The Shopping Gene

Is this a chromosome that only women possess? I ask this because of today's experience with my husband - which is basically the same experience everytime it happens. However, like childbirth, women must forget about the pain and hope that the next time will be much different.

I sent my husband out with a list - yes, today, on Christmas Eve. What was I thinking? But it was very basic: a birthday card for his nephew, a half gallon of skim or 1% milk, orange juice, a cake taker (if he could find one) and wrapping paper. Oh, and I asked him to put gas in my car and get some money out for those cash gifts - including the birthday gift. He was also going to find this swimming store to get me one more Christmas present that I wanted - a digital lap counter for my finger - I thought they might have one. He's never been to that store (neither have I) and I told him it's proximity and the other stores in the strip mall. All of this was written down on paper.

Two hours later - here is what he came home with. Gas in the car and wrapping paper (3 rolls, although one would have been fine. I guess you can't have too much Christmas paper) - successful. A 1/4 gallon of skim milk (ok, that's close), a Christmas card (not exactly the birthday card I needed) and a gallon jug of orange juice - ok he got that one right and he got the money we needed for cards. The rest of the time he cruised around looking for the swimming store that he could not find.

No cake taker - he said Target does not carry them. While he was gone, I thought of a couple more things I needed and knew he likely wouldn't find the cake taker. So off to Target I went at 11:30 a.m. At Target, I immediately found a cake taker for $4.99 (perfect) and the other two items I needed. I stopped at the bank for cash and found the swimming store right where I said it would be - although it was closed. I also picked up a sub sandwich for lunch and was home by 12:04.

I call that outstanding! Now why couldn't he do that?

Oh and on the digital lap counter - he asked me for another gift idea for Christmas. I gave him a link to it on a website so he would know what I was talking about and then explained that he could probably find it at that swimming store since it wouldn't arrive in time for Christmas via mail. Later he told me that the website charged $5 for shipping unless you had a $60 order - I said "Didn't you read the email that said where to go buy it?" - "Oh, was that in the email?"

Why do I bother.....