Yesterday's journey and some observations...

After Don returned from working part of the day yesterday, we ventured to Polaris Parkway to visit Barnes and Nobles. We were in search of a book we'd seen at the Ontario store but had been sold when we returned to purchase it.... a Matchbox Collectible book for Don! {Amazing, I know!!!!}

While traveling to Polaris Parkway and on Don's suggestion, we made a quick stop into Scrapbook Art where he insisted I purchase a Black Making Memories Wristlet to go with my black MM Runway Tote. I really wasn't in a creative shopping frame of mind, however, as I browsed, I did manage to find a few things to purchase. I picked up some Claire's Cottage Petal Collection printed papers and Wild Asparagus's double-sided cardstock. This time in the Husband's Paisley... yummy! I desire to use the petal collection line to create some scrapbook pages in Alexxis's album so I found some gorgeous ribbons to use with them. Both green ribbon's: one with a darker shade and vanilla colored florals and the other, green with pink stripes. I also found some Heidi Swapp's line of large flowers and purchased 3 of them.

It was so sad for me to drive by Norma's old store, Stampland, and see it gone!!! I so loved to shop there, chat with Norma, and view all the new samples grandly displayed. I didn't even think about checking the stamp aisles at JoAnn's Superstore while we were near there while at Barnes and Nobles Bookstore. Duh??? How did I miss that one???

I think that sometimes I feel very blessed to have my own studio so filled with supplies and at other times, I feel a bit guilty for all the purchases I've made because I can definately shop faster than I can use them! But, such is life! and I am certain a lot of scrapbook creator's and stampers feel this way from time to time....... besides, there is always worst things I could be spending our money on!!! I know once the heat and busy-ness of summer drifts into Autumn, I'll spend more time in the studio and create more than I currently am. Lord knows that I am thankful for all the creative ideas that run through my mind and that get jotted down in my journals. I'd be lost without that journal to assist keeping me on track with some of my creative dreams and ideas!

Anyways, back our day/early evening yesterday........ After leaving Barnes and Nobles, with only Don's purchased book in hand! {No, I didn't purchase anything! although I did look, read, and absorb! LOL!} we headed to Carrabba's Italian Grill for a wonderful dinner consisting of an cold Italian salad, warm baked bread, olive oil garlic and herb to dip our bread in, and lasagna and spaghetti and meatballs for our meals. I had a glass of Rosso red wine, which I wasn't too crazy about the taste of, but the warm, fuzzy effect I felt after drinking it certainly made up for what it lacked in taste!

As we sat eating, engaging in wonderful conversation, I realized just how much I love my man. I couldn't help but sit back and just observe how he makes everyone around him feel so at ease when near him, how easily he can strike up a conversation with a perfect stranger, and how giving of himself he is. I admire all those things about him and how genuine and true those things are to his nature. There isn't anything false about them, just him, being who he is. {Okay, maybe I was feeling the effects of that glass of wine more than I thought, LOL!}

I honestly think the reason that I noticed this to begin with was that as we sat at a bar surrounding the indoor brick oven where you can observe food being prepared, an older couple, okay --- older than me, probably in their late 50's sat down on the opposite side of me. I couldn't help but to overhear parts of their conversation as they were right at my elbow, but obviously they were new to one another and I suspect on their first date. The man, instantly set a dislike within me when he turned to a waitress and said, "we've been waiting on someone to take our order for 15 minutes" when in reality they'd just sat down! He also made a statement about "50 people have walked by us and no one stopped or said a word." Now, I'm starting to fume inside......WTH? I wanted so bad to turn and say that first of all, I doubt if their were 50 people working the serving floor and did he happen to notice that ALL those "50 people" were either carrying meals to tables or dishes away from the tables?" The place was pretty packed and they we're taking down names at this point for a waiting list. Soon thereafter, like within 2 minutes, the manager was there...... kissing this jerk's *ss! It was almost sickening to watch and observe, "Can I get you another beer?" {like he NEEDED one!} or refill your wine?" as she turned to the woman. Who was a bit boring BTW. I almost spewed a mouthful of wine as I heard her turn to the man she was with and begin talking about a dinner she'd been invited to and was asked to make a salad for..... as she talked she listed each and every ingredient and idea she had for this damn salad like it was the first one she'd ever made! {Maybe, it was, who knows?} Anyways...... I couldn't help but to continue overhearing parts of their conversation as Don and I sat eating our meals and conversing ourselves, but I have to mention this, LOL! As the manager is scurrying around, kissing both of their sorry *ss%s, the man asks the "lady" if she'd like some "Caramari" like it is cavier!, then proceeds to suggest they share a pasta dish. {Is he broke? recently divorced? ???} when she replies, "I don't eat pasta!" I burst out in laughter! Right there and then. Don looks at me like I'm a woman gone mad and I laughed harder and harder, had to get up and excuse myself as I headed gracefully to the bathroom, smiling all the way, thinking to myself, "Boy, oh, Boy. Do they ever have a lot of getting to know one another!"

Once we existed the restaurant, Don instantly asked me what I found so funny in there. When I explained what I overheard, Don laughed as well. The *jerk*, obviously by other bits of conversation I heard, had suggested Carrabba's on his first date with this *snob* and obviously, she was unaware that it was one of the finest Italian restaurant's in the area...... and, btw, she doesn't eat pasta! ROFLOL!

Makes me happy that I'm in commited relationship with someone I love and admire........ and Know! LOL! On the way home, every now and then, we'd throw the phrase, "I don't eat pasta!" at one another. {I had to add this to my blog.... as I desire to sketch out this scene in my journal! along with the caption, of course!}