Friday Free For All- Crap and Good Times

      Welcome to the Friday Free for All. This is a no  theme day to just chat about different topics on my mind. Today's grouping falls to two categories, things that are pure crap and good times and fun. Let's start with crap.

Crap Products

     When my daughter and I went to pick out flowers just at Walmart, we passed an end cap of summer mugs and plastic glasses that can only be described as utter crap. I can't imagine collecting these free, let alone paying $4.98 for one. They were just cheap plastic, looked nonfunctional, and just space wasting. They were called fishbowl tumblers, 40 oz. and I'm gob smacked at the ridiculousness of them. Now I know I just complained about someone describing oak furniture as ugly and annoyed that people state opinion as if fact, so call me a hypocrite if you like. These are a landfill headed ugly nightmare. This is one of several options, each as awful as the next. 

Crap People Do ( or Don't)

     I'm so annoyed with people not picking up their crap when it spills out to impact others. Well, you know how I shared that I was able to get all my garbage bagged and secured in my trash can? Well, apparently an idiot in the neighborhood didn't plan so well. The park was filled with newly blowing trash not there the day before. We've had some windy blowing rain, so it just was gross. While trying to get some of it picked up, of course I'm spotting dog crap left as well. Others besides me must have filled bags when they were out walking or maybe kids did  some pick up to throw properly as it was better yesterday. But the crap action people made Wednesday unpleasant. I'm looking forward to our family park clean-up day, and alos not if it looks as bad as our did for a day. 

Good Times and Small Budgets 

     I have so many things that I love to do that even if I wasn't watching my spending I'd gladly partake in. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Como Park Conservatory, the river walk, and the free outdoor concerts that will be starting up again, to name a few in my part of the world. Now that we've sampled another trivia venue, I'm game for more. Several hours of games, good food and drink, and good company is a budget friendly good time. I keep looking for more options that may be seasonal, but can help fill a calendar. I'm looking at the Events on Facebook and Eventbright for ideas. How are you spending summer nights and weekends? 

Good Times with Others 

     When I think of some of the best times I have it's usually doing thing with others that are very basic, not extravagant affairs. Poker nights with my sister's, a perfect lake day in and out if the water or lounging on a floaty, hanging out by a fire retelling the same stories and laughing again, walks and happy hours with the moms, cooking together with my girls, or having girls dinner. Opening a bottle of wine and joining neighbors outside in porches or a quick meet-up on a pub patio with friends refills me.DH sort of splurged, but had a coupon, for dinner out last night. Nearby was a large group of women finishing up, but talking and laughing, and picture sharing. They truly all looked to be enjoying life at that moment. I'm looking forward to trying the Pizza Grill Kit I got DH for our anniversary with family and friends and games of bean bags (or corn hole depending on what you call it) at the lake or our own back yard as I got one for DH for Christmas. I've loved our vacations of course, Caribbean, UK, Europe, Alaska- potentially once in a lifetime experiences, so don't get me wrong. But these good times that can happen often and spontaneously, is where real life lands. 

     I've been down again, working from home, still cabin feverish from the long winter then wet and cold spring. Now I need to get the average Joe good times going again, starting with the park clean up and family picnic or lunch out, weather dependent this Sunday. A couple more grad party announcements came yesterday and it's nice to think about celebrating for others. The flowers are popping on the crab apple trees and lilac bushes now and with the added rain this week, yards are so green! It's time for me to shake off my blues and get my dose of green, yellow, and all the colors of late spring.