HD is closest for me, and they keep the entrance doors locked off season. But you can take a cart back to the garden section and bring it to the checkout in the main part of the store. It's all I can do to lift 40# now plus when it's usually wet, I wonder if it weighs closer to 50#? Anyway, I get help at the store loading up and then I'm on my own. I can't carry it but a few feet then have to set it down and move it a little further. My daughter picked up the last for me and parked on the side of the house. I got after her and said she should have parked where she wouldn't have to carry it so far. Oh, it didn't bother her. She carried it right around to where I store much of it on one side of the house. When we had a thaw, I got the last bag in the house as far as the living room. I'll work out of it from there, yes I lay it down on a large storage lid so I don't get dirt all over, and then when I've scooped out about half of it, I can easily carry the rest of it on back to where the rest of my supplies are.

Everything that's sold Wal-Mart is tracked by the home office. There are some markdowns that every store receives. Almost every month each store get a certain amount of in-store markdown money. The store manager decides how this money is best spent. If there's holiday coming up that department almost always gets the money. The Assistant Manager over that department then decides which items they will mark down, usually based on sales. Almost a decade in management for Wal-Mart before I got enough sense to get away. I finally found something I love, teaching!!! I can almost pinpoint exactly to the day what will be marked down. That's when I go shopping.

One time I got a book in the mail. It was called Shabby Chic and I didn't remember ordering it, but thought maybe I did, because I like that sort of thing. Opened it up and there was a card in it....I had gone to a country decorating magazine site...one of the first things I had ever done when I got webtv, and entered a sweepstakes, and actually won. So, at least that was a legitimate prize. I think it was just about the only thing I have ever won tho.

I have spoken to elderly women to not leave their purses in the cart as they will steal your purse and they immediately thank me and grab their purse to them. Watch out too as they can slice the bottom of your purse thinking you are safe. I heard that they watch you put your purse in your trunk, have a friend that does that all the time. If I had to go to park or somewhere, I would only take my wallet and put it in my pocket, that is why I like pockets on everything I wear so I could pop them in and so if need to go to store or stop somewhere have money and card on me to use. Also all the ones that leave their cell phones, lap tops and other valuables in car and wonder why they got broke in. Anything including change they will break in your vehicle and take. And putting your purse way back in the tunk and putting something over it won't work, if they break in they will go at everything and find it. also heard that most women put their purses in their kitchen when they come through the door and keys too and if they are outside in the backyard, someone will come in and find those and steal not only your purse but your car too. Also people are still not locking their vehicles, lock them up at all times no matter if you run in and run out, YOu could get delayed and time goes by that someone could have watched you, with all the remote keys they can tell by watching if you clicked it locked or not. I had always thought those in chair or scooter hanging it in the back was a calling card to steal the purse and nothing they could do about it as they probably wouldn't even know until they go for it. Or the ones that have baskets in front, same thing grab it so fast and run like crazy and its gone. Warning, don't leave windows down in car as I had looked after my two nephews on time years ago and they had a friend over who came with us to bank and we all got out and I did the instanbank and suddnely the friend had zipped ahead and he could put his arm in the window and unlock the door. I couldn't believe it as the window was not down that far either and he could put his arm in it. So, be careful about that too. Just try not to carry anything more that you need in your purse. They do tell you not to take valuables traveling as they can get stolen and absolutely no money left or your passport or birth certificate or tickets, have them locked up in hotel safe. Wear money belts. I learned a hard way you can't trust anyone, I worked in a day care waiting for the last kids to be picked up and they came and I put my purse down for some reason instead of taking it with me to click out as I always did and came back and just like that gone. I had to call home and police as keys, and everything gone. And then report it next day to the head person and they questioned who they were, didn't know them except knew that one boy due to his class he went too was by the toddler room I worked in and his dad who was always late in picking him up. But didn't know the other parents or kids but could you point them out, yes, I could and went to classrooms and pointed them out and the mom worked in a bank and don't know where the guy worked, they were living together, Found out their house was on the way home and next thing I knew the mom got fired from her bank job and the house was up for sale. They moved I believe to Ontario, nice to do in front of their kids. It was right before christmas and had all my christmas money to go and buy gifts, I didn't get anything back either, then also next day called and called before got through to cancel out cards, they were stolen and yes, police was called about it. Next spring I get this phone call saying found your purse as they threw it in this huge snow bank by church across parking lot and the sisters found it. I never could use that purse again, its horrible having it stolen but when parents do with their kids right there, wow.