OP
OP
Did all the prep work for the evening shifts dinner. Turkey and all the fixins. I'm bushed!
Random Act of Kindness - start the wave DC!
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
tinlizzie
Head Chef
A couple of times recently I have just said in passing to a nicely dressed or coiffed lady I meet in the grocery aisle that her hair really looks nice or that's a pretty outfit, and they have given me a nice, surprised-looking smile in return.
Wednesday I participated in a new program in town where people donate their unused musical instruments to be refurbished and furnished to school kids who have no access to their own. I had been carrying my flute around for more years than I care to admit -- it was new when I learned in junior high, and I played in the high school marching band. I never did like playing the flute and still change the station when those dreaded flute concertos come on. I liked playing the school-owned piccolo better (especially Sousa marches). But I digress.
Wednesday I participated in a new program in town where people donate their unused musical instruments to be refurbished and furnished to school kids who have no access to their own. I had been carrying my flute around for more years than I care to admit -- it was new when I learned in junior high, and I played in the high school marching band. I never did like playing the flute and still change the station when those dreaded flute concertos come on. I liked playing the school-owned piccolo better (especially Sousa marches). But I digress.
Addie
Chef Extraordinaire
And when I was in the fifth grade, I wanted to play the flute. Remember how the flute harmonizes with the soprano on the high notes? Well I always wanted to do that. But they needed a second trumpet player in the school band. So I got stuck with the trumplet. And besides my sister played the trumpet and the French horn. They figured she could work with me. My younges took up the trumpet and later graduated to the tuba. I donated his trumpet to the school also.
joesfolk
Head Chef
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2010
- Messages
- 1,724
I had fun the other day with a RAK. We had a good snowfall Thursday night and I get out of work 1/2 hour or more before some other folks. Now I don't know half of the people at work because the turnover rate is so high but just for the heck of it I cleaned off my vehicle and while it was warming up I picked a car from the handicapped spaces and cleaned it off too. I sure hope it helped someone. I know I sure enjoyed thinking about the surprise they would get after a long boring shift at work.
Addie said:And when I was in the fifth grade, I wanted to play the flute. Remember how the flute harmonizes with the soprano on the high notes? Well I always wanted to do that. But they needed a second trumpet player in the school band. So I got stuck with the trumplet. And besides my sister played the trumpet and the French horn. They figured she could work with me. My younges took up the trumpet and later graduated to the tuba. I donated his trumpet to the school also.
Ah...the trumpet. I played in school, and because of that I was able to play a two valve bugle in the D&B in basic training. I still have my original horn, and could never get rid of it. My son played it for a few years until we could afford to get him his own. Then we would sometimes play together! Thanks for the memories.
Addie
Chef Extraordinaire
We lived next to the town hall where the Boy Scouts held there weekly meeting. One of their last things to do at the end of their meetings was to lower the flag for the night. Their trumpeter played taps as it was being lowered. My sister one day went outside and echoed his notes. It sounded so beautiful. My sister's last notes would just fade away. It became a weekly thing for so many of the residents of the town to come to the town hall and listen to it. Then one summer, some folks brought a picnic when they arrived early and waited for the taps. Before you knew it it became a picnic event for the summer and warm weather. It just grew and grew. When we moved away, the town continued it. Taps is a beautiful pice of music. And another one I have always loved is "Now The Day Is Over."
CWS4322
Chef Extraordinaire
I would say that my neighbour coming to plow the driveway was a random act of kindness EXCEPT he hunted deer on the back 40 (didn't get one), and the other trade for access (if he didn't get a deer back there), was that he'd plow in exchange for the privilege. But, I still appreciated it.
Addie
Chef Extraordinaire
You got the better of that deal. I have no arguement with hunting as long as they are going to eat their kill.
OP
OP
Oh I wish that had been me! I came out of work at 11pm last night to a very bitterly cold night and a LOT of snow on my vehicle. I couldn't find my snow brush! I ended up with snow my my sleeves from using my hands to clear off my van.
I watched my DH perform a RAK this morning. He went out to start DD's brand new vehicle so she wouldn't have a cold start today.
Claire
Master Chef
Day is done ... Gone the sun ....
