Those Church People

A fellow blogger, Joe from Fat in Indiana has published a book, Suburban Moon. I read it in two sittings. It is a great read. I purchased the paperback copy and loved it. Go to his blog and hear more. I think he put a link to it on Thursday. It is not that it is so easy, I just read quickly and I did stay up late reading. I was barely able to put it down.

 I went into a store today and only interacted with two people, both rude and on their way to church.  I was trying to move down and aisle and was blocked by a guy behind his female companion. I asked three time for a guy to "excuse me." He looked around and asked me what I wanted and why I was talking to him. I said, "I said 'excuse me' three times." He then looked at me harshly and said, "You are a jerk, leave me alone." The female dragged him off. I just went on my way.

On the way back across the store, a cart was stopped by a whole line of carts. I turned to my right, wondering if that guy was still in the store. He turned around and scowled at me. "Don't you come over here looking at me." Then, he repeated it. Traffic was moving, so I did too. However, I put my hand up and said twice, "What is wrong with you?" The woman was turning him around to go with her. 

I think he had a problem.

Then, I went to the back of the store and could not get by because of a cart of merchandise in front of me. I could see no employees around. Finally, I asked three women if one of them would push the cart forward for me, explaining it was right in front of what I was trying to buy. They all came over and the older one said to me as I sat on the electric cart, "Why don't you just push it with the cart?" Amazed. I asked her if she would move it. She said, "You can push it. Go ahead and do it." 

I told her I would try to find an employee. I left as she said, "Good." 

Another employee greeted me and asked how I was tonight. I told her I was doing great until I interacted with the church people in the store. She frowned and said that was the truth, that they were the nastiest people in the store. She said she would think they would be happier and more pleasant on their way to church or having just been to church. 

What is wrong with these church people? 

Earlier, I asked Tommy if he wanted to go to Sam's. He agreed and two hours later, at 4 pm, he said, "Let's go if we are going!" Boom! So, I quickly sliced chicken and cheese to take with me, put on clothes and we left. It was a whirlwind leaving.

At Sam's he seemed to have a list in his head, calling off what he wanted next. Well, at home he said he just kept seeing things he needed. We got milk for him, generic Claritin, double box of Raisin Bran, two packages of disposable cups (the thing I wanted), vitamins, and other such stuff. 

It was a great visit because we got to examine all the new Halloween decorations, some twelve feet tall. For about one minute, we laughed and oohed and aahed at the little kids Halloween costumes. Tommy drank a Pepsi, and I had chocolate yogurt. We also took a roll around and looked at Christmas lawn decorations right next to Halloween decorations.

Tommy stopped at a machine and used his Sam's card and received free pack of Tide and a free pack of the stuff that makes a sweet scent in the laundry. Ugh! 

I wanted something from Joannes, but we were there are 5:59. The doors were locked, lights off, and not a soul in sight. I suppose their clock was funning fast. 

Although I slept 8 hours last night, my energy level did not reflect an abundance of sleep or rest today. 

I saw a hummingbird today and yesterday. 

I decided I will mash potatoes for Thanksgiving and freeze them. That is an October chore. 

Do you ever go to Sam's? 

Have you noticed that the church crowd is not nice in the grocery store? 

Do you follow the blog Fat in Indiana? 

I Received Four Extra Hours on Thursday

 It felt like we were given four extra hours today. We were both ecstatic. Well, I was. We had one of those appointments today where the repair person would be here between 1 pm and 5 pm. Well, I just knew he would get here about a quarter to five. No. He was her at 1 pm. This is the guy who will repair my lift recliner. 

The whole undercarriage will have to be replaced. This will be pricey. He helped us beyond the chair carriage. I asked him what he knew about the battery to get my feet down when we lost electricity. He pulled out a box sitting on the floor and showed me where an nine-volt battery. It is just that easy. He does think the battery is good for only one use. Plus, he told me about the big battery case that must be charged and can be used without plugging it into the wall. I feel fortunate that he was so knowledgeable. 

About 12:30 pm we were out of here to do things we needed to do today. 

The thing we went to SAM's on Wednesday to buy was wrong. So, that had to go back on Thursday, and they did not have what we needed. The return was easy. Tommy got us a hot dog and diet drink for $1.38. These are the foods that will cause hardening of the arteries. So, neither of us need them. Thankfully, we live far from Homewood! 

