Flower Market 2010

Okay, so it has been over a month since I posted. We're busy people!  But actually the reason is I lost my camera charger. And by "lost" I mean it wasn't right beside my camera. And when something isn't exactly where it should be I use that as a pretty just excuse to procrastinate because finding the charger wasn't on my to-do list -- blogging was!  And this ridiculous rationale is exactly why I never get anything done.

But I digress. Flower Market - now 2 weeks ago - was once again a highlight of the spring. Only this year there wasn't a monsoon the day before so we enjoyed it sans muddy shoes and feet. Ah, the small victories.

Is Applebee Systems Sexist, or Just Stupid?

In this bad economy, it seems that everywhere I turn I read about how small businesses are struggling to keep on workers and stay afloat. And if you look at the numbers the economic downtown has hit Wilmington doubly hard.  But it seems each time I have tried to hire someone for a home improvement the exact opposite has proven true. I mean, it took me six months to find someone to put in a 5 foot long fence!  But yesterday took the cake.  We signed up for a few window replacement estimates at the Delaware Home Show last week (air pours in the windows in our 100+ year old home) and so our phone has been ringing all week with contractors calling to offer estimates or confirming appointment times.  Last night I was scheduling one appointment, and after 10 minutes on the phone during which I confirmed a) that I work, b) that we have 13 windows on the ground floor alone (cha-ching!), and c) we're interested in started work right away, the gentleman from Applebee Systems explained that he looked forward to meeting my husband and I on Friday afternoon - and could I confirm that my husband would be there too?  Actually, I replied, my husband would be out of town on Friday but not to worry, I would be here and I'm the decision maker for these kinds of things.  (Let's face it:  I could replace every window in the house, as well as all the furniture and probably the children and it would take poor Ryan at least a week to notice. Love him, but he's not into the details!) And the man actually said - YES RIGHT HERE IN THE YEAR 2010 - said that he would need to reschedule so that my husband could be there.  And I confirmed, let me make sure I understand you, your company will not come to my house and give me an estimate unless my husband is here.  At which point the gentleman from Applebee Systems, knowing that IT IS 2010 should have explained why on earth that could possibly be their policy, but instead just said "yes, ma'am, that is correct".  And I literally gasped, then calmed myself, and explained that I could not consider doing business with them.  And again, this person had the opportunity to regain his footing on this extremely, dangerously slippery slope, but instead HUNG UP.  Which makes me thing that some small businesses are probably deserving to go the way of the dinosaurs.

Latin Fusion

We tried this new Mexican place near our house tonight, only to learn it was not "Mexican", but "Latin Fusion", which means "overpriced Mexican" in Spanish. The food was delicious, though, and Riley got to try plantains, avocado, refried beans, some weird cheese, chicken sopa, sea bass, blueberries, and french fries - and of course she loved them all! This girl will seriously eat anything. And tomorrow I'm going to try hot chili peppers just to prove it! Meanwhile Gabe was impressing our teacher-turned-waitress with his "panish", words like pappas fritas, sopa, pollo, and trinkle. Vamanos!