Trader Joe's Trail of Tears

I miss Trader Joe's.

Big time.

This thought occurred to me as I was standing in the kitchen a few minutes ago munching on a piece of toast I had slathered with Whole Foods' 365 blueberry jam.

My train of thought went something like this...

"Huh, I'm almost out of my jam. Too bad I have to drive to a Whole Foods in Denver to get it. What else would I need from Whole Foods? Ah, forget it. Whole Foods plus gas money down would cost a fortune! If only there were a Trader Joe's...I would make special trips to Denver for a TJ's. I wonder if the CEO is contemplating the email I sent suggesting a TJ's in Colorado? Do they not realize what they're missing out on here?! I mean, Colorado is the very definition of a TJ's location. Maybe I'll tell him again. I think I'll blog about this..."

And here I am.

If you have never been to a Trader Joe's you have not lived. Ok, that's a bit much, but it is amazing. It is like a discount drug store version of Whole Foods. (Something tells me the TJ's marketing department wouldn't appreciate this description.) Good, healthy food for a fraction of the cost! Cheeses are a third of the price there - nice ones! (It's no secret cheese bin, you're right Dupont Dwellers.) And you can get amazing wines for $4. Don't trust a $4 wine? You've never shopped Trader Joe's.

And all the employees wear Hawaiian shirts! You definitely don't get that at other stores.

It's like a grocery wonderland. But they aren't perfect. Some things you just need to supplement at a Safeway, or Albertson's...or Whole Foods. But what you can get there is fantastic.

I used to work three blocks from a TJ's. I would go there for lunch or pop in after work for some last minute groceries. I would spend Sundays standing in a line that wrapped around the inside of the Foggy Bottom store just so I could have my TJ's soup for lunch the next week.

Now, the closest one is in New Mexico, which is infinitely sad. For once it would be cheaper to just hit a Whole Foods...ho hum.

Karaoke Kraziness

Last week was National Karaoke Week and I think I did my part in celebrating.

Here's a brief recap of the week's festivities...

MONDAY: I was supremely tired from birthday-partying it up, having Apes visit, and a trip to Colorado Springs to see my parents, and there was nothing more I wanted to do than go to bed. But I didn't! Ohhhh, no! I drug myself to Finnegan's in Avon, bellied up to the bar, ordered a beer and veggie burger and turned in a song.

The karaoke D.J., the Sandman, has known who I am since basically the first night I was in town. Tyler, Carrie and I went to Finnegan's to celebrate my arrival on a Monday and, of course, I got up on stage. Having the D.J. know me is something I'm not sure I should be proud of or embarrassed about. In D.C., I would have given ANYTHING for the karaoke D.J. to know who I was so I could get past the line of eager singers and up on stage on more time. In a small mountain town...? I'm trying to avoid being "that girl." I think it's too late.

I sang two songs at Finnegan's and headed home with promises to The Sandman I would see him Wednesday.

WEDNESDAY: The Unintentional Camper came to town to support my addiction with an evening at Loaded Joe's in Avon. He had never been to a place that was only about karaoke and, according to him, thoroughly enjoyed it. (Most of my D.C. friends know how to handle me when I get a karaoke craving. He is still fresh blood...)

Not only did the UC join me, but the kitchen store manager and her husband apparently stayed up well past their bedtime to hang out with us at the bar. And Ryan and Pat joined us a little later for a quick drink and to watch a song or two.

I would count Wednesday as a very successful night.

So successful that I decided I should go out on a high note, so to speak, and I didn't hit Paddy's Friday night as planned.

I did, however, sing in my car and the shower, both of which I think count.

Song list for the week:

Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
Sin Wagon - The Dixie Chicks
Let 'Er Rip - The Dixie Chicks
Heaven Is a Place on Earth - Belinda Carlisle

It's ALIVE!!

Since I have arrived I've had sitting around the apartment a box of seemingly dead plants.

I assumed they were dead because my once robust and beautiful geraniums looked like dried twigs sticking out of moldy potting soil. (I figured this was the likely aftermath of moving them in a cold car and the shock of less, and dramatically colder, air.)

Incidentally, I've been meaning to dump them out for quite some time, but just haven't gotten around to it.

Good thing, because yesterday I took a look at them again and two of the geraniums have leaves! I couldn't believe my eyes!!

The other plants should really thank those two because I've now decided to keep them all around a little longer to see what happens.

It's kind of like Night of the Living Dead. Crap. I wish I hadn't said that because they are in my bedroom right now...