Spinning My Wheels

Friday! Yahoo - we get out early and I had a list of tasks to do, all things that I prefer not to take time off work to handle, but places that are not open beyond regular 9 - 5 hours. I started out in high hopes, planning to take care of three or four things and then look for some curtains for the sliding glass doors.

At the first stop, I was informed that there would be a long wait. I knew if I waited there, I would not get my other errands taken care of, so I asked if I could make an appointment for next week, but they only operate on a first come, first served basis. I opted to return next week when I had fewer stops on my list.

At the second place, I was told the person who takes care of that part was not in and there was no one else who could help me. Rats! On to the third place. Things were going better - we got a lot of the details settled and papers filled out, only to be halted just before finishing by a missing piece of information that would take a letter and some time to get. Foo.

By this time, having accomplished nothing on my list, I decided to at least find out when the fourth place would be open on Saturday. But alas, the might Casey struck out again. It is not open on Saturdays. I am beginning to suspect a communist plot. Either I will have to take time off work or find a clone to handle things while I am otherwise engaged.

I gave up and took the boys to Tom Wahls for dinner. I haven't eaten there in years. In fact, since my college days. They are still known for their burgers and root beer. Not much has changed except the prices and the number of locations. Its still good for burgers and fries.

Feeling full and ready to dig in again, we headed off to find some curtains. The sliding door is unique in that it has three doors instead of two, and is therefore 11 feet long - a bit more than the norm. We looked in department stores, chain stores, linen stores, specialty curtain places, bathroom stores and goodwills. I was amazed at how weird, bland, and expensive curtains have become! Not that I haven't been looking for awhile, its just that I had an idea of what I wanted, and I don't see anything like it.

I'm sure I could pay a lot of money to get what I want, but they are curtains for crying out Pete. I have half a mind to just staple a sheet over the door and be done with it (and I have to admit I did look at some sheets). At last I found a sales clerck in Penneys and told her my plight. She made a number of good suggestions (all of which I rejected), but I did find something that was acceptable (how sad to have to settle for something less than you dreamed of). But again, the price was more than I really wanted to invest, especially since it wasn't jumping off the shelf and saying "pick me! pick me!"

The lady saw my hesitation, and mentioned that even though they didn't have the size I needed and we were going to have to order them from the catalog, I would not have to pay postage. I am not convinced. She reminded me that they were on sale for 50% off. I still hesitated. Finally she offered me a coupon for an additional $15 off, and I gave in.

I still have to wait three days until they arrive. Oh, well. Meantime, I need to find a curtain rod set that is 11 feet long. . .