Friday, July 29, 2011

Grocery store etiquette? Really?

Do I really need to go there?  I think so! 
Somedays I am more easily annoyed than others.  People's stupidity and lack of consideration just piss me off.  I can't help it. 
Let me start by saying, excuse me.  Why?  Because if you don't know that phrase, then the look you give me when I'm looking at a product label doesn't make me move.  I can't hear a look.  Open your mouth and politely ask me to move my cart and I'll be sure to move my ass out of the way.  Personally, I always try to hug the aisle so that people don't need to ask me to move, but I understand that my cart is probably going to block what it is that you're looking for.  Most days my ESP works fine, but with all the craziness a grocery store can bring, verbally being kind usually works best.
Do you need air conditioning?  Yeah?  The freezer aisle is not the place to get it.  Standing there with the door open, checking out the frozen dinners and wondering what's for dinner while sucking all the cold air out that you can possibly get while you contemplate salsbury steak over that great tasting fake thanksgiving dinner, get the f*ck out of my way!  I just need some vegetables!  Oh wait - I forgot my first rule:  Excuse me, please!  Go to the refridgerator aisle where everything is wide open and stare at the yogurt for a while.  There's lot of choices there to keep you cool.
The fresh breads.  Ahh that aroma!  Mmmm a carboholics dream.  My kid's breakfast.  Keep your hands off the fresh bagels and use the wax paper that is clearly provided to you.  This isn't the produce section.  Don't squeeze for freshness.  I can't wash your cooties off my bagel when I get home.  
Finally my biggest peeve.  This one could be the biggest.  Self check out.  If you don't know what you're doing, don't use it.  Seriously.  Especially if you have a lot of produce and bakery items or alcohol.  You slow me down and I don't appreciate it. 
Then there's the store person that is supposed to be standing there if any issues arrive (yes, I've had the occasional coupon that does not want to cooperate) but she's usually at the customer service desk talking to her bestie.  Please, please, please, don't think that you're helping me either when you bag my groceries!!  If you don't know by now that soap does not go in the same bag as sugar or flour, you're stupid and should be fired.  Cold goes with cold.  Boxes go with boxes.  My milk does not need a bag.  You're not helping and I really can bag my stuff faster than you.
On that subject, while I'm bagging, a note to the next customer on line.  DON'T BE IMPATIENT.  You know I'm working my ass off to get out of your way.  Wait for my eye contact with you to give the heads up nod that it's okay with me for you to start scanning.  Anything before that is just rude.  I don't care if you're only scanning one thing.  Patience is a virtue and if you can't abide by that, you're an idiot.
Ahh, I feel better getting that off my chest.  I'm leaving for the grocery store in an hour.  Do you think this will make it around the world in time for everyone to read it??

post signature

Monday, July 11, 2011

A few thoughts from this mom....

