Thursday, March 4, 2010

My First Friday Fragments

After way too many months, it feels like my blog mojo is nearly within reach, now all I need is for life to cooperate and free-up some good old fashioned blog time.

Until that happens, and with a thanks and a salute to Mrs. 4444 (that's Mrs. Fours) at Half Past Kissing Time, I'm hitching my Friday to her wagon and presenting my first Friday Fragments....

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Did you ever notice people tend to shy away from eating at restaurants that are empty preferring a jammed restaurant requiring a long wait for a table because they assume the jammed food restaurant is better than the empty one. I'm guilty as charged.

That kind of thinking probably explains why, when I recently entered a new doctor's office for a long awaited appointment with the "best in his speciality", it give me pause. His office was completely empty. Uh-huh.

When I was ushered into the exam room at my exact appointment time by the doctor I thought the appointment would be the equivalent of a really bad meal at an over-hyped restaurant. (Funny how my thoughts in a possible crisis always turn to food.)

Turns out however, the doc was great and very helpful! Maybe the next time I see an empty restaurant, I'll give it a try.

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I met a lot of my current blog friends and readers via the kindness and blogging generosity of Lilly of Lilly's Life. She recently took a blogging break but SHE'S BACK and is as fabulous as ever! Please stop by and catch up with her!

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Godson was named Citizen of the Month in February at his middle school! That's a very big deal around here. His mom was so proud at the awards ceremony and brunch, and Godson was beaming when he received his nice certificate and recognized for his kindness and consideration of others.

It was all great until we realized his Mom wasn't getting one of those My Child Is A Citizen Of The Month bumper stickers for her car. She deserves "bragging rights" and frankly, I wanted one too! The Principal claimed "budget cuts" despite having enough funds for bagels and donuts that morning.

To be honest, I used to find those stickers annoying, why I have no idea. But now I get it! We were so disappointed that I'm thinking of printing them up for the school so Godson's Mom and all the other proud parents can brag about their kids too.

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Repair work on our pool and deck started Wednesday -- sort of. The possibility of the pool popping out during draining has slowed things down a bit but there is other general prep work to be done (like removing the deck) so the project got started....

....Until a production manager for a big network drama series knocked on my door. They will be filming the TV show on our street for three days and the huge dumpster and all the power equipment noise will ruin the shoot-- And that's before the jackhammers started or the port-a-potty arrived.

So faster than you could say "That'$ All Folk$" they made me an offer I couldn't refuse, and the dumpster, potty, workers and noise will magically disappear on Friday for the actual filming with the show's stars!

How much $$$ you ask for the inconvenience and missed day of work? It's really a drop in the bucket, but it will allow me to feed our construction crew nicely several times over the course of the next few months. Plus it's one of my favorite TV shows. Now all I have to do is borrow someone's dog to take for a walk and maybe bump into my favorite cast members.

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Do you have a favorite TV show?
Welcome to The Fifty Factor - Joanna Jenkins
PS Check out This Stop Willoughby's fabulous GIVEAWAY!

40 comments:

  1. Your pool problems are never ending!

    And I totally judge a restaurant by the crowd. There was a Chinese place that just opened up down the street from my work, and there were always a ton of cars out front, which convinced me to try it.

    I later found out it was all the employee's cars, but it worked! And it was good.

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  2. Hehe, I like the idea of 'empty restaurant syndrome' being translated to the quiet doctor's office. He'd undoubtedly be mortified if he knew!

    How exciting - filming in your street. I'd probably be lurking in the bushes to watch it all going on!

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  3. Even your fragments are exciting!
    So let me get this straight.
    They knock on your door, and *bam!*

    Sounds like so many things are just falling into place for you!
    I would say your mojo is back for sure!

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  4. ok.. the curiosity is killing me!... kuddos to your godson! that´s great news! at the moment i´m loving modern family... great laughs! happy weekend!

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  5. Congrats to your godson! Awesome job!
    I can't believe you are going to tell us about the tv show and not spill the name! come on talk! Have a wonderful Friday!

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  6. You have the most gifted godson in the world and you deserve a bumper sticker. Maybe with some of your new found $$$?

    Well, my new favorite shoe is "Hung." Enuf said.

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  7. I want to know what show so I can see the street where you live! My favorite TV show is Grey's Anatomy.

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  8. I've had that experience with a doctor's office and was pleasantly surprised as well!

    Yay Godson! Go Lilly!


    Did the film crew swear you to secrecy? It was really mean not to tell us what show!!! It's not like we can come there to watch! ;)

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  9. Very interesting, I like the idea of the stickers, and yes things do look like they are falling in place for you. I would be out snooping to see the stars too.Great about your Godson. Glad you are well. Eventually they will get the pool and deck fixed. Take care and have a great weekend.

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  10. congrats on the citizen of the month, that is awesome! lol on the pool, the saga continues...glad you are getting your mojo back jj!

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  11. That is so cool that he made Citizen of the Month and you are right...bumper stickers are definitely in order!!
    Well even though it will delay your pool/deck project; that is neat that they paid you to make it all disappear. Guess that happens there. So will you get a bumper sticker now? "I was in such 'n such movie"??? LOL!!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

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  12. What do you mean lost mojo? Never.

    Very cool about the Godson and extra $$$. I have a feeling the pool will be the subject of many posts.

    Enjoy the weekend.

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  13. I´m totally guilty of the empty restaurant syndrome too! It just does not look inviting, if there is no one else there... :)
    I loved your FF edition. I have been thinking of joining too.
    Congrats to your godson for the great honor!!

