MEANT FOR ME! ST. PATRICK'S DAY, AND CLIMB THE LADDER OF SUCCESS

Spurt, another good report! I love the Irish animals. I'm getting my green ready as I'm 75% Irish. It's gorgeous outside so I think I'll get my front yard ready for spring and summer instead of watching Q. What am I saying??? I wouldn't 't watching Q given this lineup even if we had a blizzard!

Now, if only Q didn't want us to kiss their blarney stone.

Oh that Q... another weekend, another theme... another festival of tedium...

I might catch a Dooney show just because... (force of habit I guess) but even that's not a given... And yes, another 'seasonal' Dooney... Like clockwork, we can count on an Easter patent bag in the spring, something zippy, oh so colorful and usually not leather for summer and then the fall bag will be an actual leather bag... with another likely before Christmas... Predictable, predictable, predictable... Besides, I'm not buying Dooneys these days... They ticked me off with their choice to offer a series of bags in league with the bunch from Duck Dynasty and despite the commonality... of the duck thing, well, that would be a big no freakin' way...

As for Sunday, well, no... just no... No all day ladders for me, no Rick, no Irish Jigs or Happy Dancing. Actually, it no longer matters what day of the week it is, I'm just not in Q watching mode...

Unfortunately though Spurt, it's a rainy, dreary day here in the Nation's Qwapitol (as it so often is, it seems) so while I'd like to get out and about, there's a fair amount of motivation to simply curl up with a good book... We'll see. I did want to get back to the Lazy Boy store and order a chair. Yes, I know, I could order it here, but you see, chairs actually go on sale at the store, though their customer service is a joke and their shipping prices every bit as offensive as are QVC's...

I also wanted to head up to Target, but that too might have to wait, unless I can get some momentum going... I need to pick up some things at their pharmacy, but unfortunately, although I went to the rather miserable Safeway (I'm becoming more and more a fan of Giant, as Safeway just continues to stink) on Thursday, I still need to pick up a few groceries, and while I could probably get most of them at Target, well, let's face it, Target's grocery selection is limited... Personally, I think they should go back to offering just prepackaged basics and turn the extra floor space back over to other things like clothes, books and home decor items... You know, like Target used to be... But alas, I understand we have YET another CEO who knows better.... Yes, it seems that in their zeal to recapture their market share, the brain trusts in charge of Target have decided that they need to expand their fresh food choices... You know, to appeal to that younger consumer who is all about boutique groceries... Never mind the fact that the affluent younger shopper is NOT going to Target for their Shiitake mushrooms... they're going to Trader Joe's or Balducci's... and so on. Honestly, when will these idiots ever get it? Apparently not until they run more and more formerly successful retail operations firmly into the ground!

As I so often am... shaking my head in wonderment...

Oh and yes, Happy St. Paddy's Day... I'm just certain the Q has something wonderful, innovative and on-trend in store...

On 3/14/2015 handygal said: Spurt, l was looking forward to your St. Patrick's Day edition, and it was a hoot, as always! Have a great weekend!

Hi HANDYGAL....Thanks, glad ya liked it and have a wonderful weekend!

On 3/14/2015 CalmInTheHeart said:

Spurt, another good report! I love the Irish animals. I'm getting my green ready as I'm 75% Irish. It's gorgeous outside so I think I'll get my front yard ready for spring and summer instead of watching Q. What am I saying??? I wouldn't 't watching Q given this lineup even if we had a blizzard!

Now, if only Q didn't want us to kiss their blarney stone.

Hey CALMIN---...LOL about that blarney stone comment.....I hope the place the blarney stone is located doesn't close, unlike a certain turquoise mine that did....

You enjoy your Irish celebration ..... and enjoy your gardening time too....I bet your gardening would be more exciting to watch than any of QVC gardening shows...I think you should sign on with some network and beat them in the ratings...

And indeed---watching snow fall in a blizzard would be MUCH MORE exciting and entertaining than anything on QVC these days.....

