TAKEN

Not like the movie Taken where you are snatched away by some bad guys, but TAKEN, as in divested of your money, cheated, robbed, etc. etc.  Well I found the perfect store for you to experience that feeling.

Every year I get a gift certificate for $75.  I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth.  It's MUCH better than the one for the restaurant in town that has turned into a high priced place to get half as much mediocre food as you used to get.

This one is for Williams Sonoma, the kitchen store of my dreams, if you are Bill Gates that is.  I made the 30 mile trek, 8 miles of it on surface streets with terrible traffic and 20 mph folks, in 50 minutes.  In Tucson's defense, there was an accident where a 20 mph folk must have been going 50 when he hit that tree in the median.  The tree was coming out in the middle of where the engine should have been.

I had in mind an air fryer.  Friend Patsy has one and says it works great.  The Instant Pot caught my eye first however, with a price tag of $129.95.  I got mine, exactly the same, on Amazon Prime for $69.  Just WOW!!!  I suppose if it doesn't sell, they can sell it for half price and STILL make a big profit.

I skipped the air fryer at $239.99.  I'm not kidding, this is a HIGH priced store.  What in the world can I find for $75??  I headed to the sale section in the back.  Good grief, the silicon spoons and spatulas are $15 each.  I can buy 5 spoons I suppose.  Do you feel taken?  Like you've been assaulted in a dark parking lot??

You're not going to believe this!  I ended up with four ... count them, FOUR ... melamine plates.   Not even REAL plates but PLASTIC!!!!!  I must say they are rather pretty.  Holy cow, they were $12.75 EACH!!!  My thinking was I'll use two at home and two in the rig for those potluck dinners we always have.

I still needed something to fulfill the gift certificate.  I hugged the plates as I walked around the store three times.  I was hoping no one mugged me as I passed the door holding such expensive dinnerware.  With absolutely nothing else in sight but triplicates of kitchen gizmos I already have, I settled on FOUR very nice cloth dishtowels.  They were cheap at $24.95.  I could feel my heart beating in my throat.  

In the end, I actually owed $6.43, paying about $1 for each plate, like I could have done in the Dollar Tree Store.  I figure next year I'll add to the plate collection.  I may even get enough to invite someone to dinner.

As I walked out the door, I glanced both directions to make sure no one would have the opportunity to steal my expensive purchase.  I really could have used a body guard, but instead, I ran as fast as possible to the car, got in and locked the doors.  WHEW!!  Made it with my Royal Copenhagen dishes, valued at $32,500.  Least that's what it felt like!!

To add insult to injury, I stopped on the way home for groceries.  Jonathan LOVES Ritz crackers.  I quickly grabbed the box and headed out the door.  Well of course I paid for them first.  Just to be sure they were good, I ate one before giving Jon his treat.  

Wait .. something's different.  I looked at the box.  WHOLE WHEAT!!  Oh good grief, these are NOT the right ones.  Taken AGAIN!!  Since when does Ritz make whole wheat crackers?  Lucky for me, he ate it with relish!!

Feeling rather depressed I wasn't going to have air fried fish for dinner, I spent the rest of the night sewing and cuddling with the puppies, keeping a wary eye on the cabinet holding my purchase of the day.

Did I get a package yesterday?  YES I DID!!!  Pictures to come.