Candy and Beer

Husband had a long day at work yesterday.

He got home late, feeling exhausted. He asked if I would go to the store and get him some beer and his favorite candy - blow pops.

I didn't really feel like it, but after a nail-biting competition of Rock, Paper, Scissors, it was decided that I would be the one to go.

So I changed out of my pajamas into real pants and a coat, since it was like 20 degrees outside, and headed to the store.

Now, we live kind of out in the boondocks. The closest actual grocery store is close to ten minutes away, with absolutely nothing in between, aside from empty summer homes and the county dump, so it can feel a lot longer than 10 minutes to get out there. After 5pm we usually aren't in the mood to make that long of a trip, so we typically opt to go to the rural gas station, which is only about two minutes in the opposite direction. 

They have a primitive grocery mart, with the kind of essentials people usually decide they need at about 8pm, like alcohol. And, since they pretty much have a monopoly on the food market for the whole southern half of the island, everything is priced way higher than normal.

The only reason we go there is to buy alcohol and candy; essentials at our house.

It seems like the last few times I have gone, the same guy is always working. And he is always the one who cashiers my purchase of a six pack and 30 blow pops. 

I'm so paranoid that, even though he always smiles and is polite, he must be thinking I am a crazy recluse alcoholic who eats her feelings.

Well, surprise surprise, guess who was working as I walked into the store last night? Mr. Totally Judges Me With His Eyes. 

I smiled and said hello, then quickly made my way to the back of the store. I found the refrigerator with the beer, and grabbed the Mike's Hard Lemonade Husband wanted, (okay, so it's not exactly "beer", but it's like when we're at a restaurant and Husband makes ME order the strawberry daiquiri that HE wants to drink, because he is too embarrassed to order it for himself. If it comes in a bottle and is sold in a six pack, we just call it "beer").

Next, I slowly headed over to the candy aisle, while scanning the check-out counter. To my luck, the guy was nowhere to be seen, and instead a middle-aged woman was checking a customer out. Sweet! This is my chance!

I grabbed as many blow pops as I could, and then a huge handful of watermelon Airheads, because Husband loves those too. I took a look at my pathetic basket. Beer, and a mountain of candy. Oh well, as long as that woman is still cashiering I should be good.

I walked over quickly but the guy was back! Mr. Judgy just popped up out of nowhere. Crap.

I sheepishly handed over my basket, while looking up at the ceiling, and down at the counter - pretty much everywhere except the guy's face.

At that point I couldn't decide which was more awkward: letting him go on assuming I am a lonely alcoholic with a massive sweet tooth, or blurting out, "I'm totally married! This is all for my husband!"

But all the sudden I was distracted by the fact that he had just scanned the beer and DIDN'T ASK FOR MY ID, OMG! I mean, so what if he's sold me alcohol like a dozen other times, he can't at least humor me by asking to see some ID?

So now he is a judgy jerk who thinks I'm old.

I paid for the items, told him I didn't need a receipt - I wasn't looking for any excuse to hang around longer than I had to.

As I was heading out the door, he called to me with a smile on his face, "We'll be seeing you soon, I'm sure."

I wanted to be offended. But it's probably true.

See You at the Movies!

After you have kids, a lot of things change. The biggest thing to get used to in the beginning - for me anyway - was remembering to pack all of the baby items I would need while we were out of the house. Bottles, formula, diapers, wipes, change of clothes, pacifiers, blankets, first aid kit, thermometer, teethers, rattles, Tylenol, etc. (This was in the beginning when I carried my diaper bag everywhere, and I really did keep every one of those items with me at all times). Eventually though, I was able to relax a little, and realized I didn't need to bring all of those things along for a 10 minute trip to the grocery store. Today, my diaper bag is somewhere in the laundry room, I have switched back to using my purse, and I just keep a couple extra diapers and wipes in the car. I have definitely relaxed, but things are also a little less stressful when you have toddlers versus a new baby.

Other things change too, when you have kids. Obviously there are limitations on what you can do once a baby comes along. While it is possible to take a baby to a restaurant, it's not as relaxing or enjoyable an experience as it once was. When Richard and I get the courage to take the kids out to a restaurant, we usually end up asking for the check as soon as our food comes, then eating it as fast as we can, trying to finish our meals before the boys lose their patience. Oftentimes we have to get boxes to bring our food home to finish later on. We accept this though, and it's not that big of a deal.

One big change though, that really cannot be compromised with, is movies. Once you have a baby, it's pretty much impossible to go to the movies anymore, unless you have a sitter. I guess you could take a newborn or small baby, but if he or she cries, you know your fellow moviegoers are not going to be patient with that, and if you have to wind up walking out of the movie, then that's $10.00 you just threw away. And once a child is old enough to take to the movies, you know you're not going to be watching any of the movies you actually enjoy - no romantic comedies, no action flisks, none of that. The only movies you will be seeing in theaters are kid-friendly ones, mostly cartoons. Thankfully most Disney and Pixar movies do a decent job of entertaining their adult audiences, but come on, it still doesn't make up for all the other movies you're missing out on. For this reason, it is always a big treat whenever Richard and I get to see a movie. It can be difficult, because sometimes we want to see different movies from one another, so those discussions usually come down to an intense match of Rock, Paper, Scissors.

It has been about three months since we last went to see a movie together, and with all of the awesome summer movies coming out right now, I have been feeling that itch - that need to go to the movie theater. I love walking in, breathing in that scent of buttery, warm, trans-fatty popcorn, then purchasing my ticket, buying an outrageously overpriced soda or some type of treat to enjoy, then heading into the theater. Picking a seat is very important. You don't want to be too close, but you also don't want to be too far back. I love those rare times when you are the only person in the theater. My favorite moment though, is when the lights go dim, and the screen lights up, and the movie is about to start. Even in this age of so many technological advancements, the movie theater is still a magical place to me.

Oh, and I hate when we're running late to a movie, and someone says, "It's okay, we'll only miss the previews." Uhmm, hello?? The previews are, like, the best part!

Anyways, like I said, I have really been feeling the need to go see a movie. If all works out, then I think I may be going to see one tonight. The only problem I am having now is which movie to see? Since I only go every few months, there is a lot of pressure on the movie I pick for it to be worth it. Feel free to send me your suggestions!