Kiss My Knits!

Yesterday, as I was in the drive-through lane to drop off some clothes at Goodwill, my battery died. One of the staff kindly pulled her car around while another hooked up the cables and gave me a jump… which did nothing. The drive-through lane of Goodwill is not exactly the best spot to have a car just die, but the staff was very gracious. So the good things were:

Because it had died that afternoon, we were prepared in the morning (another positive!) when it was time to take Em to school for the possibility that it wouldn’t start. Mr. Tvini stuck around this morning just in case he might have to take Em to school. And sure enough, it didn’t start. After getting Em to school, we tried jumping my car, but it didn’t work. It should have some charge after all the driving around I did yesterday, but nope.

So once things were settled in the morning, I called AAA again. This time, the weather was again a bit cooler and threatening rain, but still a nice day, AND as a bonus I was at my own house. The guy came within about a half hour and towed me up to our local garage. (AAA membership is worth its weight in gold when you really need it.) The rain held off and I walked the 1.2 miles home.

Now the down sides: just this moment, while I was writing this post, the garage called. The battery is utterly bereft of life, so they had to put a new one in just to check the ignition system. The alternator is fine, but the starter solenoid isn’t, so they’ll be replacing that. The total’s going to run about $400.

Also this morning I had an appointment for my semi-annual haircut. Seriously, I only get around to cutting my hair about every four months, so by the time I get it done it REALLY needs to be done. The appointment is in 15 minutes. I’ve called to cancel.

So, unexpected car expenses and continued shagginess. But all in all, it could be worse. It could be raining. Stay with me, universe, stay with me!

ETA: The salon just called – my appointment was actually for Thursday morning. No cancellation fee, no missed appointment. Life’s little victories!

If the last ad made me glad we’ve moved beyond sanitary napkin belts, this one makes me even more glad we’ve moved beyond cinching our waists. Breastfeeding support does not mean “nursing corset.”

ETA: Note also apostrophe misplacement at the bottom of the ad in “Warner Bro’s.” It’s not just an internet phenomenon!

“Special self-locking clasp that won’t dig in?” Yet another reason I am glad I live when I do.

I don’t know about you, but I went to college because I thought it would be a fun way to get a man.
If only I’d used Colgate my education might not have been wasted!

I can’t seem to quite shake this cold. There’s a lingering cough that just won’t quite go away.

After looking at this 1937 ad, though, I see what my mistake was. I didn’t cleanse my intestinal tract.

I’m sure that would have made me feel much better.

Y’all know I like vintage magazines. Today I picked up an old Woman’s Day containing this ad for Ma Bell.

It’s fun to look at these ads as little retro bubbles of kitsch. But these ads weren’t made to be quaint, they were made to sell something. And while the products are often long gone, sometimes the ads still work. This ad encouraging people to call someone long distance actually made me call someone long distance.

I have a friend whom I’ve known since we were both nine years old. We went through elementary, middle, and high school together, and even went to the same college. Over the years as our lives have taken us further apart, we’ve still sent Christmas cards and called each other on our birthdays. Even though we’re not in regular contact anymore, I still consider him a close friend.

Looking at the ad, I realized that we didn’t exchange Christmas cards last year, and we didn’t call each other on our birthdays, which are both in February. So I called this afternoon. I got his answering machine and left a message. When he hears who it is, I’ll bet he smiles. I did, just to hear his voice, even if it was telling me to wait for the beep.

So thanks, anonymous ad writer of 1957, I appreciate the nudge.

Oct 1950 Gourmet magazine. Now I want shrimp.

I know what you’re thinking.

“But Tvini, what could I make with this?”

Nothing good, that’s for sure.

On the other hand, if you have a bachelorette party coming up, with a little creativity it might be just the thing.

I’m just saying.