Dear So and So

[OakLeaf]

Malkin, I'm so sorry for your loss.



Lip sunblock is one of my collection of "small things" that goes into a jersey pocket, along with tiny jars of chamois cream and regular sunblock, and a gel and a Zenergize tablet for longer rides. It all just lives with the rest of my gear so it's ready to go when I am. Things in my seat pack aren't very accessible, so that's reserved for "in case of" stuff like flat, chain and cable repair; space blanket; and Epi-Pen. Anything I actually expect to need or want on a ride goes in a pocket.

[indysteel]

Malkin,

I'm so sorry about your friend and coworker.


Dear stray cats: Why do you keep finding your way to our house? Do you have some sixth sense that we'll care for you? Well, it's off the vet you go this week if the stars align. So, please show up Tuesday evening so that we can capture you for surgery on Wednesday. We've named you Petunia since you like to help us with our yard work. You're a very sweet and friendly kitten; I sure hope we can find a forever home for you.

Dr P: Thanks for being such an awesome vet. You have quickly become our favorite vet and that's saying a lot because all the vets at your clinic are great.

[Reesha]

Dear Anthropologie,

Thank you for making this strapless dress.


LOVE.

[spokewench]

Malkin,

Dear stray cats: Why do you keep finding your way to our house? Do you have some sixth sense that we'll care for you? Well, it's off the vet you go this week if the stars align. So, please show up Tuesday evening so that we can capture you for surgery on Wednesday. We've named you Petunia since you like to help us with our yard work. You're a very sweet and friendly kitten; I sure hope we can find a forever home for you.

I get this completely! I took in a stray black cat last year - he is very sweet. I almost came home with another cat from the downtown tennis courts this weekend. I was the captain and host for a league match on our downtown tennis courts and I was done with my matches early and was watching the rest of my team, and all of a sudden a beautiful long haired siamese looking cat with the bluest eyes just ran right up to me in the grass and plopped at my feet with a big meow! I, of course, started petting it. It had a collar and two tags, but the tags had no address. I was busy for a while and the cat took off, but now I feel like I need to go over and check on the cat to make sure it lives across the street in the houses across the street and was not a stray.

[Blueberry]

Dear Lenovo & IBM Support Contracting for Lenovo:

I'm glad to have discovered your complete lack of professionalism and customer service of late. You sold a defective laptop to my DH for his work. It spontaneously rebooted constantly after 6 weeks of use. It's been back to you four (yes four) times for repair. You have wasted his time, been rude to him, and otherwise been a PITA (and he's been without his computer longer than he was actually with it, thanks to your incompetence). You suggested a remedy that would have made him happy (a refund) only to now decide that you can't do that and he'll have to settle for a replacement.

I'm really glad that I know this now - when I replace my current computer in the near future, it will not be with one of your products. I'm also glad his co-workers know this before they make a final selection for their next large order.

Signed,

Caveat Emptor

[OakLeaf]

Dear cordless power tool/outdoor equipment company,

Women actually use your products. My hands are small-ish but not SUPER small. It shouldn't be such a freakin' hassle to reach both sides of the battery at once to disengage the latches from the tool. I'm hoping these batteries last a long time, it p*sses me off when batteries don't last (yes, I'm talking about you, robotic vacuum company), but I surely hope that your next generation of batteries is designed to better accommodate smaller hands.

[Reesha]

Dear Marissa at Serfas,

I can't believe how awesome you are. First you entertained my ridiculous request to see if you guys have a long defunct pair of Force 5 sunglasses in clear blue with rose lenses. Then when you didn't find it in the computer, you literally went into the warehouse and dug through boxes of sunglasses until you found a pair. And then you called me back and offered them to me for a 50% discount.

I broke my pair of clear blue Force 5's in a car accident in 2006 and my second pair didn't have the rose lenses but I broke those in 2008 somehow. I guess I just didn't love them as much without the rose lenses. My day is MADE. You are the best. Now I can ride across the USA in some rocking brilliant blue sunglasses, and see properly on cloudy days! THANK YOU. I will send a letter to the company to tell them how awesome you are.

[Blueberry]

Dear New Landlord:

You rock! And you are an amazing, awesome person (and who I want to be when I grow up). Thank you for restoring my faith in humanity!!

[Owlie]

I'm sorry for your loss, Malkin.

Lip sunblock is one of my collection of "small things" that goes into a jersey pocket, along with tiny jars of chamois cream and regular sunblock, and a gel and a Zenergize tablet for longer rides. It all just lives with the rest of my gear so it's ready to go when I am. Things in my seat pack aren't very accessible, so that's reserved for "in case of" stuff like flat, chain and cable repair; space blanket; and Epi-Pen. Anything I actually expect to need or want on a ride goes in a pocket.

I'm putting it in the bag because it's the sort of thing that I'm not terribly used to carrying around and odds are good that it'll end up in the wash!

[Blueberry]

I'm putting it in the bag because it's the sort of thing that I'm not terribly used to carrying around and odds are good that it'll end up in the wash!

As long as it doesn't end up in the dryer, it's all good

[alexis_the_tiny]

Malkin, I'm so sorry for your loss. Big hugs.


Dear universe, why is it that you keep insisting on sending me guys who dump my a** and then return a few hours later to demand me back and then get peeved to an extreme point when I refuse? Did I somehow fail that test the last time and you felt you needed to retest to see whether I've grown a spine? If you'd like to explain yourself, now would be a real good time. You're making the whole crazy cat lady gig seem so much more...agreeable.

[OakLeaf]

I'm putting it in the bag because it's the sort of thing that I'm not terribly used to carrying around and odds are good that it'll end up in the wash!

The other advantage of having it live with the rest of my cycling gear is that it automatically comes out of the pocket when I'm done with a ride. Take off shoes, helmet, HR strap, sunglasses with mirror, and gloves; empty pockets; all of it goes into the mesh backpack so it's ready for next time.


The only difficulty is when I'm in marathon training and I bring the lip moisturizer and sunblock along on long runs, too. I don't use enough of either to have a third tube (the "first" set of containers lives in my purse) - they'd just go rancid - so I do have to remember to transfer them from my running vest to the cycling pack. But that usually happens roundabout the time I start missing the weight of my Epi-Pen in my purse. Another thing I don't have three of ... one lives in my seat pack, and the one from my purse comes along when I run.

Okay you're right, it is more to remember than I thought. At least the pack guarantees I'll keep track of all the dedicated cycling stuff. And it's only an issue for about six weeks in each marathon training cycle.

[skhill]

Dear self,
Be sure to look at the labels on the spice jars. Apricot-mustard scones are not nearly as appealing as apricot-ginger...

[limewave]

Dear self,
Be sure to look at the labels on the spice jars. Apricot-mustard scones are not nearly as appealing as apricot-ginger...

oh no . . . .
I made oatmeal yesterday morning with raisins and Cumin (should have been cinnamon). Yuck.

[Pax]

Being a crappy non-cook has it's advantages... my only spices are salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cinnamon, all in their store packages (except the salt) so they look really different.