Hello Kitty Returns

What would you say if I told you that for some strange reason I laugh and giggle every time I see this ad?

Tis The Season

Ah, yes ... the holiday season. You know it is upon us when you see the Dearfoams appear in Boscov's and when empty mall storefronts are suddenly filled with Hickory Farms folks.

Coincidence? Or Conspiracy?

I don't buy into conspiracy theories, but this is just too close for comfort.

What would you say if I told you that someone had written an op-ed article about the credit crisis back in February, outlining everything that has come to pass in the past 30 days. And what if I told you that person was then exposed for his own lack of judgment and publicly humiliated and disgraced in March.

Would you think it just a coincidence? Or is it a conspiracy? Judge for yourself by reading this article by ... you guessed it, Eliot Spitzer, the former governor of New York State.

I think this article hit too close to home for the Bush administration. They sent the FBI in to dig up whatever dirt they could find on Spitzer and unfortunately for Eliot, and for us, they found Ashley Alexandra Dupre and the Emperor's Club. They brought down Spitzer in spectacular fashion and guess what - this article got buried.

Spitzer was just a distraction, boys and girls.

Fill 'Er Up!

The Disco Chopper on Ballston Ave had its grand reopening ceremony on Sunday. I wasn't there, but they had an official flag raising, entertainment and a proclamation was read by the mayor.

What I want to know is this - what was the reason given for the new carts with cup holders?

Why would anyone need a cup holder on their grocery cart? I try to spend as little time as possible in the grocery store. Unless you are going to hand me a cocktail when I enter the store, I'm not going to linger and socialize and enjoy a beverage while I shop.

Of course, given that I can't find anything now that they've reorganized it (why is the coffee in aisle one with the greeting cards?) maybe I will need some fluid to keep up my strength as I wander in search of the canned pineapple (it's not marked, but it's in the vegetable aisle at the end near the back of the store).

And here's the next challenge. If I'm downing a soft drink, I'm going to need to use the rest room. Where, pray tell, is that located? I haven't found it yet.

Lest you think this is just one big bitch post, let me leave you with this. I totally hate the new checkouts. Having the bags back behind the counter makes it impossible for the customer to assist with his/her own bagging. Now, I'm happy to let Price Chopper bag my groceries for me, but how many times have you been checking out only to find that the cashier is also bagging? I don't know about anyone else, but so far I've found that the checkout process is slower and more cumbersome than ever.

What about you? How do you like the new and improved Disco Chopper?

He's Back!

The hot dog man is back!

Not in Congress Park, but on Broadway. You know that empty spot between the Saratoga Shoe Depot building and the insurance agency? Yeah, we'll he's squeezed in there. I don't know who owns the property and allowed him to set up shop there, but I'm glad. And judging by the long line of customers, so are a lot of other people!

(hot) dog gone!

The rising cost of gas and food combined with the warmer weather had me looking forward to something - lunch in the park. I had started to develop a habit of walking through Congress Park once a week or so and grabbing a hot dog and soda for lunch, sometimes even a potato knish.

But I see in last Friday's edition of Saratoga Today that the hot dog man will no longer be able to sell hot dogs in the park. Truth be told, I had wondered how he, and only he, got such a sweet spot. It didn't seem completely kosher to me. Turns out, it wasn't. The King of the Knish was granted special permission by the Prince of the Park, former Commish Tommy McTygue. The city charter says food vendors can only operate in Congress Park on special occasions, however, and a lawsuit by another vendor pressed the issue. Ed Miller the hot dog man was given the boot.

It's the right thing to do - if it's prohibited, then it's prohibited. But frankly (pun intended) I think there are worse things than having a hot dog vendor in Congress Park or anywhere else on the streets of Saratoga. Set down some rules, make them conform to whatever codes they need to conform to to make sure that we aren't been served tainted food, but let them conduct their business. And if we're worried about being overrun by hot dog vendors, then limit the number of permits and have a lottery. Isn't that what they did for the t-shirt vendors over at the track?

I'll miss you, hot dog man.

fifteen cents in two days

Holy crap.

I had to go out of town for a funeral on Wednesday and I filled my gas tank before leaving. I paid $3.42/gallon at the Stewart's on Rowland Street and was surprised since the last time I filled up I'd only paid $3.29/gallon (luckily I don't commute and only drive around town). Imagine the shock I felt when I came back into town earlier today, and the price had jumped to $3.57/gallon! How could gas go up $0.15 in two days?

Here's the worst part - I have to make the same trip again in two weeks (much happier circumstances). It's literally going to cost me $70 in gas to make the trip. I'm going to spend more on gas than on food this month. Ugh.

girls rule!

I'm so excited that Ali and Kelly are finalists for The Biggest Loser. Ali has made such an amazing transformation. I was astounded when she managed to lose 11 pounds in one week. They have worked so hard. Stay tuned on Tuesday to see who wins.

supply and demand

I was in the grocery store Saturday night and overheard a man asking if there were any egg coloring kits left. "Silly man," I thought to myself, "it's the night before Easter and you are just now looking for an egg coloring kit?" I was so not surprised to hear that they were sold out.

Fast forward to Easter morning and I'm on my way home and stop for gas in Ballston Spa (because it was on the way and you know that gas is 8 cents cheaper just three miles down the road) and suddenly I have a craving for Cadbury Cream Eggs. Now I'm the one at the counter, begging for Easter leftovers.

Of course there were none to be found at the Stewarts Shop where I'd just gotten gas. Maybe I'll have better luck at a larger retail outlet I think, and so I stop at the Rite Aid on Ballston Ave. The shelves were pretty much cleared out, and now the clerk behind the counter is laughing at me - "Cadbury Cream Eggs? They went fast. We haven't had those for a while now."

Of course the more I thought about it, the bigger the craving became, and there was still one more Stewart's Shop on the way home.

I paid 79 cents apiece for three of those bad boys, and it was totally worth it.

step by step

I've been complaining for weeks now that I'm sick and tired of winter, but there's nothing I can do to hurry up spring. Or is there?

I think finally taking the artificial wreath off the front door was a step in the right direction.

he's back!

One of the most intense players ever returns to the game ... and in other reality television news, Jonathan Penner bites the dust in Survivor.

it pays to watch television

No, really! Check it out - I've never heard of Scarborough surveys before, but they sent me a really long one and paid me $5 to fill it out.

If you think of it, remind me to check back in six months or so to see if there is any news on what they did with the information.

watching grown men cry

I have to admit, I love watching "The Biggest Loser." Tonight, Mark got sent home. I have never seen such a display of emotion. I'm not making fun of it - I love it. See for yourself:



Classic.