Town Is Highly Overrated!

 And just like THAT ... we are back down to 51 degree nights and it's  C  O  L  D !!!!  Actually it's perfect weather to go to town.  It's been on my radar ever since I tried to find something halfway nice to wear out.  What I found is that town is highly overrated around here.  If you happen to be going to the prom, you have your choice of 835 dresses from minuscule to covering up everything but your head.  You can even buy a Cinderella thing that you could never dance in because it's 10 feet across at the bottom.

On the other hand, THIS is what I had to choose from.  This is the best store in Central California ... MACYS.  Definitely not my style.

I just can't believe they don't hire someone to clean up and pick up.  This is not the dressing room ... this is the premier portion of the women's section.  It was SO very disappointing ... and I was not alone in that thought.  Several women younger than me were walking around saying the same thing.  There's a HUGE section for kids and juniors, another big section for men, and lots of things my great grandmother would buy, but nothing tailored or nice looking for someone our age.  

I tried on a couple of things ... how does this look?  Yeah ... this is what I wore to the store.  Honestly, all I tried on was a pair of Levis.  I even tracked down a sales gal, who said she never buys anything here.  

Down the block to Penneys I went.  It was worse.  Clothes all over the floor ... even the high end name brand stuff was just junk.  I would like to meet the store buyer who is picking these fabrics and designs.  I ended up with three polo shirts.  This is not what I was looking for, but is all I could find.  Absolutely everything else was long sleeve.  Someone please tell them it's SUMMER!

Now the makeup department was another story!  Those girls were on the ball ... knew where everything was ... it was neat and clean ... and I bought these three little items.  $96.00.  I kid you not!!  It will last over a year,  but gosh!!  What a shock to my system.  Yes there is cheaper stuff, but I seem to be allergic.

Once home, I almost had to return to the store.  For the life of me I could not get that pink one to open.  Who designed this thing?  In a last ditch effort, I looked at my old one, to discover they had moved the little piece of plastic that opens it ... to the bottom instead of the top like previously.  Apparently I don't get out enough.

Earrings ... those were another story.  Anything in or on the counter was $100+, so I went for the towers of cheap junk from China.  45-55% off the sign said.  The writing on the back was so tiny I could barely see what the price was.  One was $40 and the other $10.  Perfect!!  I paid no attention whatsoever when I put my credit card in the slot.

Wasn't I surprised when I got home to find that silver pair cost me $45.00!!!  The $10 was apparently $100.  I need to go shopping more often.  I'm definitely out of practice.  It's okay, they will last a long time since they are actually very well made.

On the way back down the mall block, I discovered these beauties.  Next to the Cinderella store of course.  PERFECT to go with my Levis, don't you think?  I just KNOW Bingo will approve.  I bet I could even sell them for twice what I paid when I wear them to Bingo!!  

Just kidding ... I didn't buy them.  Even if I was 16 again, I don't think I would buy them.  On the other hand, I should definitely have worn something other than my sandals, which were now killing my feet. That's way too far to walk in Birkenstocks.  

On the way to my truck, this is what I saw.  My truck is four feet longer than the parking space.  This says something about this part of the country.  Though we used to be a farming community, obvious NO ONE drives trucks any more.  Nothing but little compact cars can fit in these spaces.  I need to find another town to shop in.

Heading out, I looked down to see I needed fuel.  That should be easy ... there's a gas station on every corner.  Unfortunately, they were all priced at $5.25 for diesel.  I stopped at my favorite station on the way to find that most of their pumps were not working.  I couldn't even get in the driveway.  

When I got close to my town, I pulled off the freeway and began the search.  I guess due to the travel they expect on Memorial Day, they have jumped the prices up ... some even over a dollar a gallon.  

Now I'm grumbling because I'm starving and I wasted all that fuel to go to that town for clothes I didn't find.  I passed on fuel, hoping my Jeep has enough to get me by the holiday.

FOOD!!  I'm HANGRY!  I decided to BAKE some salmon instead of fight with the skin.  Gee ... even salmon isn't the same as the old days.  

We apparently lived through the absolute best the U. S. had to offer.  Great clothes, great food, good times ... and now we have THIS.  It was the greasiest fish I've ever had in my life.  Even after baking and eating, my plate was covered with grease.  So very disappointing for the price you have to pay.  

So here's my thoughts ... just wear what you have until it's full of holes and falls off, don't buy greasy salmon and raise your own veggies.  Next time I'll drive SOUTH instead of North, even though it's twice as far, to see if I can find any suitable clothes to wear.  TAKE FOOD ... because you get too cranky if you don't eat for 19 hours.

If only I had sisters and friends like Patsy who have a clothing swap every year!!  And NO ... I'm NOT setting up a swap with the BINGO crowd.  They shop at MACYS!!!