How I scored new sheets for free

Anthony was back in the passenger seat for the drive to dinner and groceries tonight. We also went to Bed, Bath and Beyond to shop for new bedding today.

The magical part of today's shopping was how I scored free bed sheets. The set we chose at Bed Bath and Beyond was $200.00 for a nice set of 750 thread count sheets. We really needed new ones and I decided to splurge. Fast forward to when we were leaving Fry's Market and on a whim I bought a $20 Arizona Lottery scratcher ticket. When we arrived home, I scratched the card and won $200. That paid for the sheets!

Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good.

Following Anthony into Bed Bath and Beyond
on a quest for new bedding

It's soooo difficult to decide but we did
end up with a new $200 750 thread count sheet set

Dinner at Smashburger on Grant Road

Like a jackass, I accidentally spilled my soda
on the floor.

My bacon cheeseburger Smashburger and fries

Anthony still eats his fries with a fork
like a cultured human being

Call the police. I'd like to report a salt on a table.

Anthony picks out a tomato at Fry's Market

Pretending to eat an onion whole

I used to eat sandwiches with Ham and Cheese Loaf
quite often when I was a kid.
They put both together to save time!

Purple lawn chairs above the freezers.
You can't buy one unless you're nine feet tall to reach up there.

Scratching off the Arizona Lottery scratcher ticket

Look what I've got! A winner!

That's the $200 winning square! Free sheets!

The search for new eyeglasses

It's been nearly a year and a half since my last eye exam. I thought it was time to get a check up and look for a stylish new pair of glasses. I'm getting more blind as I get older. Sigh.

I tried on a bunch of different frames before deciding on a pair to order at Accent On Vision. I've been going to this optometrist since I moved to Tucson in 2001 and they're always really nice and take every variation of vision insurance that I've had.

Here are the photos I shot while I was there... including selfies of the various frames I tried on.

Accent On Vision on Oracle Road

Plenty of frames to choose from

The inside of my eye.
It's pretty ugly but it's healthy.

Frames I tried on at Accent On Vision.
These were a candidate.

Too similar to the pair I wear most often now.

Sophia Petrillo frames

These make me look too much like a gay fashion designer

Too small for my giant fat head

I'll save these until I'm grandpa age

1930 called and wants their frames back

Nope

I kind of liked these.
They complimented the contour of my head

These were a candidate

Another pair that made me look 80 years old

I liked these.
I'd need to buy a purse to match.

Nope.

I also liked these.

These were a strong candidate.
I could pass for a poor Steve Jobs.

In the end, I chose these Oakleys.
I thought they were distinctive and very me.
Winner!

C-c-c-cold winter storm in Tucson

We've had a few days of wintery weather in Tucson. It hasn't snowed in the city limits but it did in the mountains north of Tucson. But, it's been cold outside and rainy.

There were a lot of people who attempted to go up to Mount Lemmon, which is northeast of Tucson, to ski or snowboard but it's only a two lane highway to go up there and the traffic was overwhelming. The Pima County Sheriff Department had to close the road after it was too crowded up there and too many people attempted to make the trip. I didn't make the attempt to go. It's kind of difficult to ski or snowboard when you don't own skis or a snowboard.

A few photos from the weekend storm:

Snow on the mountains north of Tucson
as seen looking north from Swan Road and River Road

Snow on the mountains as seen from my backyard

Cactus down.
We will rebuild.

Cups on neighbor's cactus.
We will rebuild.

Puddle in my driveway.
We will rebuild.

Restroom encounter with Senator John McCain

I've had plenty of unusual moments and odd stories to share in my life. I was able to add another one to my repertoire yesterday.

I had a conversation with Senator John McCain with my penis in my hand.

It's really not as racy as I make it sound. I was packing up my gear to leave work and decided I needed to urinate before I made the drive home. So, I headed to the restroom. When I walked in there was a man in a suit flushing the urinal and walking over to the sink. As I was about to take my turn at the urinal, I recognized the man in the suit as United States Senator John McCain.

Senator McCain is not only one of the two Senators from Arizona, he also had a run at the Presidency of the United States a handful of years ago. He's one of the most powerful people in the country.

The conversation was short. He asked me how I was doing. I said "Nobody's killed me today." (I say that often when I can't think of a better response when that question is asked). He mentioned that there was still time left in the day and I told him that it was the end of my workday so my chances of survival were pretty good. We then had a conversation about Twitter and what kinds of things some of his Twitter followers say to him, and then he left the restroom.

All this while I was peeing... with my man junk in my hand.

He was in the building to do an interview on the 5 p.m. newscast. I didn't know he was at the station until the encounter in the restroom.

There are not many people that can say they've chatted with a former Presidential candidate, longtime U.S. Senator, and war hero while they're holding their boy parts in their hand. I'm sure I'm on a short list of people who can add that to their resume'.

He has no idea who I am and likely doesn't care. I don't have any interest in politics but I do appreciate the work he does and the impact it has on most Americans. He had a long history of service to the people of Arizona and America. It was an encounter I'll never forget. Mostly because not it's not often something exciting or interesting happens when I have my penis in my hand.

Thanks Senator McCain. This encounter added another epic story to my often ridiculous life. I'm also glad that he washed his hands after peeing. The flu is going around and it'll help him avoid getting sick.

The urinal I peed in while chatting with
United States Senator John McCain.
It should be designated a historical landmark.

Solo Sunday to start the New Year

It's a new year and I'm the same old person. That includes the same habits.

I look forward to having dinner once a week with Anthony outside of the house. He wasn't feeling well so I ventured out alone for dinner and to do our weekly grocery shopping. It's not as fun when I'm alone. I tell a joke, and I have to laugh at it myself because no one is there to hear it.

I ate dinner at Arby's and then did grocery shopping at Walmart Market. I was glad he wasn't there when I was standing in line at the store. Anthony has no patience for waiting for anything and it was one of the slowest lines I've been in for quite a while. I missed him the rest of the time, though.

I like Walmart Market's prices but every store I've been in must have a policy for employees not to move very quickly. If I worked as slowly as they do my company would need two more of me to get the same amount of work done I accomplish by myself.

I hope Anthony feels better by next weekend. It's much nicer eating dinner out with someone than alone. I need his eye rolls when I tell jokes... it reminds me that I'm not as funny as I think I am.

Dinner at Arby's, Speedway and Pantano.
This is where Anthony would have been
sitting if he was able to join me for dinner

Potato cakes and a Classic Roast Beef sandwich.
This tray looks lonely without Anthony's
food on it, too.

Reduced fat Oreo cookies at Walmart Neighborhood Market
I do not understand the concept of reduced fat cookies.
If I'm going to eat a cookie I want it to be full of
fat, sugar, and throw me into a near diabetic coma

Shopping alone at Walmart Neighborhood Market.
Anthony would be in this picture if he was here

Alone at the super slow Walmart Market check out.
Instead of looking at Anthony's friendly face, I was
stuck with this girl's oversized butt

Driving home from the grocery store I was behind this
pickup truck with a Christmas tree in the back.
Maybe they are starting early for Christmas 2016.