All Charged Up!

Yay, I have a working charging cord, again!  The old cord had been acting up for a couple of weeks and, yesterday, it just quit on me.  Of course, I didn't have a fully charged computer when it did that!  I went to the computer store, this afternoon, and bought a new cord.   It cost me $54+ with tax.  I had to buy a universal cord, which came with an assortment of inserts; not quite sure what to do with the 7 remaining inserts - more clutter in the making?

Computer Charger

The past couple of days have been busy shopping days for me.  On Monday, I went to the post office to mail a couple of bill payments and to get some priority mail shipping boxes.  Then, I went to the bank and to the dollar store, again.  You see, when I was at the dollar store on Sunday, I saw that they had some Red Heart yarn.  It was a type of novelty yarn that I hadn't knitted with before.  After I came home, I checked the Red Heart website and saw that their prices were higher for the same yarn!  I know I had said no more yarn until I used up my stash, but I decided I needed to take advantage of the good deal!  So, I returned to the dollar store on Monday and I bought six skeins of yarn:

New Yarn!

The Sashay yarn needs to be stretched out before knitting; one knits into every other loop on the top edge and it knits up into a ruffled scarf:

Stretched out Sashay yarn 

The Ribbon yarn can be knitted as it is, by knitting into the loops on the top:

Ribbon Yarn

I did a little knitting with the ribbon yarn, before I put it away!  It is too distracting to be knitting right now, when I have so many other things I need to do to prepare for the almsgiving and Christmas gifts, etc.

Yesterday, I went to the Sri Lankan store:

Sri Lankan Store Haul

I bought a few things I needed for the almsgiving, such as the red rice and some sesame sweets.  I also bought four boxes of the tea I like, some items I needed for my general cooking (curry powder, etc.), and a few treats (cookies, a tin of golden syrup, two packets of kotta kelengu, which is the dried root of the palmyra palm).  I spent just under $51.  This is about the only store where I will go and pick up items off the shelves without any consideration of price!  I'm just glad that they have the items available for me to buy!  Before I went to the Sri Lankan store, I called cousin P to ask if she wanted to go to the store with me or if she wanted me to pick up anything for her, but she said she didn't need anything.

Later, in the evening, I spoke with one of the monks at the temple to confirm the date of the almsgiving and to find out how many monks will be attending and any dietary restrictions.  There is one monk who can't eat any spicy food; I will be sure to have some non-spicy food for him.  I have almost finalized my almsgiving menu; I still have to buy some of the groceries, but won't do the final grocery shopping until next week. 

I also worked on one of my Christmas gifts and did some reading.  

Today, after I went to the computer store, I walked around the crafts store, that is next to the computer store.  I looked at a few things, but didn't buy anything.  Then, I went to another store and bought a bag of cat food, a big package of toilet paper,  two new toilet brushes,and an assortment of chocolates to serve at the almsgiving.  I also looked for possible gifts for a couple of friends, but I didn't see anything in particular that I liked that wasn't ridiculously overpriced.  As it was, I spent over $60 at the store!

After I put my purchases in the trunk of my car, I went back to the store and walked around the store, checking the floor of all the aisles for a tote bag that was in the car!  LOL!  I had taken that tote bag with me when I went to the crafts store, in case I bought anything (we have to pay for plastic shopping bags).  I had left it on the front passenger side seat and had intended to take it with me to the other store, as well, but had forgotten to do so.  Yet, when I paid for my purchases and the cashier asked if I wanted to buy a bag for the smaller items, I began to look for my tote bag and it was missing! It was a denim bag that I had sewn with a strawberry appliqued on the front pocket (the strawberry had been on one of my daughter's baby outfits!)  I assumed I had dropped it, so, walked around the store looking for it!  Of course, I didn't find it!  By this time, I was getting tired.  So, I told myself that it was OK, maybe someone will find it and enjoy using it.  Went back to the car and there was my tote bag, on the seat where I had left it!  LOL!  Mind like a sieve! 

Strawberry Tote Bag

After I came home, I had a very late lunch of naan bread and meat ball curry.  Followed by a cup of tea and some of the lemon puff biscuits I had bought at the Sri Lankan store.

Later, I video chatted with my daughter.  We tried video chatting on my phone, yesterday, but she said the reception at her end was so bad that we ended up just talking on the phone!

Today, I am grateful for:
- I was able to buy a new charging cord for my computer
- Being able to be back online
- Pleasant and helpful store clerks
- Being able to video chat with daughter
- A productive day

Thursday's To Do List:
- More shopping
- Finish up Christmas gifts
- Put gas to the car
- Write holiday greetings cards

How was your day?  What are your plans for tomorrow?  Have you done all your Christmas shopping and gift making?