**GRAPHIC INFORMATION IN THIS POST**BE WARNED**
I have a lot on my mind today.  Saturday night there was a horrific car accident across the street from my home.  I live in a quiet neighborhood.  Kids on bikes.  Neighbors walking dogs.  It's a nice place to live. 
Long story short to start, 2 dads went to go get pizza for their little family party and died when their car crashed into my neighbors tree. 
I was putting my children to bed and it was HOT.  The airconditioners were on in the windows.  As I was kissing my little one good night, I heard the rev of an engine, rolled my eyes and hoped the kids outside weren't going to keep it up for too long.  My husband and I turned off their light and walked down the hall and sat down with cold beers in hand.  Just as we started watching TV my phone rang.  My neighbor.  I laughed - we had seen each other 3 times already today and I wondered what she had forgotten to tell me now. 
Christine was hysterical on the other end of the phone yelling, "WHY AREN'T YOU OUTSIDE??"  I jumped out of my chair and went to the front door and saw chaos as there were children crying, a woman trying not to collapse and another neighbor that volunteers with the fire department trying to get control of the situation and all the on lookers.  This was 3 minutes ago.  There were atleast 5 cop cars out there already. 
I threw the phone on the couch and ran across to my neighbor and she was shaking violently.  She was the only one that saw the crash.  Everyone heard it.  She saw it.
As I ran across to her I glanced at the car and I regret it.  I felt the passenger looking through me.  His eyes were open and they were black.  He had a shaved head.  His head was resting on the dashboard, his tattooed arms were just hanging there.  All of this in 1 nano second. 
Christine was just out of her mind.  She thought it was a couple of teenagers in a hot rod car speeding down our street.  She was sitting on her stoop painting her toenails when she looked up to see the noise and she said it was like an action movie.  She said that they made no attempt to steer the car away.  Her mind was racing with all of the "what if's".  Meanwhile her 10 year old and 5 year old boys were worried about her and trying to look outside.  I went in with them knowing that the EMT's and fire department were about to pry open the car.  No one should look at that. 
I always thought that being  a fire fighter (volunteer or paid), an EMT, nurses and doctors was such a noble thing.  When I think about what I saw, just for that very second, I don't know that I could see that daily.  These professionals that save our lives everyday deserve to honored every day.  Just as important as the soldiers that protect our lives every day, it's the docs, nurses, and emergency services that are there no matter what.  There was no hesitation.  These firefighters were using every ounce they had to crowbar the doors open, pull the windows out and get those men out.  I felt like they were gone in a flash. 
The scene stayed until after midnight.  I tried to close my eyes several times but I kept seeing his eyes.  The car is vividly pictured in my head. 
Sunday was almost as bad.  Mourners were coming through as early as 6AM.  Neighbors all walking down the street.  Teenagers holding hands and saying prayers for the friend's dad.  People pulling over in their cars and pausing, just for a moment, to have a thought.  Families supporting each other as they were sobbing, walking down the street from the passenger's house.  News 12 was out there for over an hour. 
Myself and Christine tried to help Marie clean up her yard.  There were shards of glass still in her driveway.  Her car was covered in gasoline.  The town still hasn't come by to clean up the mess of oil and gasoline in the street.  It's in a large pile of kitty litter/oil absorbing materials, glass,  and pieces of the car, next to the tree in the street. 
I imagine that it will be quite some time for the memory of mine to fade.  I will be reminded for a while to come with the tribute staring at my home.  My heart aches for the wives, children and families of both these men. 
post signature

Saturday, July 9, 2011

A Weighty Issue

I have never been one to worry about my weight.  I am 5'5" tall and have always been between 160 - 180 and for the most part, haven't had to buy too many new clothes in different sizes. 
I'm 38 now.  Still not caring too much until recently.  My back fat rolled.  It touched, it was just weird.
YUCK!
So, now I'm starting to exercise.  I've done little bits here and there.  But now I'm on 5 days straight of 3 miles per day on the treadmill and watching Ally McBeal on Netflix.  MAN, I forgot how friggin' funny that show is!
I'm putting it out there.  Still don't know how much I weigh.  I'm just hoping to melt away a little of my back fat while not adjusting cup size (the one thing I don't want to lose although I'm told it's inevitable.)
I don't want to know how much I weigh.  I just want to feel uncomfortable in my big clothes. 
I need a shopping spree - and that's something that, if you knew me, I NEVER SAY!!
post signature

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Non stop nonsense!

Seriously.  It is just coming up on 2 weeks home from school and I'm ready to send them back!!
We had a great day today and as soon as we were on our way home, Frick and Frack got into SO MUCH TROUBLE!!  I just don't get how 2 little people could cause such a ruckous?!?!?
AHh, oh well.  It's the weekend coming up.  Camp starts on Monday (half day only) but it's something to keep them busy for a little while!
post signature

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Post Holiday Blues

my children have been so spoiled over the past week with constantly having play dates, they have forgotten how to play with each other.  If they go near each other one more time today....... UGH!!  I'm all for a lazy day every once in a while, but, they are taking lazy to a whole now level for 6 and 4 year olds!
post signature

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Happy 4th of July Weekend

I'm so looking forward to this weekend.  It's always great when my husband gets the extra time to play with the kids.  My oh-so-talented husband built a cornhole board this week for us to play and we're going to break it in today.  We played ladder golf with the neighbors last night and had a blast. 
The weekend menu:
Last night was bbq'd chicken wings.  Half went in hot sauce and the rest were with bbq sauce. 
I made 5 lbs. of potato salad and 2 pounds of macaroni salad (with italian dressing)  to have the whole weekend. 
Tonight is spiral cheesy sausage and flank steak in a spicy marinade.
Sunday is traditional burgers and dogs (weather dependent)*pop up thunderstorms predicted*
Monday depends on Sunday, but, I'm thinking chicken kebobs.
I also picked up a bunch of fresh strawberries and sponge cake.  MMmmmm.  
Happy 4th everyone.  I hope you get as much family time as I have been granted this weekend. 
post signature