Speaking of Wal-Mart

So it is not very often that you will find me in a Wal-Mart. I tend to avoid this store at all cost. However, tonight, Brad asked me to pick up the movie Mamma Mia before I came home from work. Well, living where I live in West Valley, Target is not always the most convenient store for me. Against my better judgement, I went to Wal-Mart in Taylorsville. What was I thinking? Wal-Mart - one week before Christmas? One hour, one DVD, a loaf of bread and tub of butter later, I was finally leaving the store. It's not worth it! I know that and have re-promised not to do this again. Only at Wal-Mart can I get hit in the butt while waiting to check out because the old lady behind me doesn't think the 10 people in front of me are moving fast enough. Only at Wal-Mart would people take 2 basket fulls of stuff through the "self check out line''. Only on the way home from Wal-Mart did I realize I drive right past a K-Mart (another place I never go) to get there and their parking lot was empty. Next time Brad asks me to do something - don't let me go to Wal-Mart just because it's closer. If anything, at least let me remember that K-Mart is closer. Or better yet, I'll just drive to Target in West Jordan. I already had a bad day - did I really have to put myself through the torture of Wal-Mart??

End of an Era

I will be the first to admit that I have a lot to do with the downfall of Mervyn's. Before this past Sunday, I had not shopped there in years. Apparently, no one had! It's still sad though. 

It was in 1984 that this company gave me my first Credit Card - ever. I was sixteen years old. I don't know if that was good or bad, as I went on to totally screw my credit for a while. I guess in the long run, they had something to do with me finally learning to manage my money.

I can't say that I will miss them. How can I? Like I said, I hadn't been there for years. This economy is sad, yet, I can't help but think that the company has done it to them self. Why?, you ask. Well, I stopped shopping there because in the 90's, I no longer wanted to wear the same clothes I wore in the 80's and it seemed to me that Mervyn's had become very out dated. I was actually surprised that I found any clothes at all this past Sunday. Maybe they had changed! 

It goes to show, that in order to keep going in this day and age, a company, ANY company, needs to change with the times. 2008 is very different from 1998, 1988 and 1978. 

I hope that other's can learn from this store's mistakes. Our country can't afford to be one big Wal-Mart. We need diversity in our retail industry. So, just like Mervyn's had a hand in shaping my financial future, I hope others can learn from them as well. Just like I had to make changes in my financial attitude in order to survive, so will many of our nationwide retailers.

I Should Have Taken Pictures

I had a good weekend. Why is it that a person can go weekends and weekends with no plans, then, all of the sudden... everything is happening. I was off on Friday, as I usually am. My friend, Laurie, and I went to MacCools for lunch. Yummy!!! It was a nice, relaxing afternoon of conversation and good food.

Then on Saturday, the day was pretty boring. However, Andrea & had Brad & I over for dinner. It was a nice dinner, but the snow made for some difficult driving. Over an hour to get from Herriman back to West Valley.

I had to work at 6am. After work, Andrea suggested lunch at Joanna's Kitchen. Good, old-fashioned comfort food. I liked it. Can't believe that in 16 years in Utah, it was my first visit. (I may have been there in '92 or '93, but can't remember for sure.)

Then Sunday night, Brad & I went down to visit our friends, Brad & Mindy, in Eagle Mountain. After Little Ceasar's Pizza (about the only food available in Eagle Mountain), Charles & Julee & Royce & Leila came over. We played some games and had a good time. Brad was worried the drive home would be similar to Saturday night. It was fine.

All and all, it was a good weekend. I have some good friends and love Brad. We have a good life though sometimes, I forget to remember that.

However, I did learn this weekend. If I am going to blog....I Should Have Taken Pictures!