Sunday, January 31, 2010

Wal-Mart, I am over you.

Dear Wal-Mart,

I'm breaking up with you. I've tried for many years to make it work, but you are not willing change. Prior to our meeting today, we'd been apart for a few months and I had forgotten why I was mad at you in the first place. It only took two hours for me to remember.  

Our time together was fine until I stopped your employee to help me with the coffee bean grinder. I have never used it before, so I was already feeling "out of my league." Here is how our conversation went:
Me: "I think this might be out of beans."
Employee: Shakes container. "Yeah."
Me: "Can you refill it?"
Employee: "I don't know how. You should just come back later." 

No, Wal-Mart, I am here NOW. I do not have time to come back later. What you should have said was "I'll find someone to help you." That's what customer service is all about. If I'm going to drop a load of cash at your store, I want to feel like you care about me.

When I reached the deli, there were two workers behind the counter talking. After I scanned the meat and figured out what I wanted, I made eye contact with one worker, who promptly continued talking with the other worker. I waited about five minutes for them to finish their conversation and help me. Wal-Mart, I don't like to be ignored. You're making me feel like I am intruding in your life or am a nuisance. Not the way to win a girl's heart.  

The checkout. Your last chance to impress me. I placed my reusable cloth bags on the belt and explained to your cashier that the three RED bags are bigger, so please put cracker boxes, cereal, chips...the light stuff...in those bags. Oh, and please don't bag the milk. 

The first red bag was filled with crackers and cereal. Great job! Then I noticed your cashier was loading a bunch of canned goods and jarred spaghetti sauce in the other bags. I said again, "can you put some light things in there? They get really heavy." Your cashier looked at me and said "like what?" I suggested bread, toothbrushes, paper plates and napkins. He took my suggestions, but it was too late, the bag was really heavy. So heavy, in fact, that upon arriving home, my husband made a comment about the weight. And not just one bag...two bags were heavy.

Then I see the milk. In a bag. This is what I'm talking about Wal-Mart, You just don't listen. I asked the cashier to take the milk out, and he did without a fuss. But it shouldn't have happened in the first place.

So, I'm ending it. I have spent way too much time and money on you, and it's just not worth it. You enticed me with your sweet talk about saving money and living better, but it's not worth the aggravation just to save a few dollars. As for living better, I'm sorry to say, but when I dread seeing you, that's not exactly improving my life. I know you have lots of admirers, so you probably won't even notice I am gone. If you would like to win me back, please take some lessons from Target or Dillons. 

Sincerely,
Susan

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Pick your battles

I have an ongoing battle with my youngest child. His clothes. Here is what is wrong with the majority of the clothes in his closet.

Shirts
-rings on the sleeves make my arms hard to move
-buttons hurt
-squeezes my neck
-sleeve is too tight on my elbow
-sleeves are too long

Socks
-there's a hole
-there's a bump
-these socks fall down
-too tight
-too loose
-too scratchy
-this ridge squeezes my foot
-too thick

Pants

-too tight
-too loose
-too itchy
-too scratchy
-too pinchy
-too hard (stiff)
-go up and down when I walk/run/use stairs
-"go under" my feet (are too long)
-turn when I walk
-make a funny noise when I walk
-I don't like this zipper
-this snap is too hard to do
-there's holes
-feels funny when I sit down
-these pockets (cargo style) are heavy

Applies to any article of clothing:
-"this" (points somewhere on the item) hurts/feels funny
 
So I do what experts advise against: Give in and buy him clothes he will wear. I'd rather stand my ground on more important issues like doing chores, completing homework, limiting screen time, nutritious eating and personal hygiene.

Maybe I should start charging him a finder's fee when I find clothing that passes the "Zach test." Sounds eerily like the "Susie test," doesn't it? 

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Unexpected Fun

Who says unloading the dishwasher is no fun? The boys get creative with this boring chore.

Zach's airport:

Adam's buildings:


Friday, January 15, 2010

We're in February's Family Fun magazine

Zach's picture is in the February issue of the national magazine Family Fun. It's the result of this post from October. Please, no autographs.


Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Homework

To be in Kindergarten again...this is my kind of homework. Coloring, cutting and pasting:

Pro to having siblings close together: they can help each other with homework. Zach gives Adam a spelling test.


Sunday, January 3, 2010

A Year in Photos

Sometimes I post things to my other blog, so instead of doing double duty, I'll just direct you there. To see my favorite pictures from 2009, go here.