Exceedingly Mundane

Some days I am in a shopping mood, and some days I am not. I never know from day to day how that mood will shake out. I never know from shopping trip to shopping trip if I will walk in a store and feel the urge to spend money and buy things — or not!

Tim, however, is not of this wishy-washy frame of mind. If he sees something he likes, he knows right away, and usually has no qualms about spending the money and buying it.

I, however, like to think about things. Weigh it in my mind. Think about it. Think about it some more. Decide if it’s what I want, or if I need to look around at several different places, look online, then, look around some more. After all that, I often still have trouble deciding. It’s some kind of defective gene, but it is my nature and it’s not something that is easily changed.

Case in point – the wallpaper border we found yesterday at Home Depot. Tim was immediately sold on it. I was not. Tacked it up and looked at. Thought about it, slept on it, thought about it some more. So, I guess in an effort to spur me along (and because Tim has made up his mind that he likes this one, is ready to hang it up, has no desire to look around and find another one), Tim thought it would be a good idea today to go look and see if we could find a shower curtain, rugs and towels that would go with the new border.

Today was warm, grey, cloudy and rainy. It was, as I soon discovered, not a day that I felt like shopping or spending money. Tim was very patient. We looked at the new Target out on Lakeland. Then, he took me to a late lunch at the Mellow Mushroom (I had not been there before), and we had some really good pizzas. Then, we went to Linens N Things where Tim quickly found a shower curtain (wine/burgundy color) and rugs (dark green) that he liked and would have been perfectly happy to leave with. I, however, am not so quick to decide and plus, I didn’t have my coupon with me, so we left empty handed. Went and looked at the new Steinmart but found absolutely nothing there. Then, on a whim, he said “Let’s go look at Pier 1 and see if we can find a chair”. Which, after the torture he’d been enduring in the bath linen departments, seemed like a welcome relief.

So, we go in Pier 1 about 15 minutes before they are closing. 15 minutes later, we walk out with a new rattan chair and cushion for our bedroom. Nothing like dropping 200 bucks unplanned, in 15 minutes. It helps that I really like the chair. It helps that I have been planning to put a chair in the corner of our bedroom for about 8 or 9 months now. However, it will take me a day or so to get used to it in that corner – we’ve had a ficus tree there for several years that is tall, and now (visually), there is nothing of height there. But I do like the chair. I need one more pillow for the bedroom though. And, I think I will probably go back to Linens N Things soon and get the curtain and rugs he picked out. Towels are still up in the air.

Summary – it’s very hard for me to spend money. It’s very hard for me to make quick decisions. Decorating on any level is almost impossible for me, I’m no good with color, no good mixing things, etc. Most important point – I do not do change well. At all.

Well, as Scarlett said, after all, tomorrow is another day. Maybe tomorrow I will feel like spending money on towels, rugs and a new shower curtain!

Productive is a good word in my vocabulary. I like to get things done. Tim would say I like things done in my way, on my timetable. He’s probably right. But hey, who doesn’t? 🙂

Today turned out to be a productive day, considering that I wasn’t sure how much we would get done. I had lofty goals, and had made (heaven forbid) a list of things I would like to try to knock out today. Tim normally bristles at the sight of one of my lists. But, he was a patient guy today and worked with me on several of the things on my list. We didn’t get them all done (most of the stuff in the yard, but not all, and we didn’t get the outside freezer defrosted. Hate that thing), but we got a lot more accomplished today than I thought we would when we woke up this morning.

We went to Home Depot and found several things we needed. Allergen AC Filters (the older I get, the more dust bothers me). A light switch thingie for the bathroom. A glass cutter for Tim. Priced a big set of router bits he wants (now I have to get online and look around and see if I can find them cheaper). Found a shelving thing I wanted. And even found some new wallpaper for our bathroom.

I’ve been wanting to redo the bathroom to match our bedroom ever since we got a new comforter set last fall. Totally different colors, we went from sky blues and grass greens to burgundy, green and gold. The bathroom is still medium blue and our room is burgundy. Doesn’t really go. We found a wallpaper border at Home Depot that I liked ok, but I’m not completely sold on. (Tim, on the other hand, is already completely sold. It doesn’t take him long to decide if he likes things or not. Not like me, things have to grow on me). Anyway, we went ahead and bought several rolls, but I haven’t decided if they will go back or not. Going to wait and check out the new Lowe’s that is opening 3/1 in Flowood. Anyway, once we do find new wallpaper, that will be a Saturday project to get the old down and the new up. Then, I’ll be tasked with finding a new shower curtain, rugs, towels, doo-dads, etc.

