Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

Yesterday we went to the grocery store for our Thanksgiving feast. The place was packed. Midday on a Monday!! And everyone's carts were full for their upcoming feasts. The selection of fresh produce, frozen turkeys and massive amounts of trimmings were a sight to behold. Despite the crowd it was a lovely experience. Made even better by the fact that Rich has graduated from the riding cart with the flag to pushing/leaning on the cart. He still wanders a bit but by the time we completed the produce section I realized that he moves at one speed in his own direction so I can scurry off to fetch items and return them to the cart.

The excursion went so well that I was only mildly perturbed by the fact that they did not carry the kitchen twine necessary for trussing the turkey. Seriously. DVDs, Dom Perignon and auto parts, but no kitchen twine necessary for trussing the turkey.

So I ran into Bed, Bath and Beyond while Rich waited in the car and the place was a mob scene. Thankfully the kitchen twine was right up front with the rest of the turkey accoutrements, and I found the shortest line out of six with only three people ahead of me.

Driving home we passed seven restaurants, and all of their parking lots were at least ¾ full. And then I realized that all the parking lots of all the stores were just as full. In fact, we couldn't find an empty handicapped spot at the grocery store.

My point? Hot damn the economy must have rebounded while I was lost in the fog of Rich's excursion into the land of the Hedge Hog People. Nice. I was worried there for awhile.

Today we went for a drive to get Rich out of the house. We dropped off all the recycling stuff at the center, and I attempted to open savings accounts for the three grand babies. Only to learn that a social security NUMBER is not enough. Ohio banking law requires a photo copy of the SSN card. Really? I can accomplish an amazing amount of shit on line without the actual card, as long as I have the number. Stuff like that just makes my head hurt.

So then we just headed south and enjoyed the beautiful day and our car time. When we got home I discovered that the stars had perfectly aligned resulting in magic. On my front doorstep was a box from QVC and one from HSN. On the SAME day! Woo-Hooo! My Christmas shopping is done with delivery to my door, free shipping and easy flex pays. Life is good.

Thankfully my husband thinks everything I do is either brilliant or adorably quirky. But he does like to tease me, and he's getting far too much mileage from my new found shopping technique. I clearly explained to Rich that this is all his fault.

Number One...he has a wife that hates to go out shopping.

Number Two...he spent 26 days in the hospital which left me channel surfing at 3 am, and as I previously explained, shopping channels are the only safe channels to sleep through. This was how I discovered shopping from the comfort of my couch.

Number Three...”ask not what your country can do for you....ask what you can do for your country.” So I am all about doing my part to stimulate the economy.

Number Four.... if Rich is going to leave me unattended for extended periods of time, I WILL get into trouble so therefore, ergo, ipso facto....
“You have no one to blame but yourself, my dear.”

Then we opened the mail. The hospital bill alone for Rich's 26 day hospitalization was $147,680. For the six day hospitalization the bill was $33,400. That does not count all the bills for all the CAT scans, doctors, treatments, surgeries, home nursing service, ER, radiation, or the $600 bill for the ambulance ride. We are doing our part to aid in the economic stimulus.

At the rate we're going, I won't be surprised if we get a Christmas card from the Obamas.