Retail Therapy

And there it was, a shining beacon of red florescent light. Pulling into the parking lot, I got a thrill at the sight of those bright red circles, the capitalized font and comforting familiarity of a red and tan building. Only this building was special, this building was SUPER.

Nervously anticipating what I’d find on the other side of the automatic doors that lead you into the world of SuperTarget, I grabbed my purse, put on my shimmer lip-gloss and refrained from skipping in.

As I entered, I was stunned by the colorful displays and bright white light, I stood speechless in foyer. I turned to the right and........PURSES!!! And not just a few, but rows and rows as far as I could see.....until the rows became SHOE RACKS! Oh, what a perfect combination! Sandles, stilletos, chuck taylors, totes, clutches and handbags living together and readily accessible as you enter.....what retail genius built this place?

Frozen, at the entrance with a jubilant grin from ear to ear, planning my crusade on this aisle of pure bliss, it occurred to me suddenly, before I embarked on what was certain to be an expensive journey into pumps and satchels, I should look left. And as I turned my head, still grinning and ridiculously gleeful, I caught a glimpse of the green S.....

WHAT?! I whipped my head and, for the first time since I entered this heaven of retail necessity, I turned my body to get a better view of the unmistakable logo and green letters that spelled ..........STARBUCKS.

I gasped. Floored by the brilliance of putting a Starbucks in Target, I stood with my hand on my chest, completely still. Instantly overwhelmed with the possibilities of caffeinated shopping, I was motionless.

I could get a latte and buy a purse? I could buy shoes and get a latte? I could buy laundry detergent, vegetables, a new dress, deodorant, a movie, meat and get a latte all in the same place!!! Where have you been all my life SuperTarget!?!

As I processed all of this and looked around, it occurred to me that I had spent the better part of a minute and a half smiling and gazing at the aisles with a wide-eyed, first look at the tree full of presents on Christmas morning awe. People were walking by, standing in the check out lines and shopping in a usual manner while I stood at the door beaming like I’d just won an Oscar. A tan and red dressed clerk walked by and looked at me with a questioning eye.

I forced myself to step forward and gain composure, gave myself a full tour of the store, purchased my items and made my way out to parking lot.

Oh what joy I had! This time I did not refrain, I skipped to the car. I was so infatuated with my new found local store! "What could be better than this?!" I thought as I drove through the new shopping complex surrounding that beautiful tan and red building. As I came up to a newly developed turn-about, I swerved and slammed on the brakes. I had almost hit another car because my eyes had drifted up to something far more important than the street signs.

As if this glorious experience couldn’t get better, as if I couldn’t be anymore in love with Fort Collins and this new shopping complex.....I squealed, parked in the middle of the street, staring and the bright white lights, taking in each letter of the illuminated masterpiece that read.....DSW Shoes.

Tell me how you really feel!

Okay, so I HATE wallpaper. Really, I do! When we bought our house 5 years ago my husband said, "oh, that should be easy to take off..." RIGHT!

Wallpaper in every room. Some rooms 5 layers thick! I'm telling you, it's like an archaeological dig! Layer upon layer upon layer! It's now my theory that the Devil created wallpaper. I can picture it now, the Devil, sitting in hell on a fiery thrown, laughing to himself any time some little old lady decides... "Ooo, I think I'll get this pattern. Yes, the one with all the flowers. It's beautiful." I hate that little old lady almost as much as I hate wallpaper. Maybe I can get her to come over, stand on a ladder, spray the walls down with fabric softener & water, then scrape, peel, and pick her way through to the wall underneath.

So... as I sit here, now, in my office (the one remaining room of wallpaper) looking at the walls, I wonder if I have it in me to finally take it down. I suppose with my three week break before heading back to school I should probably suck-it-up and just do it.

I'll keep you posted of the progress. Perhaps I'll peel off some layers and it will look like the face of the devil. Then maybe I could get some of those crazy religious people to come over and pray for Jesus to take off the wallpaper Devil for me in some kind of home-improvement miracle. (Would that be so wrong?)