Warning: totally meaningless post. By the time you finish reading this, most of you will be thinking, ummm...yeah...okay...

So, to start.

The Desert Botanical Gardens is having their semi annual plant sale. People can buy plants AND also get into the Gardens for free. Sounds like a good Sunday plan since the Gardens are about 30 minutes from home.

Too bad the weather did not cooperate. We are having another heat wave, temperatures around 100 degrees.

But what does this have to do with Costco?

Well, here we are in the heat of the MORNING. I am in my electric chair but I forgot a sunhat. I have cold water but it is too hot. After buying some exotic plant that smells like basil but not basil, I am physically melting from the heat so the Gardens will have to wait for another day. I love Botanical Gardens.

By the way, AZ people!!! The glass artist Chihuli must have donated some of his glass work, it is still there! At least in the front entrance.

But what does this have to do with Costco?

We are in the car with the A/C cooling me off but I am still in a meltdown. DH wants to know whether to drop me off and go to Costco or do I want to come along.

I want to go along. Going to Costco is fun, Sunday means free samples of food.

Costco has a good produce section is one can eat a mountain of grapes, et al. I motor into the mega A/C fruit section.

Instant RELIEF!!! Brought me back from the brink.

Thank Goodness for Costco!

Plus they have giant plastic jugs full of jelly bellies.

oh Costco. Such enormous volumes of food.

And I always seem to buy something strange. Today it was a tapenade. Never heard of a tapenade before that moment except on the Food Channel.

Three kinds of olives, all finely chopped with feta cheese and oil. Actually low in saturated fats, etc. But then I HAD to buy the crunchy crispy toasted garlic pieces to go with it.

So much bulk. Sure hope the tapenade and chips freeze well.

But such a place, Costco.

Dont forget the ICE CREAM!!!!

Gotta love the snack bar!

I love soft serve vanilla. Sometimes I'll get it with the strawberries.

I assume Costco is something like Sams club?

Chihuli is one fascinating and creative artist. Have you
visited his website? It is an experience!

Our Costco here was remodeled last summer. And they put in the cold room for the veggies and some fruit! Man that is one cold room! I can see where it would be a life saver.

I like Costco too. You can buy the nicest green beans and
large container of small baby Bellas mushrooms for 1/4 of what the grocery sells them for.
I go there every 2 wks, for our basics.
They don't compare to choices however, like Sam's Club.
Sam's has far more variety.

But Costco has my Salonpas patches in bulk, which I can't live without!

Our nearest Costco, unfortunately, is two hours away in traffic that freezes my brain. *sigh* Our nearest Sam's Club is...um, I don't know.

My daughter used to pick up stuff for me but she doesn't live near it anymore, and it's not the same as poking around yourself.

No, Sam's is a rip off of Costco. Costco came along WAY earlier. Sam's is owned by WalMart, Costco is independent, and one of my favorite places in the world.

Cyn, were you at the one off of Hayden? I am going there today (if pain eases up any) for some much needed things.

LOVE Costco, especially the free samples. gotta go after 11am, they don't have them until then. We should get together next time you go for a sample-lunch.

yes, it is. Many of us dont have any costco near by, or at least would have to drive 3 to 4 hours in one direction to find one, but in New England we have plenty of BJs and Sams clubs. Many say they are a "copy" of Costco, but I saw BJs wharehouses long before I saw Costco. Which came first? dunno, but in my area it was BJs. I dont care what name is over the door. If I can find great bargains, and stock up at less than half the price of the supermarket, Im going in.

CYN, during summer that cooler room at Costco is my favorite place to be when out shopping!! During winter, it sets off MS symptoms for me. Especially vertigo and leg spasms!!

Costco originally was known as Price-Club. We joined them in 1985 in Omaha, NE. A few years later they changed the name.

The only BJs I have been in was in Fairfax, VA. At the time I didn't see enough difference in them and Costco to add the membership cost to our budget.

Now we use both Sam's (mainly for gas because it is closer) and Costco (I like the Kirkland brands and their optical dept).