Are the headlines making you angry?  Making you depressed?  I have found myself both angry AND depressed over the past couple of week.  So I went looking for something else to read.  Check out this website to help reverse your mood.  www.happynews.com  They list ONLY happy, uplifting stories.  Stories found in the major papers but not prominently displayed.   Today there was an article about making Halloween Green and saving penguins.  It's my new favorite website.

Friday, July 11 was Ladies Night Out.  For 6 years my 2 friends and I have gone out every month for Ladies Night.  Sometimes there are just the 3 of us, sometimes there are as many as 10 of us.  Usually we have 4 or 5.  Last night 6 of us went to The Darling House in Pinehurst.  My recommendation:  Don't go.  The food is good, not great.  The place is VERY small with only 1 table (maybe 2) that can accommodate more than 4 people at a time and smokey.  The service was good - our waiter was very nice and did a great job.   And it was very loud.

So why do I say don't go?  Because of the extremely rude customers and an owner who allowed the customers to be rude to us, who did not handle the situation as it should have been handled.  When we go out for Ladies night we ALWAYS stay at least 2 hours.  We order appetizers, main meals, drinks, coffee, and dessert.  We talk and laugh and have a GREAT time.  We had been at The Darling House for maybe 1.5 hours when we noticed an older man standing very close to our table, pretending to watch the tv, but mostly glaring at us, giving us nasty looks and commenting loudly about how long we were taking.  At the 1.5 hour mark we were just finishing up our desserts, but still drinking coffee.  The customer stood there off and on for at least 30 minutes.  No one at the restaurant, employee or owner, asked him to stop or even seemed to notice what he was doing.  About the same time we noticed the owner also staring at us, not smiling, not saying anything, just looking.  We were seated near the kitchen so he would walk over to the pickup window but then turn around and stare at us.  I was pretty sure it was the owner because he looked like the man pictured in the Pilot when they first opened.  Our waiter confirmed that it was the owner.  

As we were leaving the incredibly rude customer, who had been seated at a table, said loudly "FINALLY."  That annoyed 1 of my friends enough that she went back and told the waiter about what happened and told him that if they had nicely asked us to leave, we would have been fine.  The waiter pointed out the owner whom she also spoke to.  He did not apologize but gave excuses.

None of us would have been insulted if the owner or the waiter had politely asked us to vacate the table because they had customers waiting.  I have been asked that before after sitting at a table for 2 hours.  It is completely understandable.  But to just stand around and glare at us and to allow customers to do the same is completely unacceptable.  You can be sure that not one of us will ever go back there.  And we will all be passing the word about what a terrible place it is.

If you are looking for great food, great atmosphere, a place where you can spend 2 hours enjoying the food and company, owners who are friendly and speak to every customer and who would NEVER let a customer bother another customer, then head over to Chef Warren's in Southern Pines.  I would suggest that the owners of The Darling House head over there and take some notes.  Maybe even ask for some advice from Marianne and Warren because they won't last long in the customer service industry with the attitude they have.

I sent a letter to The Pilot about this but they won't print it.  They consider it a "private dispute."  I consider it letting people know when there is a bad restaurant out there.  

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I just wanted to get the word out that there is a registered sex offender living right next to Sandhurst Park (corner of Indiana and Bethesda).  He may actually be in jail right now, but he is registered as living near the park.  Unfortunately, the law says they can not live with 1000 feet of schools or child care centers but there is nothing about parks.  So if you go to that park, keep a close eye on your kids and watch out for strange men.

You can find out more information by following this link to the NC Offender Registry.

