Tip Top

Hello World, Happy post-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend! Although this occasion is considered a holiday by the federal government, I find that out in the real world (oh, hit that easy target!) most businesses tend to give it the old go-by, and for most of us average working stiffs, it's just another work day as usual. For anyone lucky enough to have the day off on Monday, and enjoy a nice long weekend, they certainly can't do any banking, or receive mail, or have their trash picked up, because the banks, Post Office, and municipal services tend to follow in the footsteps of the feds, and close up shop for the day anyway. They would scoff at the idea of having the day off at the real estate management office where I'm working as a temp now, but I would advise the late and lamented Dr. King not to feel affronted at this slight - heck, they don't even close for Presidents Day next month, and some of those guys were not only the Father of our Country, but freed the slaves, and built the Panama Canal besides. So Dr. King would have plenty of high-profile company if he wanted to take offense (over 200 years' worth, in fact) and showing no partisan politics, "I have a dream" takes its place cheek-by-jowl alongside "I cannot tell a lie," "Four score and seven years ago," "Speak softly and carry a big stick," and "I am not a crook," on the ash heap of holiday history, and more's the pity, I'm sure. Even though Monday was not a holiday for me, we still went to visit our friends in The Great White North for the weekend, and I would like to add, if you thought we would judge them on the color of their skin, and not on the content of their character - well, all I can say to that is, "Dream on." We found the traffic light on Saturday morning as we went, and certainly a noticeable lack of tour buses taking happy crowds to the upstate ski resorts - since it's been much too warm all winter for snow around here, and even the most advanced snow-making equipment is no match for 60 degree temperatures day in and day out. We arrived just in time for lunch (timing is everything!) and hurried over to the 76 Diner, where I was disappointed to find that their signature fried ravioli was unavailable, but taking a chance on their mysterious Greek Fries (a basket of French fries with vinaigrette, garlic, and feta cheese) turned out to be a happy accident of a great find, rather than a culinary misfire that I might have feared. After that, it was off to Cracker Barrel, where we usually have good luck finding unique apparel, knick-knacks, and treats - but not this time, unfortunately, and we even struck out at Staples, and the axiom holds true that sometimes the simplest things turn out to be the biggest headaches. We had no such problems at the nearby dollar store, where we loaded ourselves down with all manner of paraphernalia, to the extent that the store owners felt sorry for us and actually gave us a discount on top of their already ridiculously low prices. They may not see us again for 6 months, but we'll be going back there when we're up that way again, you can be sure of that. Once we had enough shopping for one afternoon, we headed back to enjoy our hosts' new 60-inch flat screen 4K TV, and it was a joy to behold, believe me. It includes a veritable welter of entertainment options handily built right in, so you can easily choose to watch selections from Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Amazon Prime, ChromeCast, or your own computers and cameras, right there on the television with the touch of a button. This is great news for people who don't already have enough ways to waste time on their own, which can really blow a sizable hole in your day, and I ought to know. What won't they think of next! Anyone can tell you that watching videos of cats riding robot vacuums, and chickens playing pianos can be hungry work, so we finally had to take a dinner break, and our friends at Paesan's were kind enough to provide the pizza that was just what the doctor ordered. It was all we could have asked to revive our flagging spirits, but even though we were in the other room, the big screen TV kept luring us back, and we soon found ourselves back in its thrall once again. Our friends had never seen "Inside Out" at the movies like we had, so we checked it out on demand, and settled into their comfy recliners for this animated treat - and no less welcome for the second time around for some of us. Somehow, even with a long day and plenty of food, we all managed to make it through to the end without falling asleep along the way, as impossible as it might sound, and which is something that I can never manage at home, I don't mind saying. But as it was getting late, we toddled off to bed after that, and their spacious and well-appointed guest room was as warm and inviting as ever. It also includes their two friendly felines, who must have decided that guests are simply extra house staff that have been brought on to attend to their every need, and they seemed genuinely perplexed when we didn't instantly spring up to fetch them extra food, snacks, fresh water, and toys to suit their every whim. They might even have tried to wake us up in the middle of the night, but with a house full of kitties of our own, I could have told them that was never going to work. In the morning, we tore into donuts and bagels, plus crumb cake and fresh fruit, as well as my personal favorite, hard-boiled eggs that have already been peeled, and thanks ever so. Then it was off for more shopping at Goodwill, the Country Trunk's going-out-of-business sale, and Oceans Job Lot, where we all found much that was to our liking, and spared no expense in doing so. I expect my commendation any day now from the Governor's economic advisers for our selfless contributions to the local economy, and deservedly so, if I do say so myself. This turned out to be one of those trips where we come home with more stuff than we started with, so after enjoying some wonderfully scenic pictures from one of their recent cruises on the television, we set about in earnest to pack all of our belongings into the car, and bid our fond farewells, before the day had completely slipped away from us. The traffic on the way back home was treacherous, with a wintry mix of snow and sleet tossed in for good (or rather, bad) measure, but fortunately we had Denny's to look forward to, and I am happy to report that it did not disappoint. The rest of the way home, luckily the weather and the traffic both let up, and it was smooth sailing right to our very doorstep. Regrettably, it was the Sherpa's night off, so we had no choice but to lug all of our voluminous appurtenances into the house all by our little old lonesomes - and to the consternation of our terrified furry residents, who stared at us wild-eyed as if they had never seen us before in their entire lives, and would be just as glad to keep it that way, thanks not. They seemed to like us a little better once we gave them some food, but the jury was still out on whether that was going to completely turn the tide in our favor, or only offer a temporary truce while they considered their various alternatives. Of course, we've long since resigned ourselves to the inevitable picket signs and protest marches, but frankly, we thought the documentary film crew was just way over the top, even for them, and that's with taking into account that our standards for them were extremely low to start with. They may have us outnumbered, and I know they think they have us outsmarted, as well as outflanked most of the time, but I'm not worried - as long as they can't figure out how to use a can opener, we still have the upper hand. Elle