A great idea.

I've got no idea where this originated, but it appears to have gone viral, and I'm glad to support the idea by passing it on here. Forgive the Christmas theme, but I guess it really is about Christmas, because it appears to me that our friends of other religious persuasions seem not to have any such crazily consumer oriented holidays. (I'm willing to be corrected on this.) I did not write this, but with minor adjustments I concur!
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As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods—merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year can be different. This year Americans should give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!

It’s time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper?

Everyone, EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber?

Gym membership? It’s appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement.

Who wouldn’t appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates.

Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the American Dollars on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.

There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants—all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn’t the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn’t about big National chains—this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.

How many people couldn’t use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom ? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

Perhaps someone’s computer could use a tune-up. There must be some young person who is struggling to get their repair business up and running.

OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.

Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.

Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.

You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn’t imagine.

THIS should be the new American Christmas tradition.

This is another way of caring about each other, and isn’t that what Christmas is about?

And please remember to wish everyone a Merry Christmas instead of saying Happy Holidays!

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Again, I don't know who first wrote this ---- I do know I found it posted on a blog from 2008 among a lot of other places, so it isn't terribly new ----- but it does seem to ask for some thought, and maybe even some action?

Sarcasm - a special post for my sister-in-law!

These were collected over the past few weeks from various sources.

And especially for Anne, my other teacher / educated friends, and my student friends.... I think that covers pretty much everyone??

The closing of yet another craft gallery.

Cheryl and I went to the "renewment" party at The Creator's Hands on Sunday afternoon. That's our friend Carleen Wilenius standing between Cheryl and I. She has been operating The Creator's Hands for something like 30+ years. Carleen has always displayed a collection of fine quality American made art and craft items, including items from The Toycrafter, and Louise's Daughter. But like so many of our friends, both makers, and sellers, she has reached the age of "renewment" as she calls it, and has shut the doors. A great many of our customers have similarly closed the doors. The economy hasn't helped any, but all three components of the craft industry are reaching or have reached the age of "renewment". Most of us "Craft/art makers" are around the age of 65 - give or take a few years, and of course there are exceptions, but the "most of us" part of the equation stands. The same line can be repeated two more times, substituting "Gallery/shop owners", and "Craft/art buyers". Around this age, we all think about changing direction, renewment, downsizing, etc. and simple demographics are changing our "industry". The "makers" are getting too old to keep on working this hard, and the "gallery/shop owners" are in the same boat. Our customers have just filled their homes with wonderful things, and just don't have room for more!

Cheryl and I love to design and make things, and will undoubtedly go on doing so! Carleen will enjoy her "renewment", and Shelly Carithers - the woman on the left in the photo - will take up the mantle of "The Creator's Hands". She is looking for a new space, and "The Creator's Hands" will re-open soon. Our friend Chris Maxson - once our biggest gallery customer - is enjoying her retirement in California. Our friend George Landino - fellow artist and craftsperson - has downsized a lot due to some health concerns, but continues to teach children, and make lots of great stuff. I could go on all night, but you get the point. Life and business changes, but creativity goes on.

Let's start a "Bring Back Buttons" campaign!

We don't see as many buttons as we used to. I remember wearing several each day, and I remember a large collection of buttons pinned to the headliner in one of my old vans! These days I wear my handmade wooden Obama 12 pin most of the time, or one of my other wooden political pins - "Yes We Can", "Mr. Obama", or "That One" ..... The "Mr. Obama" design was born the first time I heard him called that on the radio - it turns out that NPR has a system - "President Obama" is used the first time he is mentioned in a news story, and "Mr. Obama" is usually used for subsequent mentions of our president in the same story.

"That One" is a reference to the time when John McCain in the October 7, 2008 debate with Barack Obama referred to him as "that one." John McCain was referring to Barack Obama's vote on an energy bill in the senate. McCain said it was "loaded down with goodies, billions for the oil companies and it was sponsored by Bush and Cheney. You know who voted for it? You might never know. That one." McCain pointed at Obama as he said the words "that one."

I think we should "Bring Back Buttons". They are a good way to start a great conversation. We don't need to agree with each other's buttons, but we do need to talk to each other! Maybe bring back bumper stickers too?

Not sure why I'm doing this!

This one will be sans pictures. My friend Salena over at The Daily Rant, sent along a challenge to write about 7 "weird and random" things about myself. Part of the deal is that I'm also supposed to link to Highway Hags ..... that I'm willing to do because I love their blog too. Both of these blogs are written by women truckers, and both are very interesting. The next part of the deal is to "tag" 7 other bloggers with the same challenge. That part I'm not going to do, for a couple of reasons. The main reason is that I don't really read 7 other blogs, and secondarily, I hate anything that smacks of "chain letter".

I'll make an attempt at the 7 "weird and random" things. My first thought is that my neice Maeve and nephew Wyatt would immediately say --- "only 7 Uncle Don?" Second thought is that they both read my blog, so I have to be somewhat circumspect?

