Leigh's Views

I went to coffee this morning with a friend of mine.   I made the mistake of asking how her Thanksgiving had gone.   You see, this was the first time she and her husband were hosting dinner in their home.   It was a big deal, she’s been stressing over it for months.   I’d been giving her recipe tips, advice on how not to over-complicate the meal, etc.   What I never considered was asking her if they checked to make sure everything in the home was working properly.   You know like the electricity or the plumbing.   So, there they were on Thanksgiving day with all of the relatives.   Enjoying a wonderful meal, games for the kids, football on TV, great conversation.   When there’s a flood in the bathroom.   My friend’s husband rushes in to save the day.   However, turning off said toilet did nothing.   The water was still coming from somewhere.   Then tools got brought out, walls got ripped open, until her husband emerged t...

On a recent long-haul flight, the stranger I was sitting next too decided to become a little too friendly with me.   First, every time I tried to take a drink, he would bump my elbow.   This resulted in my drink getting splashed on my shirt.   Fine, I switched from my right hand to my left.   Then I began to eat my yogurt, which of course required me to use both hands.   One to hold the cup and one to eat with.   Of course, the guy sitting next to me kept bumping me.   Thus, I now had yogurt on my shirt to go with my drink.   Then he decided I would make a good pillow.   He leaned his head on my shoulder and I gave him a good shove.   He responded by flopping his leg over mine.   At this point, I was so over this guy.   He hadn’t said one word to me so far the whole flight.   I don’t know where he’d learned his manners.   Honestly, people are always telling me I know nothing about the civilized world because I come ...

A few days ago, I spent most of the day around a bunch of children.   Since it was so close to Thanksgiving, I decided to ask them what they were thankful for.   For the most part I got the usual answers – this toy or that, sometimes mom or dad.   One boy said he was glad his brother wasn’t hogging the toys anymore.   Uhm, okay.   Then there was this one little girl.   She said she was thankful her dog didn’t get upset no matter how hard it was squeezed.   She then told me about the night of the storm and how the dog didn’t seem to mind even when the tree fell into the house.   “I even pulled some of his fur out.”   She informed me, looking quite upset by that fact.   Oh my, this needed some follow-up as I was unsure if it was a real dog or a stuff animal and if everyone in her family was fine.   So, I asked if everyone was okay now.   Turns out, the dog was real, she and he were now living with her grandmother while her pa...

I went out to lunch yesterday with a friend.   This was the first time in over two months we’ve gotten together because of each of us taking very long vacations.   Our plan was to relax, catch-up and share photos of our respective trips.   I got there first and waited for her at a table.   She showed up a few minutes later without her purse, which was fine, I could pay for our meal.   But it wasn’t normal for her to be not lugging the thing.   You know, one of those huge purses which has everything but the kitchen sink in it.   Trust me, she’s never without it.   After raising 5 kids of her own, adopting 7 more and fostering who knows how many, she had everything in there.   I once made a comment that my contact was bothering me and she whipped out several types of eyedrops, contact lens solution and hand wipes.   Okay, I know I’m off on a rabbit trail here.   Back to my story.   After we place our orders, I start showing ...

So, I’ve come to order a lot of stuff online.  It’s easier, things are in stock and I don’t have to deal with  poor customer service.  This was working great – for a while.  Then I got that magical text saying my  order was ‘out for delivery’.  However, the time when the guy usually comes came and went with no package.  Okay, fine, I’ve got other stuff to do.  I left a note on the door and went about my day.   Upon arriving home, no package.  Uhm, well, time to look into this.  I open up my e-mail to find this note: Now expected  November 4   -  November 6 We're sorry your package is late We're working with the carrier to get your package back on track, and we'll let you know when your package is out for delivery. Please come back  Wednesday  if you still don't have it and we'll help you out. Was expected  Saturday, November 3 Possible delay in delivery due to arr...

Okay, fine.   I’ll admit I don’t really work.   Writing isn’t work for me, it’s fun, I enjoy it and yes, sometimes I get paid for it.   But I’ve had it with people who think I need to get a ‘real’ job.   I’m at an age where I don’t need the money, stress, headaches.    I want to have an exciting life lived with wild abandon.   Not be tied down to anything or anyone.   Sure, no one would ever rent an apartment to me, let me buy anything on credit or trust me with their children.   Not like I want any of those things to happen anyway.   So I live how I want, work when I want and don’t have a care in the world.   Sure, sometimes I feel the need to get out of my house and tote my computer with me.   Because, hey, writer’s block is a very real thing.   Sitting and staring at those same four walls does nothing, trust me.   Thus, off I go to the nearest coffeeshop, café, whatever to get something to drink and my favorite t...