confronted by solicitors. I can't be the only one who gets annoyed with this...I mean I rarely see anybody talk to these guys that are stationed at not just one door, but BOTH doors at each end of the store. I have no problem giving back to my community. Scooter and I donate out our ears to different organizations, not to mention he gives part of his salary to United Way. This past week, I stopped in at Wal Mart to pick up a few things. With their card tables at each entrance/exit, and a big jar on them, two men were asking everyone to please help the homeless, and as each person walked on into the store or continued out to the parking lot and ignoring them, each request was met with a "God Bless". How's that for a guilt trip? Since there were only handwritten scribbles on pieces of cardboard, I have no idea what organization these men were from, but the next time I have a few extra minutes, I'd like to find out if they are a bonafide 501(c) charitable organization. I'd like to find out if they have actually applied for and obtained a solicitor's permit from our city, which is required by most counties. I'd like to ask them to show me where my money would be going and for what exact purpose. We have food banks that are running out of food, so local tv and radio stations, as well as local schools are hosting frequent canned food drives. We have clothes closets that are setting up racks upon racks of clothing at the local fairgrounds so that people can go 'shopping' for free to get what they need.
Having said all of that, here's my biggest question yet. As you walk past the checkstands inside Wal Mart, there is a huge board showing the ways they give back to the local communities, with a running dollar amount. The one in my neighborhood showed over a million dollars!!! So why don't the people who are allowed to stand in front of their store apply for some of those dollars? Why don't they solicit Wal Mart themselves for help? And the last question I have for them....why would you think I would stop to drop money in your jar while you are hip hopping to rap music and scratching your crotch? Presentation plays a huge part in success....
Oh, and if I weren't already registered to vote, and I wanted to sign up, it wouldn't be at an ironing board in front of Wal Mart, so that you can then ply me with all the reasons why I need to vote for so and so, or for a certain measure on the ballot, or to sign your petition to even get a measure on the ballot.
Wal Mart's biggest competitor is Target. This company prohibits this type of activity and it's so refreshing to not have to deal with it. They also have clean carts (buggies, depending on what part of the country you live in) without wonky wheels that take you in a direction you had no plans of going in, and they now offer groceries too. And the best part....insert drum roll here...my local Target has a Starbuck's now!!!!
On the knitting front.....I have been knitting like the wind, as Brenda Dayne likes to say. I knitted a watch cap for CoggieTM's hat project. Her husband "Sarge" is stationed in Afghanistan where it gets quite cold, so she wanted to give each person in his unit a present from home. I wish I had found out about this in time to do more than one, but I'm just happy I could get one done for her. So that will go out in the mail today. If you would like to help, there are a number of groups on Ravelry that send hats to the troops, and these hats are extremely fast and easy to knit or crochet. Please pardon the bad lighting...the hat is actually Oxford Gray in color, from the Lion Brand Wool Ease yarns.
I also knitted up a little baby cardigan for my friend...the one I spoke of in my last post. It is too darn cute! I am so pleased with it, and can hardly wait to get started on the matching hat and booties today. I found some little puppy dog buttons that look like Blues Clues and is the exact same color as the yarn I used.
The socks I'm working on for Scooter are coming along nicely also. I don't get to work on them a whole lot, but I am at the toe of the first sock and will share pics with you later (charging camera battery).
We had a wonderful weekend, even though it was quite stormy out. On Saturday, we went to my little grandson's birthday party. He is so darn cute, and has quite the vocabulary for a two year old! You can only imagine with three older siblings what comes out of that baby's mouth...his current favorite is fart. I guess if that's the worse that comes out of all 13 of my grandchildren's mouths, I should consider myself fortunate in this day and age. We had such a great time and it's always good getting to visit with his other set of grandparents who drove SIX hours one way to be there! Grandparents are usually just good that way.....we would probably drive 12 hours one way just to feel those little arms around our necks!
I spent Friday afternoon with my other grandson, his older brother. We went to the movies together and hung out for the day. I love these times with him...we always have so much fun and I love that he loves doing this. He's the perfect date!!!
With fall here now, I hope y'all are enjoying the delicious aromas everywhere, and all the activities that come with it! Have a great week!!!
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