The only grocery shopping I've done for over 20 years is for special celebrations and family parties, so it was an eye-opener to take it on after Bob's surgery. My first time out, I was mentally and physically spent about half-way through the experience. I couldn't figure out the layout of Bob's favorite store, the Larpenteur Rainbow Foods, and I was frustrated looking for sold-out coupon items. Moreover, I found myself picking up many products on a whim and forgetting about my list. I went for the no hassle, coupon free shopping pleasure of Kowalski's and Lund's, rather than navigate Rainbow, where I have to bag my own stuff and feel compelled to use the coupons from the Sunday paper.
This morning I was there before ten, armed with my list and a modest number of coupons. I went off list a couple of times (prepared tuna salad, liverwurst, birthday candles) but was smart enough to shop the aisles at either end of the store, and go down the middle for frozen foods at the end of shopping trip.
I included a little side trip to the adjacent liquor store for wine and beer. I am quite familiar with liquor stores and soon grabbed what I needed for Bob's birthday and Grand Old Day this weekend. Alas, no wines to sample at 10:00 a.m.
