Tonight we had to run out for some additional school supplies requested by my daughter’s teachers. Yesterday she started middle school and just between us, I think she prefers shopping for the supplies rather than using them at school. She’s a great kid and good student, she’d just rather not be at school all day. I suppose I can relate, and besides, this year there is no recess. Who could blame her for being less than enthused? Personally, I can’t say I am really ready to be the mother of a middle school student, but now that it’s here, I’m looking forward to getting inito a regular routine again. If there even is such a thing.

Back to the supplies … we just had to pick up a few extra things. Sounds easy, right? Not unless you’ve been anywhere near a store that carries these necessary items. As I mentioned earlier to Jamelah, the Target school and office supply aisles were decimated, a virtual wasteland with only a few random folders, glue sticks and pencil boxes left. Forget about finding a notebook unless you wanted the single subject wide rule variety covered with Spiderman artwork. Unfortunately we were on a mission to find a five-subject notebook. Which is apparently on the endangered species list in the retail world. Luckily we did find a small pack of highlighters (so I could put back the box of TWELVE I was willing to buy just to get it over with) along with a few other things which we probably didn’t need … but such is the way of Target. I know you know what I am talking about.

In a move that is usually certain death — or migraine, either way — I pulled together all of my strength and headed to the local Wal-Mart. Yes, I am ruining the universe by shopping there. Unless you can grow me an organic, fair-trade five-subject notebook, I don’t want to hear about it. Sadly, the seasonal school supply aisles at Wal-Mart were completely broken down and the office supply section was pretty picked over itself. After making a few passes, we finally spotted a few remaining notebooks. In both three AND five subject arrangements. I’m not the religious type, but I’m pretty sure I praised the Lord (and Sam Walton) right there as I edged my way past other kids and moms who got suckered into the same fate I had. We flipped through the stack and found the preferred color from the selection — light blue — then headed toward the checkout, which was, of course mobbed. Luckily our Wal-Mart has the self-checkout lanes, which were really not much better, as we waited behind a young woman who simply could not get her Luna bars to scan! And although I smiled a friendly smile and chirped “Oh no problem!”, I really wanted to tell her to forget about the damn Luna bars so I could get the hell out of there. I love Wal-Mart as much as the next person (ok, probably more), but I cannot stand waiting in line. When we were finally able to scan our item, pay and leave I was met with a little surprise. Our friendly five-subject notebook cost $7.94. Almost EIGHT dollars for a NOTEBOOK? Seriously? Am I that out of touch? Am I crazy to think that paying over a dollar per subject is a little much? Of course, instead of inciting a riot, I just paid the money and left, but wow. Granted, this is just no ordinary notebook, it’s one of those Mead bulletproof, Lojack-enabled notebooks made of Kevlar, diamond dust and titanium. With reinforcements, built-in folders and pockets. I think you can even cook popcorn in there. According to the Mead website, this particular model even has a “SpiralGuard comfort grip and durable poly cover with pen loop.” I’m really not even certain how we survived this long without a pen loop, but I’m sure glad we have one now! Because this sucker better last until she graduates. My only comfort is the fact that if I would have purchased this notebook directly from Mead it would have cost $13.39. So, really, I got such a great bargain. On a bunch of paper.