Well, we're back "home". The drive back certainly took a lot less time than the trip up to Michigan. It took us 23 hours and 1 snow storm to get there but only 16 or 17 hours to return home.

I'm glad to be back in my own "home" despite the fact that home for me is my measley 34' fifth-wheel. At least I have my own comfy bed. And, I can go to bed when I want and wake when I want.

When we left early, early Thursday morning we had hauled away over 58,000 pounds to the salvage yard. It's amazing that we took so much crap out of the barn and out of the "back 40". (Grandpa has another 40 acres and part of it is used as a dumping ground which also had to be cleaned up for tax purposes.)

In other news, I have felt blah & blue for most of the day. I don't have any reason why I should feel this way. I should be happy and relaxed and content. I even bought some stuff at Yankee Candle today. (Thanks, Ree for hooking me up with that Cucumber & Cantaloupe scent; I bought a matching votive to go in the sunflower thing you bought for me as well as a 14.5oz jar candle to match.)

Speaking of Yankee Candle, those sales associates are becoming just as annoying and pushy as those over there at Bath & Body Works.

Ok, so here's the deal.

As I walked into the store, they had a large sign posted in their entryway advertising that the "Scent of The Month" was Cucumber & Cantaloupe and that all products in that scent were 25% off. Next, I walk over to the display where another LARGE sign is hanging from the ceiling advertising the same 25% off sale. Then ON the display table where the candles are located is a sign that not only advertises the 25% off sale, but tells the consumer the price difference of each item before and after the discount is made.

Enter annoying, pushy salesgirl.

Salesgirl: (all sugary & wayyyy too bubbly for a minimum waged job) "Hi! How are you today?"

Me: (all polite in the manner of leave me alone I'm trying to shop in peace) "Fine, thanks."

Salesgirl: (again all bubbly and oozing liquid Sweet-N-Low)"Did you know..." her voice trails off as I interupt her and say,

Me: (abruptly and directly to the point) "Yes, I know these are on sale." [For crying out loud I'm STARING RIGHT AT THE FREAKIN' SIGN!!!]

Salesgirl: (shocked that I knew EXACTLY what she was going to say) "Oh, did she already...." voice trailing off again as I cut in with,

Me: (very direct and to the point with a hint of sarcasm), "Noooo no one told me. I can read the sign RIGHT here in front of me and the sign that advertises the prices on the table as well as your sign in the front of the store."

Salesgirl's bubble has just been popped. She quickly walked away. I am not by nature a mean-spirited person but it's a pet-peeve of mine when a salesperson points out the obvious.

Arrrggh!

And to add fuel to the fire, when the manager is ringing my items, she tries to upsale the jar candle. I quickly nodded my head up and down and indicated that I realize that the larger jar is a better price and burns for a longer time but I still want the jar that is on the counter in front of me.

Grrrrrr!

Apparently these sales associates don't realize that I'm a "Smart And Savvy Shopper".

Thought Of The Day: "Be master of your petty annoyances and conserve your energies for the big, worthwhile things. It isn't the mountain ahead that wears you out - it's the grain of sand in your shoe." --Robert Service (1874 - 1958)

Until next time... peace, love & HEALTH!!!