Trader Joe's in Redding

So Trader Joes is an organic, natural grocery store for those of you not acquainted. I love it and its not expensive. But seriously it is a treat to walk through and watch people. Living in Fairbanks all these years, I must confess all the lower 48 people seem so different. Its like another country. First of all, people actually look decently dressed, fixed up and presentable at stores here. Its a kick. At Trader Joes lots of people are standing in aisles reading labels. Very cute. And due to Redding's over all friendliness, people say things aloud to one another as they are leaving a conversation; "I love you!" (this seriously was shouted across the tomatoes heard by myself and I am sure others) But by far the most amazing thing at Traders happened on the first day in Redding. I was getting food at the end of the day for my fridg. I was tired, I was already missing my cold freezing dark Alaska, and the checker told me to hold a minute and went and got a bunch of fresh flowers and welcomed me to Redding. (No he was not flirting..just being kind). Yup, quite a cultural experience walking in there and it has been one of those events that has brightened my day more than once!

Shaving should be easy

We are not living in the olden days where shaving your legs was a major undertaking. We have beautiful sleek razors in all the feminine pastel colors you could possibly imagine. I thought today, the weather is warm and its time for a skirt but..yes the legs need a quick shave act and I thought, well, I will just jump in the tub and quickly get this done. Well, this very special little drain thing would not plug this tub no matter what contortions came upon my face as I worked the little bugger. After 3 intense minutes I resigned. Fate would  have it's way, Barb was not taking a bath. So no worries, I can deal with a shower. I go to jump in and realize the razor was in the drawer and had come apart last week when it fell on the floor. Oh that's right. Ok. no worries. I got out, found the razor, put the razor together and jumped  into the shower...and realize the darn thing is attached upside down on the handle. Ah. I can fix this, I thought. I just tweaked it a bit and off it came...yes and I also broke the entire unit. Seriously? I thought....slightly annoyed. Ok. I know I have a bunch of these in the drawer. no such luck. I am seriously wondering if this is how our guardian angels get their entertainment. I was not laughing now. I thought how hard is this supposed to get? I searched through the drawer to find that in the move recently to a new house,  I must have given all the rest of my stock of razors away. I tossed the broken razor into the garbage disgustedly and finished my shower unshaven and now very, very annoyed. As I get out of the shower, I just happen to notice that there was an old razor in the back of my drawer hiding it seems behind my makeup. Whatever. Now I get to do this feat in the bathroom sink because everyone knows its awkward to sit on the side of a tub with a door track on it and it would be wasteful to run a second shower just for leg shaving. Right? please support me now in my suffering. Mission accoomplished with how many glitches? Oh. My. Word. Yea go ahead and laugh. It only took me 25 minutes instead of a quick 5. I hope  those laughing angels are happy now.