At Publix, Tommy tried to return something and get another, different flavor. He had to bring it home because this was something not on the shelf. There were no nine-volt batteries. But, I did use the coin machine instead of rolling coins. Well, Tommy kept putting the job off, so I ended up just paying the coin machine to count pennies, nickels, and dimes. 

I had 75 quarters and thought I would just spend them a few at a time. I only saved about 20 cents by holding them back. These coins were what I had saved over three years. Some were picked up, some were from the bottom of my purse or pocket. All told, I have $30.28. This is my plant fund. 

Tonight for dinner, I will bake some chicken slices and vegetables--carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and sugar snap peas. Maybe this will offset the huge hotdog we had along with a huge bun and a huge diet drink. For breakfast I had blueberries, strawberries, cheese, and milk. So, the Sam's treat was the only bad thing today. 

It seems that when I have to stay home for a repairman, that everything I want to drive and do is urgent. I am antsy the whole time. Do you hate to stay home for someone who will come eventually? Once I waited all day and got a call that the repairmen had run late and I could wait another four hours the next week, not even the next day. I was fit to be tied. 

Today, was a good day even though we did not get everything done. And, Tommy was not so sweet today, but not as horrid as some days. 

We drove to Piggly Wiggly and Giant to get ads. 

He returned something at Big Box and the money was put back on the cc. 

We arrived home about 5 pm, having spent our free four hours doing things that needed to be done. So, essentially it frees up other days and hours. 

How was your Thursday? Did things go smoothly? Do you hate waiting in the four-hour window for a repairman to come? 

Wednesday and a New Project

 This day was a perfect day. The skies were pretty and the temperature was in 80s. We had two things to do. We picked up my book that was lost in the house. My friend wrote it--To Live and Die in Alabama, by Stephen Edmondson. Unfortunately, they gave the paperback instead of the hardcover I ordered. 

Then, we went to Sam's Club, bought a few things and returned home. The bulkiest, heaviest item we bought was the wrong size. So, that will be another trip. I am bummed about that. Tommy needed milk and checked the price which was cheaper than stores we frequent. 

We had a slice of Sam's pizza and diet drink in the car. It was not much of a car picnic since we ate in Sam's parking lot. I just did not want to drive to a shady place. It worked. We ate. Tommy wanted to half a piece which was okay with me. But, he wants the meat pizza, four kinds in this case. That really grosses me out. Plus, I am allergic to something in pepperoni. 

He took the scenic route home from Homewood, whatever the scenic route is. 

We are really good at shopping together, with neither of us causing a problem driving around the store. We load the huge cart efficiently with both of us moving things about with no disputes about what goes where. He was in a peaceful mood today. It was fun. 

He got his taxes done, getting a refund of $1K from fed and almost $100 from the state of AL. He was annoyed he had overpaid so much and said he needs to figure out what to do to pay less next year. 

Yesterday, I had Tommy bring me a baking pan for my lap, then a pot of dirt. I planted two packets of seeds in it. He watered it yesterday. Hopefully, something will come up. I planted Bachelor Buttons and Alyssum, both free packets from the Ag Center. Any flowers I get will please me. He watered it today, too, all the plants. I hope the birds don't decided to eat the seeds. I will put a fake snake near it. 

I heard on TV that seniors can get even more of a reduction on taxes even with the homestead exemption. He argued with me and then I heard it again. So, now I will enter the information online. He is always eager to save money. 

Today, I got out my hot pink sandals and felt happy wearing them. I am silly that way...lol.

My new project overshadows all plans I have. I know a college student who needs help. He failed last semester because he lost his ride to school. And, he is homeless. So, I have contacts that will help him figure it all out. He needs a car and a place to live permanently. However, he holds down a fulltime job. He is a non-traditional student. I have talked with someone who can get him through the process of regaining his grant. I have taken on the task of getting him in a car. I have contacts, old as they may be. My mind has been whirring. This kind of thing energizes and excites me. I can advocate for someone else much better than for myself. 

This was an excellent Wednesday, excellent day. For dinner I had a thin, tiny slice of ham and a huge plate of slaw from a mix. The cabbage is chopped in little squares, instead of being shredded. Tommy had rest of the ground beef, zucchini, and some of the same slaw. I had half a banana, strawberries, and blueberries today. A huge box of blueberries was fairly cheap at Sam's and they are huge. 

Tommy found my bluebird I made, so tomorrow I can repaint it and hang it along with the hummingbird feeders. 

How was your Wednesday or any other day? 

The mower did not come as scheduled. grrr. He will come when he can. I lay down for a nap thinking he would wake me with his work. But, instead, I had a nice nap. 

