Do you know who you spoke to?

So I'm out running several errands today in 100+ degree Texas heat while my kiddos are at a friend's house and I'm eventually met with a phrase I'm so sick of hearing I could spit. Here's how it went down:

I've had a prescription I've needed to get refilled for sometime now and last time I was in CVS (that's right...I'm calling them out) the person behind the counter at the pharmacy says, "Well, if you transfer it here, you'll get a $25 gift card."

Sweet! I'll get on that...and indeed did have it transferred. Who can't use an extra $25?

Fast forward to today as I go to pick the prescription, as well as my said promised gift card.

"Uhhhh...there's no note of it on here," says the under-enthusiastic person behind the counter. Get ready...here it comes..."Do you know who you spoke to?"

Are you !#@$%& kidding me?

Think about it...how many times in your life have you heard this phrase? Too many...right? Or is it just me? Whether it's about a promised service or whatever...it's the phrase used by those who have no intention of making it right. Maybe it's because there are too many people out there flat-out lying about what they were promised, but c'mon...this phrase has gotten on my last good nerve. I've even remembered the name of the person before only to be told, "I don't know anyone who works here by that name." Yeah right.

So...here I go with my response that can only come from an exhausted mom trying to get too much done in too little time:

"No...I don't know the name of the person I talked to. If I took down the name of every person who told me valuable information or a service that will provided to me, my back wouldn't be able to carry around the notebook that housed all the information." She stares at me, mouth open, chin almost touching her chest and slowwwwly replies:

"So...what do you want to do?"

"I want my medicine."

"But I can't give you the gift card."

"Yes...I realize that. However, it doesn't negate the fact I still need my medicine."

"Ummmm...do you want to talk to the manager?"

"Sure...if it will help."

"Well...she's not here right now."

"Am I on Candid Camera?"

"Whaaaaat?"

"Just give me my medicine, please."

I feel for the next person who asks me if I know who I spoke to. Between now and then, I will have worked up some elaborate story which will include the fact if the person who promised me something isn't there when I come back it's because they can't stand the idiots they work with because they can't remember jack and have decided to go look for another job.

Or, I'm going to purchase a notebook specifically designed for people who promise me things so when they don't deliver, I have it in writing. Yes....that is how I want to live my life.

Geeeez.....

The View from Where I Sit

I have to admit, over the past few days I've seen and experienced some interesting things. Don't know if I've noticed the "little" things more or if indeed these things would have caught my eyes/ears not matter what. For sure, some of them would have.

So I thought I'd share a few of my "extraordinary" encounters because they may bring a smile to your face...and we can all use a smile.

It's fascinating to me that:

It is 2009 and a six-lane highway like 820 in Fort Worth would have a minuscule speed limit of only 60 mph, causing traffic to bottleneck at the shear exhaustion of drivers having to put our foot on the break so much. C'mon!

It indeed can't all be blamed on the minuscule speed limit, but also on the stupid drivers who still actually slow down to rubberneck at the cop who pulled a speeding car over on the opposite side of the highway. This beyond irritates me.

The grandma driver behind me is actually honking at me because I'm not going. "Look around! No one is moving!" Of course, that would imply she could see over her steering wheel...which she's having a hard time doing.

She now spends the next five minutes waving to me in my rear view mirror trying to apologize for her ignorant honking that she's now apparently embarrassed about since she realized, in fact...no one else was moving either and it wasn't my choice to stop in the middle of the highway.

All of this traffic fiasco is completely overlooked when F16s began doing touch-and-goes right over me. Ahhhhh....roll the windows down and listen. Very cool. Doug and Ben would be jealous.

The chicken biscuit I'd been craving for the past 30 minutes was not cooked completely. Of course, this was only discovered after I took a bite. Yuckkk.....

The Starbucks next to the KFC can make it all better and tell me, my order is now "free" after hearing my chicken story and thinking I could use something good...and non-life threatening. Tip put into container... . Thank you Starbucks.

We just this past week made it out to Groggy Dawgs on Lake Granbury after passing by it so many times and discovered, we absolutely love it.

There is karaoke night at Groggy Dawgs and the only thing the Kenny Chesney "look-alike" (and I use that term loosely) has in common with the real-life country crooner is the straw cowboy hat and pooka shell necklace.

It's relaxing to talk about the future with someone you love over cold beers, at a marina bar in front of a fan the size of which could put the space shuttle into gear.

We didn't order the nachos.

I have now seen two different grown men on retro-style, red mopeds leaning into them to try and make them go faster as if they were sitting Supermen. Really? Hmmm....

