The Sound of Music

I'm no Julie Andrews, but lately I keep wanting to burst into tunes from the Sound of Music. Let me tell you why.

Hubby's been off work the last two days, and yesterday afternoon he called me at the office. "I'm back home," he said. "Back from where?," I asked. I didn't remember him saying he was going anywhere--last I heard, he was going to do some yard work and maybe watch the Olympics. Turned out, though, that he had some shopping to do--for clothing.

Now probably 65 percent of you would be startled at the idea of your husband voluntarily shopping, right? Well, yes, I admit I was somewhat surprised. "What did you buy?," I asked. First he told me that Mervyn's (a California department store chain that used to be owned by the same company that owns Target) didn't carry men's cologne--or at least he couldn't find it. So, he said, he may need to go back out to the drug store or WalMart to get some. It's probably a good thing he couldn't see me roll my eyes, although I did mention that if he was going to start buying cologne from the drug store, he might want to look for an apartment to rent too.

My husband is very thrifty--have I mentioned that before? Turned out he also wanted to get a pair of Levi's but was shocked they cost $34. $34? That sounded like a pretty good bargain to me. Of course, I don't think Hubby's been shopping for clothing for about 12 years; still, I don't think they've gone up a whole lot in that time. (I'm telling you, though, that's exactly why he has no idea how much a yard of fabric costs, and I'm happy enough to keep it that way!)

Anyway, he decided to wait for a sale on Levi's and settled on a pair of Wrangler jeans for now--they only cost something like $11 after coupons or something--a couple pairs of shorts, and some new white socks to go with his new shorts. Such a fashion plate, eh?

When I got home from work, he was trying on his new shorts. "Every place had such long shorts! Why would you even bother wearing shorts if they're that long?," he asked. But apparently he finally found a couple pair he liked--they even had a bunch of pockets to keep his stuff in--so he snapped them up. They kind of look like this . . .

. . . but without the bib/suspender part.

Because I believe strongly in looking at the positive side of things, I'm thinking that at least this will keep me in the Sweat Shop, turning out quilt after quilt until colder weather comes and those long, skinny, white legs are covered up again, 'cause we're sure not going out anywhere for now. Except maybe to a store that carries good cologne. Because although I can shut my eyes whenever it's necessary, it's a lot harder to stop breathing. Okay, everybody, join in and sing with me now:

Edelweiss, Edelweiss

Every morning you greet me . . . .