Light up my... Christmas...

I love Christmas lights.  My Husband is a definite Meh about Christmas in general, but he has surprised me by taking me to the highest hill in the area, and parking so I could see the lights.

Um.  Yeah... Lights are up.

(eternallifestyle.com)

I have since found out this really ticks off the neighbors in that area, and so we don't do it anymore, but it was fun while it lasted.

I like to drive around and just look at lights.  In a neighboring city, the folks have since 'retired' from doing it, but they had a long D driveway, and set up several thousand lights, little displays, and just wanted folks to enjoy.  Sometimes one of the family would stand at the exit, handing out candy canes.

Another place is a bottling plant, they have some lights, but they also have... displays?  dioramas?  Whatever they are, they have active shows, the various cut out displays can move and things blink and do things.  Our local fairgrounds do, as well.  In fact, my Dad helped with one display, I think it was to make Beauty and the Beast dance. 

I know that several of the gardens have light displays, and if I want to drive to Portland, they have mucho light displays, both on land, (Grotto, PIR, The Zoo, Peacock Lane) and water (Willamette Christmas Ships)... 

The Christmas Ships even rescued someone this year...

I think the captain's name really should have been Clarence... Captain Ron? Really???

But I think lights probably have always been my favorite part of Christmas.  Any thoughts on what your favorite part is?

People.

It is... a unique experience working at the Sub.  I deal with all sort of folks.  I had a few recently that were, um, memorable. 

A gent walked in, and tossed 4 life jackets  on the counter.  I said, "is this a donation?"  (We have people that check the jackets for safety, we also have a donation program.)  He looks at me as if I have brayed like a donkey, and pipes up, "Well, you have the boat program, and I don't need these  d*** things." Snorted, and walked out.  I tossed a quick thank you to him for the donation, if not the attitude. 

Another gent came in and needed X thing.  Basically acted as if I was invisible.  He saw one of the plain clothes deputies, who came over to see if he could help.  Well, no more than that, it was, yes, sir, no, sir, I would like this, sir...

Meh. 

I went and sat down, as I knew said gent wasn't going to give me the time of day.  He got what he wanted, I thought, and left.  About an hour later he comes back in, and says, where is Deputy Guyperson?  I tried to be polite, and said, Guyperson went to a meeting, I don't know what time he will be back, but probably more than an hour out. 

"But, Honey, I need to talk to him.  Sweetie, could you call him?"

I tried not to growl.  "No, I don't have his number, and I told you, he's out of the office for at least an hour."

But, Darling, I need this information. 

I looked up, barely managing to be polite, and told him, if it was urgent, he could always call dispatch, or go to the city police.  He waited for a bit, then asked if I had something to eat.  Turns out he was homeless. 

I was still not impressed with the Honey, Baby crap, but I told him that no, we didn't have any lunch service or such.  He then turned to the coordinator that had walked behind me, who is male, and ASKED THE SAME QUESTION.  And received the same reply.  I went back to my desk, and started typing.  He stood there, trying to get me to answer him, Honey, Sweetie, ad nauseum, and I just decided to say Uh-huh.  Finally, after about 15 Uh-huhs, he got the clue, and wandered out.  Didn't see him the rest of the day, don't know if he went to the city police, got the info from another source, or what, but you know... I am not sure I care. 

Meh...

A gent came in and had a big problem with someone, and was shaking.  He was rambling on for a bit, and I finally asked him to stop for a moment.  Do you need some water, or need to sit down?

He actually stopped for a moment, and then said, no, I am okay, I think, but... And was off again.  I stood, while he described his problems in excruciating detail.  When he finished, he was nearly in tears, I am sooo sorry, I must be wasting your time.  I told him, no, that's what I am here for, besides, it sounds like you needed to tell someone.  He leaned over the desk, took my hand, and said, thank you so much, a lot of people just tell me to shut up.  I told him what to tell the deputy, so that is was (a lot) shorter, and he was able to settle down quite a bit by then.

A gal came in, and she was just shy of being in tears.  She was getting harassing phone calls, and there was one that was supposedly from the FBI.  I tried to explain that it was most likely a scam, but she was so freaked out, I don't think she entirely understood me.  I got her a tissue, and she asked if I could get her some water.  I did, and called dispatch.  Turned out, she needed the city police, which I then called.  Her phone was buzzing non stop, and she whimpered, "what do I do?" 

I asked for her phone, and looked.  As I suspected, it was an out of country number.  I hit the "ignore" button, and told her to do that until the city officer showed up.  When he did, he explained to her that it was indeed a scam, and how to delete the number from her phone.  I then explained how she could tell an international number from a US number.  She said, I am not going to be arrested?  We both assured her, no, they were playing mind games with her.  She snorted, then deleted the number, under the officer's watchful eye.  She smiled, and then said, "Thank you, you two just made my day a lot better!", and was smiling when she left.

One thing about helping out here, it's never the same day!

One of those calls... And Faire

I do receptionist work on Tuesdays.  I try to be polite, professional, and generally do what I can to make the calls or contacts as pleasant, or at least easy, as they can be.

Then there are the ones...

Had a call this morning.

Hello, ... this is Cat, how can I help you?