I grew up on military installations, and married an Army man. Once we lived right across from the flag-pole. I just loved the bugle calls. I remember once I was walking home from work, and could hear a neighbor behind me with her two little ones. I could almost feel ESP, her thinking, please let Claire do the right thing. Sure enough, taps sounded and I (as I always would), stopped and faced the flag, hand on heart, and stopped for that few minutes. Later she told me how she appreciated her kids seeing that the right thing to do at taps is not to duck into the nearest shelter so you don't have to show some respect.
I grew up on military installations, and married an Army man. Once we lived right across from the flag-pole. I just loved the bugle calls. I remember once I was walking home from work, and could hear a neighbor behind me with her two little ones. I could almost feel ESP, her thinking, please let Claire do the right thing. Sure enough, taps sounded and I (as I always would), stopped and faced the flag, hand on heart, and stopped for that few minutes. Later she told me how she appreciated her kids seeing that the right thing to do at taps is not to duck into the nearest shelter so you don't have to show some respect.
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Addie
Chef Extraordinaire
The remotes that start your car for you were brand spabnking new. Most people haden't even heard of it. My gradnddaughter's boyfriend worked for an electronics store and as soon as they came out, in order to leaqrn how to install it, he put one in his car.
He was at our house and went to the window to start his car. At that moment the police were passing by. They stopped because this car was brand new to the neighborhood. They get out of their car and walk toward the car just as it started. The cop jumped back in his squad car. the boyfriend decided to play with the police. He shuts the car off. They begin to take a look again. The car starts up again. This went on for a minute or two. Th boyfriend was having a lot of fun. The cops were very confused. But he did have to leave. He goes out to the car. The cops stop him for questioning. They told him they thought there was a bomb in the car when it started up and there was no driver. They finally let him go on his way after he gave them a demonstration.
He was at our house and went to the window to start his car. At that moment the police were passing by. They stopped because this car was brand new to the neighborhood. They get out of their car and walk toward the car just as it started. The cop jumped back in his squad car. the boyfriend decided to play with the police. He shuts the car off. They begin to take a look again. The car starts up again. This went on for a minute or two. Th boyfriend was having a lot of fun. The cops were very confused. But he did have to leave. He goes out to the car. The cops stop him for questioning. They told him they thought there was a bomb in the car when it started up and there was no driver. They finally let him go on his way after he gave them a demonstration.
Addie
Chef Extraordinaire
That is a real sore spot with me. No matter where I am, if the flag is passing, I stop and place my hand over my heart. I have shamed total strangers and told them to place there hand over their heart when I am at a parade. I don't care if it is a grown person or just a kid. Last summer I noticed that an abandoned school still had the flag over the front door. No one had bother to take it down when they closed the school. I called and sent a letter to the local newspaper, my representatives, City Hall, and anyone else I could think off. The flag was in tatters, and half of it was missing. We have a resident here in this building that was at Iwo Jima. We have buried so many of our young people all over the world defending that flag. The least we can do is take proper care of our flag and show it respect. Within a week the flag was down.
When I lived in Everett, if I saw a flag at a park or on a city building that needed to be replaced, I immediately called public works and threw a hissy fit. It got so that every time I saw a flag in need of care, and I called, I would hear as soon as I said my name, "Okay, where is the flag." After about a year, I noticed that my phones calls were no longer needed. Mission accomplished.
Addie said:That is a real sore spot with me. No matter where I am, if the flag is passing, I stop and place my hand over my heart. I have shamed total strangers and told them to place there hand over their heart when I am at a parade. I don't care if it is a grown person or just a kid. Last summer I noticed that an abandoned school still had the flag over the front door. No one had bother to take it down when they closed the school. I called and sent a letter to the local newspaper, my representatives, City Hall, and anyone else I could think off. The flag was in tatters, and half of it was missing. We have a resident here in this building that was at Iwo Jima. We have buried so many of our young people all over the world defending that flag. The least we can do is take proper care of our flag and show it respect. Within a week the flag was down.
When I lived in Everett, if I saw a flag at a park or on a city building that needed to be replaced, I immediately called public works and threw a hissy fit. It got so that every time I saw a flag in need of care, and I called, I would hear as soon as I said my name, "Okay, where is the flag." After about a year, I noticed that my phones calls were no longer needed. Mission accomplished.
