I had a long day at work yesterday.  It wasn't a bad day, it just felt long.

Sitter's son is graduating from HS today so she asked for an early pick-up yesterday to greet the family coming into town.

I left work with plenty of time to spare.  I picked up Buddy and then we went to grab BG.  Usually I grab her first as she's on my way to getting him.

Buddy got in the car and looked over at BG's empty seat.  He made eye contact with me, made a little disgruntled noise and pointed to the seat as if to say, "Where's my sister?!"

I told him we were on our way to pick her up.  That seemed to satisfy him.

It took twenty extra minutes to pick her up because of Buddy.  Everyone wanted to "touch" him and "hold" him.  It was like a baby petting zoo.

By the time we were done it was time for Buddy to have his milk (during normal pick-up he gets this feeding from Sitter).  So went home.

I served up milk and snacks. 

While they ate, I made some daytime phone calls (these would be calls to places that have bankers hours - 9am - 3pm - I can't believe anyone is allowed to get away with these hours anymore!).  The phone calls proved effective - I solved a couple of mysteries.

Since it was still early, we piled back into the car to run an errand or two.

I didn't expect to be gone a long time so I didn't pack any food or drink (I should know better by now).

We went to the mac-daddy hardware store to buy refill filters for our kitchen faucet.  And to pay the bill while we were there.  Sounds easy enough right?

As we walked around, I was given two different whereabouts for the filters.  Finally, upon finding them, Buddy started getting anxious.  I looked at the time.  It was later than I thought.

I tried to rush out of there.  We got in a short line.  I was the next one up.  The guy in front of me was buying something that needed a warranty.  The cashier was having issues.  I looked around.  None of the other lines were short.  Duh!  Buddy fidgeted some more.

The guy in front of me walked out the door.  I was next.  I put my box of refill filters on the counter.  The guy zapped them with his scanner.  A window popped up on his screen.  He didn't read it.  He stood there, looking at it, confusion marring his face.  Then, he depressed a combination of keys which I can only surmise is their equivalent of control, alt, delete. 

It didn't work.  He stood there for two minutes staring at the screen, BUT NOT reading it!  Like an idiot, I stared at the screen with him.  Finally, he called someone.  A manager meandered over.  He showed her the screen. 

She said,  "Oh, you have to print out the warranty," and she pulled out a warranty form. 

She inserted it into the machine.  It printed the warranty and the window on the screen disappeared.

The cashier then said to the manager, "But the guy already left."

This statement caused the manager to get that "deer caught in headlights" look.  She stood there for a moment, speechless. 

Then, as if I didn't exist, she started talking to the cashier in Spanish.

"How many items did he purchase?"  She prattled as if she were speaking to a three-year-old.

Hello??!!  What about me?!

By this point I had had it.  But I wasn't going to waste this outing and not buy the filters.  I grabbed my box of filters and walked over to one of the self checkout machines clear across the store.  They didn't notice, of course!

The machine worked like a charm!

Finally, with filters legally in hand, we left the store.  As we were leaving, I noticed they were still at it, clueless of anyone else but themselves.  I love customer service!!

We got back in the car and started for home.

Realizing that a car ride was involved, Buddy pitched a fit.  No attempts at appeasement worked.  After a while, he stopped whining and just looked off into space.  He was tired.

I got in and pulled out of my space.  As I was pulling out, some lady decided to walk directly behind my car to hers, ever so slowly.  I waited.  I made it out into the main thoroughfare.  Suddenly, all matter of pedestrian traffic ensued.  All directly in front of us!  Again, I waited, not so patiently and with some eye rolling.

I made it out to the light.  Naturally, it was red.

At last, we were on the road.  Buddy started fussing loudly again - he was rearing to cry.

I tried my best to stay within the speed limit but I was in a hurry.  It wasn't that I thought he couldn't wait a few more minutes.  It was that I didn't want to experience the crying and screaming and the  "Mommy, make him stop" all the way home.

We were on a two way road that turns into one.  There are no stop signs on this road.  It's a clear shot until you have to turn.  I was behind a minivan, trying super hard NOT to tailgate.

Suddenly, said minivan slowed down - a lot!  I look around.  There is no place for a speed trap.  There were no cops around.  What was the problem?

The minivan stopped completely and signaled two pedestrians to jay-walk across the street in front of him. 

WHY?  I'll never know since behind me, there was no one!!

Jamming the brakes I muttered to myself, "Oh, sure, you have to be a freakin' Samaritan!"

But it wasn't to myself.  Without missing a beat,  she chimed in, "Who's a freakin' Samaritan?"  Perfectly!

I had to laugh.  I had to laugh because if she says that in front of Hubby he will know where she got it from.  And I had to laugh because she pronounced Samaritan so flawlessly.  And I had to laugh because these things only happen when you're in a hurry.

We finally made it home.  Buddy got his milk and the faucet got a new filter.  I was ready for bed. 

No more was said about freakin' Samaritans.  But the other shoe will drop when I least expect it.  And it will probably be in front of Hubby!