Expensive Batteries (The Dangers of Target)

Tonight, after a yummy dinner with MegDub, I went to Target to pick up some batteries so my thermostat could once again function.

I went to pick up some batteries. Just batteries. Then Target cast a spell on me, as it so often does.

I came out with:

• 2 pairs of shorts
• a shirt
• a purse
• Enchanted on DVD
• Starbucks Mocha Truffles
• ... and batteries.

And just one more note about Target: if I (still) worked there, I would let you take seven items into the dressing room, even though the limit is six. I am not THAT much of a rules follower.

Best Friends, Worst Friends, and Average Friends

This conversation has come up twice this week, so I thought maybe it was blog-worthy. 

I do not like "best friends." The idea of taking one of your friends and bestowing upon them the title of "best" friend is just weird to me. If you are going to name your "best" friend, are you also going to have someone who is your "worst" friend? Or your "average" friend?

Like everyone else, I have some friends who are closer than others. I may call some people my "good friends" but I don't go so far as to name one of them the "best." (I am overusing quotes. Sorry about that.) I'm not in the business of ranking my friends one through however-many-friends-I-have.

What if someone is my best friend, but I am not their best friend? Or vice versa? That creates all kinds of awkward situations. 

As we were discussing this at small group tonight, I gave my Sunday School answer. "Jesus is my best friend." We decided that He would wear the "best" part of the necklace, and I would get the "friend" half.

Evolution

I was cleaning the study the other day... I am not sure why I still have all of these. This goes back to about 2001, I think. I wonder what the next seven years will bring...

Playing with your food...

Today at lunch I had one of the most bizarre experiences ever. I don't think I am going to be able to adequately put it into words, but I will try.

Jane and I went out for Turkish food. I've been a semi-regular at the restaurant since it opened four or five years ago, and the owner always recognizes me. So we ate our lunch, and then Jane had a little piece of chicken and some lettuce left on her plate. The owner came over and said, "Are you listening to your plate? Is it saying something to you?" Uh... no?

Then he proceeded to talk as if he were the piece of chicken, saying things like, "Don't you like me? What is wrong with me? Why won't you eat the little baby chicken?" At this point, I think I am just making "the face," not sure what to think.

But then he kneels down at the table, takes the fork, and starts covering up the chicken with pieces of lettuce, saying it needs a nap. Then I began to lose it... I was trying not to laugh out loud... but you know how that goes.

This went on for a good five minutes. Next thing you know, he wasn't even using the fork. He was just touching the food with his hands, and he was even burping the baby chicken. By the end, I had tears streaming down my face. I couldn't breathe. I hadn't laughed that hard in a long time.

Voting x 2

Today is a very important day... it is both the Indiana Primary, and the day we vote off an Idol contestant. I have thoughts on each of these important races.

Indiana Primary

I went to vote against someone, more than for someone. Seriously. How long have we been having elections? You'd think the polling places would be a little more organized by now. First, I was practically accosted by people telling me who to vote for and trying to hand me junk outside the school where I vote. Do people really show up not knowing who to vote for, then say, "Oh, I just got this flyer about Obama. I think I'll vote for him"? 

But moving on... then I went inside the gym. There were four or five different precincts voting in this gym. It took me a few minutes to figure this out. I wandered around a bit then realized I needed to look at the map taped to the wall. An 8.5x11 map, with no instructions. I then learned that I was precinct 25. The signs for the precincts were taped to the tables and they all had people standing in front of them. After asking about 7 people, I finally figured out which line I was supposed to be in. Someone in front of me waited in that whole long line just to learn he was in the wrong one and had to go wait again. Come on, people. If I had a tiny 8.5x11 map taped on the wall somewhere at one of our meetings, I'd never hear the end of it. How about some larger signs on easels? Some directions?

On another note, I am watching Idol and the Primary results are at the bottom of the screen. Someone named "Big Dog" ran for something. And "Big Al" ran for something else. I could never vote for someone who had "Big" in their name. Except maybe Mr. Big.

American Idol

Watching now... Jason Castro was ridiculously terrible. Which means dilemma for me... I really WANT Jason to go home, but if Syesha gets voted off, I will be 3 for 3 in our little contest at work. Do I want justice? Or do I want to win? Hmm. I will decide soon. But I will definitely be voting for David Cook. 

The only thing bad about my switch from AT&T to Verizon is that I can no longer text my votes.

My Niece Has a Sweet Ride...

Yeah, she's three and she has a cooler car than any of us. I'm pretty sure I'm the only family member who has never had a Mustang. We might need to work on that. :)

Souvenirs

I travel quite a bit, and if I bought your typical souvenirs in each place I visited, I would have a closet full of [insert city here] t-shirts. Instead, when I visit a city, I like to find something unique. On many occasions, I don't have time for shopping and come home empty-handed. But I thought I'd share a few of my recent, unique purchases from my travels.

I was in Seattle last week, and found these gems at a great store called Fireworks. If I ever owned a store, it would be a lot like this store... a bunch of random, fun things. Yes, folks, these are pot holders. Disclaimer: the purchase of pot holders does not mean that I will begin cooking!

Last month, I was in Southern California for a lot of work, mixed in with a little vacation. Once our meeting was over, some co-workers and I headed to Belmont Shore, a great little beach town near Long Beach. As soon as I saw this, I knew I had to have it. It got a little bent in my suitcase, but not beyond repair. It is a "grass" organizer. The packaging had pictures of it being used in both office and bathroom settings. As you can see, I went for the office use...

When I surprised mom with a trip to NYC to see the Rockettes last December, who knew I'd come home with such a great find? I got these at Radio City Music Hall... Rockette-leg martini glasses!