Weird hobby (or, how I got into bird watching)

Some time ago I got a happy little bird feeder and filled it with happy little bird seed. For some time, the birds avoided my yard like the plague, probably seeing the bits of torn stuffed-animal fluff on the grass, and envisioning themselves next. 

Then they tasted the seed, and it was good.

Now, they love my yard. Watching them is kind of fun for me — I try to identify return visitors and come up with little names, like Fluffy, Spike, and Helmut.

Two in particular, Yellow and Yellower, (yellow birds, natch) seem rare and exotic to me, and I get super excited whenever I see them. Mostly the kid and the man think I’m making up “the yellow birds,” as they have yet to spot them.

But the kid and the man have spotted hummingbirds, and I can’t let them have the satisfaction of seeing something that I haven’t.

To that end, I decided to plant boxes with things the little hummers might enjoy, with the help of my friends at Gardensphere. While the nicotiana, salvia and calibrachoa might not look exciting to the untrained eye, I know the hummingbirds will spy my yard, hop on in for a sip of nectar, and decide I’m their favorite human, ever. 

Could happen, right?

[Gardensphere, 3310 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, 253.761.7936]

Weird shopping experience (or, why I really heart shopping local rather than online)

I had one of those little enticement gift certificates that come in the mail when you carry a store credit card. Saving 20 percent on sale Gap items was just what I needed, I thought, and ordered a couple of wardrobe basics — with free shipping.

Yay!

They came to me, and one pair of khakis (in the exact same size as the other items I ordered, which all fit fine, thanks) ripped out at the butt as I was trying ’em on.

Bad omen.

I called to see about a replacement pair, knowing it was certainly an item malfunction, and was told I could get the replacement for $6.00 (shipping and handling) and I could send back the other pair (I pay the shipping and handling there, too.)

Umm.  Weird?  Like, if it’s a damage, I’m financially liable?

“Or you could go into the mall and return them that way,” the customer service rep suggested — to which I responded, “If I wanted to go to the mall, I would have started there.”

But it looks like off to the mall, it is.

Grrr.