Category Archives: Grumpy Nico

Jul 7

Alright Grocery Store… You Win

I heard the alarm sound at 6:45 a.m., and already I had a feeling of dread, and a major headache to boot. I had plenty of rest, so there was no real reason that I should have an evil headache, and then I remembered that I had made my shopping list yesterday… That means another trip to the “grocery store” (insert scary voice) was on the agenda for today.

A year ago a trip to the store was no big deal, I saved locally, and I was a happy shopper. I could even drive out of town and shop a few other places to find even better deals. Now that gas is sitting steady at $4.00, a trip out of town to go and shop is no longer a good deal, and saving locally is a thing of the past .

My last 3-4 trips to our local Supercenter haven’t been very pleasant. Customer Service is a distant memory, and waiting in line for 10-15 minutes has become a mainstay. I even dread the drive across town, every stop light means more gas wasted, and pulling into the parking lot gives me a panic attack. I’m already grumpy, and I haven’t even seen a price yet.

Lately I’ve noticed price increases from $.50 on up to $2.00 an item! It is ridiculous, and frustrating. I spend an extra 15-30 minutes a trip comparing item to item, ounce to ounce, just trying to save a little. Occasionally I give up on picking up an item, because it has gone up so much, and it just isn’t worth it.

Last week I was out stocking up for the Fourth of July BBQ, and I had finally made it to check out with one overflowing cart, and two grumpy kids. I was fifth in line behind 4 other people with overflowing carts, and grumpy kids too, and there were only 3 lanes open, 2 of them were 20 items or less lines. A few people in line were getting mad, and asking why there were so few lines open, and then the overly chatty (and mean lady) greeter came over and said, “there wouldn’t be a problem with the lines if everyone didn’t come in on the same day”. Suddenly spending as much as we were on groceries made me even more mad, even though we were there shopping and over paying, our business wasn’t appreciated.

So here I am today dreading another trip to the store, and dreading another round of price increases, already grumpy and I haven’t even left the house. I’m hopeful that today will be a better trip, but realistically thinking that it is going to be a big bummer like the last one.

So share a story with me either good or bad about your recent trip to the grocery store. Feel free to vent too…

Jun 24

Nico vs. The Weed-Eater

This weekend my hubby made an interesting proposition to me. If I can learn how to use the Weed Eater, he will mow the Front Yard and the Back yard. Sounds good to me…

Boy was I wrong!

I was outside replanting 3 hanging baskets, and already dirty from the task, I decided that I was going to give that Weed Eater a shot. I had a plan to get both yards finished before my hubby made it home from work. Dylan was napping, and Thade was sitting in the shade on the porch. I ventured into the dark garage, and found the Weed Eater. I read the start menu on the side, and gave it my best attempt to start it. Six pulls later, I couldn’t get it started.

Gas,I thought, maybe it needs gas. I walked up to the porch, and grabbed the pre-mixed gas and added a little to the Weed Eater. Thade gave me some encouraging words like, “are you ever going to get the Weed Eater started?” I totally am.

Gas added, and we are ready to go. I pull and pull on the darn Weed Eater, and nothing. Frustrated and already exhausted I set the Weed Eater down because maybe I’ve flooded it. Now I’m even more determined to get this darn thing started.

I give it one more try, and do my best Maria Sharapova impression as I’m pulling my hardest, and I swear I can hear my neighbor giggling on the other side of the fence… It finally it starts. I’m amazed, and I proceed to start Weed Eating the back fence. I made it an entire 3 feet and the line breaks on the Weed Eater!

Now I’m getting really grumpy, so I re-string the Weed Eater, and give it another go. As I’m re-stringing the line Thade yells out, “Mom just quit already, and come sit on the porch!” I reply “Mommy really wants to finish the yard”, with a big fake smile on my sunburned face.

I pull and pull and awesome, it started again. I walk over to the other side of the yard by the garden, and I start to work on the impossible to mow patch of grass that it mysteriously lower than the rest of the yard, and the Weed Eater dies on me again.

Thats it, I give up! I put the Weed Eater away, and go to sit on the porch with Thade. I then looked down at my hand and notice a gigantic blister, just lovely. Thade said that I could use one of his Batman Band-Aids to help my aching hand. I still want to get the yard finished, but I don’t know if it is going to happen any time too soon.

Any Weed Eater tips would be greatly appreciated… So far it is Weed Eater 1, Nico 0 …

Jun 6

Not The Coffee Maker!

I was enjoying my cup of coffee yesterday morning, and I could hear the strangest screeching sound. It sounded like an exotic bird trapped in my backyard. I walked into the kitchen and I could hear the noise getting louder and louder, and then I realized it was my Coffee Maker (Hamilton Beach Brew Station) boiling itself dry. Why coffee maker? Why! This is the one appliance that I need to function properly everyday!

I thoroughly cleaned out the machine, and this morning crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. I plugged it in, pressed the magic red button, and again the same awful sound screeched from my beloved coffee maker : (  Luckily I held on to my little 4 cup Mr.Coffee maker, so it should get me by a little while.

My Brew Station is only two years old, but we have some awfully hard water in our area. I’m pretty sure it was the hard water that added to my Brew Station’s demise, not me running major amounts of coffee through it daily 😉 Just in case I’m shopping for a new coffee maker this weekend, does anyone have a favorite brand of coffee maker that you use at home?

May 27

Keep the Doors Locked

My goodness this has been one strange and scary afternoon. I was sitting in the living room hanging out with the boys and I could hear someone screaming outside. School is out for the Summer and I thought it might be one of the kids across the street, but it wasn’t… It was a lady standing in out front yard screaming and clapping her hands as if she might be looking for a lost dog.

I could hear getting louder and louder, so I peaked out the window and I saw her put her hands to her face, and right away I knew something was very wrong. I went to check that all of the doors were locked, and then I kept the boys very quiet in the living room. I then heard a loud “whack” on the storm door, and I grabbed both boys and headed to the kitchen.

I got both boys settled in the kitchen, and I quietly walked to the front door, peeled back the curtain, and I saw her foot. She was sitting on my front porch, shaking. I went back into the kitchen and called my hubby, and then I called the Police. I called James back on my cell phone, and I waited for the Police to arrive.

The Police made it to our house quickly,  and thank goodness! They stopped the lady just as she was trying to cross the street, and they talked to her for quite awhile. I have no idea what she was up to, but I am grateful that we are all safe and sound. I’m still a little shaken up and worried, I felt a little helpless this afternoon. Such a strange day…

May 20

Cameraless

I’m bad luck when it comes to electronics. My awesome digital camera broke and displays only a white screen now, and then this weekend my other digital camera bit the dust too. Anytime I attempt take a picture the entire camera shuts down. I’ve ordered a new battery for my awesome digital camera, but it isn’t going to make it in time for Thade’s first T-Ball game… Oh well, I just hope the new battery does the trick.