Case of the Mondays

So...I go to start my car today, and it won't start!

THE REST OF THE STORY:

My husband came home from work and jump started my car. He took JMS to the babysitter's since it was on the way to his work, and late enough in the day that she'd be "open."

I then went to Wal-Mart to have their auto center test my car battery. (Why this store?...it was close to the house.) I pulled up and the service guy came up and asked what I needed. I let him know, and he said that their battery tester no longer worked. He then referred me to Auto Zone. Hmmm...I thought, thanks for the referral, but how do you stay in business if your tools do not work. Oh, and don't let me forget to mention he said I could come back to him for a new battery if Auto Zone deemed my battery dead. But wait...Auto Zone can replace batteries too, so why am I going to come back to Wal-Mart?

I drove to Auto Zone, my battery was dead...no surprise since it was the original in my '03 Chevy. They replaced it...and I made it to work, only 30 minutes late. Not too bad.

As far as helping customers today...I found a micro-fleece blanket that the lady had a rain check for. I was stopped in the bathroom, as I was washing my hands, to help a guest locate jelly bracelets; we don't carry them for you 80's freaks. And, lastly, barstool covers. I wasn't on the salesfloor much today. But really, do you ask a store employee for help finding something in the store while you are in the bathroom? Really?

Great Weekend

So, here is proof that I can cook! All of these folks endured my cooking, all weekend long, and lived to talk about it! :) Well, all but the baby...but she technically enjoyed the food vicariously. I think I was a little ambitious trying to feed this crowd, plus one more - my mom, before the circus on Saturday night. I made hamburger patties, wrapped in bacon, green beans, and smashed potatoes. I should have just ordered pizza. But, I love to cook and watch folks enjoy my food. Oh, and the scramblewiches (Sunday morning) were a hit too...except my husband doesn't like the amount of bread RR Recipe's call for. So next time his will be made minus the bread. The circus was fun on Saturday night. The adults are in a conversation about how one decides to join the circus, and what your resume would read like after you worked for the circus...."third fan girl in the elephant show"...."swaying pole climber"...."human cannonball" and would you ever have a serious job after having worked for the circus?

All the boys know is that the tigers "roar." And, clowns ride in "vroom vrooms."

Mom did a great job watching Zoe while we were gone...couldn't tame the hair, but definitely fulfilled the grandma role. Thank you---despite dropping hints that JMS is very well behaved around the baby...and that I was his age when my brother was born...Thank you!

So...if you had to caption this photo....what would you say? Comment on my blog and let me know. I've come up with some funny ones myself, but would love to hear your thoughts.

Grocery Store Adventures

Honestly, I haven't been grocery shopping since the last time I commented on our adventures (9/2). It really has been 23 days. Ok, well, I can pick up the basics before I leave work, such as bread, milk, frozen dinners; I can buy everything but fresh fruit, vegetables and dinner meats (steak, chicken, ground beef etc). So our pantry wasn't that barren. Ok...but the fridge was another story.

Do you know the comedian that does the jokes...."so, there's your sign!" Bill Engvall. Well, if you don't he says the punch line...and then adds in "there's your sign" afterwards. It implies that if you had seen something, you should have known because of the "sign."

My son recently started asking for "fren fwies" at the dinner table. I looked in my refrigerator and we had more take out boxes and wrappers and leftovers than actual home cooked leftovers. There's your sign. It was time to go grocery shopping again.

It helps that we have company coming this weekend too; a little motivation. :) So, I made out the menu...worked up my list so I didn't spend too much...and off JMS and I went to the store. Well, did I mention that our Kroger's is going through a remodel? Lately, it hasn't been an issue to comment on, because the construction had not impacted my life. So, they moved the eggs over one aisle, and closed the pharmacy temporarily...not a big issue. Today was a different story.

We walked in the "IN" and now it is the "OUT" and the produce section, bakery, and deli which used to be on the left of the store is now on the right of the store. So, the cookie that I had promised my son was not where it should have been. We made our way to the right side of the store...and don't get me wrong, it was beautiful. The fruit was pyramided, the colors were bright, the glass on the cases was sparkling....this was the first day that this side of the store had opened. We made our way to the bakery...and yes, they are still giving out cookies...thank goodness, and a whole bunch of other stuff. At the pyramid of oranges, there were orange slice samples, at the fruit salad section, JMS got strawberries and blueberries. We went by the salsa bar and he had chips...the pastries...he had a donut sample...the meat counter...hamburger bits and cajun chicken...he had lunch just on these new sample trays that are on display every four feet. That was a blessing, because finding what I had on my list was not as easy as in the past. I had my list in the order of the store (as it had been). So, we made several laps and then several more laps. This whole adventure took me 1.5 hours....when normally I can be done and home in 45 minutes. I did like the store. It is taking on the Fred Meyers look and feel. (Olympia, WA) They even expanded their natural food section...so Rescue Remedy is now within my reach.

