Frustration

 Well, it is mostly Tommy's frustration. We went to the Galleria and he went inside to buy things for me using gift cards and my Belk cc if necessary. I wanted the red Godinger tea glasses, leather gloves, and a houndstooth scarf. 

He walked the second floor of Belk's that had nly two clerks. He never did find the glasses or someone who would help him. He looked bedraggled when he came out to report. His cell had died because he said he never checked the battery charge. The  poor guy looked so tired. He went back in to find gloves and scarves. They should have been close together. 

He found a tiny section of gloves, Isotoners, not what I want. I want leather gloves, cashmere lined. I don't want cheap leather the kind that is scraps glued together. He only found solid, knit scarves with pearls on them. Well, I know Belk's. They have gloves around this corner and that corner and all the way at the end of an aisle. It is annoying under the best of circumstances finding gloves or scarves. Hw swore he found no more. I believe that, but he does not know how to find items in Belk's. But, that is okay. 

He practically fell into the car and quickly ate the pb cracker I gave him. I had one swallow of the oj and he had the rest. We were famished, and frustrated and got a burger. 

Then, I got a few things from a different Publix than where we shop. I forgot what. 

The plan was to shop today for groceries in sale ads. But, we got home late and collapsed. Oh well. 

It was so warm that we needed the ac last night. Today, I heard the high was 73F and 75F. We did not carry a sweater or jacket "just in case." 

We both collapsed. Before we had left, I got some of the dishes in the dishwasher and will do the rest tonight. We ate almost all of the leftovers, so I will cook chicken tomorrow night. We have one tiny potato and two large, sweet potatoes left to eat. 

Tomorrow, I will bake chicken breasts and vegetables. Friday, for his birthday I will bake the pork loin and vegetables and make slaw. 

I talked to 92-yr-old friend and was telling her about the red Kiss and how I was putting fairy lights in it and the problem so far getting fairy lights that work. She was saying how she wanted a red Kiss, too and fairy lights. I have an extra red Kiss and an extra set of fairy lights, so I will give those to her for Christmas in addition to the cooking bags. 

When I talked to a friend here in Birmingham today, she wants us to have lunch at the Botanical Gardens. So, that may be in the works in a few weeks. 

And, I had a long talk with Lynda. When you sit in the car for two hours, talking on the phone and catching up helps the time to fly. Or, something like that. 

I decided I would order for delivery from Belk's. The ladies houndstooth scarf listed no content. So, I looked up the brand of scarf and found it is sold by WM as a man's scarf for $8 less. Don't the stores annoy you will branding, pricing and listings? The leather gloves from Belk's do not specify the kind of leather or the material for lining or if they gloves are even lined. I may just shop at Macy's, but I don't have gift cards for there. At the temperatures we are having, I may not need gloves or a scarf for a few months. 

Tommy said one employee told him there was lots of stock in the back but not enough employees to put it out. I do find it hard to believe that no one wants to work! 

One day after I have a stint put in, I will try the trek into Belk's. 

Really, don't you expect a nicer store to carry things not found in WM? I have worn WM scarves in the past and have been pleased. But, I hate finding it in WM and in Belk's for a higher price! 

I put things in the cart at Belk's online and cannot enter the gift cards, so I would have to pay money when I have plenty of means to get it with the egift card. 

I forgot to say but we found gas for 

Does pricing and quality irk you? 

Are you having trouble finding clerks in stores?

Sunday Thrift Store Shopping

Sunday, a 67F day, I suggested we take sandwiches to the park to eat. We did and thoroughly enjoyed the repast, simple as it was. Then, I suggested a drive. Then, when he was returning, I suggested more riding. Then, I suggested a destination that required more riding...lol. We left here at 12:15 and returned at 3:15. 

Earlier, I told him my three goals. When we returned home, he started on his part, retrieving boxes with his reacher. He retrieved so much other stuff I was covered in stuff as I sat on the couch! I finally had to beg him to stop. Now, it is after 4:00 and I have a day's worth of sorting and carrying. I am not happy but will finish all this fully.

When we went past the Thrift Store, I realized it was open on Sunday, so I told him I wanted to go in on the way home. We did. I had one thing in mind, finding a cheap and small ottoman for my legs. I went straight to the furniture and bought things as I passed. 

A red scarf, fine knit and the perfect shade of red. The fringe is not the kind that is cut in strips. It is a very fine knit "string fringe." I LOVE IT! Now, I need to hand wash and hang it to dry. This was a rack of new scarves, not used. 

A glove bin stopped me. I found a pair of gray cuffs of some sort, too wide/big to be sleeveless gloves and no holes, anyway. I bought them thinking I could wear them on my ankles. Even barefoot, just my ankles feel a breeze. I have sensitive ankle bones? I think they would be great as cuffs on a coat. 

A red bracelet caught my attention and jumped in the cart. It has very large red, beads on red elastic. Now, I need a white dress with red polka dots. 

An stainless steel mixing bowl  caught my attention, an identical one to my mixing bowls acquired in 1966. I love them and never felt the need to get something newer. 

