A fascinating account of the Walmart formula. Although I have only been to Walmart twice in my life, I rate this as Highly Recommended!! Well written and intriguing insight into the secretive Walmart model, inspiring, yet at the same time, loathsome. Funnily enough, reading this just makes we want to shop there. Luckily for us, the closest Walmart is about a 20 minute drive away. D values his time and anything that takes him away from his computer that is not "Unit" related is a waste of time. To him a visit to the doctor is a waste of time. He would rather pay the 15% extra as long as it can be obtained 5 minutes faster. I,on the other hand, do not see shopping as a waste of time. In fact, I like it a bit too much...way too much... I am however not a buyer, but a shopper in that I like the experience more than the actual purchasing...unless of course said purchase is from LV or Gucci. That is why I prefer to visit our local markets, to buy what I need in smaller quantities, so that I have an excuse to pop out and get a tomato on a daily basis....alas, am not able to do this at Gucci. While slightly more expensive than the nearby supercentres and the not so nearby Walmart, I figure I save money as I am not tempted to buy other unnecessaries that I figure I deserve due the savings that I make..I am a sucker for a sale..and since I am already there, why not stock up? So that explains why in my few years in New York and Toronto, I have only seen the inside of this behemoth of a North American institution twice. While reading the book last night, I tried again to persuade D to switch our monthly shopping to Walmart..No go..he doesn't like wasting his time looking for parking.
Speaking of shopping, I miss buying, and of course wearing nice frivolous things. Impractical things. Like bags, cute dresses, shoes with heels and suits. Things I used to buy when I worked. When what I wore out mattered just in case I met that soulmate..like my wearing that certain Ferraggamo determined whether my soul mate would see it and say "Now there's my soul mate" and not "Uh, skanky bag,...waste of my soulmate time"...hahahaha...yes, my soul mate then was gay. I had, had to wear that right outfit to get me from the meetings with the Ministry of Finance to that meeting with bankers at Finnegan's after. I was so shallow, (but well dressed)and loved it! It is different now with me being a dependant and supplementary card holder. With thoughts of 2 postgraduate educations for each child to finance to boot..let me rephrase that..Sash and Dylan can be anything they want, they can be Nascar driving hairdressers for all I care, as long as they do this after getting their 2 postgraduate qualifications...in Nascar driving hairdressing if they wanted to. The last handbag I bought was my small Speedy..and the main consideration then was that it could lock (for travelling) and I could fit wipes, a diaper and a bottle in it and still have space for my wallet and phone (thing about being unemployed is that you carry less personal effects). The size was perfect as due to my being vertically challenged, a few centimetres could mean the difference between handbag and hand luggage. I have not bothered much with bags as I know that I will be glued to my diaper bag for the next 2 years anyway (Tip: In view of the many years of intended use, I persuaded D to get me my dream diaper bag as a Birthday and Xmas present combined...way worth forgoing stocking stuffers). Ditto with shoes. I dont think I know how to walk in heels anymore. I am eyeing a pair of Birkenstocks..how sad is that?
I had my biweekly check up this morning. Substitute Doctor (DrS is on holiday) not that happy that I have not gained weight since the last 2 check ups. Still at 132 pounds. I say YAY!! Bugger you I thought, its not you who has to walk around breathless with extra pounds and wait 2 years to take it all off. Now to celebrate with a fruit smoothie...
2 comments:
ahhahaa..you cheered me up with this posting! i hear ya on all counts - vertically challenged, losing post baby weight, being a dependant and supcard holder - the works.
after my library book (yer, you, the one that made me sniffle in bed last night!), i will read your recommended Walmart book...i am always cautious of Walmart thinknig that's the kind of place people go on shooting rampage and snatch babies..doing a very bad steretyping and profiling here.
Now if only there's a book about Super Target..that would be SUPER!
well. i still have teh shoes and handbags disease sadly. but i cannot aford the LV/Gucci prada anymore because I have started a bad habit of buying frivolous beautiful dresses, shoes and god knows what for milly.
i wear heels everyday but unlike those days when i felt great in them, i have to soak my feet in warm water when i get home. that is age catching up - after the effect of childbirth.
i lost 4kgs in my 3rd month of pregnancy and milly came out normal. so dont worry about your weight as long as baby is growing.
search for soul mate in expensive clothing? the funny thing is, my so called soul mate (if he is that) doesn't know the difference between a real hermes or a fake one. so much for wasted saving potential...
may be, one day, i can go back to reading properly. i read one book per year at the moment.
p.s you look great anyhow because you are happy. happiness is the greatest designer's item!
NXXX
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