Friday, November 21, 2008

Life in My World—What a Deal

Tonight I ran into the grocery store for a couple of things. While debating between Caramel Caribou and Moose Tracks a student from my first year of teaching came down the aisle. He looked at me, smiled real wide and gave me a big, tight hug. It was by far the best deal in the ice cream aisle. With a family of his own now, it was fun to hear how he’s doing. Then, while the checker was tallying my bill her phone rang. She answered it and looked straight at me while nodding her head and said, “I’m supposed to tell you to look down at station 4.” I did and there was my friend, Beka, waving at me. Beka’s smile and wave made me feel like I’d just received the 30-cents-off-a-gallon-of-gas coupon the store randomly gives. Funny how people going out of their way to say hello can make you feel so good. Two great deals in one grocery store. (And, lest I forget, Lay’s chips are $1.99.)

Yesterday was the library book sale. Remember last week I told you about The Tightwad Gazette? I got the complete edition for 25 cents. And remember I mentioned Marie Antoinette by Victoria Holt? I got the hard back edition for 50 cents. But the real steal was a book that sales for $50 retail in pristine condition for 50 cents, and it doesn’t even smell like mildew or smoke. On top of that I got Louisa May Alcott’s Thanksgiving short-story book, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, a hard-back Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, two old primer-style books that will make darling journals/photo albums, as well as an Orson Scott Card and Lloyd Alexander book. Are you ready for the total? $4.50. What a deal. I also ran into several friends in the basement and it felt good to browse and laugh with them . . . and we didn’t even have to whisper.

Ande, Cali and Ray are coming home tonight. The house is clean. The fridge is full. There are still a few brownies left in the cookie jar. Calvin made a fire in the fireplace. The beds are made and fixed (the old antique bed broke in the middle of the night last time they were home . . . it did that once before when we had company and so they just turned their heads around so they could sleep uphill the rest of the night—Argh, embarrassing). We’re having Thanksgiving this weekend and next weekend. What a deal.

10 comments:

MaryRC said...

WOW your life is good! i am especially jealous of your book finds, I am a true hardcover love of my favorite books... Do you Shelfari.com?

Tiffany Fackrell said...

I almost called ande for a desperate situation in needing a babysitter yesterday, but I figured she would have probably been on her way home...or a date since it was friday night! So happy to have your kids coming for thanksgiving. we are miss our family this week, we are staying in rexburg to get some packing done for our big move back to washington in just three short weeks!

Leslie said...

I love running into friends at the store (well, except when it's at the moment my 3 year old is screaming for candy, lol). How exciting to find such great deals! I don't remember you mentioning the Tightwad Gazette last week - I must have missed that post. Anyway, that is one of my very favorite books. I came across it at our library a while back and have since checked it out again. I have found so many great ideas in it. And to find it for 25cents!!!The writers would be so proud of you. I'll be hunting for it myself during yardsale season.

Gwen said...

Carrie is visiting me for the weekend and we were in the ice cream isle last night trying to decide between the exact same two ice creams...we went with Moose Tracks:)
and thank you for the card you sent...and for your prayers! We've been very blessed!!!
-gwen

Amy said...

This post made me so happy. What a deal, indeed! Your gratitude & coziness shine through...I would love to be coming home to the house you describe in that last paragraph. Enjoy your celebrations!

Jill said...

Your visit to the grocery store sounds so satisfying.

Score on the books!

Your weekend sounds like it's going to be homey and family-filled, enjoy!

Kathy’s Korner said...

It is funny how some things just come because you wanted them. You were really prepared for those library books! What a score! One of the things I love about Moses Lake is running into friends at the grocery store or stopping in the middles of residencial streets to visit. I love small towns!

Nikki said...

What a happy day!

I wish I was as prepared as you are for Thanksgiving. Somehow 6 people in the same house sneezing, coughing, and hacking all over each other doesn't lend it self to special holiday preparations. I'll be lucky to be ready when the guests knock on the door.

Happy Thanksgiving weekends to you and yours!

melanie said...

I'm cracking up that Leslie loves the Tightwad Gazette. And you thought no one else read that book. She's read it twice!

Still so sad about the library sale. I'm sure I could have found books to buy with nowhere to put them. :)

Have a fabulous time with your family. And of course, Ande's pies. Yum, yum.

michelle said...

oh, what a happy post!

I would be thrilled to find such great book deals. And also to be coming home to brownies in the cookie jar, a fire in the fireplace, and the fixed up beds. Happy.