Lesson Learned

I stopped in to my friendly neighborhood Rite-Aid a couple of days ago to redeem a few coupons for some free items, and take advantage of a rebate offer. The cashier was a dear, elderly lady whom I have seen many times before. She's not exactly the brightest crayon in the box, but she is very sweet.

In the process of checking me out, she rang all of my items up, and then proceeded to enter the coupons. For the free coupons, she needed to enter the prices of the items. The first two weren't a problem, because the item prices still appeared on the small computer screen in front of her. The third item price had already been edged off of the screen however, and she was unable to figure out how much the item cost. So, she asked me if I remembered what the price was. I told her I did not... and she just stared at me, obviously unable to figure out what to do next.

After a few seconds of awkward silence, I turned around and quickly walked back to the shelf, where I found the item price: $7.99. I went back to the counter, and told her what the shelf said. She entered the discount, and I paid the total, which was a little lower than I expected.

When she handed me the receipt, I looked it over, and found an error. Although the original price for the item I checked was $7.99, it was actually on sale for $6.99, so I received an extra dollar off. Now, I like this checkout lady, and I've seen her co-workers complain about her level of competence before, so I was immediately concerned that she would get in trouble for this error. So I said something, figuring that I would be told that Rite-Aid could handle missing the dollar.

When I pointed out the error however, she did not understand, so she called a co-worker over to help. Her co-worker was also unable to figure out what to do next, so she asked me to wait while she went to find a manager. Several minutes later, she returned, and explained that the manager told her that if I just give her a dollar, she could ring it up as non-taxable.

So, I gave her the dollar, saved myself the six cents, and learned a lesson for next time.

That dear, sweet lady is going to call for a price check. ;)

Happy Mother's Day!

I love you, Mom!

I'm what's hap'nin. I'm it!

My dear friend, Penny, over at A Little of a Lot, has tagged me with yet another meme. I'm starting to feel like one of the popular kids!

WHAT I WAS DOING 10 YEARS AGO:

I had just experienced my life being turned completely upside down by a person with whom I was very much in love. And through all of the pain and heartache, I came to know a little more about who I am, and what a relationship means to me. I also learned a lot about the power of friendship, and how, when all you want to do is sit in the dark and cry, it's your girlfriends who break into your apartment with a flashlight and a box of tissues. Oh, and a bottle of wine. Always with a bottle of wine!


MY TO DO LIST / WHAT I ACTUALLY DID RECENTLY:

Things to do:

Help John find a job.

Things accomplished:

Matched sales and coupons to create a shopping list
Shopped 'til I dropped
Fixed lunch and dinner
Emptied, and then loaded the dishwasher
Washed, dried, and folded laundry
Cleaned all three cat boxes
Fed, bathed, clothed, changed, and cleaned up after JJ - repeatedly


SNACKS I ENJOY:

Things with lots of sugar and fat - preferably deep fried.


THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE A BILLIONAIRE:

There is a particular non-profit organization I know of that helps adults with disabilities find and perform meaningful work. I have been moved by their clients and their mission. It would be an honor to alleviate their financial burden, and to help them grow. Also, I would travel. And I would take care of those who have ever, in any way, been kind enough to take care of me.


3 BAD HABITS:

I'm not sure if I'm officially a procrastinator, or just plain lazy. Either way, it's bad.
I am an absolutely horrible eater. Those snacks I enjoy? I enjoy them regularly.
I have a tendency to think a little too much with my heart, and not quite enough with my head sometimes.