So you are probably wondering what my menu consists of for the next few meals. Or, if you are like me, hoping I'll post my grocery list and menu so that you don't have to make one yourself. Just print mine and away you can go. I am using Rachel Ray's 365: No Repeats cookbook for some of the main courses.

Dinners:
1)Sweet sausages, baked potato wedges, and corn on the cob (RRR#34)
2)Nacho bread and tortilla chips (RRR #364)
3)Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf, smashed potatoes and green beans (RRR #332)
4)Pork chops and scalloped potatoes (Mother-in-law's recipe)
5)Frozen Pizza

Breakfasts:
1) bagels
2) yogurt smoothies
3) waffles and sausage links
4) biscuits
5) scramblewiches (RRR #1)

Lunches:
Sandwiches and leftovers

If you truly want the grocery list...email me. :)

4 days until the Circus!

So, in four days we are going to introduce JMS to the circus. Yes, the Circus is coming to Lexington. (Try clicking on the photo above.) But, I think I'm more excited that Kim and her family are coming up from Tennessee to see the show with us. I love the thought of JMS getting to play with her little boy, and the idea that I get to hold her new baby girl. And, you all know that despite how exhausting entertaining can be....I love to have visitors in the house. :) Ok...time to get ready for work.

Introducing my brother...

So, my brother doesn't get any press time on my blog. I saw this photo on his wife's myspace page...and loved it. He actually looks happy. If you know my brother, that does not get captured often. :) He is holding my nephew Eli (born March 2008).

Today was my dad's 60th birthday. Yikes...that means my 30th is right around the corner.

I just finished working my 5th day of my 6 day work week. What were customers looking for tonight: men's wallet, kitchen apron, glass angels, and a white bathroom vanity. Did you know that we don't have any aprons in the store except for those with fall leaves on them? I wouldn't have thought of a kitchen apron as a seasonal item. And, no, we do not sell glass angels.

Weekend Shoppers

Ok...all of you shoppers out there. Take this as a "coaching!" If you go into a store, please respect it as you would respect your parents home. Let me give you some examples:

1. Do not allow your child(ren) to take all of the hanging signs off of the shelves and throw them on the floor. Do you go into your parents home and take wall hangings off the walls and put them on the floor?

2. Do not allow your child(ren) to put on the halloween costumes (as if we are a dress-up closet), run around the store, and then drop them on the floor. Do you go into your parents home and try on their clothes and then leave them at the door? Ok, so my mom might not have a bat-girl costume in her closet, but you get the point.

3. Do not allow your child(ren) to try on ten pairs of shoes and leave them all on the floor. Do you go into your parents home and try on their shoes and leave them other than where you found them? (This is more a note for the women, than the children.)

4. Do not pick something up in one area and put it down in another. Do you go into your parents home and randomly place all of their belongings in other places? I know my mom does this at my house...but I certainly don't do it in hers. :) Love you, mom.

Do you shoppers realize what kind of money you are wasting on us having to pay people to clean up after you???? DO YOU?!?

Seriously, how do women's bras end up hanging on a peg in the silverware aisle? And, bouncy play balls underneath racks in the girl's department?

Oh, and as promised folks were looking for the following items today: ladders, fire pits, window chalk, sea monkeys, and again...the front door. It kills me that people don't know where the front door is.

Fruit of my labor...

OK...the title is a bit fruity (ha ha...there I go again)...and JMS is truly the fruit of my labor. In reality, I intended to show you pictures of my mums and the mulch I put out front. But, I took this picture to show off the Winthrop shirt...and I couldn't help but share.

Oh...and this big guy...no labor involved. I feed him two square (in the dog world I guess) meals a day. Water him...bathe him...clean up muddy prints he leaves around the house...and overall get some minor amounts of love in return. How can you deny this face? OK...so the picture I promised. Yes, red mulch. The mums are in the flower boxes. The mums are all a rustic pink color, except for the two siding the front door; they are sunshine yellow. Mom your geranium is still going strong on the right corner of the porch. Look at that rotten field of weeds next to our property. Fortunately, because it is the month for the Grand Tour of Homes, they sent some lawn care folks out to bush whack the weeds to a height that we can now see over.