A Study in Frustration Management

12 December 2009 31 Comments

supermarketflowers I don’t do much of the food shopping here. My husband likes the chore and I consider myself very lucky for it. The times I do it are mainly for filler items and random “we’re out of …whatever”. So today, when I had to do the full CHORE of it, it was a study in frustration management for me.

For one, people are so oblivious. They park their shopping carts in the center of the aisle while they mosey along, selecting which can of soup to buy. Clueless to the fact that SOMEONE (me) is waiting for them to wake up and notice they are clogging the aisle. That no one can possibly get past them until they move their cart to one side.

For two, the flower section. Why is that men when out to buy flowers, buy those prearranged $5.99 bunches of scraggly flowers and pass right over the way nicer, more visually appealing $10.99 bunches? Do you know the ones I am referring to?

I saw a man today pick up one of those unidentifiable bunches, sniff it and walk away with it to express checkout. And I’m thinking to myself, there’s a woman out there who is going to be acceping these and have to pretend they are the lovliest flowers she has ever received. Does anyone even own a vase that makes these mini bouquets look nice? Have you ever noticed that men are the only ones who buy this prearranged masterpiece?

Please, don’t think I am an ingrate for making fun of these flowers. Yes, the thought counts for a lot, but the only thoughts that go into this bouget are “these flowers are dirt cheap.” and “at least I am bringing something.” I speak from experience on this one. My husband buys this $5.99 bunch all the time for me. I don’t have the heart to tell him they’re not very pretty. And he doesn’t read my blog, so I’m doomed to receive them eternally. However, I’m training my son differently. If you can’t name the flowers, or the flowers have glitter sprayed on the petals……pass on them.

And finally…checking out. A word of advice to you. If you see me standing on line? Choose another lane. Because the one I am on never goes smoothly. Today’s fiasco was the lovely older couple in front of me who had numerous coupons. Bless them for having the patience to clip, organize and actually remember to bring them. However it was the final 20 percent off coupon that was the killer. The clerk had never seen one before. (I waited for 2 minutes while she tried to make sense of the darn thing.) the manage on duty had never seen one before either. (I waited 5 minutes while she took the coupon to the office for verification.) The outcome? The lovely couple would be able to use the coupon as long as they spent over $100, and this of course meant that they had to run back to a few aisles to add about $15 in merchandise.

While I would have loved to just get in another aisle, someone had already unloading their cart behind me and i was pretty stuck in checkout gridlock.

I’m not domestic. I’ve written many posts that should convince you of this. I am very thankful for a husband who actually enjoys food shopping. I’ll stick to painting rooms, rewiring routers and installing closet organizers.

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December 12 2009 at 10:58 PM melissa said:

i always gush appropriately when my husband brings me those flowers. and thankfully, it’s been ages since he has. and i guess i should be thankful that he used to even think of it. because lately…i even get dandelions.