Braving the Stores

Today, armed with a list of needed school supplies complied from letters all three kids received from their new teacher, we trekked to WalMart. (Not my favorite store to begin with, but the kids had PARP coupons for the Subway there, so I thought I'd grab them lunch when we were done.)

A trip I thought would take 45 minutes took 90 minutes!

I learned you should never underestimate how long it takes kids to pick supplies - and we're talking 5 minutes just deciding which color scissors they each wanted. Then there were notebooks and folders, which come in a gazillion designs, and more choices means more time.

Thankfully, our school supplies almost everything the kids need. All they really HAD to get was a folder, binder, glue sticks, crayons, pencil boxes and son needed an accordian folder this year.

But, since the sales were good, I also got each of them a new box of markers, colored pencils (is it only my generation that called them "pencil crayons?"), composition books and a notebook for myself.

Once all the supplies were gathered (plus some groceries, since we have a Super WalMart), we braved the checkout line. Even self-checkout was backed up.

Then, when I went to pay, two gift cards I wanted to use didn't swipe. So I tried again...and again. After about 10 swipes the first one worked. I asked the sales woman for help, but she was busy. She came over after I got the first one to work. She also couldn't get the second one to work, and she deleted the first one! So I had to reswipe it (about 10 more times)!

Finally I said I'd give up on the second gift card and use it later. Well, when I went to swipe my debit card, that didn't work! Admit I got a little annoyed when she asked if I could use a credit card. I said, "Ah, no, I really want to use the debit card."

I kept trying while she got the manager, and by the time they came over I had gotten it to work. I vocally supported the cashier when she told the manager the card reader at that checkout wasn't working. No kidding, it wasn't!

Next time, I'll go to Target.