On 3/14/2015 mewsmomtoo said: Well, it seems like there is a lot of blarney comin' our way this weekend! I think I will spend some time outdoors and soak in a little sunshine instead :-) Love the kitty leprechaun pictures! Also thank you for giving me a great idea - I have an old wooden ladder that isn't safe to climb very high on and now I think I will convert it into a kitty tree/bed. I've been wondering what to do with it and they will enjoy it. Still won't be buying the Little Giant as that is more ladder than I need. And, since I live in AZ, I can confirm for y'all that, as of this writing, the mine is still closed :-D. PS I did see something very cool today. The president was in Phoenix today 're the VA scandal and our local news showed him getting on Air Force One to leave so as it rolled down the runway, I stepped outside to watch it fly overhead. I have seen that plane several times here in Phx and in SF and even in London and it is always exciting. Doesn't matter who is in office, it's what it represents (plus it is always awesome to see a 747 flying so close by)

Hey MEWS---well I am glad QVC's Sunday LADDER programming was good for something, and along with the kitty pix, gave you an idea on how to recycle your wooden ladder....so QVC was good for something...a rarity these days....

Now MEWS since the infamous mine is in your neck of the woods we want you to take a trip to that mine and post an actual photo of the closed mine.....then you can send it to QVC to prove that we know for certain THE DARN THING IS CLOSED!!!! so they can STOP announcing it.... BTW with your photo, we can also find out if there is an actual CLOSED sign posted on the mine

It was nice that you got to see Air Force One up close.....(our tax dollars at work) ---and I will not expand on that topic, since political threads are taboo here on the forums. But as you said, no matter who is in office, it is what it represents and to see a huge plane close up...that is the exciting part..

When NASA had the space shuttle, the space shuttle would piggyback on a NASA modified 747 and sometimes stop at one of the air bases here to refuel before heading off to Cape Canaveral, Florida.......pretty exciting and impressive to see it....that's one HUGE plane!

On 3/14/2015 stevieb said:

Oh that Q... another weekend, another theme... another festival of tedium...

I might catch a Dooney show just because... (force of habit I guess) but even that's not a given... And yes, another 'seasonal' Dooney... Like clockwork, we can count on an Easter patent bag in the spring, something zippy, oh so colorful and usually not leather for summer and then the fall bag will be an actual leather bag... with another likely before Christmas... Predictable, predictable, predictable... Besides, I'm not buying Dooneys these days... They ticked me off with their choice to offer a series of bags in league with the bunch from Duck Dynasty and despite the commonality... of the duck thing, well, that would be a big no freakin' way...

As for Sunday, well, no... just no... No all day ladders for me, no Rick, no Irish Jigs or Happy Dancing. Actually, it no longer matters what day of the week it is, I'm just not in Q watching mode...

Unfortunately though Spurt, it's a rainy, dreary day here in the Nation's Qwapitol (as it so often is, it seems) so while I'd like to get out and about, there's a fair amount of motivation to simply curl up with a good book... We'll see. I did want to get back to the Lazy Boy store and order a chair. Yes, I know, I could order it here, but you see, chairs actually go on sale at the store, though their customer service is a joke and their shipping prices every bit as offensive as are QVC's...

I also wanted to head up to Target, but that too might have to wait, unless I can get some momentum going... I need to pick up some things at their pharmacy, but unfortunately, although I went to the rather miserable Safeway (I'm becoming more and more a fan of Giant, as Safeway just continues to stink) on Thursday, I still need to pick up a few groceries, and while I could probably get most of them at Target, well, let's face it, Target's grocery selection is limited... Personally, I think they should go back to offering just prepackaged basics and turn the extra floor space back over to other things like clothes, books and home decor items... You know, like Target used to be... But alas, I understand we have YET another CEO who knows better.... Yes, it seems that in their zeal to recapture their market share, the brain trusts in charge of Target have decided that they need to expand their fresh food choices... You know, to appeal to that younger consumer who is all about boutique groceries... Never mind the fact that the affluent younger shopper is NOT going to Target for their Shiitake mushrooms... they're going to Trader Joe's or Balducci's... and so on. Honestly, when will these idiots ever get it? Apparently not until they run more and more formerly successful retail operations firmly into the ground!

As I so often am... shaking my head in wonderment...

Oh and yes, Happy St. Paddy's Day... I'm just certain the Q has something wonderful, innovative and on-trend in store...

Hey Stevie....so no jig dancing, or ladder climbing viewing in your plans.....and a good book on a dreary day instead.....I don't blame you....sounds good to me....although the Q Brass will be soooooooooo disappointed....

