Redux: Surplus

Money & Stuff

The original: I wrote about having a surplus and what I might do with it.

The follow-up #1: Roy Halladay died this week, and news reports were in equal awe over his baseball career and his philanthropy. I find it’s easy to discount the work that professional athletes do in their (often transient) communities. After all, they lave lots right? What will it hurt them to give some of it away? I can ask the same question of myself.

Here’s a little bit on Roy Halladay, who was a treasure for more than one reason.

The follow-up #2: A chance conversation with a neighbour gave me the opportunity to donate old purses and evening bags in good condition and used shopping bags in good condition (You’re gonna need them someday, right? Not.) to a local church Christmas bazaar. A timely reminder that there are easy ways to pass things along to good effect.

The follow-up #3: This joke appeared in my email.

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, “I cannot accept money from you, I’m doing community service this week.” The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a thank-you card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, “I cannot accept money from you, I’m doing community service this week.” The cop was happy and left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a thank-you card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Then a Member of Parliament came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, “I cannot accept money from you. I’m doing community service this week.” The Member of Parliament was very happy and left the shop. The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Members of Parliament lined up waiting for a free haircut.

Another Kind of Surplus

The original: I complained about my troubles spending reward points from my local drugstore.

The follow-up: They heard me! President’s Choice and Shoppers Drug Mart, now part of one happy corporate family, are combining their reward point cards/systems in February. So I’ll be able to take points earned buying high-fluoride toothpaste (to build up my teeth) and spend them on grapefruit (to break them down). Woot!

 

 

 

This entry was posted in Another Thing, Laughing Frequently and tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.

4 Responses to Redux: Surplus

  1. ian hepher says:

    This was fun to read, especially the joke!

    • Isabel Gibson says:

      Ian – It came with two morals that I omitted (rather gilding the lily where a joke is concerned). One pointed out the difference between how regular folks and politicians behave. Not sure it’s accurate on the one hand or fair on the other, but it does feed into our self-image and biases.

  2. Tom Watson says:

    Isabel
    High fluoride toothpaste or grapefruit…seems there are always trade-offs.

Comments are closed.