Compliance

My reader pointed out that some of my comments about the fine midwest city in which I find myself might not be appreciated by those calling it "home".

So - especially in light of the season - I thought it would be prudent to give the town a pseudonym in any further tales. From this point forward, I'll be working in "Compliance, Ohio".

Lucky enough to be there until Christmas Eve Eve, I hit the mall to do a little last minute shopping. A few observations:

- I was one of 50 people in the "Dollar Store". There was one person at "GNC".

- I was torn between 2 special gifts at "Dollar Store"; the 1 liter bottle of mulberry-scented potpourri oil or the faux wood mariachi serving platter.

- No one was in the "Tan I Am" store (NOTE: According to the 2000 census, the population of Compliance is 16,000, 87% of which is white. Based on my observations at the mall, the other 13% is pasty white.)

- There is an observation window at the Nail Salon where I watched a woman getting a midwest-french manicure, white tips with little teardrops on the nail bed.

----------------THE PICS----------------

- Old bronze mailboxes in the old Post Office. City Hall - no one has been able to tell me about the apparent 1 story addition to the top of the brick building (keeping up with the burgeoning condo market?)

- Christmas decorations along the bridge into downtown. Winter fruit. The tallest tree in town (take that, Rockefeller Center!)

- A view of the train tressel over the Maumee river; pronounced "Mommy", as in "Mommy, where's that smell coming from?"

- Santa's village. Rockefeller Center might have this beat.

- Charlie's Down Under (so named not for specializing in serving Australian food, but in serving food in the basement) - proudly serving both Midwestern food groups - "Steaks" AND "Cocktails".