The Pinch-in-the-Pocket

All around the country, people are feeling the pinch; not the Special K Pinch-an-Inch pinch (that's très passé) thanks to America's obsession on fitness, but the Pinch-in-the-Pocket pinch from the astronomical, gag-inducing rise in prices. Gas prices, groceries, clothing, utilities; you name it, the price is UP. And the sad news is that the people fortunate enough to have steady employment are not seeing a rise in their salaries. So what is a struggling American family to do?

Pinch those pennies!

I tried just that today; I went to Wal-Mart. I remember once upon a time when Pete and I were dating, Wal-Mart was a fun place to shop. We spent many late weekend nights perusing the aisles and dreaming of our future. Oh, to be young and newly in love...

Sad as it is, though, the Wal-Mart in my city has become a compendium for criminals. It's like a pow-wow for penny peons. Reports of purse snatching and petty theft appear quite regularly on the local news. I have had several friends experience this first hand. SO... nowadays when (and if) I go to Wal-Mart, I usually drag poor Pete along.

Only this time I went alone... don't worry! I grabbed a few essentials from my purse before I left the house- debit card, driver's license, phone, keys, sunglasses- and put them in a black creates-excessive-inches (but could pass as a concealed handgun) fanny pack. I usually wear it on trips to the zoo and other fun places. I was going to Wal-Mart after all. Surely it would be fun to visit my good ole stompin' ground.

Unfortunately, my olfactory nerves were probably scarred for life, thanks to that pungent... man?... riding around in a motorized shopping cart. As soon as he pulled up, everyone scattered like birds in a parking lot. At first I had flashbacks of walking past the trash cans at the fishing pier last week (très stinky), but then I remembered I was not having fun at the beach. Could I be in a day care full of soiled diapers that needed to be discarded? I had to wonder for a brief second. No, I was at Wal-Mart... woo-hoo! My shopping trip ended right then, at that very instance. I bolted to the check-out line forgetting about the Tide I left on the laundry aisle.

When I was locked safely inside my car, I felt a familiar pang come over me because of the amount of money I spent. I was there, so I needed to stock up on things, right? I didn't buy anything we didn't need, right? Everything just costs so much, right? (That's an example of the justification conversation I have between my ears when guilt sets in). Many of you can probably relate, it's just the way things are right now- inflated.

Over all, I had a good time at Wally-World Fun Park today (even the reeking-freak show was... different). I was inside the store for an hour-and-a-half. I spent way too much money. I experienced amusement, thrill and excitement. Interesting whiffs passed me by; bakery goodies, McDonald's and... you know.

Hmmm... maybe I don't have to go the fair; after all, we are pinching pennies.

Out of the Woodworks

They say the holidays bring people out of the woodworks, usually to the churches. But all kinds of things (can't think of a better word) come out from everywhere during this season. Especially thieves.

A dear friend of mine went to Wal-Mart yesterday at 2:00 in the afternoon, mind you, and was accosted by a handsome white man at her car. He knocked on her window and started asking for money, then proceeded to make an attempt to open her car door. He told her he meant no harm and didn't have a gun, but that he was from out of town and his aunt's child was in the hospital here. He claims they did not have money to pay. My friend was able to get away unscathed (except emotionally distraught). She then followed the man in her car and watched him try the same thing on several other ladies.

When the store manager was brought in, they were not very eager to be of help, which was very aggravating to my friend. They said their security was only out after dark until 3:00 a.m., but if I seem to recall many robbery and mugging attempts have occurred in the daytime.

So as you begin your holiday shopping, prepare yourself. Buy a can of mace, or go with another person. Never talk to anyone and try to park close to the front, or a light after dark.

Tornado Hits!

Today has been quite bizarre around town. A tornado touched down and blew the roof off of the Wal-Mart and Kohl's stores. I have a friend who was checking out in Wal-Mart when the tornado hit. She said that all of a sudden, glass started blowing into the building and the manager made everyone run to the back of the store. Luckily she is okay, but some people got hurt and had to go to the hospital. Cars were piled on top of each other, but again, she was lucky.


I am grateful the kids, Pete and I were at home safe and sound. We were oblivious to the whole thing until my mother called to inform us of the tornado. Our electricity went off for about two minutes and we got some thunder and rain, but other than that it seemed like a normal summer rain. Pete had woken up at 3:00AM this morning to go offshore for a job and was sleeping during the storm.


I think about how in just a split second our lives can be turned upside down and how important it is to enjoy each moment we have. That is exactly what I plan to do.