A heavy glass divided dish for crudite or candy caught my attention. I had one like it. Now, I have one again. 

A glass Christmas dish with a poinsettia embossed into the back is now mine.

One Rod McKuen album adopted me. Tommy said--What are you going to do, just look at it?" I gave him a withering look and said nothing. 

Southern Living The Joys of Summer  2020 edition was $0.49. I will enjoy the pictures. These are usually at least $5 for special editions.

Simplicity Pattern

The only thing I stopped for, spending no more than 15 seconds was the scarf purchase. It was sort of tangled in other scarves. I saw the red fringe from a distance and had to find the scarf, I went for an ottoman, saw beds without footboards, found they sell mattresses, saw signs for things I might look at if my back did not hurt. Tommy said I spent about 30 minutes in there. I doubt it was that long. He was not complaining as I asked how long. 

I am seriously thinking of buying the wood, commissioning someone to make the ottoman from my specs and upholstering it myself. Any carpenters around? It will basically be a box on legs with cushion on top, just like I had. I will probably have a skirt on it. 

So, I sit now, Sunday,  with aching back and need to get on the elliptical for five minutes, and get on with the day. Okay, I could only  pedal for 4:45 instead of 5:00 minutes.

Sunday night, I had gone to sit while Tommy washed the crock pot. He came into the room at my request to see if TV was on the right station. As he came in, he was carrying cloth in his left hand as he held onto his walker. Startled, I sort of shouted, "What are you carrying in your left hand?" He looked down, took both hands to get the cloth straight. "WELL DAMN!" He was louder than I was. He was carrying a pair of my panties! Dirty panties! Yes, he washed his hands. 

He had finished drying dishes and was not quite to the crock pot. He went back in and found the dish towel lying on the counter by the sink where he left it. I have no idea how he got a pair of my dirty panties. The clothes for the washer are in the kitchen, but why would he get panties out? He guaranteed me he had not dried with them. I am still laughing. 

Today/tonight we got all the dishes washed except for three cookies sheets. I boiled six eggs for my use since he will not eat eggs in any form.

At 3 am Monday morning, the temperature was 68F in the house. I have lots of calls to make today. And, I need to finish the list. 

This and That

The poinsettia was losing leaves except for the red ones. I put it on the front porch and it appears not to be affected by the cold. Weird. There was no use trying to grow it since there is no light in here to nurture a plant.

We had another dishwashing marathon tonight. I just told Tommy to come on and he missed part of his program without a word. I had tried to not make him miss anything.  The dishwasher comes on January 20.

We keep the thermostat at 64F day and night and both go barefoot most of the time. He is usually in his underwear and often in khakis and without his shirt. We do have blankets we use very seldom when watching tv. Nightgowns are my day wear. Usually. The one constant for me is a jacket that pilled and is of no use for wearing to store. 

When we leave, we sometimes turn the thermostat lower than 64. When either of us bathes or I wash my hair, we turn it up to 66 or 68. The house is brick and very tight. I suspect that there is no insulation under the house from the breeze on the floor some days. But, we don't require much heat, obviously.

The clean refrigerator with crispers and the missing shelf replaced makes storing food a dream. Nothing is stacked. We now have three of the little Dollar Tree bins in the shelves and a bowl for the Halos. We can both find what we want. I marvel at it every time I open the door. Even Tommy likes it. He could not have been happy with the filth and stacks of food in there. 

Often, I must search for Glide Original Dental Floss in stores. I order a package of six for less than four would cost me. I am slowly becoming less dependent on shopping in stores. I love it not shopping. I would have never suspected not going into stores could be so good for me. 

When I was going into the grocery about two weeks ago, Tommy said to me, "Oh, I am out of cereal." It seems he ran out that morning. I have asked him to let me know when he opens the last box, but obviously he is not doing that. Once I found cereal very cheap and ended up getting him 17 boxes. He was livid. I will stock up again, not 17 boxes, but at least a half dozen boxes. He uses a box or more each week at a rate of 2 cups each morning. 

The cheap gloves I bought were not for general wearing. Tommy has to hold onto the luggage rack to get out and get gas. And, he cleans the car windows on frosty days. So, he can use the gloves. I had an ice scraper he can use instead of an old credit card. So, now his hands don't freeze so much. I felt for him. I have to hold onto the metal railing on the ramp to get down it safely. My hands were so cold and some gloves get soaked on damp days. So, the cheap gloves were for holding the ramp. At my house, the iron railing down the side steps were cold and often wet, too. But, I only had to hold onto the railing in three places, not 30 feet down the ramp! 

Thursday morning, I have an appointment with ENT. Maybe I can figure out what is wrong with my ear since the pain seems related to the abscessed tooth. I took 5 boxes of Azithromycin. After each box my dizziness and pain returned. Tinnitus is roaring away as I type. 

It is 9 am and I need to put two packages of chicken breasts in the oven and get it out and stored. My hair needs washing, and it would be good if I cut it and layered it this morning and made the appointment later. 

Of course, the TV captivates me nowadays. None of the content is good stuff. I need to get started.