First I learn that the Grinch from Chef Warren's Downtown tree has been stolen.  I am THRILLED that the person was caught.  Then I learn that someone grabbed the lights on the Ice Cream Parlor's downtown tree and broke a bunch of the light strands.  Today I arrive at work to learn that someone completely destroyed the tree that Scribner Associates Sponsored and my son's 2nd grade class decorated.  The kids worked so hard and were so proud of their tree.  The town employees found the tree lying on its side.  It was so mangled that they couldn't put it back up.  They brought it to us so we could salvage what we could.  It was very sad and depressing to see our beautiful tree lying on its side with the top 1/3 of it completely gone.  Yes, gone.  Most of the decorations had fallen off and broken but the town employees saved what they could.  Three strands of lights, 180 bulbs, were gone.   My mother-in-law said she hopes that someone who needed lights for their house because they couldn't afford them took them.  I guess I'm not in a very charitable mood because I doubt it.  I think whoever did it was just trying to be mean and spiteful.  An unhappy person who wants to make everyone else unhappy right along with them.

Right now I can't imagine wasting my time and money to decorate a tree next year knowing that people just randomly walk down the street and destroy what we have done.  Down town Southern Pines looked so beautiful this year.  It was definitely the best year since I have been here.  Why do people want to ruin that?

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Today we had my son's 7^th birthday party at Jim's Gems and Gold.  It was AWESOME!  It was the easiest party we have ever done AND it was one of the best.  Not to mention it was probably the cheapest one we have ever done, too!  All of his parties so far have been at our house.  That means cleaning the house and yard before and after.  Not so at Jim's Gems and Gold!

When we got there they had a tent set up with 2 tables under it.  They had blue table cloths on them, which just happens to be my sons favorite color!  They had a sign that said "Happy Birthday Ryan - Welcome."  That was really cool!  I was very impressed by that. 

As the kids arrived I had them decorate a bucket to put their gems in.  Once everyone arrived BJ came out to talk to them about the various gems they would find.  She was incredible with the kids, so much patience!  Then it was time to start panning for gems!  The kids were so excited about everything they found.  And BJ was right there making sure they didn't dump anything "good" down the drain. 

As the kids finished up we sent them over to the picnic tables with a drink and their gems.  I think there may have been some gem trading going on.  We had cake, opened the gifts and then it was time to go home.  No clean up for us!  Just hop in our car with all the goodies and head home.  What a GREAT party!

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I have been to the Spa at Pinehurst a few times over the last 6 years to pick up gift cards for other people but I have never gone there myself.  For my 40^th birthday a very good friend gave me a gift card to go there.  The other night I went and had a manicure and pedicure.   It was very, very nice.  The only way it could have been better was if a friend had been with me.

I've only had a few pedicures in my life and I've realized why - I don't really enjoy pedicures.  I LOVE the results, but don't like getting them.  Thereis 1 spot on my feet that is very ticklish.  Then I have a pinky toe that was broken and hurts just enough to be annoying when she did the massage.  Then there is the big toe that supposedly didn't break but it still hurt just enough  to be annoying when she massaged it.  And finally, just for this special occasion, I had 2 fire ant bites that still hurt.  One on my ankle that didn't really hurt that much but worried me enough that I couldn't relax.  The one between my toes (at least it wasn't by the broken toe) hurt a bit when it was touched.  So with all that going on I couldn't really relax and enjoy it.  The results are so great, though, that I will do it again. 

The manicure was another matter.  I could fall asleep while they do my hands.  Especially the massage.  You get that boneless feeling....Sigh.....and the bonus is she cleaned my rings, too!

There was so much that I didn't get to take advantage of, too.  When you get any treatment done at the spa, even if its only a manicure, you get to use the lap pool, hot tub and sauna for as long as you want before and/or after your treatment.  There is a drink bar in the pool area with lemon-water, 2 kinds of juice and hot coffee or tea.  You can order a light dinner from the Spa menu which is pretty reasonable.  I would have loved to sit in the hot tub for a while, get my manicure/pedicure and then order some dinner.  But it just didn't seem like it would be that much fun all by myself.

The moral of the story is - next time, and there will be a next time, I'm going with at least one friend and planning to spend a lot more time there!!!!  Oh yeah, and there is a 20% discount for area residents on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday!!!

