I was TIRED last night after work. I'd dealt with a few too many YaHoos, and just wanted to go home and put on my comfie clothes. First I had to stop at the store to pick up 'a couple' of things. The Hubs needed shampoo (he won't use my froo froo stuff), and I needed milk for my coffee and I needed lettuce. See? That's just a couple of things... but I *needed* them.

I should have just kept driving when I had to drive up and down about four rows before finding a parking place. My store isn't normally like that. But, they've sucked me in with their stupid savings card and promises of frequent flier miles.

I found a parking place and started walking up toward the store and what did I see? GRAND PRE-OPENING TASTE OF SAFEWAY! signs everywhere, and no shopping carts in sight. This could only mean one thing. Everyone in my little hicktown was skipping dinner and grazing their way through Safeway.

I entered the store and started mumbling under my breath, probably looking like a crazy lady. There were extra employees there just to make sure everyone was greeted every five minutes. I saw huge lines at the checkout counters, and I'd be darned if I was going to be in one of those lines for only four items. So I started loading up my cart.

I was accosted at every turn with someone offering me a taste of this or taste of that. Finally, I just quit making eye contact with everyone and pretended I was deaf.

As I entered the shampoo aisle, I heard music that didn't sound like Muzak. It then occurred to me that they had a live band there at my Safeway. As I got closer, I saw that it was some sort of Karaoke set up, and a guy playing a saxophone. It was then that I decided I had enough groceries and I needed to get the heck out of Dodge.

As if all of that wasn't enought to send me over the edge, as I stood in line I was accosted by the Easter Bunny trying to get me to take goodies out of his basket. Apparently, the young girl picked up on my mood and started apologizing for how busy it was in the store. I told her it was OK and tried to smile. Then she said, "We sure appreciate your business". I thanked her.

Then she said, "without customers like you, we wouldn't be able to do things like this!", in her chipper voice.

Grumble~

I've had nightmares worse than this.