On The Border

My experience dealing with crossing the border has been less than amusing. Although I've only had my vehicle searched once in all the years I've been using Canada as a short cut to New York.

The rub comes when it's "question time". They must lie awake at night just thinking of these gems. If they are designed to prove that even morons can be customs agents, they have succeeded. Some of my favorites: (while staring at my 7 year old in the back seat) ARE THERE ANY CHILDREN UNDER 18 IN THIS VEHICLE? Gosh, no, that's just a height impared 40 year old playing with plastic dinosaurs. How about WHO OWNS THIS VEHICLE? Aaaah, truth be known..the bank.. for a very long time. Let's not forget the ever popular DO YOU HAVE ANY FIREARMS OR EXPLOSIVES IN THE VEHICLE? What self respecting terrorist is going to answer that question truthfully? My all time favorite question - the one that my answer got me pulled over for inspection... WHICH BRIDGE WILL YOU BE CROSSING TO ENTER NEW YORK? My reply - I haven't studied my bridge names...I guess I'll just watch for a sign that says Bridge to USA and take my chances.

Did I mention these guys on the border have NO sense of humor?

Discontinued?

I pretty much shop at the same grocery store each week. They have a clean store with a good variety of available items. However, lately I feel like my loyalty is being taken for granted. It seems that every time I find something I really like, it disappears from the shelves. Are they trying to tick me off? Wow, low-fat 2% milk that actually tastes good with cereal...GONE! Finally, tortilla chips that are so tasty I could eat the whole bag in one sitting...GONE! Let me not forget HOT sauce to go with the tortilla chips...GONE! (Sorry we only sell medium or mild now)
Is it me? Are they paying attention to everything I buy and then pulling the rug out from under me? Does this happen to anyone else? I hope it doesn't spread to other areas of my life.

Wow... I just love taking this route to work. It makes driving so easy...GONE!

Vote

I waited till ALL the races were over to post this one. Why do we have to have political signs on every plot of land visible by passing vehicles? I know, it's for name recognition at the polling booth. Why so many? How do they manage to increase in number while we sleep? Do I really need to see the candidates name 4 or 5 times on the same street corner? Does more than one equate to more votes? Does a bigger sign make that person more important or is the candidate making up for other inadequacies? All these signs do is remind the voter which candidate has polluted the landscape. Let's not vote for them! I just hate having to edge my car out far enough to see oncoming traffic because some politician has blocked my view at the corner with his 4 x 8 foot name. You really want to impress a voter? Use Billboards. Anyone can print up a few color signs but a REAL candidate will show his or her commitment by purchasing space on the many available billboards in town. I did see one name I thought was unique. But, when I stood in the booth with all the names in front of me, I couldn't find it. I guess "For Sale By Owner" wanted to be a write-in. Proof that these little signs don't work. He had one placed in every other yard and still no one voted for him!

Buck The Trend

Popping up like zits after a chocolate binge, dollar stores have arrived. I can't drive anywhere without seeing one. Dollar Store, Dollar General, Family Dollar, etc. They have 100 clothes pins for a buck, 3 pair of socks you can see your hand through for one buck and let's not forget the ever popular clothes hangers for a buck.

I, for one, have not and will not step foot inside one of these dollar stores. Not even if they have one on every corner. (They do, don't they?) Not even if all my friends shop there.

Until they sell GAS for a dollar per gallon, I'm going to buck the trend!