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One of the reasons I don't go to the movie theater very much has to do with a pet peeve of mine:  People who arrive late for the movie, stand around blocking your view while they look for a seat and talk & talk & talk.   I should have remembered this before going to see Shrek The Third opening weekend.  My son and I went with some friends.  We ordered our tickets on-line and arrived with plenty of time to buy popcorn and find our seats.    At approximately 1:10 (when the movie was supposed to start) the lights started to dim, the ads turned off and then the mess began.  For at least 5 (probably closer to 10) minutes the lights went up and down, and off completely one time.  The sound for the movie started, then stopped because there was no video showing.  The video for the ads started again, then stopped.  The sounds for the ads started then stopped.  All of this went on over and over again.  FINALLY the movie starts, the sound is working and the lights have been dimmed.  Of course, there are those people who arrived late and are still coming in, standing in front of us so we can't see, climbing over us to get to seats and back over us to go get popcorn.  I consider this rude but to a point it is acceptable.  If you can manage to get in your seat by the time the previews are over I can deal with it.  At approximately the exact time the previews ended and the movie started the lights turned back on.  Someone from the theater was walking people to seats because the theater was full but they were still selling tickets.  Not only are we now watching the movie with the lights fully on, but you have many people walking in front of you, all of them talking.  The employee is making people get up and move over so there is more talking, more blocking of the movie.  At approximately 1:40 this employee left the theater but the lights did not get turned off.  My friend had to go tell them to turn the lights off which they finally did.

I do not believe that you should let people into the theater once the movie has begun.  It is rude and disruptive.  We paid a lot of money to go see this movie, we arrived with plenty of time to get food and find seats.  Those of us who do that should not be punished by people who can't arrive on time.  If the theater is not full and those people find seats quickly and easily it is not that big of a deal (although I still don't think it should be allowed).  When the theater is packed AND they continue to come in 20 minutes after the movie started it is up to the THEATER to tell them they are not allowed to go in and must wait until the next showing.  since it was opening weekend, there was probably another showing within an hour of when this one started.

I had planned to speak to the manager the minute the movie was over but I needed to use the ladies room first.  I walked in and walked right back out again.  It was disgustingly filthy and I would not use it.   I decided to send a letter to the theater to let them know what I thought.  I went to the website to find out the contact information (I had heard there were new owners) and found this wonderful blurb about the company:  

Our company philosophy "remain creative and innovative" has evolved over the years and contributed to our corporate goal "to be the leading independent theatre chain in all of New Jersey. To remain as such we must strive to achieve excellence in presentation, cleanliness, maintain "four star **** customer service and provide an enjoyable movie-going experience for each and every customer." " Treating our customers well is the right thing to do."

I sent a letter to both the parent company in NJ and the local theater.  Believe it or not, the letter to the local theater was returned undeliverable!  Who would have thought there was someone in this town who didn't know where Sandhills Cinema 10 was located or, at the very least, where the street was!  So, I tried sending the same letter via the internet (the theater website has a way to contact them).   I have not heard back from either the parent company or the local theater.  It has been nearly 2 weeks since I mailed the letter and almost a week since I sent the on-line letter.

I can tell you that was the worst movie theater experience I have ever had.  There was non-stop talking throughout the entire movie.  there were people constantly getting up and leaving and coming back.  I was so distracted I'm sure I missed a lot of the movie.  With the option of Netflix and other movie rentals, I can not understand their attitude.  I have no desire to go back to the theater but my son tells me we have to go back to see The Transformer Movie.  Maybe I'll hand deliver my letter when we go.....

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For the past few months I have been seeing in The Pilot that the Red Cross needs blood.  In particular they are at Emergency levels of O-negative and at Critical levels for A-negative.  I am A-negative and knew that I should get over there and donate but kept putting it off.  Finally, last Friday, I called and made an appointment for Monday.  I spent a good part of the weekend stressing over it – I have donated before and it always hurts me.  I usually bruise pretty badly and am sore for some time.  People tell me it doesn’t hurt, just the initial stick, but that just isn’t the case with me.  But then I started to think “what if I had an accident and needed blood?  There might not be any!”  This led to thinking “what if Ryan (my 6-year-old son) has an accident and needs blood?“  Ryan is O-negative.  I can not donate blood for him.  My husband can not donate blood for him (he is A-positive).  What would we do?  I decided that the 2 things I can do are: (1) DONATE and (2) Ask everyone I know to donate, especially if they are O-negative.  So please, if you are O-negative or know someone who is, please think of Ryan and go donate and ask others to donate.

