Friday, February 20, 2009

Someone should have warned me...

When we got married five, nearly six years ago, I couldn't wait to say our vows, jump on the plane to St. Lucia, have the best week long vacation of my life with my new husband, and then settle back in our sweet little house. It was in that sweet little house that I would do our laundry, clean our bathroom, vacuum, mop, cook every night, and basically wow everyone with my domestication while still looking cute. (I was dumb and didn't have a clue!). I was also SO very excited about the idea of going grocery shopping for all the necessities for our sweet little house!!! (again, I was dumb and clueless). I think when it came to the grocery store, what excited me the most was the fact that I could buy whatever I wanted--- which meant we'd always have chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream instead of just PLAIN vanilla. (no offense to my Dad, who for as long as I can remember has ALWAYS had vanilla ice cream on hand). I know, I know, getting to pick out the ice cream seems like such a huge deal, but to me, five, nearly six years ago, it was. (i was dumb). So I said all that to say, SOMEONE should have warned me about the grocery store. It did not take long for me to realize that the grocery store is a horrible, no good place, that NO ONE in their right mind would EVER WANT to go! We have to eat though, and I am not going to NOT eat, so I have to make my weekly trip.

I'll be REAL honest with you, I am a grocery store snob. I said it. It's out. I just really don't care for the Winn-Dixie where we live. So, I drive to Gainesville and typically do my shopping at Publix, "where shopping is a pleasure". (well, I wouldn't go that far, but it isn't as bad as going to Winn Dixie for me).

On Wednesday, we needed a couple staple items (butter, milk, and diapers). In times like those, I'll just run to town and pick them up at Winn-Dixie, which is what I did.

We went right in, grabbed our few items and proceeded to the check out counter. There were 2 cashiers working. Which leads me to this question, WHY do they have TEN cash registers and checkout lanes, but never have more than THREE, if we're lucky, open??? I have NEVER been in Winn-Dixie when there has been more than 3 lines open.

Anyway, that wasn't what made me ill on that particular trip to the WD--- no, it's much better than that.

I load my three items (well by this point it's four, because I grabbed a magazine...but don't tell Devin, I buy WAY too many magazines---and the ones I don't buy, I subscribe to!). Anyway, I have my 4 items on the belt and there is a lady in front of me who is about to pay when out of no where, another lady comes up and gets right behind the lady paying and puts her stuff on the belt, in front of mine. At first, I didn't think twice about it-- i just assumed she was WITH the lady in front of me, who was paying for her groceries and she had just remembered she needed three bananas (I kid you not, that's what she had... three bananas) and had just ran and got them and was now back in her spot in line. Well, I thought that until the lady who was paying, PAID and walked out.

Let me just say that I am the person who if you come up behind me in line and you only have a couple things, and I have more than you, then I am going to tell you to go in front of me.

But for this lady to just skip me... it didn't sit well with me. But then, on top of skipping me and only purchasing her three bananas, she wanted to sign up for the Winn-Dixie savings reward card. Right there, right then. SERIOUSLY? Lady, you have just skipped me, and now you want to sign up for the Rewards card? Of course, I would have never said anything to her, but this is just one more reason I have such a distaste for the grocery store. And for anywhere for that matter... what is with people?



Oh, and for kicks, guess how much those three bananas were--- $.90!!! She got 3 bananas for 90 cents! I was ill then, too, that I didn't see those bananas and get some myself--- I don't even like bananas, but if I had known I could get three of them for 90 cents I would have been on it! I like a good deal and they look good in the basket in my kitchen... makes us look healthy and all... ha



That Winn-Dixie story reminds me of another WD encounter. It was several months ago when I was in line behind a lady who was writing a check. God bless the check writers of America. Now, I have no problem with someone paying with a check, my own Momma is a check writer, so you know I have no ill will toward any perpetual check writers. Where the problem with the check writers lies is when they don't start writing the check until the cashier has scanned every item, gives them the total and has BAGGED every item. (On a side note, I got all this patience of mine from my Daddy). Anyway, this particular check writer had finally decided to start on her check when the last bag was placed in her buggy, and in between writing each line on the check, she'd stop and continue telling the story about her cat that had leukemia. And that she had flown to Miami to pick this cat up, to rescue it, because they were going to put it down because it has leukemia. Well this leads to two thoughts--- "What? Cats can get leukemia?" and "if I was a cat with leukemia, I think I'd rather be put out of my misery"---Back to the check writing cat loving lady--- This cat that she had rescued from Miami was one of over 80, yes, I said EIGHTY cats that she had at home. She was a check writer by day and a cat rescuer by night. She had to tell about her vet bills and this and that and all that she has done to make the lives of these cats better. This is the good part... this is when she turns to me, points her finger right at me and in the most witchyified (i know that isn't a word, but that's how I would have said it, so I am typing it that way) voice and says "Whatcha gonna do when yer standin' at the pearly gates and HE asks YOU what you did?" Seriously? Wow...
I smiled and said, "the best I could."... what else could I say? I had no cat rescue story that would ever top hers, and if I had told her that I don't even, (gasp) LIKE cats, I think she would have run me over with her grocery cart!
She finished writing her check and headed home to her 80+ cats.

SOMEONE should have warned me about the grocery store...

Am I alone in my dislike for the grocery store? Does anyone really LIKE going?

~annie~

7 comments:

Becky said...

Your family, inspiration, faith & all of your stories are precious. Good job, hang in there Annie.

HeyHey said...

How dare you post a blog without a picture of Belle!!! :) Love ya!!!

Katie said...

I totally agree about the whole WD/Publix comparison... except that most days I don't mind the shopping... just the paying! lol...

LuLu said...

I HATE the grocery store too!! We only have two options: WalMart or Harvey's. While I hate the hub-ub of WalMart...I hate the prices at Harvey's even more:)

Surrounded-By-Boys said...

Actually, I LOVE to grocery shop! It's the whole "list" thing...remember...I'm Type A.... ha-ha
I usually do my shopping at super Wal-Mart, cause I HATE Winn-Dixie. I like to buy my meat at Hitchcock's.

Amy said...

I HATE the grocery store with a capitol "H"!!!!! You are way too funny!!!! I love you and your stories....

Jackson & Trish Whitehurst said...

I have to agree with you about the check writing, I can't stand when they don't start writing it until all their items are rung up. Where is the multi-tasking? I grocery shop at Wal-Mart, out here in the West our Wal-Mart's are a little more nice then there in Gainesville, but grocery shopping with Jackson is the chore. He gets so impatient with everyone around he usually goes and waits in the car.