I had an amazing weekend in Austin, TX! It is a fabulous city, and fortunately we had a FABULOUS hostess to show us around and make sure we had an amazing time. Thank you to Becca at The Texas Darlings!
L-R Jenny Kate, Impulsive Addict, Seriously Shawn, Me, Jen from Harried Mom of 4 and Becca
The best part of this trip was that it was like we had known each other our whole lives and that we had spent time together on many previous occasions. It. Was. Awesome. I’ll be editing pictures (and doing laundry, etc) and will post them soon.
In the meantime, please accept a recycled post from March 9, 2010. It’s about a lady I met in the grocery store who doesn’t understand the concept of time zones….
And a frozen pizza.
Oooh, and paper towels.
And some juice boxes…
As I cruised down one of the aisles, I noticed that some of the granola bars were on sale AND you got a Target gift card if you bought five boxes. While I stood there looking at the display and choosing which flavors I wanted, a woman came up to me and began to inspect the contents of my cart.
She was probably in her early to mid 60’s. She had on a cute little outfit with coordinating jewelry and her make-up was nicely done. A sharp contrast to my jeans & t-shirt, lack of make-up and my ratty looking pony tail… (My point? I probably wouldn’t have struck up a conversation with me.)
Lady peered into my cart as if she would be quizzed on the contents later on. Lady looked from my cart to the display and back again. “Are these good?” she asked, indicating the box of Quaker Chewy Granola Bars in my cart. I explained to her that they are a bit on the sweet-side for me, but I was buying them for school lunches and my boys like them quite a bit.
I let her know that my personal favorite were the Fiber One bars with anti-oxidents.
Lady: “Oh! So they make you go potty?”
Me: “Well, no…. they are made with fiber, not with Ex-Lax….”
Lady: “My son is going on an airplane trip tomorrow morning and I want to get him some snacks for the plane. I don’t want him to need to go to the bathroom on the plane.”
Lady proceeds to ask my opinion about every other brand and variety of granola or cereal bar on the shelf, including Pop-Tarts. I give her my opinions. I suggest flavors and brands that are good, but when she repeatedly asks me for one that I like I repeatedly answer that I like the Fiber One bars.
Lady wonders if her son will get peanuts or other snacks on the plane. I joke about checked luggage needing to buy its own ticket these days and the cutbacks in on-board service. “I don’t want him to be hungry.” she says.
Me: “Um, ma’am, uh, how old is your son…?”
Now this is dangerous territory.
I want to say “Based on how you look, I’d guess he’s in his 40’s; but, based on how you’re acting, I’d guess he’s 8 or 9…”
Fortunately, she answers her own question. Her son is 43.
She switches back to her concerns about the Fiber One bars and the lightning fast poo poo she thinks they will produce. “I just don’t want those kicking in on the plane.” I ask her how long his flight is. She tells me that it’s about 7 hours.
Lady: “Yep, he’s leaving out of Los Angeles tomorrow morning around 9:00 and gets in to Missouri about 3:30, so about 7 hours…”
Me: (Still hung up on the fact that she thinks a Fiber One bar will produce insta-poop) “Is it a direct flight?”
Lady: “Yes.”
Me: “Oh, well gosh, it’s about a 5 and a half hour flight from L.A. to New York, so Missouri is probably only about 4 hours or so.”
Lady: “No, it’s a 7 hour flight. He leaves at 9:00 and gets in at 3:30.”
Me: “Missouri is 2 hours ahead of California, so it’s really only like 4 and a half hours.”
Lady: “Yes, but 9 to 3:30 is 7 hours.”
(It is at this moment that I begin to realize I am dealing with Looney McSlowbrain from the Tribe of Stubborness. Does that stop me from continuing down this wacky rabbit hole of time travel? Of course not.)
Me: “But the actual travel time is probably just over 4 hours or so.”
Lady: “Yes, but he leaves at 9 and gets there just after 3:30…”
Me: “I know, but that is due to the time change. In reality, he will only be on the airplane for about 4 hours.”
Lady: “He leaves at 9 and gets there at 3:30. That’s 7 hours.”
Me: “Yes, but that’s just because he’ll land at local Missouri time, and he’ll just set his watch ahead two hours.”
Lady: “Well, yes I know he’ll have to change his watch. I just don’t want him to go without a snack that long, and I don’t want to give him those fiber bars, because, you know… “
I open my mouth to respond.
Then close it.
I open it.
Close it.
I’m sure I look like a fish out of water, gasping and flopping on the dock. I just have no response for this.
“You know what, Ma’am? I bet the Quaker Chewy Bars are the perfect snack after all.”
I remember that post! LOL
Those are great pictures.
Laughing Out Loud!
I didn’t find you until recently. So I must thank you for this post. ROFLMAO!! 🙂 And can’t wait to see pics of your trip! Now when are you coming to TN???
have to admit that I”m a lil’ jealous that ya’ll all were able to get together in Austin.. you all seem like such a few crew to hang out with and I am in Dallas… maybe the next trip could include.. ME! hah..
Love the post.. .that’s cute. gotta love the convo’s with random’s in the store!!
Isn’t senility great? I can’t wait. 🙂
OMG! What a….um…sweet older lady. I would call her a dumbass but that’s rude so instead I’ll say BLESS HER HEART. When Emma is 18, she’s on her own. Momma won’t be buying snacks for plane rides either.
Love the pics of us up there!
Oh. My. Has she never traveled or just lives in a bubble? Wow.
Can’t wait to see more about your trip to Austin!
I just wanted to let you know that I’ve given you the “One Lovely Blog” award!
So glad I found your blog! your posts crack me up and I love all your tutorials : )
What a fun weekend even though mine ended a little sour!
I remember that post and I’m with IA…bless her heart!
The Hell You Say!!
I can’t wait to see more pictures and hear about what all you guys did!
Now I’m mad, you were in texas and you didn’t give me a heads up?! Man! I lived in Austin for years & love it. I hope you did too.
Ha! Ha! Ha! I have so had this conversation before!!! Maybe it was the same lady! Wonder if she flew to NM just to talk to me!!?? Ha!
Great banter!! Loved it
Hugs
SueAnn
OH MY GOODNESS! Wow, I wish I could have been there in person to witness such fabulousness in the weird people department. This is the kind of stuff my husband and I LIVE for! (Sadly, now being passed on to oldest daughter, who delights in this kind of thing just as much as her wacky parents) Yes, we are probably way to easily entertained by the endless array of the things people do, or should I say doo doo. Hee hee hee hee hee hee.
That post cracks me up!! Poor lady. She apparently was standing in the wrong line when God handed out common sense.
Now, those pics…is it bad that I don’t even remember taking that first pic…really, seriously do not remember.
Oh, geez.
So funny and SO much better than the totally out of place desperate looking guy who asked me what brand of feminine pads he should buy for his wife since she sent him on this chore of woe!
Maddie
p.s. Always Infinity was the answer 🙂
LOVE the Austin pics, you ladies looked like you had so much fun!
That post cracked me up the first time & it did again this time. So I wonder if this guy really needs his mommy to still buy him snacks???