It's always darkest before the dawn

Today is a better day. So far, anyway. I flew out of here like a bat out of hell as soon as Rocket Man got home and went to my 3rd kindergarten orientation. It was entirely too short, so I had about oh... FOUR hours to kill so I would safely miss bedtime.

I had a few errands to run, dodged around all the new college students shopping with their parents at Target. Including the one who was trying to convince her mom to buy her a Roomba instead of a regular vacuum. Seriously? You're 19 - you CAN'T be too lazy to push a vacuum around a dorm room yet!

After Target, I called a friend to see if she could meet for coffee. She needed a bit of time to hatch an escape plan, so I decided to wander around Marshalls, which is right next to Target.

I headed down the sidewalk, but fortuntely looked up before I walked RIGHT INTO a freaking S.W.A.T. TEAM. Right outside Marshalls! There were about 10 police cars, many officers in bullet-proof vests, backs up against the wall, guns drawn, and the canine unit with a very ferocious dog that looked like he could tear your face off in one bite. Whoa. Exciting times at Marshalls. This looked like more than just a clearance sale in the shoe department.

Now, the sane and savvy urban shopper would head back to her car and get the hell out of there. Especially urban shoppers who might have four kids who need to be raised to adulthood.

But, after my day yesterday, I was really in the mood for some retail therapy, and I had already done my Target shopping. And Marshalls really has the best shoes.

A crowd eventually gathered as we all waited to see what was going to go down. I stayed by the doors to Target, so as to duck inside if the bullets started flying. Eventually, the coppers stormed Marshalls and came out a few minutes later with four "perps". They had them lay down on the sidewalk, face down and were holding batons to the backs of their heads while frisking them.(1)

Satisfied that the coast was clear, I made a wide berth around the area and headed into the store, where I found the most adorable pair of pointy-toed shoes (seriously, I wanted to wear them to bed last night they are so cute... except I never actually went to bed... I'll get to that part), almost exactly like these, but a kitten heel.



AND a new dress.



(There is a white hanger in this picture, that's not a stripe.)

Operation Cheer Up was underway. And I didn't even get shot at!

After Marshalls, I met a friend at Starbucks for coffee which was lovely. I should really do that more often. I always feel like I never have time to actually sit there and drink my coffee. So... anyone wanna have coffee with me?

THEN, I went grocery shopping and ended up with the fullest cart and HUGEST bill I think I have ever had. However, it included such school "supplies" as SIX boxes of baby wipes. Seriously? SIX? (That is for 3 different classes, but one grade wants FOUR of them. That's more wipes that I use in a year.) FOUR rolls of paper towels. 100 lunch bags. 200 sandwich bags. 100 paper plates. Lord. Don't get me started on this.

Anyway, there is something about having a full refrigerator (and feeding my kids something other than Ritz crackers) that always makes me feel better.

After I got all the groceries put away, I couldn't stand the mess in the house. Maybe it was the coffee, but even at that late hour, I had tons of energy and decided I was not going to bed until the entire house was cleaned up. Which only took me until SIX AM! (I TOLD you it was a mess!) I only slept for about an hour and a half, but I am still buzzing from the euphoria of having new shoes, a new dress, a full refrigerator AND a clean house all at once. (Check in with me about 3pm and see how the buzz is then.)

I have changed my expectations for the rest of the week. The kids went to the library and rented a bunch of DVDs last night. It's a rainy day, so we are going to sit around and eat popcorn and watch movies. I think it's a plan that no one will argue with.

(1) I have no idea what went down at Marshalls. I did overhear some of the cashiers talking about BB guns. I'm guessing they were either shoplifting or trying to rob the place.