Back to today. After a fairly satisfying trip to Home Depot, we decided to have a late lunch. We had both been wanting to try the new barbecue place in Madison called Udon’s, next to Blockbuster, so we went there. Tim had a Shotgun, single barrel. They call a hamburger loaded down with chili, cheese and slaw a Shotgun. The waitress told us that she had never really seen any person finish a double barrel, and he would be better off with the single barrel. She was right, Tim wasn’t even able to finish the single barrel. I had a pulled pork sandwich and we shared a big basket of home cut fries. It was all good. I’m debating now as to whether I like this place better than our regular bbq joint, the Haute Pig in Madison. I will have to ask Tim and see which one he likes better. Right now, I’m still leaning toward Haute Pig, although this place was good and we really enjoyed lunch.

Then, we went to Hollywood Video. Had coupons for free rentals (I cashed in some of our cashback from Discover for a booklet of free rentals). We rented “Friday Night Lights” and “Cellular”. Will probably watch one tonight and one tomorrow.

After we got home, we tacked up the border in the bathroom to see how it would look. I’m still debating. I don’t do change well. It’s new. Very dark in contrast to what is in there now and I’m not sure if it’s just different, or just plain too dark for the white counters, tub, shower, etc. Then, we went outside and worked several hours. Worked in the flower beds, pulling weeds, redoing landscape edging, putting out pinestraw, pruning things, etc. Tim also changed the oil in the mower and then changed the oil in the car for me. He’s got to do his truck soon, it’s past time for Clyde to have his oil changed in him. By then, it was after dark and we were about worn out. We came inside, and Tim is now working on two more jobs for me. He replaced the light switch in our bathroom (it’s been “wobbly”) with the one we bought this afternoon at Home Depot. And now he’s out in the laundry room, hanging the wire shelving basket I found, putting it above the washer and dryer. For storing our chips, since we eat so darn many Baked Lays and other potato chips. Well, not we. Tim is the potato chip eater around here. He loves his chips. Gotta have a variety, too.

All in all, a very busy, but very productive day. 😛

Well, we had the best of intentions this morning. Got up and got dressed and then did some stretching and exercises in the den. Tim did push-ups, but I don’t like those, so I did some lifts with my arm weights. Head out the door, get down the street and back, then around the first corner and about 1/3 of the way down that street, and guess what…. it starts to rain. Well, we both had on fleece type of stuff, nothing water-proof, so we decided to come back. It drizzled on us constantly all the way back to the house. We made coffee and had banana bread for breakfast. I noticed as I was getting my food (we had been home about 10 minutes, tops), that it had already stopped sprinkling. I wonder if that’s the only rain we’re going to get today? We have such impeccable timing.

Gotta go get in the shower and get going, we’ve got some errands to run today. More later, maybe. 🙂 Or maybe not. 🙂

Fun day today, got to go have lunch with my friend Wendy. Wendy, if you’re reading this – I had a great time and I’m sorry if I kept you too long! I just had such a good time talking and visiting (we’ll have to do it again sometime!)

Lunch was the brightest spot in my otherwise busy day. I left home mid-morning and went to the new Steinmart and big Target out on Lakeland Drive. When I walked in the women’s clothing section at Steinmart, I thought I was in a time warp back to the 80’s. Everywhere I looked, there were pinks and greens and bright tropical colors. Really reminded me of that preppy phase I have already lived through once. What’s it with fashion and all these cyclical phases? Saw some cute tops for spring and summer, but I had a sweater and coat on and was not in a mood to try on summer clothes! So, I walked down to Target and found some maternity pants Wendy was looking for (couldn’t find them at our regular Target). Got those, then left to meet Wendy at Applebees. We split an appetizer (some kind of potato chip/bacon/cheese thing that sounded really good on the menu but was not as good once it came to our table!), and then had an Oriental Chicken Salad. Very good, I would eat that again in a heartbeat! We talked and visited a long time, then Wendy left to go visit her mom.

