Shopping

Let me start out by saying that I don't like to shop. The idea of walking around from store to store, rack to rack, looking at things, and trying things on is right up there with a visit to the gynecologist, followed by a tooth extraction.

Unfortunately it's something that can only be avoided so long.

I prefer to do my shopping online, and even then I have to be in a certain mood, and be ready to move quickly, because the small window of opportunity is just that...SMALL. I can be in the mood to shop for as little as 2 minutes, or as long as 15. There's no way to determine how long the stars will be aligned properly.

One day the end of last week, I decided (on a whim) to stop in a local clothing establishment. I glanced at a few racks, yanked out two pairs of capris and two tops that matched. I paid for them (I know, I know..."you didn't try them on???? NO, I DID NOT!), then took them home.

Once I was here at home, I tried them on, and decided that neither outfit was quite suitable for work, which is why I purchased them in the first place. It took almost an entire week to pull myself together enough to go BACK into this particular store and return them. In fact, I swear that if I really wasn't looking for something to wear to Ted's class reunion Saturday night, the original items would still be in their bag, along with the receipt, lying on the bench at the foot of the bed.

So this morning, off I trot to the store, talking myself into this errand the entire way there. I arrive, park the car, and head inside. I know deep down in my heart, that I really should find something to wear to Saturday's event, but maybe I'm just in denial, because I'm really not too thrilled about going. Anyway, within 5 minutes I find 3 possible tops to wear with white capri pants that I already have.

Okay, this is where I'm real proud of myself...my common sense kicks in. YES! I occasionally have bursts of common sense and today was one!

I TRIED THE SHIRTS ON! Can you believe it? Me??? The person who hates to shop, actually tried them on while I was there!

I hated all three of them.

And to top it off, in the midst of trying them on, I felt that shopping "window of opportunity" closing quickly. I knew I needed to get out of there, and get out of there FAST.

I left the dressing room, put the items on the rack where you put things that you don't want and went up to the desk and told the woman that I was returning the items that the other clerk had taken from me.

Fortunately, she could see that I was not in a mood to fiddle around, and she went to work. She asked for my credit card and that was fine. THEN, she asked for my phone number, with area code.

WHAT??

"Why do you need that?"

"For advertising purposes."

"I don't want to give it to you."

"We don't give it out."

"I don't care. I'm not giving it to you."

Then I get the look. Oh well, give me the look all you want, you're not getting my phone number.

Nosy pains in the butt.

My transaction is finally finished, and off I go. The desk is at the back of the store, so I have to walk through the merchandise to get to freedom, uh, I mean the door.

The manager of the store is walking around and in that walk from the desk to the door, I hear her talking to a couple of customers.

"Are you looking for something to wear on vacation?"

"No. I've already been on vacation."

"Where did you go?

"Mumble mumble mumble"

"Oh, I've been there. I don't like it there."

On to the next victim.

"What can I help you find today?"

"Nothing. I'm just looking."

"Are you on your lunch break from work?"

"Yes. I've been working a lot of overtime and need to get away for a little while."

This sort of indicated to me that the manager might know this woman, but I was wrong, as I found out with the next few questions.

"Where do you work?"

"***** ***** Auto"

"Are you a sales woman there?"

"No, I work in the office"

"Why are you working so much overtime? Are they open longer hours now?"

"We have some people off, that's why."

"Oh, well you can spend all your overtime money in here."

THANK GOD I HAD ARRIVED AT THE DOOR.

What a NOSY manager, and what idiot customers for answering all the questions. Is no information sacred anymore??

The whole experience rubbed me the wrong way.

I'm done with that store. For good.

One more thing..."No, I DON'T want a ******* charge card. How many times do I need to tell you that?"