Do you ever garden in your lap?

 

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Saturday Haul and Meatloaf

 Saturday was exciting. We went to Sam's Club! I have only been three times. Plus, we were getting things we needed. Friday night, Tommy came through the living room with his coffee maker. It died. So, we needed that. We ran out of plastic spoons and Tommy said just to get forks, too. I needed guaifenesin, but the Mucinex version is soooo expensive. 

Well, there were no coffeemakers and no plastic spoons.I wanted to get a new TV, so we wandered by and he said we have one. His 50" lost the picture and he pulled out his old 32" TV. It seems so small now, plus the screen seems dark and he does not know how to fix it. 

When he first went in, he stood in line and collected his Sam's rewards. It would have made a 50" TV almost free. 

We did get a two-foot stack of paper plates, a ton of plastic cups/glasses, I could barely lift the package. Then, I spied these little 5" plates at less than half the price per plate of the larger ones. So, we got those, too. Sometimes, we waste a plate for a tiny amount of some food. We bought 300 forks! 

I had him drag a table into the cart. It's like a huge TV tray. I need one for several things. Of course, this will work for one activity. He can run things through the self-checkouts, so the checkout was quick. Lines were so long and some people had one of the flatbed carts with so much merchandise. 

Coming out of Sam's, I squealed when I saw the Girl Scout cookie display. Of course, I got Thin Mints. Tommy chose the new cookie--adventurefuls. I did not like it after I tasted it when he bought it. I still did not like it later when I had my second and last one ever. 

When we came home, I ordered a coffeemaker--Black and Decker 12-cup Programable  and the med from Amazon. The med is made in the USA and Mucinex is made in England. I bought 200 for the price of 20 from Mucinex. Of course, Mucinex last 10 days whereas, the brand from the US will last 50 days. It is a win. I do not have good luck with time-release meds. So, I try to avoid them. 

Making the meatloaf was a fiasco. I used a can of the Hunt's Petite Diced Tomatoes. The result was a watery can of tomatoes, and big chunks of tomatoes instead of a tomato-y sauce. I did not have bell pepper, a must for my meatloaf. So, I took a chunk of meatloaf mixture and baked it on a pan in the over. I put the rest in a pan, thinking I could dice up bell pepper and press it down the next night. 

(There is no problem with the tomatoes being watery as the can was chock full of chunks of tomatoes! )

Pressig down the bell pepper into the meatloaf worked well until I realized that I had not put PAM in the dish for the meatloaf. Sooo, I sprayed another casserole and emptied the meatloaf into that pan. When it was cooked, it was too loose even with eggs and oatmeal. That was okay, but it desperately needed salt. I salted mine on the plate, something I never do. 

I said to Tommy, "That is not the best meatloaf I ever made, right?" He very solemnly said, "No." It is the worst I ever made. sigh Well, there is a third night of meatloaf left. I think I will remake it by mixing it up and reseasoning it before I freeze it. I know that is weird, but now I don't like it. 

A can of the cheap tomato paste I bought last year is what I will use from now on. I had used catsup in the meatloaf and on top for years.  When I used a can of tomato paste with less sodium, I love the taste of the meatloaf. 

That was my Saturday, tiring and productive. Have you bought your Girl Scout Cookies? Will you? Have you ever tried to experiment with a recipe that was delicious and made it almost inedible? Do you ever go to Sam's Club?

First Yard Sale of the Year

Today, Saturday, we went to Cullman. I was antsy to get my mail since I did not go at all last week. Plus, I shopped and went to a food bank.

Tommy woke me at 6:30 like I wanted. I did not sit for thirty minutes, waking up like I usually do. In 26 minutes, I was clean, had fixed my hair, dressed and had milk and banana ready to go. I have to wait an hour after taking first pill. He suggested we stop and get sausage biscuit. I already had oj for the day, and he got Senior coffee.

We first went to the food bank where I can choose from a sheet of paper what I get. There I chose a large package of premade burgers--4 nice size ones. I won't list all I got. I did choose paper towels instead of tp. I could get three breads. Tommy likes bagels. I also got two loaves of bread. There is always Coke and various 2-liter drinks and ice for the drinks plus sweets to enjoy while we wait. I took a slice of Bundt pan cake, light and with a not so sweet topping. It was so good that I took Tommy a piece. He loved it. I could not resist a chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting. I always drink water here. There was a bowl of bars; I got a Lara bar, still have it. I ate the cupcake later and dropped most of it, oh well.