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  14. Well done. Great post and I do that thing with restaurants too. It rarely lets you down (more than once at that particular establishment - that's for sure!)

    It's easy to work out what to ask for from film companies - think of what you see as a reasonable answer, multiply that by ten and then double it because they'll offer you half. lol

    Bear in mind any break in filming (and depending on the film being made) can cost them at least 25-50 thousand dollars an hour!

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  15. You're so funny, Joanna. You link up with other blogs when in reality we all want to be associated with YOUR blog!! You're so cool! I never noticed you lost your mojo. Citizen of the Month is an honor that Godson earned. He must be getting lots of good training and examples in his young life! Amazing saga of the pool and deck repair! Finally get started with the work and wham! the TV show thingy interferes. But like you say, you might get to meet some of your favorite cast members.

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  16. They can serve brunch at Godson's school, but not print bumperstickers? I'd be mad, too.

    You are such a tease, telling us they will be filming on your street, but not telling us what show it is! Too bad it's not an HGTV landscaping show that would do your pool work for free!

    Thanks for giving a shout out to my giveaway! I hope some of your blog buddies will stop by!

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  17. Your Friday Fragments are great and it's fun that they are full of so much info about what is going on in your life. Kudos to Godson!
    Looking forward to both the pool story and the TV show story unfolding.

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  18. Hahaha, at first, I thought you were going to say that they wanted to film your life.

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  19. congrats to Godson! Interesting about the TV crew.

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  20. See, there's a silver lining to having pool troubles!

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  21. Congrats to your Godson! I'm very proud of him too!

    Sorry I haven't been around much lately. I'm struggling to keep up with all of my bloggy friends.

    Hugs!!
    GEM

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  22. Well, that's a happy ending!
    Congrats to your Godson.
    And money to get RID of a porta-potty seems pretty nice, actually.

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  23. Well, as long as the show is willing to compensate you for the delay and the inconvenience... ;)

    How exciting that the show is being filmed on your street!

    Congratulations to your godson! I remember getting those bumper stickers as a kid and I felt so important when my mom would stick them onto her, otherwise non stickered, bumper! What a terrible shame that they chose to not make them this time around!

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  24. Yes, I thought you were going to tell us that they said, "Hey, we have chosen your house for a programme. Do you have a pool that needs fixing, by any chance?" Lol. But things are all sounding good. Great stuff.

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  25. Porky Pig on your street - cool !!

    agree with the restaurant thinking but I'll go with an medium crowd. I wonder if those other empty restaurants would hire us to eat there.

    We went on the lake "On Golden Pond" tour and found out a certain doctor cashed in really well for the use of his cottage.

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  26. Welcome to FF Joanna, nice to have you.

    I've noticed that about restaurants. I like the out of the way places better, and the food is, in my opinion, just as good.

    Sounds like a little cha-ching for you. Sweet. When my parents lived in Nashville, Pam Tillis filmed a few scenes for one of her song videos at the house right next to them, and my parent's property can briefly be seen in the background of one of the scenes.

    Congratulations to your Godson. That's a big deal at that age.

    And I love your ending to your post. Brilliant.

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  27. Hi! I'm a newbie to Friday Fragments too! So much fun! :) Love all the bits and pieces from people's lives!

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  28. I am guilty of following the crowd too, but never made the connection to the doctor's office.

    Great idea about the bumper stickers! That would make a lot of people smile!

    Have a great weekend!

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  29. Congratulations to your Godson ~ very good!

    BTW, I guess every pool has a silver (cash) lining.

    Film crew? Which show?? Can't wait to read about it, and see some pictures?

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  30. Oh this post is full of excitement.

    Way to go godson! And yes I think you should get the stickers printed. Its a team effort. I think we need to really celebrate the good news far more than we do.

    Thank you for the mention that is sweet of you!

    As for the TV show - wow!!! Oh my that is some excitement in the neighborhood. Yes borrow a dog and we may get to see you on TV one of these days.Do they make you sign contracts?

    Enjoy your party tonight!! If only you could tell us on your blog ALL the details but I understand why you cant. You could give Perez and TMZ a run for their money.

    Take Care!

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  31. Citizens of the Month. Wow. Congratulations. Hope your pool work goes smoothly.

    Happy weekend JJ.

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  32. you should totally print up those bumper stickers. you should all be proud!

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  33. Well, this was fun!

    Make the bumper stickers. I think it will put smiles on faces. Use some of that $$$ you are getting from the production people.

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  34. Being paid NOT to work on your pool? Very Hollywood? ;-)

    OH - and congrats to your godson.

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  35. I'm the opposite with restaurants -I tend to avoid the jam packed ones and head for the quite places.
    Have a great weekend!

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  36. Love these fragment, Joanna. My mojo has gone missing this week while I work on my quarterly reports, so maybe fragments are what I need to focus on next.

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  37. I'm sure it's in these 10,000 comments somewhere, but you could purchase bumper sticker paper at an office supply store and print your own cheap and easy. You and mommy deserve it.

    So, can you say what the show is?

    Cheers,

    SCL

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  38. Sounds like a lot of excitement in your neighborhood this week!

    You feed the construction crew? Do they need any help?!

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  39. I love that you feed the crew. You are such a sweetie. I want to come and live next door to you so you can be Kaishon's adopted God Mom :)

    Way to go to your Godson for being Student of the Month : ) So fabulous! That just tickles my heart!

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  40. Congrats to your Godson!!!

    What show is filming on your street??

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