3 whole hours

[darkoshi]

There's a Kroger Marketplace on my way home from work, which opened a few months ago. It's like other Kroger grocery stores, except larger, with a small clothing section too. I haven't yet memorized the store layout, so still have to hunt through the aisles looking for things. The health/natural/vegetarian items aren't grouped conveniently together as they are in some of the other stores.

I pushed my cart along slowly, dazedly. Gazing at the goods on the shelves, hoping to find some special treats in addition to the few items on my shopping list.

Eventually, I reached the corner with Halloween merchandise. Inquisitively pressed "Try Me" buttons. An old-style rotary phone, which when you turn the dial, starts ringing and glowing red. When the receiver is lifted, it plays a spooky message - a different message for each number dialed.

I almost bought a cheap headpiece with long lacy tubes with LED lights inside, but then saw it had feathers.

There were Halloween lights that made a spooky electric zinging crackling sound.
There were skulls that glowed and emitted eerie laughter.
There were battery-driven strands of 15 LEDs in orange and purple, that per the packaging "lasts over 120 hours!" I got one of each color, to put on my gate on All Hallow's Eve.

I bought candy to give out, thinking of the lady who mentioned being disappointed the one year I didn't.

In the peanut butter aisle, there was an interesting looking spread made from ground flax seeds, orange juice, and dates. The ingredients included chili pepper, which I knew might be too hot for me and not taste good, but I was still curious to try it. Then I saw that the price was $9.99, and decided NOT.

But later in another area, while digging through the shelves with special discount/marked-down items, I found a single jar of the same product, for only $0.89! Sudden glee. Hunter/gathering at its best! The expiration date on the bottle wasn't even until mid 2017. I found several other marked-down goodies in that section too.

Left the store feeling accomplished, in spite of having been in there way too long.

Comments

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

We have one of those near where we live. The cheese sections are glorious. Thus far, nothing's come home from the clothing section, but a few things have from the housewares section. It's convenient, since it almost eclipses Target's offerings.

[darkoshi]

Yeah, the clothing selection is small in comparison with other stores, and seems expensive.

But I've bought 5 pillows there. First I got 2, then when those passed the "comfortable to sleep on" test, I bought 3 more, as it can be hard finding pillows that are just right.

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely on the "if it fits buy three" plan myself.