I didn't know finding the wrench would be such a wrench. . .

Yup. After Game Day, a run to Aldi’s, and a quick visit to Big Lots, plus three loads of laundry and last night’s dishes, then a shower, I had to take the ILs back to OldTown for a pharmacy visit. I tried to paste on a positive face and get on with it, after all, at least I wasn’t sick this time.

It actually went much better, his prescriptions were ready for pick-up at the doctor’s office, and I took MIL to the thrift I was just in yesterday while FIL chilled at the pharmacy. She had a few bucks to spend, so I let out a sigh of relief. . . ‘til she spent more than twice that and asked for ‘help’ at the register. (sigh) Not much I could do, I spent more on her stuff than she did, and was fairly ticked. Next time I get stuck with this run, I’m gonna be too tired to go shopping.

Although I did luck out, the iPod speaker / alarm clock I looked at yesterday and rejected at $8. was marked down to $3. So I bought it. Of course, the iPod dock doesn’t work with my much cheaper MP3 player, but it had a ‘line in’ jack in back. All I’d need was a male-to-male headphone cord, which we had several of in the garage, and I could easily use it. Works great ! A little research showed it was from 2008, and somebody somewhere paid about $80. for it.

MIL texted me afterwards to tell me their DVD / VCR worked, so they were on the hunt for tapes. I see those cheaply all the time, so I’ll probably snag them some. I invited them to the Thursday  half off sale at one thrift, but they declined due to fundage. Then MIL called back, asking if she could invite Aunt S. – the one who’s a bit out of touch, who called cops on Beloved Hubby, accusing him of stealing his own tools ! The ones with his name (which we don’t share with her) on them ! Yeah, I don’t talk to her, she had a lot more to say when I asked how she could do such a thing.

MIL remains in contact knowing all that, plus she ripped a strip off FIL more than once right in front of her and us, because Aunt S. buys her things. MIL’s rationale was that Aunt S. would buy her stuff, and she had a bigger vehicle, in case she found something big. I told her that, if Aunt S. was still driving (we were told she wasn’t), perhaps she’d like to go with Aunt S. instead of me, I didn’t care to keep company with someone who never apologized for all the drama or admitted her slanderous error. And that thrift rarely had furniture. Now I’m wondering why Aunt S. doesn’t take them on all these medical runs. . .

Lost my wrench. . .

Not sure what happened to Sunday – I really didn’t do much besides cook a couple meals, and the day was over. Dearest Son is going nuts over his computers again, making me long for the funds to get him a new one, just to achieve the blessed quiet that would bring for one, maybe two, weeks. The ILs have sent both their computers to us, one at a time, for updates and maintenance, and Dearest is convinced that aspects of theirs are better than his, and he’s kvetching about it. I was glad to toss MIL’s back at her !

Yeah, I hadda take them to OldTown today. Funny how their appointments, which were ‘Tuesdays Only’, suddenly became Monday appointments when I’m evidently the only one who can take them. It’s also now at the end of the month, instead of at the first, when they have money. Yup, no gas money again, ‘cause they’re broke. And, yes, after Game Day, I get to take them to the pharmacy. Again. It’s gotta happen, I gotta do it, might as well get used to it and make the best of it. Now, where’s my Attitude Adjustment Wrench ™ ?

On the plus side, it didn’t take nearly as long as it has before – we weren’t even done yet at the thrift. Spent $9., got jeans I know fit Dearest Son, ‘cause he tried them on, a bag of misc. small toys (mostly for the two Belle figurines within), a great kids’ Princess Hello Kitty skirt and a small blue velvet dress, both for fabrics, a little mini Spirograph set (I’ve been wanting one), a trophy and Barbie corvette for Dearest, and one of those knockoff DP&M dolls Mal-Wart sells for $10. The doll was less than a dollar, but now I can see for m’self if their clothes fit my DP&M girls, in case one is wearing something I like.

Surprisingly, her little satin shoes – rosette bows removed by owner, I’m presuming – fit FT Frankie, although they’re not very attractive. I may take them apart, use them for  patterns for better ones. The grab-bag of small toys got me two Belle figurines, one from the Christmas DVD, one from a cake decoration pack, an unopened Happy Meal ‘Filmore’, from Cars, an unopened Happy Meal miniature heart pillow sponsored by Valentine’s Day candy SweetHearts, a zippered Disney Princess tin coin box, a tiny Hello Kitty house with doll-size character and props inside – and that’s just the stuff I kept ! I left the two Happy Meal MLP characters (including an unopened Fluttershy), six or seven (over half unopened) kids’ meal aliens from Home, three fully-dressed Polly Pocket dolls, some baby doll props, and other junk for Dearest to dig through, choose what he wants and return the rest for re-donation.

I turned down another Tolly Tots Rapunzel – the one I already bought from them was in better shape and slightly cheaper – and Disney Store toddler Snow White. Toddler Punzie was priced at $8., and Snow was only $3., but Snow lacked shoes and her dress wasn't in good shape. I’d have snagged her for shoes at that price, though.

Uuuhhh ?

Duuhhh.

Slipped away from me Saturday.

Not much going on today, so here’s a photo of the holiday wrapping paper I saw the other day at Mal-Wart. Wheee ! Dollar Tree didn’t have a similar print, but they had six different Star Wars versions instead. Also a sort of ‘boy’ and ‘girl’ versions of Frozen. I got one with lightsabers on it, which is funny, since most wrapping paper tubes are used as such, before and after the paper gets used !

Take off all the gummi worms, Ghoulia's even sweeter !

Had so much fun deboxing Porter Geiss – he ‘went live’ his first day here as the ‘need to debox’ pile was getting big enough to become furniture – that I decided to take ‘Sweet Screams’ Ghoulia off the stack. Took off all the plastic bits on her outfit that I didn’t like and resettled her glasses on top of her head. Really not into all that ‘gummy’ theme, but she is simply gorgeous, and irresistible even in that eye-assaulting dizzy box. I would have deboxed her the day I bought her, but I really hated that box. Not much for the whole ‘Sweet Screams’ line, honestly, but a darker-haired Ghoulia with that lovely face won me over. It helped that she was on markdown at Big Lots a few months ago, too.

As for the rest of the day, we stayed in. Until Beloved Hubby came home – early ! – and we set off in search of a camper shell for the new truck. He needs one to protect and guard his tools, or it’s an extra hour each day to load and unload, and I’d rather he have that time to write, read, hang with us, or sleep. He found one via Craigslist at a good price an hour away, so we made a little adventure of it, dining on take-out chicken from a local wall-hole (a bit dry but very flavorful), and chattering about nothing the whole trip. The nice-shape Wolverine shell fit perfectly, the former owner even threw in nice clamps for it. It’ll make Beloved easier to identify – it’s red, the truck is white. There’s at least three other white trucks with white shells that cruise past my window at least once daily.