It is said that good things come in threes: Past/Present/Future, small/medium/large, blondes, brunettes/redheads, all good things.

Note-Those with the glass half empty will tell you this is reversed and the notion is about bad things - I say, balderdash.

We make our own luck, mostly, and this was the way my week went, over three days, when I undertook some errands around town.

My weedeater was recalcitrant.

I had purchased it recently at Sears, thinking it was perfect for my style, which is decimating the awful, thorny greenery around the railroad ties and rockeries in my yard.

It's a rough task and I needed a solid tool for the job.

Robert at Sears listened carefully and helped me pick out what I thought I wanted.

I am not a wimp or namby-pamby (look it up) about giving new tools a chance, and I used the machine for nearly a month, trying to make friends with it.

No good, it didn't like me and so I determined that I had to take it back.

I had a problem, however, and in my haste to get the yard cleaned up, I had thrown away the box (never throw away the box) and (yes, it's true) I had lost the receipt.

I know what you're thinking. "He is in deep stuff now. Sears will not take his machine back without that piece of paper."

Enter Robert: "Not a problem," he says.

Robert works in the lawn and garden center.

He's a good guy, seems to know his stuff (I tested him on some arcane weedeater tech questions).

Robert simply looked up my purchase. "It's been less than ninety days, I'll just need to have my boss sign off on this."

He took the machine back and listened to me once more about what I wanted in a weedwacker/line trimmer.

This time, Robert said, "I think you're old-school...how about this unit?" He handed me another model which we had previously overlooked.

It felt good and solid, and when I took it home and put it to work, I was immediately happy with the results.

Good thing number one.

Thank you Sears and thank you Robert.

The next day, I decided to replace the wipers on Mrs. Anthony's car.

I attempted to remove the rubber blades, but after a few minutes of tugging and twisting I couldn't figure out how to get them off.

The manual was no help; "If the blades are worn, replace them."

I drove up to Schucks by Baskin and Robbins and stood at the counter looking helpless until a young lady asked me how she could help.

I stuck out my lower lip and pointed at the wiper blades and she went into action.

"No problem, you just pinch this clip (OH...that clip!) and pop it out!"

I felt dumb, but relieved and in a few moments, she had found the appropriate replacements and had popped them in for me. Outstanding.

Good thing number two. Thank you Schucks and thank you Shannon!

I felt like celebrating, and the smell of Rocky Road wafting from the store next door tickled my brain.

But because I'm trying to keep my weight under control, I forced myself back into the car and towards home.

On the way, I drove the back way towards McDonalds and found myself taking the shortcut, right past the Cold Stone Creamery.

A flash went before my eyes and an advertisement for the gooey concoctions they make took a hold of the wheel.

Before I knew it, I was standing in line ogling the menu.

A young man holding an ice cream scoop in his hand and with a name tag that said "Matt" asked me how he could help.

I explained that I really shouldn't be there, you know, because of the extra calories.

Matt helpfully suggested their Reduced Fat, Light Ice Cream.

"It has a one-third fewer calories and 70 percent less fat!"

Saved again, I picked the toppings I wanted and he went to work.

Matt mixed the low cal ice cream with strawberries, blueberries and a little graham cracker crust, deftly forming a gorgeous ball of delectability on the frozen stone surface and then he scooped it neatly into a little cup.

After I paid and dropped the change into the tip jar, Matt and his helper sang, to me.

"Hi ho, hi ho, we thank you for your dough..." I chuckled and teased them about having to sing like Snow White characters, and then dove into my treat, devouring it in about three minutes.

Good thing number three.

Thank you Stone Cold Creamery, and thank you Matt.