Yarn Crawl or How I Busted My Budget

This weekend was the St Louis area yarn crawl.  Last year I didn't do the crawl because we were shopping for a house.  And as I have mentioned with the move, I have been on a yarn diet. I have also mentioned that I have fallen off that wagon.  Well, any thought that I might climb back on that wagon was blown this weekend.  I bought yarn at 5 of the 7 shops.  I tried to purchase something at every shop to support women owned small businesses, and because I like all these ladies, and of course I love yarn.  I enjoyed seeing everyone in my travels too.

My New Preciouses

However, I did break my budget.  Feeling a little guilty about that, but it is done and I have new yarn.

Dresser Win!

Loving the greens on this chest of drawers

Yesterday, I lamented that I was on a quest for a chest of drawers.  I had prepared myself for a lengthy hunt, but first thing this morning I walked into Vintage Bizarre on Virginia and immediately I found 2 gorgeous candidates.  I did hear angels singing when I beheld my choices.  Dresser A was painted white with 7 drawers painted various shades of green.  Dresser B was cream with pink drawers.  I loved them both, but dresser A just had the look I really wanted.  Now that I have it home, I think dresser B might have been a better choice because it was bigger.  However, I do love the look of my new chest of drawers.

Many flamingos will roost here.

Today was all about furniture, we moved the new dresser to my room.  Natalie put together an IKEA apothecary cabinet for my bathroom.  She gets a good spouse award because she hates putting together IKEA furniture. Even a small dry sink, made by my great grandfather Helms, made its way into my bathroom.  I love the idea of having the dry sink used by generations of my family now being in my own bathroom. 

I have always loved the glass knobs on this dry sink.

Calling today a win.

Marriage Equality and Degrees of Separation

Forever ago we bought a futon with a frame.  When we purchased it we decided to upgrade to a foam core mattress.  I have many regrets in my life, but this decision has not been one of them.  The futon has survived moves, break-ups, reunions, and much flopping on by various species of critters.  I think about three years ago, it became apparent the mattress had seen better days.  A memory foam topper has helped, but sometimes it truly is time to replace things.  So off to the Futon and Mattress Outlet to buy the replacement we went.  The intents was a quick drive by purchase.

The smiling, sixtyish salesman was waiting for us as soon as we cracked the door. "How can I help you?" he said.  Within five minutes he has sold us what we wanted and we were checking out.  Plan working well, and then he started talking about his grand dogs.  Before I could intervene Natalie had her wallet out with her photos of our dogs on the counter.  Next thing I know we are in Cary's (and obviously we are on a first name basis at this point) office looking at not only the grand dogs, but his adult children as well. 

With a flourish Cary said, "And that is my son and his partner, they are planning a big wedding next year in Iowa."  I must admit I paused, this conversation was not what I expected while mattress shopping.  Cary proceeded to tell us all about his son and future son-in-law.  It was obvious that he thought the young man was pretty spectacular. He even shared how proud he was that the partner had been promoted to a manager with Sam's Club in mid-Missouri. 

Again, I had to pause, my sister works at the store.  I had to tell Cary about my sister and we speculated if they might know each other, later sister confirmed that they did.  We had a small world moment and continued for some time to converse about the politics of Missouri and our shared hope for approval of same-sex marriage.  In all it was an unexpected and heartwarming conversation.

Reluctantly, it became time to gather our mattress and go.  After Cary had the box in the car, he said, "I knew you would understand about my son because I saw your sticker."  He pointed at my proclaimed  "Marriage Equality" on the bumper (http://tempestinapot.blogspot.com/2012/08/source-instagram.html).  "Would I prefer my son to not be gay?" he continued.  "Yes.  It makes it harder for him, but I have known since he was 2 he was gay.  He is happy and that is all that matters to me."

We left and it made me smile thinking again about all the hope I have for the future of the LQBTQ community.  We are your sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brother, sisters, friends, co-workers, customers, and humans.  We are all connected and together we will make a better world.  Who knew buying a futon mattress would be such an affirming moment?

$200, 2 Hours, and 1 Broken Nail Later, Or Going to Costco

I know I owe you dear reader the final chapter of 3 Weddings and a Trip to Iowa, but I just got back from Costco and feel a little careworn.  Let me outline my excursion to Costco and you may feel I have earned a brief respite from responsibility.