1. While our business - Louise's Daughter - was started by my wife Cheryl, she and I are both very much involved in the design, making, selling, schlepping, booth setting upping, etc. However, since the figures are pretty much all women, and they have an ethnic sensibility, pretty much everyone thinks Cheryl does all of it, and I just sort of tag along to do the heavy lifting! At shows I get very annoyed at the "what's this white man doing in what is obviously a black woman's booth?" looks that I get. I often get told that it is just proper payback for us white males getting all the credit for all those years, but I still get annoyed! (see the comment on the Wedding Day entry below --- I'm still not absolutely sure she is joking?) On the other hand, I very much understand my woman woodworker friends who complain about folks asking when their husband will be back!

2. My right ear works a lot better than the left one. After finally getting my hearing evaluated professionally - which was a lot of fun by the way --- the audiologist told me that my left ear does not work as well as the right one. DUH! My regular doctor called it "old ear".... Maeve and Wyatt will love that!

3. My daughter-in-law and I share this one. We are both a bit annoyed that Maya (her daughter and my granddaughter) seems to like Casey - her Dad and Cheryl - her grandmother - better!

4. This one sort of relates to the driving theme from Salena ---- I'm often struck that it is pretty amazing that we rely on two things when driving. One - that the other folks on the road will usually follow the rules, like staying on their side of that flimsy little line down the middle of the road at 70 miles an hour! Two, -especially in the dark --- the world does not end just a bit ahead of the reach of our headlights, and that bridge that I drove over last time down this road, will still be there tonight! Though once I learned that a bridge I had driven over a few hours earlier, had since dropped into the river below ---- to this day I "gun" it over the replacement bridge!

5 . My right wrist does not bend very well because I went through it with a radial arm saw about 30 years ago.

6. I own about the 4th or 5th largest collection of spinning tops in the world, and I do a great spinning top show for kids of all ages!

7. I'm allergic to wheat.... I don't swell up or anything like that, but I just feel better if I don't eat it. Thus I relate to Salena's description of eating the cheese n stuff off the slice..... I just don't eat the rest of it later. To substitute, I make a mean oatmeal pizza!

This is sort of fun, but I'll stick to the rules and stop at 7. Check out Salena's Blog...... don't become her friend though, or she may stick you with a project ;-)

Thanks Salena!

Is bigger always better?

Just exactly how can the future be bigger? I can sort of understand a longer future, and I think I'm all for it. Bigger? I'm not convinced!

Speaking of the future ---- I'm attempting to actually publish this in the future - 12:01 pm tomorrow if this works.... on the other hand if you are reading this, it is not the future for you? I'll be clicking on the publish button at 8:34 PM yesterday?????? This is just plain weird!

Things that make you wonder?

Just in case there are any rogue handicapped folks out there stealing wheel chairs, the ones in the convention center last weekend were stored at the top of a flight of stairs - probably a lot cheaper than locking them in a room? And below, if you are not actually handicapped, but you get tired in Las Vegas, do not sit on the steps for a brief rest..... this is evidently illegal... see picture below.

For Maeve and Wyatt who think I'm pretty old!

I can remember sitting in the auditorium at Fairport High an incredibly long time ago, being told we needed to make plans for a 5 year reunion! Five years??? We'll be done with college by then! I'll be 22 or something! Who cares? Mr. Witty wasn't going to let us leave until somebody raised their hand and volunteered to plan and execute the all important 5 year reunion. Somehow, my level of discomfort sitting there in silence, must have been greater than all the other members of my class..... the social ones who usually orgainzed the pep rallies, etc. Where were the cheerleaders, and the team captains? Why was the first hand to go up, after what seemed like at least 2 hours, mine? The very same hand that finally went up after a similar long silence when the Civil Air Patrol guy asked us to sign up after another event in that same auditorium. ( I actually joined the Civil Air Patrol, and un-joined after a few weeks of marching and watching films about the joys of military service )

The five years went by. The Vietnam war was on ...... I was a pretty hard core activist by then. A lot of things seemed a lot more important than a 5 year high school reunion! I felt pretty guilty, but I never did organize that first reunion. As far as I know, nobody else stepped into the breech either. The 10 year reunion happened --- I didn't go ---- I figured somebody would probably remember that I had messed up the first one. Sort of the same misfit, nerdy, socially inept feeling that had characterized most of my school years. Why did I raise my hand that day? Mary Ellen and I did go to the 20th ( I think it was the 20th ) We enjoyed each other's company, but our few favorite folks from High School weren't there.

Now I'm 62 years old --- grey bearded ---- my baby brother has died --- I'm a cancer survivor. I think I actually turned out pretty cool. I've owned my own business for 36 years, made lots of great stuff, and made a lot of true friends. I'm a father, a grandfather, an uncle, a husband, a son, and a friend many times over!

Why does that silly post card from Angie and Sue bring up all those old feelings of sitting there in that auditorium trying so hard to keep my hand from going up?

Maybe I'll go and see how many Barack Obama pins I can sell! Or just walk around with a picture of Maya pinned to my vest? Or tell everybody to get their PSA checked, and to go ahead with that long put off colonoscopy! Mine came back negative yesterday by the way! Or just maybe, if we can all put aside those old high school feelings, some of us would discover that we turned out to be pretty decent folks who might like each other!

No picture on this one for obvious reasons!

This would fall under a new category I guess. My blog mentor/friend Salena of The Daily Rant would love this one.

Actual weather report heard on the radio --- "Cloudy tonight, but you won't notice because it will be dark"

And ---- another --- since we are on the topic ---- Sign we drove by on a trip to Washington DC ---- "George Bush Center for Intelligence"