8/6/06--The Rug story....a story of obsession

So last weekend, I was a dutiful husband and went shopping with my wife.  I figured, what with the football season approaching and all....that I'd get in some quick brownie points before the  first pigskin gets tossed.  What happened next could only be described as.....obsession.

After a quick trip to the mall to purchase our daughter's mega-birthday gift, Kim asks me if we could stop by the old Home Depot to look at some rugs.  Now we had our living room floor tile restained and sealed, and it was about that time that Kim realized that the rugs we had under the dining room table and coffee table had....in a word...gone to the dogs.  As in, loaded with dog hair and smelling distinctly like....well, dog. 

So we go in and start looking at rugs.  Now, our number one carpet offender is Jazz, she of the white fur and countless rug naps...so I'm looking for a lightly colored rug...maybe something in a white or beige.  So I pick out two....and naturally the store doesn't have enough in stock.  We continue to look.  The wife points out what can only be described as a pea-green monstrosity and asks me for an opinion.
"Uh, no." I replied.
"You don't like it?"
"Nope."

The search continues.  I'm beginning to realize that there really isn't anything else that strikes my fancy when Kim returns to the monstrosity.

"You SURE you don't like this one?"
"No.  Sorry, I just don't like it."
"What about for the computer room?"
"Uh...honey, no offense...but that's the 3rd time you've asked how I like that green rug and I just don't see my answer changing.  I don't like it."

Then, something very rare in our marriage happened.  Kim walked out of the store without saying a word (her silence precludes me from using the phrase "stormed out")
and got in the car.

It was a short drive home, but it was a long ride....know what I mean?

So we're back home, and Kim goes into the bedroom and lays down on the bed, under our fan.  A couple of minutes go by and I go into the room.

"You done being mad at me?"
"I'm not mad at you."
"Okay, are you done being FRUSTRATED with me?"
"Yes."

Dramatic pause.

"I think I'm going to go to Wal-Mart and look at rugs."
"Honey!  You do realize that you have two weeks off, don't you?  Why don't you just wait until tomorrow...that way you can take your daughter with you? Lord knows she never gets tired of going to Wal-Mart."
"Hmm....I guess so."

Her brother and father are over at the house....and we're watching the Cubs game on t.v. (Why I have NO IDEA).  So I'm getting ready to throw some steaks on the barbie and ask Kim when I should start.....she tells me to hold off for 10 minutes because she's going to run to Publix to pick something up.

45 minutes later.......I'm wondering where in the Sam Hill my wife is.  I pick up the cellphone and call her.

"Hello."
"Where are you?  Are you all right?"
"I'm at the North Lauderdale Home Depot looking at rugs."

Ugh.

She ended up going to Wal-Mart the next day---like I suggested---and found two rugs.
Boy, when she grabs a hold of something.....she just doesn't wanna let go.

Later,
Jeff