The parking lots at our church (Custer Road United Methodist) are so full now you have no choice but to park down the street and take the bus. For some this would be irritating...but I think it's awesome. I think God thinks it's awesome, too.

Just the smell upon entering church makes me smile and make everything seem possible.

My father-in-law, even in his current condition fighting lung cancer, can still say something that totally cracks me up and makes Doug speechless. Not an easy thing to accomplish on that last part!

My father-in-law can bring me to tears just by putting his hand in the air when I walk in the room because he wants me to come give him a "high-five".

99.9% of all the snowcones stands in Texas are located in Hood County. At least that's what I think.

My kids are the light in every day and remind me of what is important and what life is all about...family.

The same person called three times this morning only for me to tell her time and time again she had the wrong number and she still wanted to argue about it. A person by the name of 'Andrew' does not live here and he obviously gave you the wrong number on purpose. Catch a clue and move on.

And, finally...if there is a snake within 100-yards...it will find it's way to me. Only this time...I had a lawn mower as a weapon.

Smells Like Love to Me

Have you ever had something that meant so much to you, you can't imagine life without it? Something that is comforting, is there in your time of need, makes you happy, is unjudgemental and has unconditional love.

Meet Belle's Pink Puppy. Today, Doug asked when the last time was Belle had a bath. "Either it's her or that Pink Puppy, but something is rank." No doubt...it's the puppy. I don't care how much I wash that thing, it will never look the way it once did. Why? Because she's loved it more than anything in the world! Seriously, if she is holding that puppy, her thumb will automatically go in her mouth. And if I didn't have it in the car everyday when I picked her up from school, she would instantly look like she was missing her best friend and go grab it as soon as she walked in the door.

One of Ben's baseball coaches jokes with her all the time about taking it from her. Always laughing. Never serious. But when she went over to their house the other day, she was adamant about leaving it in the car. Apparently, once inside, she told him she'd hidden it so he couldn't get it. Even though he's joking and would never take it...the girl ain't taking any chances!

The white parts on Pink Puppy will never be white again and believe me, I've tried every thing out there. Trust me on this. I don't know that I'll ever get it to completely smell like a springtime meadow, but when you ask Belle about that "odor" she simply says, "It smells like love to me." Too sweet.

I got it at a craft show when she was about 9 months old. At the time, she really loved frogs and they had a frog, so I picked up the frog. A sweet grandmotherly lady said, "Oh, you should get that pretty girl this pink puppy. It's as pretty as she is." Ummm...excuse me...I think I know my daughter, thank you. I handed Belle the frog, she quickly tossed it aside and reached for the Pink Puppy and it's been love ever since. Way to go for what you wanted Belle and love her (yes puppy is a "her") as much as I know Pink Puppy loves you. I love you, my Belle. Even though that puppy is stinky. I mean...even though it smells like "love". She loves that Pink Puppy completely and unconditionally. We should all love and be loved like that.

My Girlfriends Rock!

My family has had a hectic life as of late (moving, ill family members, etc...) and I just wanted to take an opportunity to say Thank You from the bottom of my heart to the absolutely, fantastic, unconditional friends who have been placed in my life. While I've had most things"under control", they are always there to be...well...girlfriends, in the true sense of the word.

Not only have you been there to help, but also to listen, pray, advise, etc... . And while I may not have taken you up on your numerous offers to help YET...just wait...I'm sure I'll need it soon enough! I've just recently learned how to let people help (as KB says, "Uh...yeah!").

These sweet women call just to say, "What is up with you? What can I do?" Or my favorite, "Let's have a Girl's Night Out!" (We need to do that again soon, by the way, ladies.).

True friends. KB, KA, MA and LM - you have been more than I could have ever asked for and you know I'm here if you need anything also. So nice know I have classy ladies who have my back, are not judgemental and just want to be a friend. You don't know the meaning of the term "fair weather friend" and the word "gossip" isn't in your vocabulary. For those things and so much more, I'm grateful.

And while I have lots of friends who fit the same description, the ladies above have definitely gone out of their way to be there since I'm not always so good at accepting help.

Although, I've gotta say it seems I've really taken advantage of KA lately. Sorry girl! That's what you get for my kids loving your family so much! hahaha You know I love your kiddos just as much.

That's pretty much it...just had to say "Thanks" since I know you ladies check-in to the blog from time-to-time (yes...I keep track of who is visiting!) :-) I'm sneaky that way... . Now those who didn't want me to know they are visiting are going, "What?!". Your checking in is just one more way of supporting me in doing something I like to do. No judgement...just support.

Love you! xoxoxoxo