Three Old Friends and a Buffet. (Contains The First Rant of Christmas.)

It started with a can run. I've been putting off hauling a load to recycling, but since I was going to be running around and had nothing but loose change in my wallet, it was time. I had 18 pounds of cans, and earned $8.10. Woohoo, big bucks!

Got home and while waiting for GK, discovered that my package with the fabulous 44-cent fragrance had arrived. (Retail cost, $48. I had a coupon for 50% off plus free shipping, thereby reducing the price to $24. Sales tax was $1.44. I had a $25 gift card. Cost to me: 44 cents. Go, me!) I smell fantastic!

Okay, so GK shows up, she's rented a Chevy HHR---I've been admiring those, and it was a really sweet ride---and we head over to the New Century Buffet for lunch with Red. It was great. We talked even more than we ate, and we all ate a lot! Sadly, they didn't have duck OR salmon on the lunch buffet, but there was gingerbread on the dessert bar, which helped make up for it.

We then proceded to the A+ Thrift Store, where the three of us perused. I exercised great restraint. I saw a vintage tablecloth I coveted, but talked myself out of it. Ended up with two books and a small picture frame.

From there, we headed down to the Melbourne Goodwill, by way of 7-11. That went well. GK picked up the tab for several articles that flattered me: 2 tops, 2 skirts, 2 dresses, a pair of shoes and a TV. (I was very excited because it's a 12" flat screen, however, I got it home and it doesn't freaking work. Grrr!) Red also made a number of fun finds, and she and I were warbling along to the oldies background music. Cupid, draw back your bow, and let your arrow go, stright to my lover's heart, for me, nobody but me---!

Red departed for home after that, and GK and I headed back to Cocoa. One of the projects she's working on during her stay is to replace the fluorescent bulbs that have burned out in her mom's kitchen---she bypassed Home Depot in favor of the thrift store, but I suggested that WalMart might have them, AND it would give me a chance to pick up some bathroom tissue. So we did WalMart.

She dropped me off with the spoils of our campaign, AND a top that she'd acquired for me at the MI Goodwill yesterday AND my Christmas present. Yes, she *is* preternaturally organized. In case I forget in the next six weeks, it's on top of the entertainment unit in the living room.

That's RIGHT, readers. A scant six weeks until the mercilessly commercialized holiday of quasi-religious significance. If you need to order anything online DO IT NOW.

Anyway, I tested the "new" set, which doesn't work and will be traveling back to Goodwill with me on Tuesday. The old set is plugged back in, and I just got through watching CSI: Miami and Blood Ties and reading one of my new acquisitions, The Final Confession of Mabel Stark, which so far is excellent.

I hurt all over, but it's been a pretty good day. And I have a lunch date to look forward to tomorrow as well!

Three Old Friends and a Buffet. (Contains The First Rant of Christmas.)

It started with a can run. I've been putting off hauling a load to recycling, but since I was going to be running around and had nothing but loose change in my wallet, it was time. I had 18 pounds of cans, and earned $8.10. Woohoo, big bucks!

Got home and while waiting for GK, discovered that my package with the fabulous 44-cent fragrance had arrived. (Retail cost, $48. I had a coupon for 50% off plus free shipping, thereby reducing the price to $24. Sales tax was $1.44. I had a $25 gift card. Cost to me: 44 cents. Go, me!) I smell fantastic!

Okay, so GK shows up, she's rented a Chevy HHR---I've been admiring those, and it was a really sweet ride---and we head over to the New Century Buffet for lunch with Red. It was great. We talked even more than we ate, and we all ate a lot! Sadly, they didn't have duck OR salmon on the lunch buffet, but there was gingerbread on the dessert bar, which helped make up for it.

We then proceded to the A+ Thrift Store, where the three of us perused. I exercised great restraint. I saw a vintage tablecloth I coveted, but talked myself out of it. Ended up with two books and a small picture frame.

From there, we headed down to the Melbourne Goodwill, by way of 7-11. That went well. GK picked up the tab for several articles that flattered me: 2 tops, 2 skirts, 2 dresses, a pair of shoes and a TV. (I was very excited because it's a 12" flat screen, however, I got it home and it doesn't freaking work. Grrr!) Red also made a number of fun finds, and she and I were warbling along to the oldies background music. Cupid, draw back your bow, and let your arrow go, stright to my lover's heart, for me, nobody but me---!

Red departed for home after that, and GK and I headed back to Cocoa. One of the projects she's working on during her stay is to replace the fluorescent bulbs that have burned out in her mom's kitchen---she bypassed Home Depot in favor of the thrift store, but I suggested that WalMart might have them, AND it would give me a chance to pick up some bathroom tissue. So we did WalMart.

She dropped me off with the spoils of our campaign, AND a top that she'd acquired for me at the MI Goodwill yesterday AND my Christmas present. Yes, she *is* preternaturally organized. In case I forget in the next six weeks, it's on top of the entertainment unit in the living room.

That's RIGHT, readers. A scant six weeks until the mercilessly commercialized holiday of quasi-religious significance. If you need to order anything online DO IT NOW.

Anyway, I tested the "new" set, which doesn't work and will be traveling back to Goodwill with me on Tuesday. The old set is plugged back in, and I just got through watching CSI: Miami and Blood Ties and reading one of my new acquisitions, The Final Confession of Mabel Stark, which so far is excellent.

I hurt all over, but it's been a pretty good day. And I have a lunch date to look forward to tomorrow as well!