Busy Tuesday

Yesterday was a busy day because of Kroger's Senior Citizen Day and the Franklin County Library's book launch for Stuck. Here's a recap of my day:

Kroger: John and I really like the friendly folks the Rocky Mount Krogers. We usually shop on Tuesdays to get Kroger's 5% discount as well as to accumulate points toward a discount on gasoline.

This Tuesday, because I'd spent a certain minimum in the weeks before, I had a 20% discount on my whole order. We decided to stockpile stuff we knew we'd use—pet food, bottled water, etc. I clipped coupons from Sunday's paper, downloaded coupons onto my Kroger card, and sorted through the coupons Kroger had given me on an earlier visit. We were ready. Here are our carts in the checkout line:

My cart, with Kroger card and grocery list.

John's cart

Coupons, etc. 

The total for the two carts of groceries came to $313. After the discounts and coupons, I paid $213. Not a bad savings for a carload of groceries.

You can fit more in a PT Cruiser if you remove the back seats.

Book Launch: Tuesday night I headed for the Franklin County Library. I'd hoped to have my author's copies of Stuck because I owed copies to quite a few folks who'd helped me out. Unfortunately, the copies didn't arrive. Fortunately, the copies the library ordered had arrived. I'd hoped to have my cousin take pictures and the local paper cover the event, but neither could make it. Fortunately Ibby Greer took lots of pictures, including this one of me and Samantha Newcomb whose picture appears on the cover:

A lot of friends (both Facebook and real), kids, some neighbors, a relative, and some folks I'd never met before turned out for the launch. 

Some early arrivals, including my cousin Gloria (in front of the center picture)

Among attendees in this picture were Donna Jefferson, Ibby Greer, and Mary Wray.

Children's librarian, Joyce Tukloff, had arranged musical entertainment by Samantha and Alex Young, who are fantastically talented. They really got the audience toe-tapping.

Winners of the Stuck art contest were announced. Here are some of the entries:

Middle school 1st place winner is top left; Elementary 1st place is bottom  left.

After librarian David Bass introduced me, I read the first chapter of Stuck and several other passages and answered a few questions from the audience. Then I signed books.

I'll do another reading/signing at the Westlake Library on Thursday, March 31. And—sometime in the late spring or early summer—odds are good that I'll have a book-signing for Stuck at the Rocky Mount Kroger. Frank the manager told me I'm welcome to do so. 

I'm thinking maybe on a Senior Citizen's Day. . . . 

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