5 PLACES I'VE LIVED:

Merriam, Kansas
Bemidji, Minnesota
Shawnee, Kansas
Easton, Maryland
Preston, Maryland


JOBS I'VE HAD:

Newspaper Deliverer, Babysitter, Product Sample Hostess, Easter Bunny, Photographer, Car-Hop, Retail Clerk, Day-Care Teacher, Office Assistant, On-Air Personality, Staffing Coordinator, Health and Safety Instructor, Substitute Teacher, Customer Service Provider, Dance Instructor, Nanny, Program Coordinator, Community Inclusion Manager, Development Director, Stay-At-Home-Mom


4 PEOPLE WHO HAVE INTERESTING BLOGS THAT I'D LIKE TO TAG:

Nikki at Notes from Nik
Frozen Star at Under Construction
Carrie at Money Saving Methods
Kjae at Our Many Mumblings

Dear Mike Rowe,

If you would like for me to leave John for you, it would prove beneficial if you showed up on our doorstep with Kirsty Alley. Apparently, in that case, I would then be free to do whatever I want.

Who knew?

M

Better late than never...

A few weeks ago, Carrie at Money Saving Methods tagged me with a meme. I am now supposed to reveal seven random and/or weird facts about myself. Well, that should be easy, huh? Let's go:

1. I prefer my feet covered. I have never been really comfortable with them bare. For instance, it is currently (kind of) late at night, and I am sitting and relaxing with my computer - and my shoes are on - because I like it like that.

2. I like to watch crappy adult cartoon television. Garbage like "Family Guy", "American Dad", and "South Park" are tops on my list.

3. I own a compound bow, and am a crack shot... point-of-aim (without a sight).

4. Sometimes, late at night, I steal sleeping JJ out of his bed, bring him to our bed, and cuddle with him for a while.

5. I don't like chick flicks. There is enough in life to make me cry. If I'm going to pay to watch something, it had better make me laugh.

6. In college, I studied Tae Kwon Do. I only earned four belts, but I broke boards with both my hands and feet.

7. I totally have the hots for Mike Rowe, of "Dirty Jobs" fame. He has an incredibly sharp and brilliant sense of humor. Although, if he showed up on my doorstep, I *probably* wouldn't leave John for him.

So, now I am supposed to tag seven more people to make them reveal "strange but true" facts about themselves. But, I am in the process of developing a headache, and am going to take the easy way out by stealing a slightly different idea... I am tagging all of you, dear readers. In the comments section, leave at least one oddball fact about yourself. And make it good... no pressure. ;)

We watch entirely too much television.

I just want to take a quick moment to appreciate my blogging friend, Frozen Star, for her unyielding faith in my abilities - even when I question those abilities myself. If you were closer my dear, I'd take you out for lots of drugs and substances we could enjoy legally - like coffee and Nyquil.

Because, even with this essentially blind backing of my skills, I am still convinced that dealing in illegal drugs is not for me. Why now? The answer can be found in another television show we have been watching almost nightly: MSNBC's Lockup. In this series, we have been able to explore the inner workings of many of America's finest prisons. And let me tell you, prison is not for wimps.

Did I ever mention that Wimp is my middle name?

Just call me a black pot.

After a particularly intelligent (read: stupid) move this morning, I looked at John and said, "Well, I guess I'm not the brightest bug in the... lightning... storm... cloud of... bugs." I just couldn't stop myself. More and more ridiculous drivel continued to spew from my mouth, and I had no idea what I was saying. Finally, I just sighed.

John said, "It's okay, honey. I think you've proven your point."

Trees, Grass, and Dust

A conversation had this morning:

John: I got some new bandages.

Marly: That's nice. Why did you get the latex-free kind?

John: I'm allergic to latex.

Marly: No, you're not.

John: Really? What am I allergic to?

Marly: Penicillin.

John: Oh.

He's not allergic to penicillin either. ;)

It's over. And...

I won, I won, I won, I won, I won!

Yep, that would be FIVE prizes for me at the old Bloggy Giveaways Carnival this time around. Talk about making up for last time! AND I found some really cool new blogs to stalk. Be sure to check these out...

* Be Thrifty Like Us - This blog is dedicated to helping you spend your money wisely. Be thrifty like us and stretch your money further!

