It was a great party while it lasted….
…yeah, but then it was over.
Variety City offers alternative shopping and fun
The appropriately named Variety City at 1281 Lake Boulevard carries grocery items that may have been slightly damaged, or are blemished in some way. Dented cans are a good example. They also have regular grocery items along with various and sundry hardware and gift items. The store has been owned and operated by Joyce and Gene for 9 years, in a property that had started out as a hardware/lumber yard. Over the years, I’ve always enjoyed shopping there for the interesting and unusual food items you can randomly find. There’s always something to be found you might never buy at a big box store, like some odd soup or sauce, but which you can find here priced attractively enough that you end up taking it home. You can find brand names you won’t see in the chain stores around here. Joyce works to keep the atmosphere really friendly and fun. I still remember the first time I walked in there 9 years ago, and Joyce saw me walking around looking at items, and said with her big smile, “Hey you, get a cart. You’re going to need it.” I did, She was right.
Of course, in these economic times, access to these bargains is more than just a a luxury indulgence. Highly recommended.
Amusing sign spotted on Mistletoe Avenue
Harleys in the Mall
A Black Swan event in Anderson
Thursday’s Chamber of Commerce Greeters was held at the beautiful Gaia Hotel. It’s a lovely property, built with the deliberate use of environmentally conscious materials.
Great turnout, and the food was terrific. The staff was first rate. These movers and shakers of the local business community remain upbeat in the face of the economic downturn. It seemed to me that there was more of an air of grim determination than I had noticed before.
These are 2 of the hotel’s 4 swans. A Black Swan is a metaphor for something that seemingly cannot exist, and then suddenly, it does.
1. Event has appeared by complete surprise.
2. Event has a major impact.
3. Event, after it has appeared, is ‘explained’ by human hindsight.
“The problem Taleb identified with banks and trading firms was that they were very vulnerable to Black Swans and were exposed to huge losses beyond what their defective models projected.”
Greetings from a world where Black Swans do exist.
The Statue of Income Tax
It’s a sign of the times. In our town, waving a sign isn’t just a job, it’s a career. Here we see Lady Liberty and her employees, on Lake Boulevard.
There is dignity in all labor, but you’d be hard pressed to identify that quality here; dressed up as a mock Statue of Liberty, hawking income tax services to passers by. I am in the car reflected in the window.
I was reminded only a little of the real statue. The original statue is a powerful monument, along with nearby Ellis Island, gateway to waves of hopeful immigrants. Below, we see one of my favorite family photos, from one of our trips to New York. It was taken by a passerby, who got on the ground with my camera to fit us in the frame with the non-inflatable version of Lady Liberty. It was a nice moment.
Our icons are disposable, apparently useful to the extent to which we can commercialize them. I just hope I don’t ever have to wave signs to eat.
Amphibian affection
One of the big (secret)bonuses of being a real estate agent is going into so many houses, and seeing how people really live. I’ve seen some unusual pets, but I hadn’t seen a frog in somebody’s livingroom before. She said it was two years old, and had arrived as a tadpole you could see right through.
I moved up close for a better look.
“Kiss me” it said, “I am a frog prince.”
“Uh, sorry,” I whispered. “Not today.” A talking frog.
“Lick me then.” the frog continued, “I send colors you can hear, and sounds you can see.”
“Hmmmm,” with wrinkled brow as I looked it in the eye, “Gonna have to pass on that. Hey, isn’t that whole licking thing about toads, not frogs?”
The frog spoke no further.
Those Lotto left behind, the every day winners.
Insane Clown yard art
We drove by this on our way to show the house next door, southeast of Anderson. Every Realtor’s dream, to have yard art like this in the neighbor’s yard. Needless to say, our client was not thrilled with the house next door. Looks like a really bad horror movie scene.
And of course they felt compelled to put it under cover for protection. Of course.
How we didn't win $76m in the Lottery
By now you may have heard the news. We’ve been getting lots of calls.
A group of teachers and staff at the school district where my wife has worked for nearly 30 years in Shasta Lake City won the lottery prize of 76 million dollars. My wife chose not to play, although it was offered to her. The callers are all wondering if she was one of the winners. Nope.
It’s a weird feeling. Lots of “what ifs,” and not a just a little irony.
But first, its great to think that these educators won. It will be interesting to see the stories that come out of this. We probably know all the winners, some very well. Shasta Lake School and the Gateway District in general is not an affluent area. Many of the teaching and admin staff are not primarily motivated by big money, or they would be somewhere else, doing something more lucrative. But who wouldn’t like to win the lottery?
More to follow….