Kimmie,

Come on up is all I gotta say to you dear friend. You definitely got your exercise shopping. I haven't been in a store since we arrived here last year; that was in my w/c getting pushed. At least in the chair I could reach the low to the ground things - my problem is the up high items lol.

I send my teenager to the store - then wonder if she'll get what I have on the list - generally 1/2 the items I wanted are still on the store shelves when she returns home. That's a shame about Tonya - I would not have thought that of her when we met last year. Ya never know. Hope things go well for Matt now. Shame you couldn't go with your hubby on his business trip to Vegas. You have a grandson to look forward to - how cool.

Kimmie,

I think we should ship you east so we can all go shopping and complain about the cold. i can't reach the really high things I tip, but I can throw things at them and hope they tumble down. We'll improvise, be rebels and reek hovok. Sorry Matt is going through this. He'll be far better off in the long run of course we know, but that doesn't make the hurt less now.

Gee I wonder how you knew the baby would be a boy LOL

Kimmie,

Thought I would share some things I have learned about shopping.

Do most of your shopping online. There are no other people to bother you. If you shop where a store does not have a store in your state you don't have to pay tax. Often you don't have to pay shipping either. BTW, I find Amazon to be a great resource.

I have a rollater. It is great in crowds because it giveq you more support and it is big so it is obvious you have a walking problem. That helps to keep people from bumping into you. It has a built in seat, so I never have to look for a chair. It has a basket to put purchases in. The downside is that the basket is not very big.

Go to stores at a time when you know there will be fewer people. Early in the morning on a week day is good. Avoid weekends and holidays!

If you discover a store does not have wide aisles and/or has a tendency to stack boxes in aisles don't go back.

Ask for help if you need it. If the store is not helpful go somewhere else next time.

Happy shopping!

I'm so sorry to hear about Matt & Tonya... better now.. than later. Yes shopping is an experience.. I try to go at less busy times. I started out in very small stores I knew well, so I could make a hasy retreat if needed. Some stores I go to with John or Tract and trey to avoid alone.

I am vertically challenged.... so I have always had problems with top shelves. I used to jump or put my toe on another shelf... not coorinted enough now, so I usually stand in the aisle until a taller person comes down the aisel and I engage them to get what I want. I also hate stuff onthe bottom shelves.. Most of grocery shopping is done wih John and i just do little shoppings during the week. Of course he hates clothes... or "fussy..looking" shopping so I do that on my own or when my daughter is here.

In Wal Mart the shoe section does have places to sit to try on shoes.... Kohl's has benches to sit on near dressing rooms, in the middle of the stores ...

Hope the heat settles down, It is cool up here.. just getting some days in the mid 60's now... so if you come to WASH. bring sweatshirts I have flannel sheets fo when my mother in law visits....