A long week...

I'm looking forward to the long weekend! I'm sure ya'll are too.

So a few happenings today. I FINALLY got our cell phone #'s changed to local #'s. I wasn't going to , but the school said it was tricky for them to call long distance, so I had no choice.

After trips to 4 different Cingular stores I finally found someone who knew how to do brain surgery--or get new numbers for me. Apparently in 2007 it is easier to send a shuttle into space than to change the area code on my phone. But it's done! I will be sending out the new #'s with our change of address...I know you're all anxious to call me.

So while I was waiting for the surgery to be done on my phones I went into Target to browse. I'm guessing that it's safe to say that I have been in a Target approximately 1242 times in the last 8 years. Each time I peruse the aisles I have a child or two or 3 or 4 with me and they are a poor man's Circue de Soliel on my cart. I have people hanging off every side doing hand stands and on occasion walking the perimeter of the cart as if it were a tight rope. I tell you--as I knock on wood--I have not had 1 cart casualty in this time. (Note: This takes place at any store we go to not just Target)

So today, Seth and I were walking the aisles admiring the many new fall items. As we walked I noticed that for the first time in about 8 years I had a child sitting perfectly still in the seat of the cart. It was amazing! A new phase of life! I patted myself on the back and as I smiled I thought..."You've made it."

I turn the corner pleased as punch with myself and a 20 something Target "sales associate" stops me and says, "Ma'am, you really need to buckle your child in the cart. It's store policy. Do you need me to help you with that?" I'm sure she wondered if I spoke English because I think I just stared at her for what seemed an eternity. I assured her I could handle the buckle and thanked her for her concern. And then when she turned around I stuck my tongue out at her.

Thanks for sucking the wind right out of my sails!!!!!

We then headed over to Costco to grab some fruit leather--and that is all we got. A $10 purchase at Costco. You don't see that every day. The funny thing was as we approached the door and I gave the girl my receipt (have I told the story of when I ran out of Sam's club refusing to let them check my receipt?? I'll post that later.) It took a good 5 minutes to get out the door. She scanned my receipt with the ONE item on it. Then she looked into my basket to see that the ONE item on the receipt matched the ONE item in the basket. Sure enough it did.

She makes her slash across my receipt to show that I've passed the crucial check and then turns the receipt over to draw a smiley face on it. I really don't need a smiley face--I didn't even need the slash. My kids will have consumed the fruit leather by 3:30 anyway and the transaction will then CERTAINLY be complete.

I wait patiently as the girl discovers that her pen no longer works. She is, however, DETERMINED to give me a smiley face. She tries again, she shakes the pen to get any last ounce of ink to fall to the bottom with the force of gravity. She tries again, she looks around for another pen...more shaking and then FINALLY enough ink emerges to allow her the opportunity to make a cranky mother of 4 smile--so she thought.

I'm checking out now. I can't take it anymore. The nursing situation at the school get worse everyday...WE MISS YOU BARBARA!!!