This last weekend Pack Rat, my husband, had a fraternity reunion. Many of the guys who were at his fraternity in college were getting together for a weekend of catching up, dinner, brunch and a day of golf. The reunion was in Columbus Ohio, where his youngest sister, Partner in Crime, lives. He asked if I wanted to come with his for the weekend and I quickly agreed. I told him while he was reconnecting with his college buddies I would do something with his sister.
I contacted Partner in Crime and told her we were going to be in town last weekend and we both had the same idea:
Power Shopping!
We have not participated together in retail therapy for a while so we decided to check out the stores around Columbus. I left it to her to plan our itinerary, she does a much better job than I do at that.
We first met for lunch so she could catch up with her brother before he joined the festivities with his college buddies. Then Partner in Crime and I hit the stores. First stop - a fashion warehouse. This was no frills shopping but we dug in and found some great deals. I got a dress and a top for a grand total of $4.20!
Next stop the new outlet mall north of Columbus. It was packed! After we found a parking space we hit the stores. It was a beautiful day and we saw lots of people shopping also, many carrying lots of shopping bags. The best part of spending the day with Partner in Crime is that we talk the entire time. We catch up on family gossip, re-examine what is happening with everyone, talk about ourselves and plan our next get together. Her brother and I have been together for over 40 years so I saw Partner in Crime grow up and we have a long history together.
After visiting every place we wanted to see at the outlet mall, some of them twice, we ended up at the UGG store. This is where we found the holy grail of shopping - a clearance section with 70% off and then another 20% off! I bought some boots and so did she. In fact she loved it so much she went back on Sunday and bought three more pairs of boots!
It was a wonderful day. We walked lots, ate several times, talked ourselves silly and found some great bargains. But the best part was the chance to spend time with someone I like and who shares much of the same history I have. It was a total success and I did not have to listen to all the stories from Pack Rat's college days(I was there, I lived them).
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Friday, July 8, 2016
July 4th Thoughts
I have a love/hate relationship with the 4th of July. I love celebrating our country and July 4th is the perfect summer holiday. Who can dislike cookouts, parades, family reunions, enjoying the summer weather and everything else we do in the middle of summer.
Living in Indiana the summers are hot and humid. There is nothing like going to a picnic in the summer where the food is great and the weather is sultry. We all sit in the shade, eating and talking. Summer watermelons are my favorite, sweet, ripe and juicy. Here is my grandson Ronan enjoying watermelon on the porch last summer.
I am grateful for the sacrifice of those who have fought for, or who help to maintain our freedoms. We should all express our gratitude to military veterans, police and first responders who have put their lives on the line so we can enjoy our freedom and celebrations.
There is nothing as heart rousing as patriotic American music being played for the 4th of July. I love a concert of patriotic songs, the 1812 Overture (with cannons and fireworks) and John Phillips Sousa marches as much as the next person.
Yet, I did mention love/hate. The hate part of the holiday are the "personal fireworks." Here in Indiana personal fireworks are legal. So in our area people (who must spend a fortune on their personal fireworks) start exploding everything in site for days up to the Fourth and for days afterwards.
I don't understand the need to set off explosive devises for days and hours as a celebration of the birthday of our country. The windows of my house rattle from the explosions. My dogs will jump and bark at the explosions and bangs.
Every year there are reports of people ( and children) burned by exploding fireworks or fires started by them ( both structure fires and wild fires). Come on! Do we really need to set off explosions for days to celebrate the birth of the United States.
My guess is that the founding fathers would be totally baffled by the need of Americans to blow up things on this holiday. I am not squelching this summer fun, but do we really need to have it for days prior to and after the holiday?
Living in Indiana the summers are hot and humid. There is nothing like going to a picnic in the summer where the food is great and the weather is sultry. We all sit in the shade, eating and talking. Summer watermelons are my favorite, sweet, ripe and juicy. Here is my grandson Ronan enjoying watermelon on the porch last summer.
I am grateful for the sacrifice of those who have fought for, or who help to maintain our freedoms. We should all express our gratitude to military veterans, police and first responders who have put their lives on the line so we can enjoy our freedom and celebrations.
There is nothing as heart rousing as patriotic American music being played for the 4th of July. I love a concert of patriotic songs, the 1812 Overture (with cannons and fireworks) and John Phillips Sousa marches as much as the next person.
Yet, I did mention love/hate. The hate part of the holiday are the "personal fireworks." Here in Indiana personal fireworks are legal. So in our area people (who must spend a fortune on their personal fireworks) start exploding everything in site for days up to the Fourth and for days afterwards.
I don't understand the need to set off explosive devises for days and hours as a celebration of the birthday of our country. The windows of my house rattle from the explosions. My dogs will jump and bark at the explosions and bangs.
Every year there are reports of people ( and children) burned by exploding fireworks or fires started by them ( both structure fires and wild fires). Come on! Do we really need to set off explosions for days to celebrate the birth of the United States.
My guess is that the founding fathers would be totally baffled by the need of Americans to blow up things on this holiday. I am not squelching this summer fun, but do we really need to have it for days prior to and after the holiday?
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