Grocery Cart Rage!

I got in trouble at the grocery store last week! I thought I was being nice. No, I'm sure I was being nice. BUT - the wicked witch behind me saw it differently! Here's the story!

I got in line to check out with my cart pretty well full. The wicked witch immediately lined up behind me - already complaining loudly about the long lines and the slow service. We hadn't even been in line two minutes and she's complaining?!

Up walks pleasant little old lady asking if she can please squeeze in to reach her National Enquirer. Of course I inched back a little - and asked wicked witch if she could move her cart back a little, too. She stated, "I'm not backing up for nuthin'!"

As I edged my cart sideways, giving little old lady full access to all the periodicals, I asked her if the bread, milk and paper was all she was getting. "Yes," she replied.

I just couldn't help myself. Before I knew what was happening, out of my mouth came, "Go ahead of me!" It was part just to spite wicked witch and part being kind to little old lady.

As little old lady thanked me and took her place in line, I felt a cart impact my ample rear none too gently. I turned, smiled, pulled my phone from my pocket and said, "One more time will get you a trip to jail for assault - I can feel the lasting effects of whiplash now."

As I was walking to my car and loading up my groceries I wondered what wicked witch would have thought if she knew I have a concealed weapon permit - and had a loaded .22 pistol in my purse when she rammed me with her cart! Good thing I don't have grocery cart rage!

Those of you who are anti-gun .. .. don't worry! During that entire situation having a gun in my purse never once crossed my mind. Yes, calling the police did, calling store security did - but I honestly did not think of that gun. I'll write more about my gun this weekend.

Not Me Monday! . AND . Pharmacist Day!

I did not get this completely prepared on Sunday evening so that all I had to do was click 'publish' this morning to post it. I'm always bright and sunny first thing Monday mornings and eager to get cranking on whatever job lies ahead!

My little nap Saturday most certainly did not turn into a 3 1/2 hour sleep-fest with my warm, snuggly blanket!

While carrying in the groceries this week I did not trip over a really fat rat terrier and break a dozen eggs in the carport. That MUST have been someone else. I'm way too graceful to do anything like that!

And finally, as I was carefully weeding a flower bed - I really only pulled up weeds! I could not possibly have up-rooted all those volunteer marigolds sprouting under the window boxes! Nope, not me!

AND,

If you have nothing better to celebrate, try these . . . .

National Pharmacist Day - If you have as many prescriptions as hubby and I do, you truly appreciate your local pharmacist! We're on a first name basis and have exchanged CHRISTmas cards for years!
John Hancock's Birthday (National Handwriting Day) - I read recently in the paper that they are considering doing away with cursive writing in schools here in Florida! Pretty soon we'll have things so 'dumbed down' for them that the only thing they'll be able to read will be text messages and tattoos!
Batman TV Day (1966) - Who could forget the old Batman TV series? If you ever get a chance to catch it on DVD or reruns, check it out . . . it's so awful, you'll laugh your hinnie off!

Bye Bye 2008 - - Welcome 2009, I think!

It’s New Year’s Eve. Less than FOUR HOURS from 2009. I guess that means that it’s time for a review of 2008. And than maybe a quick look at my hopes for the upcoming year.

In a nutshell . . . 2008 pretty well was a yucky year for most everyone I know! Gas prices wwaayy too high - and then dropping like a rock. Groceries so high I’m considering giving up food. Real estate prices still falling. The stock market just going completely to h*ll in a hand basket. The Big 3 auto makers begging for our tax $$ (like we don’t need it ourselves). Financial outfits claiming they need a bailout while they wine and dine and pay HUGE bonuses to the idiots that put them on the brink of disaster!

But, there were good things, too! Over at mycharmingkids (McKMama’s blog) little Stellan was born as pretty much the miracle of the year! Although he’s in the hospital right now fighting RSV, it looks like he’s turned the corner and is going to be just fine! The most recent posts are very encouraging. My Pickle and MH are doing just GREAT in school, in their sports AND in their citizenship. They are both turning into terrific participants in our world. I’m so very proud of them. Of course, their Mom and Dad are pretty neat, too - but there is just something about watching your grand kids turning into ‘people’ that is so satisfying. I’m not the least bit prejudiced, these two are just really, really special!

Another good thing I have notice recently is that people seem nicer. They say hello on the street or smile and nod in passing. When they see someone in trouble, they actually try to help! At the grocery store, if someone is a couple of dollars short, other people in line pull out their change and make up the difference! Last week, I went through a toll booth - and they wouldn’t let me pay! Said the guy ahead of me paid my toll! I think this is something we should all be doing for each other. More than once, I have given a restaurant manager money to pay (or help pay) the bill for someone that looked like they could use a little help. Or if there was a little old lady in line behind me at the grocery store I might give the cashier $20 to pay toward her bill. I’m not rich, but I would much rather spend a little like that than on a frill for myself. I get such a good feeling from doing a little ‘secret pal’ treat for someone that I will probably never see again - I’ll never know their name - I’ll never know their circumstances. I just know how great it made me feel to do it!

For 2009 I am really hoping that there will be more improvement in our economy. That all of our troops can come home safely. That my husband and I can spend some time with our wonderful K, JB, Pickle, MH, Larry and Lucy . . . and maybe even sneak in some fly fishing (mmmmmm, trout)! That the construction business will get busier than ever so JB will be working his buns off! And that people will continue to be kinder to one another!