I debated going back down Lakeland to Dogwood to shop, but decided to head back to Madison, and I stopped at the Walmart. I had found some Neutrogena stuff on clearance in Walmart on Monday (a 3 step system, exfoliating wash, eye creme and SPF15 all-day moisturizer) for 5 bucks and bought one. I asked Gail if she would be interested in it, and she said she was, so I headed back to get one for her before they were all gone. Also picked up a few groceries. Already working on next week’s menu! 🙂

Tim and I went walking when he got in, it was nice and chilly out tonight. We had a light supper since he weighs in tomorrow at work, then we settled in for my favorite night of TV. The new Survivor (Pulau) started tonight, along with new episodes of CSI and Without a Trace. I was really looking forward to Survivor – I am in a pool at one of my scrapbooking boards and was randomly assigned a player. Well – my player turned out to be Johnathan, the first one voted off the island. Darn, now I can’t play! Oh well, will have to find someone else to root for now.

All in all, a busy, but very good day! 🙂

Fun day today. 🙂 Tim and I slept late (yea, I love to sleep!), and then hung around the house awhile. I did some chores and he trimmed (no, scratch that, massacred) the crepe myrtles and a bunch of shrubs outside. Then we left and stopped by Northpark on the way to the theatre to meet Gail and Don. We all went to a matinee of Hitch. Great movie, really funny! I enjoyed it a lot! Then, we all went to Best Buy and Bed, Bath and Beyond, and then walked over to King Buffet for supper. We had a really great time hanging out this evening with Gail & Don. 🙂

Today was a busy day. Daddy came up for an appointment at the VA – he had another Doppler test run on his carotid. I didn’t go with him, but he did come by the house first, and we went to eat lunch together. I really wanted Chinese food, so I talked Daddy into going to Hong Kong Buffet (in Madison) with me. He went, and I was so glad. I got to have a few pieces of sushi, my egg drop soup, and all the coconut shrimp, general tso chicken, special chicken, seafood delight and stuffed mushrooms my little heart desired. Oh my, it was good! Daddy took home some leftovers I had for him, and I was glad. I hope they help out some. I know he gets tired of cooking and figuring out what to eat.

After lunch, I went to Target and looked around (bought nothing). Then, I went to Sam’s and picked up a few things (more on that later, hehe). Amanda called after I got in, and I told her about some Colorbok scrapbooks they had at Target. She wanted an 8×8 cream one, so I told her I would go get it. Tim ended up working late, and called me when he was leaving work, about 6:00 or so. He offered to meet me at Target, and he did. We got the scrapbooks, some target brand cherry limeade (love that stuff, a new discovery), and Tim bought me part (or all?) of my Valentines present. I picked out a cute little 3 piece pajama outfit that I had seen earlier in the afternoon. Pink, different patterns (solid shirt, printed shorts and long pants). I already have one of these sets for summer, and wanted to get another one. They were on sale this week. I seem to be in a pajama mood lately – I got a new winter set for Christmas (that I picked out and Tim got for me!)

Anyway, it’s not often that I go to Target twice in one day. Even better because I didn’t spend a penny on the first trip. 🙂 And an even better day because I got to have Chinese food with my dad.

Goodnight moon. Goodnight Hambones, see you in the morning 😎

Tim and I went down to Hattiesburg on Saturday, to visit Daddy, Mark, Amanda, Ethan and Abby. We stopped at Daddy’s first, delivered a toaster oven, and Tim helped him on his Equities spreadsheet on his PC. Then, we called in some food at The Breeze, and stopped by to pick it up on the way to Mark’s house. The Breeze makes great sandwiches and po-boy’s. Amanda got a cheeseburger, I got a shrimp po-boy and Daddy, Mark and Tim got crawfish po-boys. We were all pretty stuffed at the end 🙂

We all visited a while, and after Amanda fed Abby, she and I left to go scrapbook shopping. We went to the sb store in Oak Grove and picked up a few things, then to Hobby Lobby. Fun trip! Tim and Mark kept the kids and watched Napoleon Dynamite (loser movie, look for a review soon on Hambones), and played the NFL trivia DVD game I gave Tim for Christmas. We came back and Amanda fed Abby again, then we decided to go ahead and go to Michaels too, while we were at it! We only got a couple of small things there, and then stopped at Popeye’s for chicken on the way back. We ate and visited a while longer, then had to hit the road to get home. Tim and I were both tired, for some odd reason.

A good day trip, we had a lot of fun! I only ended up taking a few pictures, mostly of Ethan having fun crawling on Tim (you can find these in the Photo gallery on Hambones, under February 2005). I took one or two of Abby. She was sleeping most of the time we were there. I hated to keep flashing the flash in her face and didn’t want to irritate her, or else I would have taken more pictures! She’s the prettiest little thing! 🙂