Thoughts on "one degree of separation" and the insane cost of window coverings!

As I wrote in my last post I chose to join the local curling club. Last monday was the first day and I did not know any one I was curling with. To my incredible surprise I am connected to two of the guys on my "rink/team" by one degree. One guy is the brother of the receptionist at work, and she was the one who got me connected with the right people so I could curl. The other guy is dear friend of my Aunt and Uncle and he actually rented my grandmother's house for a time. So although I never met these guys in my life before, we already had some connection. It was a bit surreal of the 56 guys curling I would end up with the only two that I have some sort outside connection with. In case you are wondering I didn't make a fool of myself curling as I expected. It did take a few ends to remember my technique, but it came eventually. Everyone there kept telling me that it was like riding a bike, "you never forget". Well for the first three ends it felt like I was riding a tricycle. :-)

Another new thing in my life is that I bought window coverings for two huge windows I have in my living room. I was planning to buy wood blinds, but for a number of reasons it wasn't practical to buy them at the present time. Because I was weighing out the pro's and con's my windows went uncovered for a period of 6 months. Finally being so tired of living in a fish bowl, and not liking my colleagues suggestion to hang a flag in the window, I decided I was going to buy some sort covering this weekend no matter what. So I look around found nothing I really liked, until I went to "linen's and things". For 2 windows $500 (plus tax), and these were some of cheapest drapes in the place! I nearly had a heart attack as I pulled out my credit card. It was at that moment when I realized that having 100" x 50" windows aren't as nice as I thought when I bought the house. Everytime I walk into my living room I remind myself how wonderful it is to have some privacy and how beautiful the drapes are, simply so I don't choke on how much I spent