* Cats and Coupons - Home, pets, coupons, shopping, budgeting, deals, savings, money, contests, reviews and life in general

* Don't Give Him Crackers - 20 something mom learning to raise my son, run my household and love my husband all while working a full-time job. Nap time anyone?

* Inside Fatherhood - Dads. An outlook on life.

* The Dance - Sandra

Who knows? You just might be entertained... or *gasp* learn something. Enjoy!

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!

Hold the line!

Well, once again, I was every-so-gently coerced into the world of bright lights and shiny things over at the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival. And, once again, I found some cool new blogs, and entered, quite literally, hundreds of contests. So, once again, I will sit here and wait for a flood of comments and emails telling me that I have won any number of said contests.

BECAUSE I AM A WINNER!

(Brought to you by the power of positive thinking.)

Pass the popcorn, please.

John and I have started watching a new show on Spike (television for men, and women who are not allowed to touch the remote). It's called DEA - as in Drug Enforcement Agency. Apparently, it's a learning show. I, for instance. have learned that I would not make a very good drug dealer.

And truly, this is one instance where, upon realizing a shortcoming, I feel no need for self-improvement.

Am I the only one who has noticed this?

No matter what time it is, if you flip through enough channels, you will eventually find an episode of COPS.

Wheredja go?

I'm going to be AWOL for a while. I'm over at the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival. Maybe this time, I'll actually win something. My luck has to change eventually... Right?

See ya there! ;)

The view from an old soul...

It's raining here today.

Now, I realize that blogging is a diversion of the younger set, but I have to tell you, I'm feeling me some Karen Carpenter on this double-whammy of a day.

Who are these guys in white coats?

This morning, while in the shower, I had an epiphany. You see, I've been trying for seven months now to figure out what kind of plan God might have in mind that has required John to be out of work for so long. And suddenly it occurred to me: American Idol. (I know, why didn't YOU think of that?)

For years, I have struggled with the possibility that I may be able to sing. I like to sing. I've always liked to sing. And, aside from my college roommate, nobody has ever asked me to stop when I was singing in their presence. The roommate thing was particularly disturbing however, because she was a music major, and I felt her perspective might just deserve a little more clout. (Of course, she also once told me that Alanis Morissette was tone-deaf and talentless. She was an angry music major.) But, I am one of those people who takes a burn to heart, and I kind-of closeted my singing for a while.

As I have gotten older, however, I have found more and more need to sing. John likes it. JJ loves it. And I'm pretty sure I don't care what the random person in the grocery store thinks anymore (crazy chick singing to the muzak, aisle 4). But I cannot say that I have the guts to get up in front of a bunch of people to sing karaoke, and this is why: I have seen American Idol. I have seen too many people who think they have genuine singing talent stand up and show that they are completely WRONG.

So, a few months ago, American Idol held auditions just a few short hours away from here. And in Marly's Imagination Land, I plotted a scheme to go to the auditions, lie about my age, and stand before Randy, Paula, and Simon, where I would sing probably a Christmas tune (because I am exceptionally good with those). And I would, once and for all, find out if my family is simply humoring me, or if I have actual singing ability.

Obviously (at least I HOPE it's obvious), I did not follow through with the master plan. But if I had, and if the judges had found me to be talentless, I would have simply come home, and been done with the whole project. However, if the judges had found me to be utterly WITH talent, they would have then given me one of those little magic pieces of paper that sends one to Hollywood, and I would have been on my way to weeks, if not months, of all that an American Idol contestant goes through in their journey to fame. And I certainly would not have been able to make that journey without John and JJ, which means that John would have had to take a lot of time off of work to come support me in my quest.

That's it! John has been out of work for so long, because if I had auditioned for American Idol, he would need to be with me in Hollywood at this time. It's so clear to me now. God is telling me that indeed, I can sing. And now that I have finally received His message, John should be free to be hired any day now. Can I get an "Amen"?