At meetings of just about any size, why do they, the organizers, so often announce that “we will wait for the latecomers before starting”, penalizing those that arrived early or at least on time?
The Answer
to the question about what is the pot. Ann, with utmost speed, sent a link to the description of the Nippon Porcelain Condensed Milk Set. Apparently in the late Victorian era and early 1900’s condensed milk was popular and this particular set was manufactured in Japan. The can of milk drops into the jar, and the hole enables one to push the can out again with the index and middle finger, to pour. When finished, drop the can back into the porcelain container and reapply the lid. It was selling for $8. Now, knowing what to look for, I see them advertised for around $200.
F-451?
The restaurant is long in form, like a railroad car, and about half again as wide. One enters to a small bar on the left and then further along beyond the bar, a plush banquette along the entire right wall with tables and chairs opposite. Small tables and chairs on the left side of the room. The waiter had taken the order, which included a whole fish charred. Service was languorous but no one minded, it was late into the evening. The guests at the table for four were chatting quietly when the two on the banquette side looked up at the unexpected sight: in complete regalia, including helmet, boots and thick black uniform a fireman, crowbar in hand marching toward the kitchen in the rear. A single man on a mission. No siren, no other signs of distress, nothing smelled as if it were burning [because at that moment of sighting, everyone sniffs the air]. And that was it. He never returned down the aisle, and after a bit more delay the fish appeared lightly charred and exceedingly tasty. One of the diners who has lived in the City for more than a decade, and has a lifetime of eating out and eating well said, it was a first time ever event in his book.
Any Idea?
This pot was in a shop on the shelf. I picked it up, off the matching plate and turned it over to read the bottom. To my utter surprise I find a hole in the bottom. I am at a loss to know what the use of this pot is. Does anyone? The lid is removable. There are two handles.
Self Explanatory
Yes, this is a bicycle rack.
Super-Star Mother
She watched as her adult son and daughter-in-law boarded the train in suburban CT, bound for the City. As he stepped over the gap between the platform and the train, the pants on the hanger from the cleaners slipped off their perch and disappeared into the abyss below. As his eyes registered his horror and dismay, the train door closed and the train moved off on its southerly route. Mother waving goodbye from a distance, saw it all. She raced over to the spot to see what she could do but because of the lip extending the platform horizontally, she could not see the trousers laying on the ground. As quickly as possible, she returned to her car and drove around the station to the other side so she could eyeball where they were on the ground below and behind the platform lip. From her vantage point in the car, she lined the garment up with a billboard advertising underwear, in the background. She then drove back around to the side where they had fallen. She parked. She waited. She needed to wait for all the other bystanders to clear off the platform in the vicinity of the pants. Otherwise, she thought, someone will call the powers that be and have me carted off. She waited even longer for the other side of travelers heading north to clear as well. All things working together, behind her was a small woods. She waded into the trees and found a single branch, a stick. Noting now that both platforms were clear except for some stragglers farther down, she returned to the spot where her son had boarded, with the billboard at her back. With stick in hand, she sprawled out long and flat on the platform. It only took three tries and she had the pants hooked to the end of the stick. She flipped them onto the space beside her. She stood up, picked up the pants and stick and left the platform. She tossed the pants in the car, returned the branch to the woods and when once again behind the wheel, took a moment to text her son that she now had his suit pants in her possession. Don’t you wish you had been there to see it?!
Taxi
This was also on the street last night. No one has asked, but this is for a movie being filmed.
They Aren’t All Tourists
On the streets, during the day, it seems as if nearly everyone is followed by a piece of luggage; the luggage one pulls by the extended handle. From the volume of people and luggage, it appears as if the City is clogged with tourists. In fact, this luggage is a standard piece of working equipment. Either it has costume, wardrobe, or acting accoutrements, or if the ‘puller’ lives far outside the city, it contains what is needed by them to stay in the city all day. It is a different group of folk than those with the briefcases. They wear suits.
Tunnel Vision
They looked like pictures of what one sees of miners in underground tunnels. 4-5 men, in hardhats and florescent vests with stripes walking far away among the train track of the subway. These tracks are three levels down and so increased the feeling of watching miners. In order to communicate they sent light flashes from their hand held flashlights. When the trains passed, they flattened themselves against the walls. At one arrival, the train slowed like I had never seen it do previously, and when that didn’t satisfy the conductor, he honked a horn. The first time I had heard a subway train honk.
Thank You?
Every morning since the bird incident, there has been a pigeon at my stoop. When I exit, there he is, loitering about, sometimes with another. Once I start to walk, they low fly away. I had never seen them prior to the good sam act. What is the word on pigeon street? Here lives a good one, and they are here to show their thanks? or?…no!… it has to be thanks. I”m touched.