We got the day off at work today in celebration of Cesar Chavez Day. So, I decided to celebrate by going shopping!

First stop was at Linden Optometry. We start a new vision plan at work tomorrow. If I purchased a pair of glasses today, I can have them covered under my old policy. Then I can buy my contacts under the new plan and have them covered. So I ordered a pair of glasses today…for the first time since I was a teenager! I’ve been wearing contacts non-stop since I was 19! Well, not exactly non-stop in that I take them out at night. But haven’t had a *real* pair of glasses since then. The ones I ordered are bifocals that don’t have a line in the middle. They just fade from one strength to the other, distance at the top and closeup at the bottom. The big shocker was the price — $440!! These damn things better last one helluva long time!

Next stop was Target. I loaded up on Easter candy and miscellaneous cleaning and storage products–plastic containers, magic erasers, dust cloths, laundry soap, etc–as well as some new bed pillows, a new coffee maker and a bath scale. The bath scale is digital and I haven’t ever purchased a scale. The one I have we received as a wedding gift in 1968 and I’m not sure how reliable it is. Plus it’s ugly! My coffee maker still works, but I’ve noticed lately that I’m having to fish coffee grounds out of my cup. So, I think it’s time for a new one. Didn’t get a really fancy one, but this one (Mr Coffee with a timer) will do what I want until I find something better. And it was on sale for only $25!

And then it was time to head for home. Saw some really nice tan suede slipcovers at Target for the living room sofa and loveseat. They are two piece, allowing me to put the bottom cushions on separately. Still not sure they are exactly what I want, though, since both pieces of furniture also have separate back cushions. Possibly I can figure a way to hook the back cushions onto the frame so that they don’t slip down. We’ll see. Still cheaper (about $200 total) than buying new furniture. And easy to clean since they are washable. Since the cats are the primary users of the living room furniture, I can’t see spending lots of $$$ to replace it! I’m considering buying two of each and could then cover the back cushions. Also could cut up the extra pieces to make covers for the small side pillows and could make a few larger pillows. This would be affordable if I wait for them to go on sale. Will have to keep watching the ads…

Had hoped to finish trimming the bushes in the back yard, but a rainy day put those hopes to rest. It’s supposed to rain all weekend, but I’m still hopeful I will be able to squeeze in a little time between the raindrops to finish this up. The gardeners who take care of the yard behind me must have done some trimming there earlier today. That helped me out in that they trimmed a bit on my side meaning less for me to try to stuff into my trash can.

Going to get busy cleaning and working on taxes tonight. It’s amazing how much more alert and invigorated I feel tonight after not working all day in front of a computer! It also helped that I slept in this morning! Thank you Senor Chavez!