The American Red Cross, Moore County Chapter, 244 S.W. Broad Street, Southern Pines. For information call 692-8571.

Donors must be 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, and not have donated blood in the last 8 weeks (56 days). Call 866-562-7156 for more information.  

Blood inventories are as follows: O Positive, O Negative, and B Negative remain at EMERGENCY status; A Negative remains at CRITICAL Status.

There is no longer an upper age limit to donate blood. Donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds.

Go to the website for when and where the next blood drive is.http://www.redcrossmoorenc.org/

My favorite event in Moore County is the Southern Pines SpringFest.  There is so much going on, so much to see and so much food to eat!   We have been going for 5 years and have a routine.  We break up the day into 3 parts:  Kids area, Bike race and mommy shopping time. 

Multiple blocks of down-town Southern Pine are blocked off for the event.  One street is filled with kids stuff.  There are rides, games and other goodies that kids like.  We always spend a couple of hours there.  Without fail we run into many friends and spend time talking and having fun.

The bike race is sponsored by the Southern Pines Parks and Recreation.  It is for kids of all ages.  The kids can ride tricycles or bikes as long as they are wearing a helmet.  They group the kids by age and have only about 5-8 kids at a time racing.  EVERY child gets a ribbon (and a t-shirt).  The younger kids have a shorter distance to ride then the older kids.  My son really looks forward to this race every year.  This year will be even better since he learned to ride a 2-wheeler!

After the race we have lunch.  There are a TON of food vendors to choose from.  My personal preference, though, is to go to the Ice Cream Parlor.  It’s great to sit at the window in the cool air conditioning and watch the crowds.  People watching is one of my favorite things to do.

Finally, its mommy time!  My husband takes my son home and I get to take my time roaming around looking at all the wonderful things for sale.  Of course, I always come home with something.  But really, just the chance to walk around and browse without a child saying “can we go now?” is such a joy that it doesn’t matter if I buy anything or not.

The one thing I don’t know anything about is the Tour de Moore which is a big part of SpringFest.  The Tour de Moore is a bike race and that is about all I know!  Maybe someone else will write a blog about that.

If you are new to the area or just have not been to SpringFest yet, be sure to go this year.  SpringFest will be on Saturday, April 28^th from 9am – 4pm.  The Southern Pines Business Association, which sponsors SpringFest, will have information on their website:  www.southernpines.biz

Anyone who has a boy knows that finding interesting (can't really say cute) boys clothes is really hard.  Girl clothes?  No problem.  Boys clothes are either boring and inexpensive or interesting and expensive.  A friend of mine suggested I check out Lil Branches.  She swore they had some nice boy clothes that were not too expensive. 

 

If you haven’t been in to Lil Branches yet (at the Belk plaza next to the Chinese restaurant), now is a good time to check it out.  They are having a sale.  (click on the Lil Branches Link from the home page).  I went in there a few weeks ago to check it out.  I assumed it would be like all the small, children’s clothing stores and have 99% girl stuff and a few expensive boys things.  I was wrong!  It does have more girl then boy stuff, but there is a very good selection of boys clothes.  AND they are not overly expensive.  Yes, they are more expensive then wal-mart – but not by much!  And they have some nice things that are different then what you would find at wal-mart. 

Another problem I have in this area is that stores never seem to have much, if anything, in Ryan's size.  And the specialty type stores seem to only have smaller sizes.  Not so here!  I don't know what size they go up to, but they definitely had Ryan's current size (7/8) and some things even bigger than that!  I didn't buy anything at the time because my son is in the middle of a growth spurt.  but I do plan to check out the sale! They also have some different things if you are looking for a baby gift.