Restocking

Thus far, since my return home, I hadn't been desperate for anything that required shopping. However, earlier this week I had word that the Sson was showing up tomorrow, yet, to pick up the Pinzgauer he had acquired on eBay from the Iowa survivalist. Huh? I guess there's a story there that I can possibly relate tomorrow night. In the meantime, a larder that will support GrannyJ for several days is a dud when it comes to her Sson. Off to Albertson's it was this afternoon.

I was replenishing my supply of instant hot chocolate when the Ovaltine shelf caught my eye. Oh, memories! If you're in my age group, you belong to one of two groups: those whose mothers said that Ovaltine was simply too expensive (the Depression, you know) and those mothers who gave into their (spoiled) kids' desire for a mysterious Little Orphan Annie secret code ring (or maybe the wonderful Little Orphan Annie circus), which required the inner seal of the Ovaltine container. As you might guess, I owned neither a ring nor the circus; a neighborhood girl whose father was a doctor did get a circus once -- which was a very disappointing cardboard punch-out affair. I think I learned my lesson about premiums at that point! FYI, Little Orphan Annie was on the radio right after school let out way back then.

Here's another display that deserves comment. To be specific, just how would you describe your generic version of a Triscuit (a trade name thoroughly covered by copyright, of course.) No, I would never have considered the term "woven", but I suppose that it is descriptive enough. More likely the fibers for both sorts of crackers are actually extruded back at the factory!

I bombed on one important item -- the AA battery charger, having left my little unit back in Alaska along with most of my pictures and a collapsible walking stick/monopod. Important that I have plenty of batteries ready for Saturday's Prescott Photo Walk. Tried, variously, Staples, Walgreen's & Albertsons. #1, it turns out that battery chargers are usually sold as a premium with batteries, not separately. The only set of four batteries plus a charger that I found was at Staples, but it was limited in use to special hi-tech cells. So I bought another set of four and borrowed a charger from the neighbor.

Do you get as frustrated as I at the distinctive mums that show up in the supermarket floral section? I've tried planting them, but never been successful. These are today's tease.

Out in front of the store, patio furniture was on sale. Huh? Since when have grocers been in the home furnishings biz? Can't answer that one, tho Albertsons as a smallish store has to display its merchandise atop the highest gondolas (the cheese and sandwich goody section, I believe) unlike Fry's, which has an extensive department. However, I must say that this "sale" is a modest affair compared to the "new" Banana Tree store down the pike which put up its liquidation sign (below) as soon as it opened.

Finally, I spotted the elephant car in the parking lot as I waited for my ride home with the supplies. Maybe a little bit too smiley, but a nice change from all those serious cars in any event.