Mars/Venus - Here's my story

[snookchaser]

Some more journaling, and building some EC.

Yesterday, left work a little early for the holiday weekend at my boss's encouragement.

When I got home, W asked if we should go to a store or two and exchange/return a few things from last week, or wait until later next week. I told her to get herself ready, that I wanted to get that over and out of the way. She got a quick shower and got dressed then came into the kitchen. Then asked me the proverbial question. "Do the jeans make my ___ look too fat? I told her "Absolutley not, you look great. I really like that outfit on you". She looked really good in those jeans too and the tailored white blouse accentuated her curves. I was about to say a few other choice words but then from over my shoulder, D10 chimed in with "Wow, Mommy you really nice". So I suppressed them for the moment, but whispered them to her later on while we were out.

Now, bear in mind that all we intend to do a store #1 was exchange a pair of shoes and 2 articles of clothes. W headed for the return counter and asked if I'd take D10 back and find the right size shoes, that she's meet us back there, so we did and D10 found them. We were there for a while, and had more shoe browsing time w/ D10 then I intneded. While there, I'm quickly reminded, it must be genetics or something and that the days of Barbie dolls and Barney videos are long gone..."Oooh, Daddy, look at these. Aren't these Sooo cute" or "EEewww, look at those, yuck, one wonder they're 70% Off". Lol

After 10 min's or so, D10 and I head for the front counter looking for W. No where to be found, up and down the isles, even try calling her on the cell inside the store to locate her. Finally find her in the womans dept. looking through apparel. I was a bit miffed, and let her knew that we'd been looking all over for her and that she didn't tell us where she was going or even answer her phone. She appologied, and said she found a few good deals on things for her Mom and my 2 Step'D for next year, everything was on sale. Meanwhile, D10 a literally pulling my arms off to get back to the little girls dept, so she can find her replacement outfits. W said, please take her back there and she's join us and in few after she finished looking.

So off we go, (I get dragged) and now enter "round 2" of the apparel match. We couldn't find an exact match on both items in the right size, but did on one. So, now it's alternative time for item 2. This means, we (she) have a lot more choices now. Repete as above in the shoe dept, except now we're holding more stuff to try on and pick from.

D10 - "Daddy, I like this one".
Snook - "No, your not wearing that. Where's your mother"?
Snook - "Hey, how about this one?"
D10 - "No way Dad, nobody wear that any more"!
Snook - "Yes, that one is cute. Where's your mother"?
D10 - "Ooo... Daddy, I really like this one".
Snook - "That one costs too much. Where's you mother"?
Snook - "How this one on the 70%off rack".
D10 - "Eewww, Dad, I'm not wearing that".
Snook - "Where's you mother"?

W does finally show up a while later. Not only to see how we've progressed, but to also show me what she's found for her self and ask if I like. At first, I was beginning to get mad, at her taking her time and not just joining me, hepling me, saving me sooner and what all this stuff would actually cost only a week after Christmas. But then I thought, you know what, this is good "bonding time" w/ D10. And really, my W doesn't get out too often and doesn't get the chance to shop for her self much. Now W wants to know what I think about her selections. Despite my predetermined spending plan (none), I knew we could afford it. I offered my 2 cents on what I like and what I didn't. She agreed
and said that she'd put a few thing back that she wasn't really crazy about anyway and that she didn't want to spend any money. (was this BF "test"?, You bet!). I could tell she was feeling good about herself and happy she was doing some "girl-ey" stuff for her. So she met me in the middle a little, put a few items back and we headed for the cash resister. By now, it's dark outside, there was a shift change at the register's and none of our "exchanges" were visable. I was getting uptight about how long we were in there and how much it was all going to cost. But in the end the cashier got everything worked out, D10 was happy with her exchanges (+ 1 extra item). W, had a couple of new outfits and a few items already for next years christmas. So, after being in the store for 3 hours, I looked at the two of thier faces when the cashier hit "Total"...$200...

I just smiled, said thanks for your concern, but I knew it would be around that. We can afford it... Now come on, let's go get a Pizza! We'll save the other exchanges for next week...

So that's just what we did and we shared a wonderful dinner together. Then came home relaxed and re-watched "March of the Penguins" that they both fell asleep to the night before. Good movie, but the way and tey both enjoyed it.

So, I figured a couple of "deposits" into the emotional bank account for both girls. And now later today, I'll invoke the conidtional provision that I have on my W's clothing purchase's.... Hang out "back stage" in the dressing room while she tries them on and shows them off for me.
'Cause then I get to see her naked!