I needed to go to Costco because I am running a little low on essentials and they kindly sent me a coupon flier.  With my paycheck recently deposited I headed to the warehouse of wholesale prices, my shopping list engraved on my brain.

Trying to think smartly, I decided to gas up first because I know I will be too exhausted afterwards to save 7 cents a gallon on gas.  After waiting my turn I fill up and move on to parking.  I parked about 20 yards from the pump because the lot was packed.  I knew this was going to be a busy day for warehouse shopping. 

Sighing, I grab my enormous shopping bags and go.  I no more than flash my membership card and my bladder decides I need a trip to the women's room which is of course on the other side of the store.  Leaving my cart I take care of business and of course have to go back out and get a new cart because my old one is gone.  To get back in I have to flash my membership card again. 

Hardcore grab and go shopping is on my mind, I head immediately all the way back to the cheese section and then move on to fruit.  Just out of fruits I start looking for the coupons.  No coupon book.  Yup, I left it in the car.  Leaving my cart I run back out to my car, pick up the coupon book, head back in, and of course flash my membership card again.

And you guessed it I go back to my cart to find it gone (glad I took my shopping bags with me).  There I am back to go, collect another cart, and of course flash my membership card again.

Back to cheese and fruit and on to freezer section for me.  After dodging other shoppers, small children, and the very friendly demo staff I have finished my scavenger hunt for couponed items and I am in line to pay.  Of course I am in the wrong line.  I always pick the wrong line.  I notice my error about halfway through unloading my cart, that was the moment when I notice my clerk has his arm up the money tube.  Apparently, the plastic money bin is stuck in the tube.  After he and another clerk use a stick to unwedge the bin my clerk has to walk it to the office.  (I am not kidding folks).  The other clerk finally logs in and starts to finish with the customer in front of me.  I try not to judge people, BUT the customer in front of me waits for a total and then pulls out a check book.  Say what you will about debit card fees, but they are quicker.

So with purchases in cart I head to my car.  I bag up the items fill up my hatch and realize, yes I have to go to the women's room again.  I debate with myself and then back to the store I go.  And again I am asked to show my membership card.  I make the long trek to the facilities feeling like every employee there is thinking, "When will that bitch leave?"

At last I found myself at home parked and looking at the long walk to my house with enormous shopping bags full of army of children sized portions of bread and milk.  Somewhere on this shuffle inside I managed to break a nail and snag my shirt on the door. 

So I feel I have earned a respite from my chores to watch Top Gear and blog. 

Day Twenty-eight: Gratitude

With no preamble, today I am grateful for shopping! Call me a capitalist pig if you want, but I love to shop. If I had to cite one thing I am good at it is shopping, I am after all my mother's daughter. I cut my eye teeth at Venture (sadly now in the realms of the departed along with Grandpa's, Famous Barr, and Stix, Baer, and Fuller) and moved up to malls. I may have math issues, but trust me I know to the penny how much 20% off is on something that is $29.99 ($23.99 without tax).

In other words if shopping was a sporting event, I think I could at least achieve semi-pro status. With the economy and my finances I have to be a little on the careful side, but today I was ready for some retail therapy. I managed my day quite handily, I planned my day based on sales and coupons. Currently I am heady with the rush of my success. I went to two yarn stores, a new age store, Barnes and Noble, and Quiktrip. It was a fine day. I scored some books, some Christmas presents, and of course yarn.

My day had the added bonus of my lovely wife accompanying me on the excursion. She and my mother are my two favorite shopping buddies. The three of us can close down a mall. Natalie may not look like the avid shopper I am, and maybe she isn't, but she does come along for the ride. We don't really have the same taste, but you know we still have a lot of fun. Who knew you could find miniature Elvis statues at Barnes and Noble anyway?

As we went, we spread joy and cash to all the business we visited today. I think my favorite moment was when she loaded me down with huge puffs of yarn and left me stranded in the middle of a yarn shop. All I could do was smile when she turned around and saw me struggling to balance all of the yarn in my arms as I went to the counter. It was bliss, shopping, my wife, and yarn. How could I not be grateful?