I also tell total strangers to respect the flag by standing with hand over heart when the American Flag passes by. It is the right thing to do. Sometimes when I am at a meeting in a school the people running the meeting try to continue when the entire school is saying the pledge. I just stand right up and start saying the pledge, and all others join me. Again, it is the right thing to do.
I played taps at several funerals when I was younger. It is a beautiful song, but brings tears to my eyes.
Claire
Master Chef
Addie, this has become a huge sore spot with us. I've even written columns about it. My husband will go to city hall about it. If the flag is piss-yellow, pink, and stone-washed-denim blue, with a fringe caused by being beaten up by the weather, you are NOT showing pride when you fly it, it is a symbol of your own shame. If it looks like something you wouldn't use as a dishrag in your kitchen, shame. Once upon a time, you put the flag up at dawn, took it down at dusk. Then it became OK to leave it up 24/7 as long as there's a light on it. But now no one seems to bother to look up at their own darned flag. If it's a rag rather than a flag, take it down, fold it up, bring it to your local VFW or similar organization to be retired, an buy a new one, or better yet, if you have no pride, then just don't fly one at all!
Addie
Chef Extraordinaire
We have a flag that flies out in the main field. It can be seen from the highway (Route 1) and even ships coming up the creek can see it. With forty residents and quite a few are WWII and Vietnam veterans, management wouldn't dare let the flag get in disrepair. We raise holy hell. 
for our flag!
for our flag!
PolishedTopaz
Sous Chef
RAK's are great I do them when I see the need. NEVER for the "Thank Yous"
Most recent was at the market....paying for my stuff, using my card and the computer goes down. I tell the gal "Don't worry......take your time, I don't get upset over stuff like this" She thanked me for not yelling at her or being mad and making her job that much harder or more thankless.
I ALWAYS over-tip the waitstaff when I eat out. Talk about a thankless job!
Best RAK I have done to date ......... At a chinese take-out joint, I am paying for my food and a young kid {13-14} was in trying to get his food he ordered 2 qts of egg foo young sauce but didn't have enough money. His Mom came in and started yelling at him "Well just get one then!!!", this poor kid was MORTIFIED. I leaned over and handed the clerk the extra money he needed said "SHHHHHH just give him the second one" and walked out.
Most recent was at the market....paying for my stuff, using my card and the computer goes down. I tell the gal "Don't worry......take your time, I don't get upset over stuff like this" She thanked me for not yelling at her or being mad and making her job that much harder or more thankless.
I ALWAYS over-tip the waitstaff when I eat out. Talk about a thankless job!
Best RAK I have done to date ......... At a chinese take-out joint, I am paying for my food and a young kid {13-14} was in trying to get his food he ordered 2 qts of egg foo young sauce but didn't have enough money. His Mom came in and started yelling at him "Well just get one then!!!", this poor kid was MORTIFIED. I leaned over and handed the clerk the extra money he needed said "SHHHHHH just give him the second one" and walked out.
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Addie
Chef Extraordinaire
RAK's are great I do them when I see the need. NEVER for the "Thank Yous"
Most recent was at the market....paying for my stuff, using my card and the computer goes down. I tell the gal "Don't worry......take your time, I don't get upset over stuff like this" She thanked me for not yelling at her or being mad and making her job that much harder or more thankless.
I ALWAYS over-tip the waitstaff when I eat out. Talk about a thankless job!
Best RAK I have done to date ......... At a chinese take-out joint, I am paying for my food and a young kid {13-14} was in trying to get his food he ordered 2 qts of egg foo young sauce but didn't have enough money. His Mom came in and started yelling at him "Well just get one then!!!", this poor kid was MORTIFIED. I leaned over and handed the clerk the extra money he needed said "SHHHHHH just give him the second one" and walked out.
Kudos to you.
OP
OP
Lately I've been brushing cars off. If I get out of work first, I brush off everyone's vehicles. When its so freaking cold out, I know how much I'D appreciate not having to stand in the cold.
Addie
Chef Extraordinaire
When my kids were small and they would go out to shovel the sidewalk, I use to tell them to shovel the walk for a couple of elderly neighbors. And I didn't want to hear any arguemnts. They could play after they did what they were told. I knew I was right when Son #3 started doing it without even being told. Eventually all three of my boys make it a point to help the elderly year round. Whether is carrying bundles for them, or shoveling snow.
