Red Stapler

 Wednesday, I wanted to go to a body shop in Cullman since I know them. It had not yet been 24 hours since Tommy had anesthesia, so I drove. It was grueling for me to get from his house to 65, a half hour trip! The sky was overcast, which was good since I did not have to deal with sun in my eyes.

Even though it was in the 50s when we left and all day long, I think, it was chilly. Tommy even thought so and wore a jacket. A storm is coming tomorrow, so I hope his tree in the back yard is secure! It would fall right on my bedroom and I cannot bear to lose all I have again! Hopefully, we won't lose all the food in the freezer, either. 

We dropped my laptop off at Office Max/Depot. Then, we got lunch at Chicken Salad Chick so we could eat at the body shop. I told Tommy we could only do this once a month. Once every three months was his response. So, I cannot wait for April. 

He drove back since his 24 hours was up. We both got a rest from driving today. Well, I never drive to Cullman. But, if he got me to the interstate, I would gladly drive. 

When we got near the body shop, I called, I thought. It was the father. The shop was closed. He told us to come back next week. When I reminded him where we lived and the tire might start scrubbing again, he told us one of the guys could fix the scrubbing. 

The guy worked on the underside of the car with us sitting in it. We mentioned eating the delicious lunch. He commented all the fast food was so expensive. Then, he said sometimes he brings his lunch. This led us to talking about cooking bags. This very young man cooks! He was reared by his grandmother and she talked to him in the kitchen about cooking and what she was doing when he was a little boy.

When she died, no one wanted her kitchen stuff, so he got it all and knows how to use it! He even uses her roasting pan and casseroles. He says cooking is relaxing. Nice guy. I told him about Reynolds Cooking Bags. He was surprised when I described the ease. Tommy volunteered how carrots and potatoes could be cooked with the chicken. "Pot roast in a bag!" was the young guy's exclamation. 

I suppose I have another convert to cooking bags.

We left and the tire was scrubbing before we got out of the parking lot. So, we went back. I asked him if he could cut off the offending part. He did so and we went on our way. 

We got the mail, collected my laptop, and bought a stapler with staples and staple remover. The guy at OM brought to the car several staplers, one was red. It seems there was a movie, Office Space, that had a guy who was enamored of his red stapler. I had never heard of the movie, and I was not spending $30 on a stapler color! I have missed having a stapler and remover since living here. Tommy likes it, too. 

We also went to Publix where I bought apples and bananas and some other things that I don't recall. When we arrived home, I was sure I would never walk normally again. 

I gave our favorite fast-food worker a generous Christmas gift. She came to the front of the store and asked us if we knew what was in the envelope Tommy handed her. She could hardly breathe. She needs it. 

After I took a short nap, Tommy washed clothes for me and I hung them to dry. We had what was in the refrigerator for dinner. 

Dinner: Tommy--chicken cutlet, frozen mixed vegetables, fresh pineapple. Me: chicken breast, slaw, last tablespoon of cranberry sauce, Romaine. All of this was leftovers except for the new container of frozen vegetables Tommy opened. I put the other half of the chicken breast into the container that held cranberry sauce so I could get rid of the huge container that had held four cooked chicken breasts. Space is at a premium in the refrigerator.

I decluttered a tiny bit, just enough to say I did...lol.

So, now we have to make an appointment to have the car repaired. This shop is good about getting things out and not letting them sit. It pays to help to know the reputation of body shops, don't you think? We know none here. 

So, that was my very exhausting day! I even got some more important phone calls done. Of course, just my luck, I received mail with fires to put out. 

Have you heard of the movie "Office Space?" Have you heard of the movie? 

Busy Day and BOGO Bargains

Tommy picked me up and we were off. I thought my new universal remote quit working or the new TV finally died. This is my third in a year.

This was the Tuesday free lunch that we pick up and take to the park and sit facing the lake to eat. Today, we had two hotdogs, really good slaw, baked beans and a bag of chips, and two cookies. I gave him my baked beans. We had water from home.

At the store where I had two rain checks, I found the Suddenly Salad stocked but so high that I had to get help to get five down for me. I showed a checker the other for Brussels Sprouts. She got five for me. Suddenly Salad was $2.29 marked down to $1. Sprouts were $2.09 marked down to $1.

When I was putting up the Brussels Sprouts when I got home, I discovered she gave me the baby Brussels Sprouts that are much more expensive and not on sale. I am not complaining.

Publix sales were going off, too, but I had nothing on sale that I needed. I did need bananas and got those. however, at any price I needed/wanted Miracle Whip. Lucky me, it was on sale bogo. So, for 5.99, I got two jars of MW. Then, I thought I would really stock up. I came home with four MW, plum tomatoes on sale, and strawberries on sale. I forgot the prices and I don't want to get up to find the receipt.

There was only one more little bit in the MW jar that would involve extensive scraping, but I forgot to put it back in the refrigerator. I was panicking about paying full price for MW.

Tommy left me at Office Max and went to WM and got a new universal remote. Since I had to wait my turn, he arrived at OM just after I finished my chores. We got home and I used a utility knife to slit the packaging, you know the kind only a gorilla could get into without a sharp tool. Well, Tommy was sitting there clicking the old remote that I thought was broken. I forgot that when the remote seems to quit to punch the button--TV. He did not forget+. I felt foolish. But, the new remote can be returned.

While in OM I had a photo that was in the paper in 1975 copied. It was a picture of my two older children and me with the baby inside me. So, all three are there. I was soooo skinny then even though I was pregnant, not showing. I lost the dongle to my wireless mouse, so I got another wireless mouse to keep my hand and arm from hurting. Plus, it is so difficult to copy and paste with the pad on the computer.

At Walgreen I had bought a face cream that I obviously am allergic to. I got that price back on a gift card.

We had fresh squash, Brussels Sprouts, and tomatoes for dinner. Tommy said it was really good. Then when he finished he said it would have been better with a protein. YEAH! Sorry, I did not get protein thawed. I suppose I could have opened a can of chicken, but I did not think.

Today, I got a perfect and extensive back rub, so life is good.  The harangue from my neighbor is still making very exhausted. Neighbor ripped the picture I had copied, and I still cannot find the text of the article with the picture.