Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Errands

One of my least favorite things to do is buy stamps. You may be thinking, "what is so complicated about that?" And that is my question too - why on earth is it so hard to buy some stupid stamps?!? First of all, they are not sold at any of the places we regularly go...which means you have to make a special trip, or another stop, just for the stamps. Luckily, the library we frequent now has a stamp machine. Or at least it did. When we stopped there today we found that it had been removed. So, I loaded the 2 kids (who were in their halloween costumes, by the way) back into the car to run our other errands, knowing we would have to stop at the post office on our way home. But first we went to Target. I usually love Target, but Target and Alex don't really mix these days. She won't sit in the cart, won't let me hold her, and she won't stay by me. I "lost" her several times in the store and the last time I had to sprint to the down escalator which she was about to hop onto and tumble down. Wonderful. I got some pretty dirty looks from the shoppers who witnessed this almost catastrophe. After that I strapped her into the cart tight so she couldn't wriggle out and she screamed her way through the whole store - more dirty looks. Come on people, what do you want me to do? After we left Target it was on to the dreaded post office. The only post office near us is in the total and complete ghetto - seriously, it's scary. Alex of course fell asleep by the time we got there - so I parked right in front of the glass doors and was planning to dash into the lobby and buy a book of stamps from the machine while keeping an eye on my kids in the locked car. But, of course, you have to have exact change. Seriously, who carries around $8.20 in their wallet? Not to mention the machine only takes ones. And do you think they have a change machine anywhere? Of course not! That would make the whole process way to easy. So I run back out to the car, wake-up Alex and unload the kids and get into line inside the post office...because there is always a line. Today there was one person at the counter and one person in front of me - not too bad, right? Then why did it take 15 minutes to get to me?!? The whole time I'm waiting my kids are running laps around the room, climbing onto the shelves, banging on the glass display windows, and unloading packing supplies from the cart. Several times Alex got running a little too fast and took some hard falls (she's pretty tough) and the postman at the counter yelled at her to "Take it easy!" We finally got our stamps and I loaded 2 screaming kids back into the car. Paul happened to call me right then - I answered the phone with these words: "I need a vacation!" Lucky for me, I get one. Paul left this morning for a medical research conference in Miami, Florida and I meet him there on Thursday. My mom gets into town tonight to do Halloween with me and take care of the kids while we're gone. Paul and I have not taken a vacation alone together since our honeymoon - so I guess you could call this our secone honeymoon! I CAN'T WAIT!

13 comments:

Misty said...

Jealous about the vacation- have fun! Don't grocery stores carry stamps?

sara said...

Ok so I'm laughing so hard cause I've been there. I HATE that post office too. I'm glad to see that there are other people having frustrations with finding stamps too. I've finally forked out the money up front to buy the big rolls at Costco, just to avoid having to go to the post office. I'm dreading Christmas time.

Have fun on your vacation!

The Larsons said...

So fun! Have a blast...you deserve it. I totally know what you mean about the errands with both kids. I do the costco thing too. You mom is so fun... she is so nice to come out and help you guys out. Have a great break!

Sarah said...

I despise the post office with my children!! It is the hardest place ever with both kids and even if there's only a couple people in front of me they are always like e-bay people with a million packages. Oh, it's an awful place with kids! You poor girl! And I also buy my stamps at Costco to save me the trouble. You like never run out, it's awesome :)

And SO fun that your mom is there and you get to leave and have a vacation with Paul!! I can't even imagine how wonderful that would be! Have the best time ever!!! :)

Carrie Anne said...

Oh MAN do I hear you! At that Shaker post office I have gotten SO MANY comments like, "Mam, your son has unloaded all of the postcards. Mam, your daughter took all of the packages out. Mam, your kids are getting into all the post office boxes." Do they think that is helpful? Especially when you're behind a few people and no one offers to let you go in front of them even though you have 2 kids being a total pain in the A double S! Yeah, the post office is my least favorite errand as well....I SOOOOO hear you!:)
Have an excellent time on your vacation...it will be AWESOME! Live it up!!!

Lexie said...

I love this story because I feel the same way (by the way, Zagarra's used to carry stamps, but you have to go to the windows across from the checkout, if you even still shop there). Yesterday I took the girls to Target for the day after Halloween sales before joyschool. They were holding hands as we crossed the parking lot and on the sidewalk they let go of my hand and were holding hands and walking right behind me as I walked into the store...or so I thought. Suddenly I hear crying and Kastyn is stuck outside the first of two automatic doors crying (her finger got pinched). Lydia was still right behind me and I run back and this man gives me this look like you are an unfit mother. I held Kastyn (who stopped crying in 5 seconds) and wanted to start crying myself. I thought she was holding Lydia's hand right behind me I wanted to scream. Oh well, I missed making the mom hall of fame years ago, but why are errands so stressful?

I hope you have a blast in Florida. I have to admit that I am SO jealous, I can't imagine what it would be like to be on a real trip together alone. I'm so excited for you and can't wait to hear all about it. How are interviews going?

Elise said...

I'm scared to go to that post office too. Last year when I went to mail my Christmas cards there was a guy that was harrassing everyone that came out the door for money. He was following girls to their cars and saying stuff like, "come on, I know you've got money..." I was freaked out, I never go there anymore, especially with kids, Yikes! I hate the post office with kids. Daves and Giant Eagle sell stamps at the customer service desks. Daves is cash only though.

Anyway, I'm so glad you got to go on vacation with Paul!! How fun! We missed Paul in nursery today though.

The Powell-Mirci Family! said...

Long time no see! Love your blog, I just started ours. I think I learn more about people from their blogs then from talking to them! I wish I could say that we miss living over there but we don't! Just the people a few blocks down. :) We love IKEA too. And Post Offices, yea, the Shaker one, I can't believe you went to it! I had to pick up mail there after X-mas last, year. Big mistake! I get stamps at Costco, so I only need to a few times a year. You can buy them on-line too. My mother in law does that. Take care, and don't forget to blog your vacation! -Diane

ashley said...

Have fun on your vacation! I am soooo jealous! Kays is gone for the whole month and I feel like I am going to be in desperate need too! Love your errand story it is a relief to know that I am not the only one who feels like I am going to go crazy sometimes!!

Anonymous said...

First of all, I hope you had a great time on your vacation!

This post brought back a flood of memories! I HATE that post office and I know exactly which one you're talking about. Little old shy me got into a screaming match one day with the awful lady behind the counter and I ended up drop kicking my package across the room. No lie...it's a moment in life I like to shove back into the recesses of my mind. And what's with all the Clevelanders giving advice on how to be a better mom. I'd ironically see teenage moms with their babies who'd say to me, "Girl, you better put a coat on that baby! She's gonna catch pneumonia." Ugg.

Even in Utah people glare at you in Target when your kids start to cry like you are the worst mom on the planet. If feel like yelling out, "Hey, newsflash, this just in! They've come out with a new study that proves children DO cry!" You can't help it if they decide that the time to whine is at the worst possibly time of your entire day. That's where I was right before we left Cleveland and we went to Hawaii for a week without the kids. It was heavenly! I hope yours was too!

Carrie Anne said...

Just so you know I'm missing your blog entries...you must be having one awesome vacation! Can't wait until you're up and blogging again!:)

gregandlaura said...

Although I am so glad you got a vacation - we are seriously going through withdrawals from your entries!! We need Summer's stories again! haha :)

The Bentley's said...

hi summer it's lindsey:0 that is too funny. and i have to agree the cleveland post office really is the most ghetto place on earth... and soooooo slow, they really could care less how many people are in line and trying to speed things up... clevlanders?? have fun in florida!!