My favorite shopping place

Of course I'm talking about Costco.  I love shopping there mainly because of the merchandise available, but also because every single one of the large staff is friendly, helpful, courteous, and there are more adjectives I could come up with - all great!  The customers are the same - not what you find in many of the large box stores.  I think if you are treated right there is less reason to push, shove, block aisles, or be grumpy.   

I charged up the battery to my camera yesterday and wanted to take a picture of something to make sure I got the battery loaded properly.  So here are some of the items I bought today.  (Click on picture to enlarge)

Going clockwise there are apricots on the left, grapes, pineapple, blueberries, and cherries.  I also bought a bag of frozen blueberries for my protein shakes.  The frozen berries seem to give the shakes a more robust color and flavor than do the fresh.

I also bought myself a pair of capris as well as iron and the vitamins I take for aging eyes.  Although tempted to buy more ice cream I held off, at least until I finish what I have left in the freezer.   I am going to cut back on some of those delicious hi-cal desserts - not give them up altogether, but just be more careful to ration them.

I met Donald at the gym yesterday since Jeannie & Autumn had other appointments and Arianna didn't want to go to the gym's playroom by herself.   Donald talked me into bench pressing the 45# bar (with no additional weights on the ends).  He stood behind the bar and took some of the weight off it as I tried to lift it.  I think I'm ready to go to the next step in lifting, and it's nice to have someone helping.

I wish I had done this when I was a few years younger, as there is only a certain level I can achieve at my age.   The monthly gym fee is the best money I've ever spent on myself!   That and organic food (which I've been buying for years).

I'm still looking for an older black lab (preferably a male).    I guess if I'm meant to have one the perfect dog will find me.  It seems that most of the shelters in Central CA contact Central CA Lab Rescue when they find a stray lab or take in a dog that can no longer be cared for by its owner.  That means that the local shelters don't keep labs, and you have to go through CCLR to get one.  In one way it's great because the labs are checked over pretty thoroughly and then fostered.  If you adopt one, you will have some idea about them from their foster.  But you have to pay a hefty fee, plus meet the organization's criteria.  I don't have a fenced in yard which they prefer, but I walk my dog as often as needed.  I have laminate floors rather than carpet, and have noticed that some fosters report their dogs don't do well on laminate.  I'm torn between wanting a pet and having to jump through hoops to be allowed to adopt a dog of my choice.  I guess I should just enjoy the freedom I have to come and go as I please, but it would be so nice to have a living, breathing companion in my house (and a dog is easier to deal with than a man :-)