Whole Foods Happiness

Last week I went to Ft. Collins to look for a couch and to hit up Whole Foods.

I haven't been in a Whole Foods but once since I left D.C. Now, with an apartment that sports a large refrigerator my longing for a GOOD grocery store could barely be contained.

I pulled in the parking lot and gazed lovingly at the big green Whole Foods letters. I seriously think I heard angels singing and saw the heavens break open over the store much like this:

Ok, maybe this is just a picture I took from I-25 on my way home, but the feeling was the same. The closer I got to the front door of the store the more I felt like skipping. Seriously. I grabbed a cart and stood overwhelmed with happiness in the produce section.

I went up and down EVERY aisle. I tried to be judicious in my selections, but when I was checking out I realized I hadn't been as frugal as I'd hoped.

That's ok though because I have been happily eating marinated tofu, homemade breads, and nice meats all week.

Who says money can't buy happiness??

Prairie Gold

I went toward Torrington today in search of an antiques store Linds H. and I randomly passed on a trip back from Scottsbluff once.

It was one of those barns with junk piled everywhere, which is about all I could remember of the place - it's exact location having escaped me.

So, in hopes of finding end tables and maybe a couple bedside tables I set out. I knew it would be a bit of a trek and I also knew the place would likely be closed, but I went anyway.

I was right on both counts.

However, the drive along HWY 85 was pretty enough to make up for the time and gas money spent...

Talk about prairie gold. Like bricks stacked in Ft. Knox...

I love how truly gold the gold is in this field...

D.C. Freak?

So, I wrote a check at Target tonight that seemed to cause a system meltdown - at least for the Cheyenne store.

The cashier asked for my I.D., which I haven't changed over yet to Wyoming. Yes, I know I need to do this - and it's not that I don't want to! My current D.C. license is hideous! I had to replace it quickly the morning before I left town because my purse was stolen the night before at my going away party. I was sick, tired, and in work-out clothes, glasses and no make-up because I figured they could just pull my old picture. But, oh no, much to my horror I had to get a new one taken. So, I'm really not holding on to my D.C. license for any particular reason except I just haven't had a chance to get my Wyoming one.

Because of this I have become used to people being thrown off by my I.D. They don't know how to enter it...is D.C. the "state?" In most systems it seems to be.

I handed the Target cashier my I.D., she ran the check, and oddly it didn't seem to be accepted. I didn't really think anything of this until she apologized and then ran to get another associate.

Meanwhile, I'm left wondering why in the world my check wouldn't go through - especially since I just got paid - and the people behind me who had just thrown all their stuff on the counter kept looking at me like I was a villain.

The cashier returned with three other associates in tow. After a call to some secret Target computer headquarters by a totally different clerk everything seemed to be ok.

With some chuckling and apologizing the new clerk informed me that D.C. was under...wait...District of Columbia and not Washington STATE.

Oh? I endured confusion, a fleeting moment of anxiety over availability of funds, and the evil eye from other customers for that?!

I gathered my bags and walked out the door utterly flabbergasted.

Then, as I pulled out of my parking spot a child who couldn't have been more than two-years-old pointed at me through my open window and yelled, "Look at you!"

Yes, look at me! The weird-o girl with a D.C. license!

Alright, alright! I'll change it already!

Friday Fave

Taken at karaoke last night.

I mentioned how I've really been wanting parmesean lately and before you know it I was being dared to "drink" it. Do not ever try this, by the way.

Bowling's Back

I thought I was done forever. No more bowling. After spending a couple seasons on the "friend" league in D.C., I thought I was through.

But this isn't the case. Turns out my office has a little tradition: the first Friday after we get paid we head out for some lunchtime lanes.

That was today.

I showed up in one of my old league shirts, the Pin Princesses one to be exact, and got ready to kick some bowling butt. Thing is...I am NOT a good bowler, so the only bowling butt that got kicked was mine. (Where's the Bowling Jesus when I need him?!)

It seems the moral of the story is that no matter where I go I am destined to bowl. I guess I should just embrace this calling instead of avoiding it like I'd hoped to!

My new alley...

Yes...!

Um...NO.

I thought I'd retired this "jersey"...