And by all means PLEASE shop locally for your La-Z-Boy and not the Q. As I think I mentioned previously, when I accompanied a friend to one of their stores, I was pleasantly surprised at the nice chairs and furniture they offered..... yes pricey, but I think most furniture is unfortunately these days...but yes, some retailers actually DO offer REAL SALES....IMAGINE THAT!!!! But again, words not found in QVC's dictionary....I hope you do find the chair you have been wanting and enjoy it!!!

Well here the sun is shining and birds are singing supposed to be 75 here and my cats enjoying their patio time....although rain expected later in the weekend....

As for Target---your right, even their stores that are not Super Targets are stocking more and more groceries here too---and why is the question I asked....If their Execs knew anything about the grocery store biz here they would find the whole thing fruitless (pardon the pun) because our Big Chain here, H.E.B., drove out all the major grocery store chains....oh sure we have our Sams, Costco, Super Targets, Trader Joes and Wally World that sell groceries but they just can't compete with that MONSTER CHAIN and their grip on this city!!!! And even though the competition has more national brands, and come out with newer stuff quicker.....the main problem is the two P's---prices and produce.....their produce sections are pitiful compared to HEB and their prices much higher------as we know from our QVC experience, high prices and lack of variety are not a good combination---so it appears customers would rather put up with HEB their half stocked shelves, or no stocking of the item you need, and some products that might be there one, week, but not the next, the pushing of the store brand over national ones, lousy check out service etc etc then those 2 important factors. And while some grocery stores may have beautiful produce, like Whole Foods, it appears that the lack of "junk food" just does not make them popular enough to gather crowds....

So it appears Target did not do their research and going to lose some big bucks here instead of drawing the customers in. Yep, more nice home decor, home goods, quality clothing, even jewelry (and some of their electronics have better prices than Wally World)....but they do not want to work and build upon what Target's strengths are....It's amazing that customers can see their problem from a mile away, yet their Execs can't!!!

As for luring the young consumer.....an unofficial poll of co-workers in my office has found, that they aren't interested in cooking---it's either fast food or go out to non fancy restaurant to eat---and sadly some of their children do not know what vegetables or fruits are.....oh they might drop in to a grocery store occasionally to pick up something already cooked---or for the "essentials"---ya know like beer, wine, and/or snacks!!! ..And sadly the increasing rate of juvenile diabetes in my town supports these claims...Now this discussion may apply only to folks I work with and may not represent those still out there that like to cook!! (a friend's 23 year old daughter is one of those). And the young ones that ARE interested in gourmet cooking and all the recipes they found on that app on their smart phone, and they want the finest produce, will be the ones headed off to Whole Foods....and definitely will NOT be thinking of Target.....

So Target, like QVC, thinks they know their customers, but nothing can be further from the truth....JMHO. And as you said so eloquently Stevie, these so called execs are running these once established and profitable businesses to the ground...and out of business.....WHAT ARE THEY THINKING!!! ...or perhaps that is the problem...THEY SHOULD DO SOME THINKING!!!

P.S. and interesting enough some of the small towns in the surrounding area do still have Safeways along with HEB.....

And a HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO YOU TOO!!!!

Hello SPURT: Well, you certainly outdid yourself with the photos today. Every one of them is a winner. However, the BIG winner, the Miss (or maybe Mr.) Ireland of the photos, is the cat in the patch of shamrock. Now that is a beautiful photo. I must tell you that many years ago I visited Blarney Castle in Ireland and I actually did kiss the Blarney Stone, which was quite an event. For those posters who are not aware of this, the Blarney Stone is raised up, and sticks out a bit from, the parapet of the Castle. A would-be kisser would sit with their back to the Stone then lean far back so that their face was upside down against the Stone, then kiss it. It is hard to explain, but at the same time you were poised right over a gap in the parapet, looking way down at the ground. I am glad to say that a nice elderly gentleman had the job of sitting beside you and holding you steady. I don't know how they do it today but at the time it was so unhygienic and a bit scary, but quite an event. And yes, it did work, and I do have the "gift of the gab"...!! Spurt, I hope you and all the other posters have a super St. Patrick's Day.