Your link to Northwest Indiana. tm

[sidebar.htm]		Power Shopping By Thomas 6-4-06 8C? I was awakened at 4:00AM the other day by a phone call from Aquanetta (remember her?).  Now, when someone calls me at that hour of the day, it is either bad news like a death or car accident, someone needs bailed out of jail, or someone needs shopping advice at the 24 hour Wal*Mart! All Aquanetta said was “8C”.  My mind started to rush, my heart skipped a beat, and I think I started to hyperventilate! “What could she mean by 8C?” In a split second, I conjured all kinds of meanings for 8C.  Maybe Aquanetta’s car was stuck in a parking lot in a space labeled 8C.  Maybe she was being held hostage by a deranged shopping fan in an apartment marked 8C. Maybe she was trying to order take-out from the local Chinese restaurant and wanted to know if 8C was the shrimp toast appetizer.  Maybe she was in jail cell 8C of the county jail and needed bail money. Maybe she was at Meijers picking up some hair coloring and couldn’t remember her shade (the boxes are labeled with a number and letter). Maybe, just maybe, she and her husband were playing Trivial Pursuit and a question came up as to a Barbie Doll’s bra size! Only seconds went by, but it seemed like hours when I finally woke up enough to ask Aquanetta what she meant by 8C and why she was calling me at 4:00AM. “Thomas”, Aquanetta shouted.  “What size shoe do you wear?” she continued. {Thankfully, with a question like that, it obviously was a shopping emergency}, I said to myself.  And I was all set to play CSI (Crime Scene Investigator)! “7 ½”, I responded.  “And why do you need to know that at 4:00 AM?” Aquanetta answers back that her husband(we shall call him…The Flea Man…because he is addicted to flea markets) just returned from working the late shift and just “had to know what Thomas’ shoe size was.  Anyone else just a little uneasy as to this line of questioning?  Was The Flea Man planning my demise and was making cement shoes for poor Thomas?  All kinds of scenarios ran through my thoughts. Aquanetta immediately put my mind at ease by stating; “The Flea Man found a brand new pair of Allen Edmond shoes, size 8C, at resale shop near his work and thought that they would fit Thomas.” “Aquanetta”, I snapped.  “You woke me at 4:00AM to tell me about a size 8C pair of shoes by Allen Edmonds?” “Thomas…The Flea Man got them for $5.00!”  Thomas was left speechless (I know, that is a rarity) I composed myself and shouted, “They are normally $300”!  (The dogs in the neighborhood started to howl…I guess I broke the sound curfew) “I will be right over”, I continued.  So, at 4:15AM, I threw on a robe and drove to the other side of town to Aquanetta and The Flea Man’s home. “I was met at the door with a cup of coffee and a shoe horn.  The Flea Man handed me his ‘bargain’ and I slipped them on.  To my amazement…they ‘fit like a glove’! I pulled out a $5.00 bill and started to hand it to Aquanetta.  She refused to accept the money.  “It is a gift”, she stated. I was ecstatic by their generosity. Now, maybe the Flea Man can find me a $5.00 bargain on a new Lexus.  I will gladly accept THAT 4:00AM call! And now… DON’T DOUBT THOMAS! THINK LUGGAGE! Value City Department Store [nationwide] has an ‘unbelievable’ deal on a 4-piece set of luggage, by Pacific Coast.  For $39.99, the set includes a 21-inch and 26-inch expandable upright, a 16-inch tote, and a garment bag.  Choose from black or red.  Luggage by American Flyer, Leisure, Traveler’ Club and Delsey are also on sale. THINK WINE COOLER! Meijer [nationwide] has an electric wine cooler on sale for $97.00.  The cooler, originally $119.99, holds 17 bottles.  The entire stock of wine accessories are also on sale. THINK SKIRTS, SKORTS, CAPRIS AND SHORT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY! Kohl’s [nationwide] has a ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ sale on skirts, skorts, capris, and shorts for men, young men, misses, petites, women, juniors, and kids. In their shoe department, sandals and flip-flops are also ‘buy-one-get-one-free’! THINK PICTURE FRAMES! Believe it on not, Menards [nationwide] has a selection of picture frames for $ .99.  Choose from 5” x 7” or 8” x 10”. THINK DIGITAL CAMERA! Staples [nationwide] has a 6.0 megapixel camera, by Olympus, for $199.98.  It comes with a 3X optical zoom. THINK $88 BARGAINS! Target [nationwide] has 11 products on sale for $88 each.  Choose from a DVD recorder, by Truetech, or a music system, by RCA.  The Canon Compact Photo Printer or the Verizon Wireless Inpulse Motorola V276 camera phone, are only $88 each.  How about a Trutech 7”portable DVD player or a 3-megapizel digital camera, by Philips?  Consider an RCA home theatre system or a DLO iBoom.  Check out the Lyon, by Washburn acoustic guitar or the video game rocker. Thomas will be on vacation the next month…in Japan!!!!! Someone, may want to notify Japan that Thomas is headed their direction with credit cards, cash, and an ATM card! In 1991, Thomas went to Japan for the first time.  The exchange rate between the Yen and the dollar was outrageous. Thomas was shocked when the price for breakfast at the Tokyo Hilton was $65.00.  The taxi ride from the airport to the hotel was $245. I can only image what they will cost now. As usual, I will attempt keep you posted on my trip with new articles that I will send via email.  Just my luck, the cost of the transmission will probably be the same as a new Toyota! Thomas