Because Everyone Needs an Igloo

So, the storm has come and gone and now we have almost a foot of snow. We have really been enjoying it! But, I don't think anyone enjoyed it as much as my boys did. They started making a snowman but decided it wasn't turning out as planned, so they came up with the idea of an igloo. OH, THE JOY! :)

When they were done, they called me out for a photo shoot. They usually don't like my picture taking... saying things like, "Mom, is this another picture for your BLOG?"... and then hiding. But they are my very favorite blog fodder! What do they expect? :)

I was so impressed with the igloo. They had to show me all around and demonstrate how to fit into it (rest assured that I had NO HOPE of fitting inside). :)



My favorite pic was of their feet.



They've since added a flag and peepholes. We've been teasing them that some deer is going to come along and sleep in it tonight to get out of the subzero temps. I have a feeling they'll be charging outside first thing in the morning to check the status of their igloo! :)

Walmart, the Day Before the Storm

I went to Walmart today. The day before we are to get (possibly) 16 inches of snow. It was a zoo. But, surprisingly, people were NICE. Yes, nice. I couldn't believe it. I mean, except for the few crazies that were trying to get through express checkout with 1,987 items, it wasn't bad at all. One had a screaming baby, so I totally didn't blame her.

I was picking up a grand total of 3 items. Don't ask me why I needed to be out. I laughed at my total of $9.14 (at Walmart!). How is that even POSSIBLE? I never leave there with less than half a cartload! I explained my chuckle to the cashier, saying something to the tune of, "Why did I feel the need to come out in the snow to spend $9.14?" And she said, "Because it's EXCITING." She was completely straight-faced. She meant it! EXCITING. Hmmmm...

But there is something to her comment. Being out in treacherous conditions seems to create a bit of a "Survivor's Club" in the participants. People (the ones who aren't grumpy about the snow) seem more friendly, somehow.

For example, I was standing in the baking goods aisle, trying to read the expiration date on yeast (my new bifocals were brilliantly left at home), when a very nice lady (a stranger) struck up a conversation with me about bread baking. The day is not yet done and we've already exchanged a recipe via email. I actually know her family, so it's not that weird. :) Gotta love small towns.

Then, as I was pushing my cart with 3 items (I don't know why, but that just seems so funny to me! At Walmart!), I passed a man who wanted to know where I got my coat. My coat is at least FOUR years old and (sadly) at any given time probably has a dozen collie hairs on it. But, I told him Cabella's and he seemed pleased to know. He said he liked it a lot and thought his wife would too. He was wearing a hunting cap so I have the idea that maybe an excuse to go to Cabella's made him happy. :)

So, aside from some crazy drivers in the parking lot, and a few in the store (not driving) :), I quite enjoyed my foray into the pre-snow shopping "Survivor's Club." :)

What is it about me that screams, "CLEARANCE RACK?"

I was shopping at some local outlet stores and I walked by a store that I have never been in. Hmmm... They had a FINAL DAYS CLEARANCE sign in the window. WELL! Not one to pass up FINAL DAYS, I walked inside. :)

It was a Columbia Sportswear store. Now, I just bought my son a winter coat for $15 at JC Penney that was regularly $80. I was in DEEP CLEARANCE MODE. So, I walk through the Columbia store, thinking of buying my daughter a new (warmer) coat, and it becomes QUICKLY obvious that my idea and Columbia's idea of FINAL DAYS CLEARANCE differ greatly.

I just want to mention here that I didn't (for once) look scruffy. I have on a rather nice Cabella's coat and my good (non-scuffed) purse. I am relatively dog hair free (with three large beasts at home, this is a feat in itself). I am even holding large bags (showing that I'm obviously willing to spend!).

So, I am browsing. Salespeople offer to help. I decline. I continue to browse. I work my way back to the front door b/c I am obviously out of my price range.

BUT WAIT! They have suddenly identified me as A CLEARANCE SHOPPER and direct my gaze to the newly marked down CLEARANCE RACK. It is SO SPECIAL that employees are not allowed to purchase from it. WOW! (riiight) But, I start looking. I note the 75% off sign. I spy ... BOOTS! :)

It was really funny because I gushed, evidently loudly, over the rack to such a degree that there was a stampede to it by every other person in the store. I was lucky to drag my loot over to the register before someone else grabbed it! I mean, I nabbed $80 boots for $12.50! COLUMBIA boots. AND a pair of ski pants for my daughter that she's been begging for that were $100... for $15!!! That's like a TARGET clearance price! (And boy, do I love Target clearance!) When I left, the other shoppers had nearly emptied the rack. It was rather amazing. I felt like I'd won or something! :) How much do I love finding things we really need at rock bottom prices? A LOT!

It was perfect timing, too, because now we are expecting something like a foot or more of snow tonight and I see SLED RIDING in our future! :)

Well, What DID I Expect?

I just returned a pasta pot to Macy's. It was beautiful and $100, so I was looking forward to using what I thought was a quality kitchen product. After ONE use, I noticed rust spots in the bottom of the pot. RUST. $100 pot!!!

It is not as if I let the water sit in the pot for any length of time, either. I washed it out and dried it when the handles were still warm.

So, I found the receipt and the box (thank goodness I still had it) and marched it into Macy's.

As soon as I got to the counter, I heard an employee saying, "I can leave in 5 minutes." So, I thought, "Oh, she'll be right over."

(Waiting.)

(Waiting some more.)

Another employee walked by and eluded my stare, but then, several minutes later, realized that I had a BOX and I was waiting near a REGISTER. "A SALE!" he thought!

He called over the person who must have practically had her coat on by this time. She was grumpy. Now, if she had come right over when I got there, she would have already been done!

I told her what was wrong. The return was no problem. But then she turned it over and said to me (LIKE THIS WAS MY FAULT!), "Well, it's MADE IN CHINA, what did you expect?"

What did I EXPECT? Really?

I'd like to have a few words with the higher ups in the Martha Stewart kitchen products division. I really don't care where the item was made. If it can be purchased at Macy's (with a $100 price tag!) and Martha Stewart has her name on it, I EXPECT a quality product.

So, there is my rant for the day. I wish I had a good pasta pot. Does anyone have a suggestion of one they use and like?

One out of 6 ain't bad

Ain't? Ain't? Yes, I said ain't. It's the result of hearing "youns" instead of "you" for the past two hours. I really don't mind, but it has this gosh darn effect on me, daggone it.

(Taking off hillbilly hat and putting on my usual one...note I did not say "normal" one. :) I hesitate to read the commentary that word would dredge up when used in affiliation with me. :) hehe)

So, I'm back from my haircut and coloring appointment. There is probably some hip word for all that, but I don't know it. Hey, I finally stopped calling the place a beauty parlor and refer to it as a salon. One step at a time, right?

I now have hair that seems to be shaped like Dolly Parton's (on a pouffy day) and colored like Sarah Palin's. Only shorter.

Ahem.

No photos will be forthcoming.

Still, one iffy haircut out of six over the past year isn't bad at all! I still love the person who does my hair... next time I'm just going to ask her to step away from the hairspray...

(She really is talented... we just had some miscues this time.)

UPDATE: Just combed out the pouf and I actually really like it now! :) I'm so pessimistic with hair. It's really soft and I LOVE the new color. I got a whiny post out of it AND I like it after all. Win-win! :) lol