I WANT A LEVEL 11 OFFICER AT MY HOUSE NOW, OR THE LEAD SHERIFF! I WANT A LEVEL 11 OFFICER AT MY HOUSE NOW, OR THE LEAD SHERIFF! I WANT A LEVEL 11 OFFICER AT MY HOUSE NOW, OR THE LEAD SHERIFF! 

Sir, just a moment, what do you-

I WANT A LEVEL 11 OFFICER AT MY HOUSE NOW, OR THE LEAD SHERIFF!  I WANT A LEVEL 11 OFFICER AT MY HOUSE NOW, OR THE LEAD SHERIFF! 

Sir!

I WANT A LEVEL 11 OFFICER AT MY HOUSE NOW, OR THE LEAD SHERIFF! 

I just put the call on transfer, I hope that dispatch could get him to listen...

It isn't that terribly unusual to get folks who don't listen, but this was odd, even for the usual stuff and nonsense.  I have to assume that there is a problem, but that doesn't help me getting a bit of information to him.  And I guess I am really curious, what in the heck is a level 11 officer?  And we only have one Sheriff, so that didn't make a lot of sense to me either.


In other news, I went to faire for one day with Dad.  I don't know why, but it was okay.  Not great, but okay.  I enjoyed being with Dad, we chatted, and wandered around, but I felt... Off.  I wasn't in costume, Dad and I thought it would be a lot easier, and, well, it was.  But I slipped into Fairespeak, and tried to help a couple folks, and they brushed me off.  Odd sensation, that.  Was able to see a few friends, but it was a crazy time for the bunch of us, so Hail Fellow Well Met, was more, Hiyo, I am trying to get crap done, bye.  And with me in full Meh mode, that didn't help...

We decided to leave early as it was getting hot.  BIG mistake.  I didn't time it right, and poor Dad had to drive through the Oregon State game being released.  It says something when they A) turn off all the traffic lights and use people to direct traffic, and B) turn all the roads around the area to one way OUT, which means we were driving and where we would be on a two lane, two way road, with a double yellow line, they had made it ALL GOING ONE WAY.  Reminded me of the news reports of Hurricane evacuations, just smaller.  But, we made it out of the area okay, Dad did NOT get a leg cramp (THANKFULLY!!), and we made it home fine.

I do have to deal with a full day of dust and dirt, creating faire boogers... Eeeew, to put it mildy.  When you blow your nose, and it's black, you know you have dealt with a large amount of dust!

Mrs. Claus and the gifts...

I help with a Shop with a Cop group locally.  There is a married couple that dress up as Santa and Mrs. Claus, and hand out gifts.  In her case, it is really appropriate, as she is the one who collects gifts, and spearheads getting things gathered and put into packages and such.  (Mr. Claus mostly just does deliveries, and has his photo taken, from what I have seen... Hee hee.)

The gifts for the kids include such things as hats, mittens or gloves, a small blanket, toiletries, and I think they sometimes have companies that will put either small gifts or candies, or some such in, too.  Also, I think some sort of stuffy, bear or such...

I have knit hats. Ohhh, so many hats.  I finally decided not to, I went from enjoying it, to having requests for 50 or so hats, 2 weeks before the event.  No.  Just. No...

I have made mittens, too.  Mom and I have bought hats, as well.

I made a "toy box" to hold the items as they are collected through the year. 

Now, though, am I sort of shot on enthusiasm, or something?  I sneak over and peek in the toy box, and see the growing pile of items, and... Huh.  That's nice. 

I don't feel a spark of creativity.  I do think of making a few items, then I think, crap, I have X-ity X number of knitting/craft/garden projects to do now... And I am knitting socks for another charity, on top.

So, hmmm.  I think I might save some pennies back, so to speak, and do an "elf drop" like I did the other year.  I took a bill, put it in an envelope, then dug through the toys, about halfway down, and then did that as my help.

I think I actually wrote something to the effect of "To help Mrs. Claus".  I know they didn't know the donor, because there was a thank you on the desk the next week with "Mrs. Claus thanks the elf who helped with the $."

So, yeah, I think I will do an elf drop again.  At least I don't have to worry about knitting deadlines!!!

Shudder. I am going to do this, soon... Update.

I have decided to change the system thing on my computer.

I am going to Windows 10.  The little reminder thing has popped up several times, and after establishing it wasn't some sort of virus on my computer, but something from Uncle Billy, I think I'd better change it.

Mostly, I know it will go away eventually.  I also know, that if my parents get new computers, I will need to find out how the new system works, so I am not looking blankly at them when they ask about something.  (Dad's system is about a generation behind mine now, and I have to stop and think, ok, what did I do when that happened?)

I asked one of the IT guys if it was okay to do, and there was a grunted "yeah".  Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but it sounded like it wouldn't cause me to kill off the computer, or send a rampant virus to everyone online.

So.  I will see if I can do this thing, and then maybe update this blog entry.  Then again, my computer might go up in flames, and I won't be able to do a darn thing...

Do I sound apprehensive?  I am.  I know that this is a change that has been there for a while, but having heard very little positive, I am not eager.

So.  We shall see what commences.  Wish me luck.

*****************

So.  I tried, and nothing has happened, as of yet.  I am now informed that my Kindle for my PC has expired, (why that has anything to do with downloading Windows 10, I am not sure), but I will download the 'upgraded' Kindle app, then try again.

I guess I will have more later.  Nothing's blown up, fallen apart, or stopped dead, so that's good, right?