Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Sweet mystery, better than cake and Irish in spirit

Three things that made me smile this week:

- This clock that belonged to my mom and dad sat on a table in their living room for at least 30 years (or more.)  It has never worked, so when it ended up with me, I placed it in the new bookcase.  Yesterday, I decided to take it to the clock repair place near my office and a very nice man "fixed" it in two minutes by popping batteries in it.*  He thought at first that the chiming mechanism was broken, but then it miraculously started chiming.  He sent my clock and me on our way without charge.  (Lovely.)  And now I am puzzled and amused that it could have worked all these years and didn't.  A sweet mystery.

- Mina, three-years-old on Monday, got to go to the Baltimore Aquarium for her birthday.  When asked what the favorite part of her birthday was, she replied, "The fish!"

- Telling a client that I didn't want to disturb her holiday on Monday by bringing by a printer proof.  But she says her husband's office didn't close either, so therefore it was OK for me to come by.  She says her husband's office is inexplicably open for the King holiday, but closed for St. Patrick's Day.  Here's the funny part - they are based out of Iceland.  :)

*Here's how you know someone loves their work, he smiled briefly at me, but turned his full attention on the clock before I even sat it down.

21 comments:

Riot Kitty said...

So you popped over to Iceland? :)

That is so funny about the clock! Neat.

Lynn said...

Riot Kitty -

No - they work in Atlanta, but the it is an Icelandic company. (Gaming, of all things.)

I had to turn the chime off last night - the chiming resounded throughout my condo and was going off every 15 minutes. I knew it would keep me awake. :)

happygirl said...

I love a quick fix. I have a clock that chimes every 15 minutes. I love it. It's amazing what you can get used to. btw, I love the fish at the Baltimore Aquarium, too. :)

Granny Annie said...

We have a treasured wall clock that has to be wound. Once wound the clock has to be perfectly centered on the wall or it will stop. Needless to say it stops every other Thursday when our housekeeper dusts it.

How sweet that Mina appreciated the fish on her birthday.

Most small businesses in the town nearest us were closed on Monday.

Maude Lynn said...

That clock is so pretty! I'm glad it was such an easy fix.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Lynn .. maybe that was why it didn't work .. they didn't want the chimes!

He/They must be Irish ... St Patrick's Day is 'critical' to life ... but I do wonder why the American public holiday of King's memorial doesn't function ..

Enjoy the clock ... that nice man can probably turn the chimes off ..

Cheers Hilary

Lynn said...

happygirl -

I love the chiming, too, but it's too close to my bedroom in my wee condo. I couldn't risk being awakened every 15 minutes. :)

Granny Annie -

I one like that, too, a regulator clock with a pendulum. The carpet installers knocked it off the wall (oh whyyyy didn't I take it down that day?) I got it fixed, but it stopped working again. I think I'll take it to that guy. You are right - if it's the slightest bit off center, it stops. :)

I don't think anyone in the printing / finishing business closed on Monday.

Mama Zen -

It is pretty - a treasure. Dad got it for some sort of service award in his working years.

Hilary -

All you have to do is flip a switch to turn the chime off. Maybe they didn't realize that. I'll never know. Anyway - I was puzzled because my dad was so on top of putting batteries in things.

The King holiday is a federal holiday, but not mandatory. I guess it hasn't truly become universal like independence day or labor day. A shame.

Cheers!

Joanne said...

Aww happy birthday to Mina! And yay for getting the clock fixed...so strange that it was left unused for so long!

LL Cool Joe said...

The clock just needed batteries??? :D

I'm a big fan of clocks and we have one in almost every room in our house. :)

Sara said...

This is a great post. You had me chuckling through the entire post.

I loved the story of the clock and how all it needed by batteries. I must admit I grew with a clock that chimed and it drove me crazy. Perhaps that why your parents removed the batteries:~)

I'm still laughing about Mina. We need to step back into the joy of being a kid every once in awhile to the times when simple things made us feel wonderful.

Your quote at the end was a perfect way to close the post. It is so true. You picked the right clock repairman:~)

Have a happy day!

Chatty Crone said...

That is so odd about the clock - it is pretty though and I am glad you kept it.

Shionge said...

Hey I wish I keep the two 'Grandfather Clocks' which belongs to my Father and glad to know it is working .... with batteries ahhahah....

Snaggle Tooth said...

It seems you have a magical clock there! Love it when things like that happen...
Lucky 3 three old to be so easily pleased- I haven't been to an aquarium in years.
I wonder what religion the Icelanders are usually? N why almost no one closes on MLK Day?
CLock making is a craft few can do- Nice guy, n you are so lucky

Leonora said...

The clock is very pretty. Your new shelves are the perfect place for it!
We had such a mishmash of those working vs. not working on Monday- I was so confused!

Lynn said...

Joanne -

I sent her a card with animal stickers in it. :)

Joe -

Me, too - I also have a number of them. One of my friends thinks it's hilarious that I have a clock in my bathroom cabinet (with glass doors) - it's so I won't dillydally when getting ready for work.

Sara -

Yes - this is a wonderful time for her with school looming in a couple of years. They'll be moving within the next two years, too, so that's going to be hard on her grandparents. She's a delight.

And thank you - I loved the way the man zeroed in on the clock.

Lynn said...

Sandie -

The other girls didn't want it and at first I had it packed away and then thought about how nicely it sat in that space. :)

Shionge -

Yes - the batteries were the ticket!

Snaggle -

I think the Icelanders and Americans working at the company just like to party and were apparently coming back from lunch tipsy on that day, so they decided to make it a holiday. That's a really different company apparently.

Leonora -

Thank you - I love it there.

G. B. Miller said...

Now the holiday thing, that's funny. And I can sympathize about being closed for a non-traditional holiday.

Back in the day, I worked for a private based company based in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island happens to be the only state that I know of that celebrates VJ Day.

So on VJ Day, the main office of the company that I'd worked for would be closed.

Izzy @ izzy.blog said...

Awh, he must have had the magic touch to make it work! I love it when I run into people who love their job, because it means they do it because they want to, and they enjoy it, and they actually do it completely rather than only halfway.

Some big businesses stay open on holidays. I've never heard of one closing for Saint Patty's Day, though! :p

Lynn said...

G -

A worthy holiday, for sure. :) I love it for its quirkiness - thanks for sharing that.

Liza -

I love that, too. Thanks for coming by!

Jannie Funster said...

is that a howard miller clock? I sold one that looked a lot like that a few months ago on ebay.

xoxo

Lynn said...

Jannie -

No - Bulova. :)