Earlier in the week – I don’t recall where I was – I spent about $60 on “stuff” for the truck. By the time I got to El Paso, my list already had 10 more items on it that I “needed” to survive on the road until I get home.
There are 13 Wal-Mart stores here in El Paso! Since every Wal-Mart is pretty much the same everywhere, it didn’t really matter which location I went to, as long as it was a Supercenter. The one I ended up at was a 5 mile drive from the terminal and it had truck parking -bless their little billion dollars hearts!
Just like the Wal-Mart I go to in Laredo, almost everyone here in El Paso is speaking Spanish. I almost said Mexican, and I caught myself realizing how incredibly stupid I would sound. What I also noticed was the majority of the women shopping here have young children and are pregnant. I guess that’s good.
Before I started shopping I ordered a “combo meal” at the McDonald’s right inside the entrance. I’ve got to tell you that since I went on this diet I’m on – it doesn’t have a fancy name or anything - I don’t eat much fast food – except for Subway. But I was too hungry to shop without over buying food, so I had a burger and fries. And again, since I started the diet, fast food like McDonald’s and Burger King tastes horrible. Maybe it’s just my sinuses – I don’t know.
Before taking the last bite, I saw this little boy sitting at a small table in front of me with his dad. The boy must of just had a haircut and he had on little cowboy boots and a small jean jacket. Cute. I just smiled because he held under one arm a large sized red box of french fries – almost a large as his head. With the other arm he ate them one by one. He looked like he was in heaven.
Let me fast forward a bit by telling you that I was moving through Wal-Mart at about three times the speed of everyone else there. I was on a mission to get my 10 items as quickly as possible and get the heck out of there.
Instead, I was getting more and more annoyed. I needed low dose aspirin and some guy was squatting down in front of the shelf reading every damn box. He seemed oblivious to me and everyone else needing aspirin.
I also needed whipped cream cheese for my “everything” bagels. A pregnant mom with three other kids was standing in front of the display looking at every box. What is it with these people anyhow?
I was mov’n and a crus’n and I couldn’t wait. I kept on mov’n without getting the aspirin and my cream cheese. I had to put a “GB” ( for go back) next to these items on my list. That did not make me happy. I decided to search around for what I really needed – a scale.
So, it’s not not in the pharmacy where all the “health” stuff is, not in the bathroom area, not in furniture or appliances. This is ridiculous. I had to do what I NEVER do. I had to ask a Wal-Mart “associate.” OMG!
I passed several in search of, what at least to me, would be someone seemingly intelligent looking who could answer my scale location query. “They’re in hardware”, I was informed. Hardware? Scales are in “hardware?” You’ve got to be kidding. OMG! No wonder I don’t understand retailing.
Whatever. Found a scale. Went back for the aspirin. Circled back for the cream cheese. Grabbed some batteries. Time to check out. Done. Back to the truck. Throw everything inside. Drive back to the terminal.
Ok – so I bought this “small” tube of cream for wounds/cuts for $8. Why do I think it costs $.75 to made this stuff? No wonder medicine costs so damn much. Anyway, I open the box and there’s something else inside – scar cover up. Someone took out the $8 cream and switched it with a cheaper product. They probably paid $4.50 for “my” $8 creme. Ok, but now I’m stuck with scar cover up cream I don’t need.
The scale. You think you’d just get on it and see your weight? Noooooo. You’ve to put the batteries in – they’re included – then enter the correct date and your height – then “assign” yourself one of 4 “identities.” OMG! Forget it. Scale back in the box. I just don’t have the time or patience for that nonsense.
Not tonight or tomorrow, but in the next town I’m in or when I get home, it’s back to freak’n Wal-Mart to replace the cream and return the scale. And get more “stuff” that will be on my list. Oh, and by the way, after spending about $60 on the first order, the second order came to $80. $140 at Wal-Mart and I still don’t have what I need. It never ends.
Photo credit is: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8333653/
