Winning

After posting about the hole in my life caused by the discontinuation of Red Oval Farms Stoned Wheat Thins, I went down a bit of a rabbit hole. Even though I have thought about those crackers over the years, I never thought about why they left the shelves. Some digging came up with the possibility of supply shortages causing the powers to be to look for what cuts could be made. It could also be related to a class action lawsuit against Nabisco for false advertising. While all that was nice to know, it still didn't bring back my favorite cracker.

Luckily, an old post on Reddit did. I wasn't the only one missing my favorite crunchy cracker, so were many other Reddit users. Someone even took the time to identify other crackers most like ROFSWT. In no time at all, I was ordering Wellington Stoned Wheat Crackers from that big internet company.

Guys...they are awesome! It's easily been 6 years or more since I've enjoyed that salty crunch, but those days are gone! I can't wait to share my findings with others who miss ROFSWT just as much as I do.

The Climb

Anyone who was stuck working inside today in the DC area most likely wished they weren't. It was another stunner of the day with skies on full blue and the breeze button set to mild. My plan was to clean out a closet in the spare bedroom, but it didn't take much self-convincing to push that to another day and set out on my bike.

My bike got a major overhaul back in September, but because of wrist surgery, today was the first time I actually took it for a spin. As expected, there was nature showing off all over. I spied my first sightings of daffodils swaying in the breeze, and turtles sunning themselves on a log protruding from the shore of the Potomac. One thing I didn't expect to see was a Corgi with red sunglasses riding on the handlebars like some furry hood ornament. That was a nice distraction from the hill I was suffering through.

By the time I got back home, the feels-like temperature was 89- much warmer than I expected. It made that last hill a tough one, so tough in fact that I even walked my bike a little. At first, I was a little disappointed in myself, but in the end, I'll just use that disappointment as motivation for the next ride.

April Come She Will

During the winter months, I abstain from getting pedicures. Not only does it give my nails a break, but it gives my wallet one too. The exception was on February 16, when I decided my younger sister should celebrate her milestone birthday with a pedicure, drinks, and snacks.

Today I am glad I joined her in that celebration. The weather in Alexandria was stunning with blue skies and the temperature in the upper 70s. I rummaged through my closet in search of a pair of sandals. Without much effort, I was able to pull out and dust off a silver pair of Birkenstocks. 

Walking to the car to meet some friends for lunch, I took a quick stop to enjoy the tweeting of the birds, the blue skies, and the warm sun on my face. Looking down, I smiled when I saw my purple-pedicured toes out for all to see.

Yes, I know rain and cooler temps are on the horizon, but today it felt more like mid-April than mid-March. That was a good thing.

Sundown

The first evening of daylight saving time always messed me up in the past. Here it is 7:30 pm, and finally the sun is going down. That was always a problem, those first few weeks after the clocks shifted.

However, that was working Mary's problem. I was always fooled by the light. I was fooled into thinking I had plenty of time before I needed to think about making dinner. Before I knew it, my 6:00 pm dinnertime became my 7:00 pm dinnertime. And that dinner time messed with my 9:00 pm bedtime.

Retired Mary still goes to bed on the early side, but not at 9:00 pm. I'm not worried about a later dinner. In fact,  I sat down for dinner at 7:00 tonight without an ounce of anxiety about getting cleaned up, ready for work, and in bed by 9:0 pm.

That is just one more positive for retirement.

Memories

By the time my family moved to Bel Air, MD, in the summer of 1974, the Harford Mall had been open for over a year. The mall was built on the site of the old Bel Air Racetrack. 

The mall was the center of my teen years in Bel Air. There was obviously the shopping, or whatever you called what a 12-year-old was buying those days. In my early years at the mall, I spent most of the time at either the arcade or the movie theater. It was in those theaters that I saw Star Wars at least 3 times the first weekend it came out. 

As I got older, the record bins at Korvette's were the place to be. Ed and I would spend hours flipping through all the latest releases. The first record I ever bought was by the band Boston, and I purchased it at the Harford Mall Korvette's.

The mall was where everyone congregated on Friday night. Parents usually dropped kids off at the doors by the arcade and theater entrance. From there, it was free-roaming up and down the corridors. Popular stops were Spencer's Gifts, Fashion Bug, and Radio Shack. If a snack was needed, there was always a slice of pizza from the Orange Bowl or a soft pretzel from the blonde sisters who ran the pretzel cart.

I watched the Bicentennial fireworks light up the sky from the mall parking lot. Each summer, the carnival would set up, and my neighbor Suzanne and I would walk around looking for cute boys in the hopes they might notice us. Then there would be the awkward talking and shuffling of our feet. I don't think either of us ever found teen love there, but we didn't give up trying.

The mall is about to shut down. I suppose 53 years is a good run. My sister and I talked about eating at Friendly's one more time, but we never got there. It has become another ghost mall that will eventually be torn down to create an open shopping center that is popular these days.

Maybe the mall is out of style right now, but boy, it was happening back then.

The Ladies Who Lunch

I've been driving around with a package in the back of my car for about a month now. Inside the package is a pair of tap shoes that I'm supposed to deliver to my niece, who lives in DC.  A week ago, we finally made a plan to meet for lunch. Since she works from home on Fridays, I thought it would be easy to zip into town for lunch and the shoe drop-off. I texted her as soon as I finished up with a morning appointment. 

I'm on my way from Tyson’s. I should be there around noon. See you soon!

Her response confused me.

We actually decided to cowork today at a cafe! I'm at Big Bear Cafe

I meant to tell you right when we got here and then my boss called me.

I couldn't understand why, on a day she was scheduled to work from home, she would head out to a cafe and "co-work" with her colleagues who could also be working from home. I mean, wouldn't it have been easier to just co-work in the office?

Nonetheless, I adjusted my GPS and headed for the cafe. 

Driving through DC is always fun for me. I passed by GW and the dorm where my friend lived back in the 1980s. I passed by my dad's old office and zipped around an assortment of circles like I knew what I was doing. When I made the last left on R Street, I recognized the building that housed the cafe. I had been there with Megan before, but didn't recall the name.

It wasn't that warm, but plenty of people were set up outside with big cups of steaming caffeine and open laptops.  Walking through the door, I spotted Megan in the back corner. Her boyfriend and roommate, Keith, was also there with his open laptop.

I laughed as I sat down. "Oh, so this is what you meant by co-working? I couldn't understand why you and your co-workers would all meet at a cafe to telework. Now I get it."

She laughed, "Yeah, that would be silly."

Silly me, I thought.

Tip Toe Thru' the Tulips

The purple crocuses have started popping through the soil that was partly covered in snow only a few days ago. The forsythia are blooming their familiar yellow flower, and the buds of the trees are emerging as well. Most mornings, I hear the familiar bird songs of the robin and others through my open bedroom window.

Yes, spring is right around the corner. The signs are everywhere!

Unfortunately, the less pleasant signs have emerged as well. Those include a sinus headache, scratchy throat, and stuffy nose. I love spring in the DC area, but allergy season is another story.

I have stocked up on the appropriate medicines, saline rinses, and tissues. I'm making chicken noodle soup later today in hopes of getting back to feeling 100%. All of it comes with the territory of enjoying springtime in DC. 

Even so, I will happily (most of the time) suffer through my seasonal allergies just to witness the glory of the season. I know most people think about the cherry blossoms that surround the Tidal Basin. But have you ever seen the beauty that is a field of tulips as they stand tall? That is a sight to see and completely worth the sneezes that precede their arrival.