Good early morning GH. It is just past 2:30 AM here is our fair city and not surprisingly, the view out the Weather Window is dark. But there is good news on the horizon. While the current temperature on my sophisticated and very scientific weather station is a brisk 23 degrees, the temperature expected by lunchtime today, I almost said tomorrow, is anticipated to be 41 degrees. On Saturday, and Sunday, 45 is the expected high, although on Sunday, the National Weather Service is predicting an 80% chance of precipitation. Usually when the percentage is that high, they are on target. So, if Sugar the Weather Dog and I are going to walk to East Town, hopefully with Mary so we can go to the bakery, Saturday is our best bet.

Speaking of Sugar the Weather Dog, she is now sleeping blissfully in her upstairs bed. Why you ask? Danged if I know. It was Mary's idea just to put her bed back in its place the other day and so I did. Sugar sniffed it one day, and then that night slept next to the bed on the floor. But, by the next morning, she was sleeping in her bed and has spent every night there since. Go figure.

Mary and I went to one of the big box hardware stores and planned to pick up some pots and soil for spring planting along with a small wet/dry vac they had on a rebate special for $9.99 after rebate. But, I failed to see that the sale didn't begin until today, so we couldn't get the rebate. Now of course, all of the items featured in their sale flyer were prominently featured on their end-cap display, but the non-customer service people said, "Sorry,the sale starts tomorrow." So, we returned the vacuum after we had checked out and we probably should have insisted that they find a manager who could have flexed the rebate issue, but we didn't. Now, I may go back to the big box, but I may not. I wanted this item, but I can live without it. If that turns out to be the case, the inability of their, "customer service" people to actually do "customer service" will be a contributing factor. Now I know that this non-sale will not impact their bottom line in any noticeable way, but it is just one more nail in the coffin when it comes to Mary hating big box hardware stores and the experience of shopping there.

No one needs those big box stores. But sometimes, the things that they put on sale are just too tempting. So, if I decide I really need the vacuum, I'll be forced to go back. But, their rebates always take the form of a store credit, so I would have to go back, again to use it. Maybe I should just spend the money locally and save myself the drive if I decide I want the vacuum. There, I just saved myself a trip and kept the money local.  Not bad for a morning's work.

So, it is nearing 3:00 AM and I am getting sleepy, so I think it is time to sign off and go back to slumber land. I have ranted long enough and do what comes naturally. Tea time is just around the bend, but with our lazy risings in the AM lately, that may not be until nearly 11:00 AM. So for now, Ciao.