Why I could never...

...live in the Cities for the rest of my life.

Traffic.

You know, in some respects, what they say is true: you get used to it. I have, for the most part. But it's days like today where I realize I would die a slow and painful and bitter death if I knew I had to spend the rest of my life here.

It took me an hour and forty-five minutes to go eleven miles today.

Eleven miles.

Granted, it was a snowstorm. And the plows hadn't been out. And it was already rush hour. But still.

I try not to be one of those freakazoids who spazzes at everyone else on the road for two reasons: (1) it doesn't solve anything, and (2) I once read that people who get worked up about things like that die sooner than people who don't.

I don't want to die young.

Christmas card pictures

ice cream: seven facts

1. I like soft ice cream but I'm impatient, so if it's too hard I microwave it.

2. I prefer chocolate chips over Hershey's chocolate syrup in my ice cream.

3. One of my favorite flavors is tin roof sundae.

4. But plain old homemade vanilla will always win, hands down.

5. I think putting fruit on ice cream is ridiculous.

6. When I have a gallon of ice cream, I eat it every day until it's gone.

7. Then I feel so guilty I don't buy more for another six months.

today at Target

My favorite deals of the day:

Rold Gold pretzels, sale price $2.33
-$1 off Target coupon
Final price $1.33

Planters nuts, 21.25 oz, sale price $5.99
-$1 off Target coupon
Final price $4.99

Oscar Meyer bacon, sale price $3.99
-$0.75 off Target coupon
Final price: $3.24

Nestle chocolate chips, sale price $2.00
-$0.75 off Target coupon
Final price: $1.25

Market Pantry sugar, 5 lb, regular price $2.40
-$1 off Target coupon
Final price: $1.40

Skinny Cow single serve ice cream, regular price $1.24
-$1 off manufacturer's coupon (when you become a fan on Facebook)
Final price: $0.24

HP ream of paper, regular price $4.99
-$5 off Target coupon
Final price: Free

Playtex tampons, 36ct, regular price $7.14
-$5.99 off manufacturer's coupon (you can get these in the mail when you email the company telling them how much you like their product - I haven't paid full price for over a year now)
Final price: $1.15

Oreo's, sale price $2.50, buy two
-$1/2 Target coupon
-$1/1 Oreo WYB one gallon milk manufacturer's coupon
-$1/1 Oreo WYB one gallon milk manufacturer's coupon
Final price: $1 for each package of Oreo's, plus the cost of two gallons of milk

Palmolive dish soap, regular price $2.99
-$1/1 Target coupon
Final price: $1.99

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, regular price $2.19
-$1/1 Target coupon
Final price: $1.19

Philadelphia Cream Cheese, regular price $1.99
-$1/1 Target (?) coupon
Final price: $0.99

Those were the best coupon deals I got, but I also had a "$5 off your grocery purchase of $50 or more" coupon and a "$10 off a purchase of $100" coupon.

The total value of my coupons was $50.29 and my 5% redcard savings totaled $8.32, which means I saved $58.61, plus $13.55 in sales (according to my receipt), for a total savings of $72.16.

Good deal.