Blame it on Bad Lighting

Today, I went to the grocery store. Without naming names... I went to the store that has it's own website of "People of.....". Amazing, as I think I have seen some of these same folks in my hometown store, pictures posted on the website.

I notice a lot of people don't look so good in this store's lighting. Here is some of the conversations I had in my head.

Surely that man would not have worn that if he knew it looked that way.

It's nice outside, but not THAT warm!

OMGosh... don't make eye contact.

Did I really just read what I think I did on that Tattoo?

Is that a man or a woman?

What in the Sam Hell is that?

Well that makes me want to throw up a bit..

And I was worried because my hair is in ponytail and no make up?

Yellow Crisom Watermelon

So... When we opened up our Walmart Seedless Watermelon, we were not expecting this! Never have I seen a yellow watermelon. The family all say it taste the same (I think I will pass, it just does not look appetizing to me!). I posted it on Facebook, and relieved to see some have seen, tasted and even sought out to purchase this. My friend, Darla, looked it up, gave me the name and said it is suppose to taste sweeter than the famous pink. Maybe if we had been warned, and not so shocked when opening it I wouldn't have freaked out. I think Walmart got these without knowing. I am sure I am not the only shopper that said, "What the heck?"

Ahh.. Spring is Lurking!

So pretty!

I got these at Walmart (yes, Walmart 2 bunches @ $5ea). They were a perfect Spring Pick Me Upper, as well as a nice centerpiece for my Wine & Candle party I had last weekend.

I love spring flowers. They are so delicate and sweet. I can't wait to start planting at this home. First I want to see what is already here. I know we have Iris' (my all time favorite). I am hoping many more colorful selections! It will be a lovely surprise as spring arrives and all start to bloom!

Intuition

Intuition: immediate insight or understanding without conscious reasoning; *instinct, inspiration, sixth sense; presentiment, premonition, foreboding.

This afternoon, while on a WALMART shopping trip, my intuition kicked in. I was in the cosmetics department.
I noticed a young man approx. 25 years old, wandering about and noticed he was watching someone. I stepped around the aisle and saw what he was watching: a young girl around 14.
I had noticed her when I entered the store. She was with her brother and Grandparents. They were walking in at the same time. She was slightly embarrassed to be with them. You can just tell. It's that awkward age. As we entered the store, she lit up and turned to ask Grandma something. Then she happily went in a different direction then her family.
When I saw her in the cosmetic aisle, she was engrossed in looking at all the make up. Picking eye shadows and such up. Reading the packages, and putting them back, picking up another items, and so on.
I know this routine. Been there done it. My girls have been there done it too. Much like my posting about the library, she had just entered her own "candy store".
Which brings me back to the "creeper". I gave him a couple of my Mom dirty looks. You know the look.. He would look away and move on. But to another aisle trying to continue his watch. He was antsy. Fidgety. He keep running his hand on the side of his lower belly...did he just handle himself looking at this little girl!! Now I am more than protectively hanging out in the same aisle with her. I am giving him death dagger stares daring him to approach! This has continued for 15 minutes.
Do I tell the girl what is going on? {She is clueless smelling perfumes now, completely in her own world} Do I wait around and continue to protect her? Look for Grandparents?
NO, DAMN IT! Where is an employee? I want this guys ass in trouble! Freaking Creeper!
I found an employee nearby and start to tell her what is going on. As I am talking to her, the Creeper is on his phone, watching us. Now he is joined by another shady character heading right for us. I'm like, " and here is the creeper right now!". The other guy introduces himself and Creeper boy as Loss Prevention Security. They show me and the employee their work ID.
Are you kidding me!!!
They apologize for scaring me. I said, "well, you were totally creeping on that little girl! I just had my Mom Intuition kick in and felt I needed to protect her. Seriously, she is just excited about looking at make-up. "
My heart is still pounding.
My favorite all time book is Gavin DeBecker's "The Gift of Fear". It is a book of Survival Signals that protect us from violence. He also wrote "Protecting the Gift", and "Fear Less". These books are wonderful in getting us back in tune with those intuitions, those little alarms that go off and yet we ignore. Getting us to LISTEN to the warnings, the signs and the gut feelings.
One of my favorite chapters says this: "Intuition is always learning, and though it may occasionally send a signal that turns out to be less than urgent, everything it communicates to you is meaningful. Unlike worry, it will not waste your time".
My intuition told me something wasn't right. I feared the girl could be in danger. Am I embarrassed that I was wrong, he wasn't a Creeper, but a store detective? Heck no! I am glad I went for help. I couldn't rest fearing, what happened? I hope she is okay. What if he was a creeper? What if tomorrow we were reading about another missing or molested child?
Nope, not on my watch! I did the right thing!

Walmart Cards

Walmart just started a line of cards for 88 cents!

(hey~ I don't have a cents key on my laptop! Have they always been that way? I am sure my type writer does...whoops showing my age! back to the blog posting.)

Anyway, I found a line of cards at Walmart the other day that I love. Sarcastic like me and yet cheap! I just stood there laughing at each one. They are great!

Here's the one I got for Deb (Bestie).

Deb has kids younger than I and they are at that age. I don't miss that age.
Mine would just roll their eyes, or possibly even sing along. Although, Annie asked me what "Air Supply" was when she read the card! Maybe it should have said REO Speedwagon or Lynryd Sknyrd from me!

..stealing from Walmart?

This weekend, my daughter & I had to go to Walmart. I don't know about you, but in Indianapolis, Walmart on a Sunday, is not exactly fun. Exciting, maybe? But we try not to make a sport out of Walmart shopping. Emily likes their photo processing, and I needed some grocery items, so we fought our way through the interesting people you find at the Walmart on a weekend.

After an hour of pure ...joy, I finally make my way to one of those self-check outs. This was grueling! The poor little gal in front of us had a heck of a time getting her money to go in & it seems she was trying to figure out exactly how to work the scanner. Anyway, finally our turn!

It didn't like us. We were to fast for the bagger stand to catch up. It kept alerting the attendant we needed approval to skip bagging. She would laugh & clear us, laugh & clear us. WE were getting tired of this game. Finally, my total came to $77.80. I popped in a hundred dollar bill. It told me my change was $22.20, spit out the change, we grabbed and out the door. In the car I realized that instead of two dollar bills & a twenty, it gave me two dollar bills and a fifty! Hmmm. Now, if I had gone to a check out person, and she handed me the incorrect change, I absolutely would have given it back, saying, I think we made a mistake.. BUT, this was different. Somebody but a fifty in the twenty slot. I stood there previously watching the little gal before me stick two twenty dollar bills into the machine, so I know it had twenties. And the laughing attendant was too busy laughing and besides I was in the car.

Did I just steal from Walmart by not taking it back in? Or did I just get a bit of a discount for shopping at Walmart?