Gadgets?

So tonight I decided to start a blog, you might ask what prompted this..well, let me tell you. After a completely, unhealthy day of lying around doing nothing, I decided to meet my parents for dinner. After consuming a glass of tea, several chicken wings and a few slices of pizza, I was ready to explode. But, instead, I reached for my wallet to get out some money to pay the bill. I was frantically trying to find my wallet, in my disaster of a purse, before my dad tried to pay.

I had gone to the grocery store that morning and had gotten some cash out. I had a list of items I needed because I tend to stray easily and always end up with a $150 grocery bill. I held strong to my list, purchased my rotisserie chicken, sausage and sugar among a few other things. It wasn't until I got in line that I was distracted by the voice of a former co-worker.  "Can I actually have paper please, " I asked. Just to clarify, this isn't because I am trying to save the earth, I prefer paper because I am lazy and you can fit ALOT more in a paper bag than a plastic. Its much easier to carry in two paper bags versus 5 plastics.  I turned around and spoke to the voice I had heard earlier. We continued to chat as the high school aged boy asked me if I needed help out. I wonder what the percentage of the people who actually say yes to that is? Anywho, we stood there chatting and continued to block people trying to exit the store. We were real jerks. we finally moved to the side finished our conversation and went about our merry way.

My dad, who treats me like I am 15 and just about to get my driver's license insists I call and talk to him  everyday. Don't get me wrong. I am thankful he cares so much, but I am nearly 30 and there comes a point in which he will have to let go.  And it irritates me to no end that he ALWAYS leaves a voicemail. Dad, I see your missed call. Furthermore, you don't need to leave a voicemail every time, especially when every time, you say the same thing, "hey ash, its your dad, call me." I appreciate your attempt to try to vary the messages, "ash, it's your father, call me"........or when you really try to get my attention,  "I guess you don't care about me, its dad, call me." I decided to return the call to see what he wanted.

Keep in mind, after returning from the grocery store I changed back in to my pajamas and was glued to the recliner. With zero motivation, I made the call. "Hey sis, what are you doing?" Nothing dad, not a thing in this world. "Nothing," yes nothing. Well do you want to meet your mom and I and our friends for dinner tonight? Not really, I thought to myself. That would require brushing my hair, which I had let dry wet the night before and the results were less than pretty. I would also have to put on a bra and change my clothes...Ugh, Sure, what time I said. "I'll call you later and tell you," he replied.

After a few more hours of nothing I got a call. "Meet us at 7," he said. "See you then Dad," I responded. My husband and I pulled up to the restaurant and got a table for 6. Nothing fancy, a local pizza joint with the best pizza around. As we sat waiting, I observed a lot of birthdays going on. One in particular, a "Sweet Sixteen" I sat there thinking, I'm pretty sure the crew of MTV won't be showing up anytime soon. A few balloons, a couple of pizza's and some water's were not my idea of a party. Now, had a midget jumped out of a cake wearing a tu-tu, I would have gotten my own camera out and sent the footage to MTV myself. This is how we do it in Stokes Co would have been the title.  I sure hope she had a night out with her friends planned in which they would be arriving in a helicopter dressed in prom dresses at the local Dairio, but I'll never know.

My dad and his friends showed up. The first thing my dad's friend says is, "This is a nice table," ha ha. Who says that? We're at a pizza place. And as if one time wasn't enough, he told the waitress, "This is a nice table, I don't want to eat off it." Well, you not. You eat off a plate that sits on the table. I thought to myself, this is going to be a great dinner.  "What's on tap?" my dad says. "Budweiser and Natural Light," said the waitress. "Natural Light, a pitcher please," he said. Gah..what a cheap skate, dad, Nattys? Please your in public. You can spring for something better. Furthermore, why do they have Natty on tap at this place? "How many mugs do you need," she said, dad raised his hand and table admirer both of his. "I need one for each hand," he said. Dear Lord, it's no wonder he and my dad are friends. Meanwhile, mom is trying to tell table admirer's wife she needs to get a Pepsi because there tea isn't good. Like she can't make her decision, she is a grown adult.

Can we just order already, two pizza's and two orders of wings, one hot one mild, ranch and blue cheese. I order on behalf of the group, and I am normally the embarrassing one.  We finish eating....and this is where the wallet comes back in to play. I search for the cash I had gotten from the grocery store earlier in the day. Nothing, it's gone, it's not there. I knew I got $25 cash back. Where was it..I searched and searched, nothing. I found the receipt and there plain as day, change $25. Are you kidding me? After hearing my husband tell me he wasn't surprised I wasn't paying attention, I was ready to leave. Luckily, the grocery store I had gone to earlier was nearby.

"I'm not going in with you," he said. "I don't need you to, I can handle myself." Ugh..I was so mad. I walked in and what happens? I make eye contact with a guy working at the grocery store, this guy, a guy I went to High School with. You know that awkward kind of hey, how are you...we don't really talk but I see you looking this way so I need to say something.

I didn't get my cash back this morning. Or at least I am 99.9% sure I didn't. What register were you at. I pointed. That one I think. Do you remember the cashiers name? What kind of a question is this? Well, no ..thinking why would I. He was young and I think her had dark hair. "O, Trent," he's a little scatter brained. Well, that's comforting I thought. "Can you just check and see if your register is over?" By this time the manager started walking toward me. "Can I help you," she said. Did I really have to go through the entire story again about how I was trying to pay for dinner and noticed I didn't have my cash and how  Trent checked me out. "Let me get your number and call you back if we find the money," that's fine. I gave my number and left.

 I sat for a minute at home before I Googled the grocery store number and called. "I'm sorry, there wasn't an overage." Are you kidding me I thought. dang it. $25 gone. That is a lot of money. I searched my purse and nothing. As my blood started to boil and I could feel myself getting angry, I decided it wasn't worth it. I had probably gotten caught up in the conversation with my ex-co worker. Lost control of the checkout situation and bailed before I got my money.

Instead of letting it fester, I decided to start this blog and tell you guys about the whirlwind of a night I had. In my first attempt to create my blog I noticed one thing - Gadgets? What exactly is a gadget? And I can really add one to my blog? Is it like those little clay insects you can insert in to the holes of your Crocs? or Will they allow me to push a button and shoot a web out of my wrist like Spiderman. For now, I will do without. Its not necessary to subject my brand new blog to any web oriented gadget diseases if unnecessary. I'll need to do more research before I decide to add one.

Moral of the story, pay attention... even if it means ignoring the familiar voice. You won't be $25 in the hole and feel like an idiot if you do.

NOTE: I am 100% certain there are grammatical errors in this post, possibly even spelling mistakes if the auto correct didn't  catch them. Please don't make fun of me for this. If you do, you might be the subject of my next post, so ....take your chances if you dare. :)