I had clothing given to me that did not fit, so I took it with me and donated it. Also, I gave my coupons to a friend who works there who was happy to see coupons I always donate.

We passed a yard sale that I determined to stop at on the way back home. Belk's was the next stop. I went in and struggled the whole time. At the register I reached in the bag to give the skirt to the cashier. What did I find?--some of the things I was donating. Oh no! Did I give the friend the wrong bag? In the car I called her and she checked the contents. It seems I had put the clothes I wanted to donate into two bags! So, I had two used two tiny bags and put the little bit into them. Well, I was relieved. It turned out that the bag I meant to take into Belk's was in the car. I was hurting so that I said I would do it next week when we go back.

In another grocery store, the one where I won the $100 gift certificate for food, I found 8 pounds of russets of potatoes for $2.49. !!! Plus, for $0.99 I found a box of alfredo mac and cheese with bacon. It should be good and good for two meals. I bought a commemorative tin for Moon Pies--$5.99. I use tins for storing things. Inside were 12 single Moon Pies. So, now we have to NOT eat them. I will use this tin to store small packages of mixes that are falling all over the place. I paid for the Moon Pies and the tin was free. Well, that is how I look at it.

I got the mail, went to 278 to get a phone number off a construction sign, stopped in Publix, went into storage unit, and stopped by the lot, finally deciding to go back home. Tommy asked me if I wanted to get a burger before heading South.

As I said "okay," I saw a sign that said "Free Food." He insisted it was not really free, that we had to have our taxes done first. Well, with the Pepsi canteen set up, I doubted it. Finally, I convinced him to leave Burger King drive in and go across the street and check out the free food. We each got two hotdogs and a Diet Pepsi. well, I had to get out and choose all this. The only Pepsi product I like is Mountain Dew, and I sure did not need the sugar or caffeine. So, we saved $3.99+tax by eating free food. I brought home 3 of the foil sandwich wraps so I will not have to use foil for topping things I heat in the oven. We might just have our sandwiches wrapped in these clean pieces of foil.

When I asked the guy what we had to do to get free hotdogs, he said, "Nothing." I persisted and he finally told me they were collecting food and clothes. Well, I gave him the bit of clothing I had that been mistakenly been taken into Belk's. After we ate right there in the parking lot, we pulled around and the guy took a bag of food out of the car that I had not gone through. I only kept Peter pan pb, a very small can of carrots and peas for Tommy, and a huge can of peaches. I was happy because the man lifted the bag, it was out of the car and my house.

We went home the way we came so that I could go to the yard sale. I was surprised that this yard sale happens every day. It was in an open field with a little shed where the people were sitting inside. Nothing was priced. That so annoys me. I will not backtrack when I am hurting, but the woman told me to come show her what I was talking about. My back won't stand it. The mini Keurig was $40! Tommy would not pay that, so I did not ask him. I forgot to purchase new-in-the-package dish towels for $0.50 for two. Oh well.

I found a 12 qt. stainless steel covered stock pot for $2. I brought that pretty baby home. It still has the store sticker on the side, so it has never been used. A little Barkeepers Friend will have it shining. At least this is something that was not put into the dump. I only found aluminum when I looked for a stock pot in stores and wanted stainless steel. The aluminum stock pots are expensive, so I wonder how much this cost. The sturdy loop handles are attached with brads, so it will be safe to pick up. It even had a lid, nice and shiny and not dented.

On the way home, I had the bright idea to go to Sam's Club. Tommy was all for it. We sampled and sampled. After looking for Melatonin and folding lawn chairs, we left. Tommy bought bacon. One of the samples was interesting. Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches with "buns" that were eggs. Sausage was inside the eggs. They were actually good. I am not sure how good-for-you they were.

We just had a Moon Pie. ugh

I forgot--at Publix I bought Dove exfoliating body wash with pomegranate seeds and shea butter...yep, another thing that went to dump.

The day seems to have been non-stop eating. Tonight, dinner will be chicken and salad and Halos.

I have been telling Tommy we will be going to yard sales. I have a pair of sandals in the car for dew and mud.

We left the house at 7:30 am and arrived here at 3 pm. Since I could only sleep 3 hours last night, I am so happy I do not have to cook! I do know that tonight I will eat no junk! Now, I need to go wash my new stockpot.

I deliberately looked for money on the ground when out and about. No Luck!

Have you been to a yard sale yet this year? Do you like them?