Swindled by Tea

I swear I was swindled out of $75 today.  For tea.  Do not tell my husband.

I stopped by the lovely Scottsdale outdoor shopping center to return some clothes I had purchased recently from Anthropologie and J. Crew.  I am the return queen, but that is another story.  My 15 year old son, Jackson, was with me so this was an add-on fun factor for him combined with the doctor visit he had just had.  He's had a rough year - I wouldn't recommend moving a kid across the country halfway through 8th grade.  Really, don't do it.

The J. Crew return went seamlessly as did the Anthropologie return.  I walked out empty handed and my credit card was plumped back up to the tune of about $300.  Impulse shopping is expensive and a very bad habit I explained to my son.  As we came upon Teavana, Jackson came to a screeching halt.  "What's this?  What's going on here?  What is this place?  I LOVE TEA!"  Not his exact words, but you know.  He poured a thimble sized plastic cup of the sample of the day and his eyes became spinning bullseyes.  It was a blend of Wild Orange Blossom and Youthberry and probably crack.

Along comes sweet young tea store sales girl, all shy bangs and bohemian skirt.  "Come on over and I'll put some together for you," says Moonchild.  Ok!  "Would you like the small tin for $6 or the large tin for $7?"  This was a no- brainer, give us the large tin!  As she began scooping the tea I noticed  that the price per once was written on the store bin.  OMG!  $12 for 2 ounces!  And I was getting a total of 8 ounces - $48 dollars!  For tea!  I thought the $7 tin included the tea.  Sometimes I just don't put 2 and 2 together.

Meanwhile, we had also decided to purchase a special tea brewing device for the loose tea.  Another $20 gone.  And because the WOB/YB tea was so special, we needed to have German rock sugar to sweeten it with.  $5 down the turlet.

Being a self-conscious person and very uncomfortable with backing out of a deal after the fact, I said nothing.  I started rationalizing in my head, "well it could be Jackson's special gift for graduating from 9th grade and he really loves it and he really doesn't ask for much and he's such a good boy."  None of which is true because technically he did not graduate from 9th grade as he finished the year with two F's.  And he asks for a lot.  But he is a good boy.  I was in deep doo doo and those are the thoughts that got me through the transaction.

Moonchild really knows how to do her job and how to spot a sucker a mile away.   I especially love how she ended the sale - "And, with tax,  the amount you've spent on your Health and Wellness today is only $75.46!"  Only?!  This is b.s. talk only a swindler uses.  My stomach was in knots and I began sweating.  Where could I pass out and not clunk my head on the way down?  Then I remembered that I had made those returns and maybe it wasn't such a bad outcome after all.  I decided to tell my husband the return amount was only $224.54. So I actually didn't spend any money at all!

I've become quite good at fooling myself.

The day's lesson on impulsive shopping appears to have gone unheeded.  By my son and myself.

Little Dog Knocking

It's 8:00 p.m. and I'm home alone.  Well basically since my 15 year old son is barricaded in his bedroom for the night and my husband is out at a conference.  Knock, knock, knock.  Who is knocking on my garage entrance door?  This is especially frightening since I haven't met anyone lately that would be dropping by on a moment's notice.

My heart beating, I slowly open the door to see a woman and her Jack Russell terrier by her side and and at her other side, Napoleon.  I could barely comprehend this situation.  She (Lisa) said she found my little dog all alone at the end of the driveway by the street.

This could not be happening.  My 7 pound Yorkie does not get away from me especially since moving to this coyote, bobcat and rattlesnake infested state called Arizona.  But he did.  For 1 hour.  Lisa was walking her dog and noticed something small and dark moving around and upon looking further, noticed it was a small dog, alone.  She said he started walking towards my garage and she followed him and he went right up to the door inside the garage leading to the house.  Lisa helped Napoleon "knock" on the door to ask to be let in.  I figured it had been one hour since my son or I had been in or out a door and he must have quietly walked out unseen, though I still can't believe I could let that happen.

It is only by a sheer miracle that Napoleon is still here today.  By the laws of nature, he should have been snatched and eaten by one of the animals of prey around here.  Sorry.   It's just food chain basics.  He would be a chicken wing for a mountain lion.  I don't take that lightly and would die of heartbreak if that ever happened.

I guess a funny way to look at it is that he was trying to run away because he was mad about something.   Maybe he just had enough of my picking at his eye boogers or maybe I didn't put enough Cheerios in his breakfast bowl or maybe I didn't let him check enough "pee" mail on our morning walk.    So he packed up his bags and ran away.  To the end of the driveway.  

So Lisa,  I have you to thank for saving my dog's life.  Really.  I am so thankful that you happened to be walking your dog Zoey at the right time in the right place last night.  I'm so glad you're the type of person who doesn't just walk by when things don't look right.

As I am snuggling with Napoleon this morning, I can't help but think I could be mourning a loss right now, but because an angel was watching out for me, I still have my most favorite little guy in the world.

The Escape Artist

Watch Coldplay cover 'Fight for Your Right' in MCA tribute

Watch Coldplay cover 'Fight for Your Right' in MCA tribute

Don't Cry Over Spilled Nail Polish on the Berber in the Bedroom

Sally Hansen, why have you done this to me?  I just wanted corally/pink toes, that's all!

I was sitting on the carpet in my bedroom painting my toenails (the nail polish bottle was sitting in a more precarious manner) and flinched suddenly.  Splat.  Wavelength (I am referring to Sally's chosen name for this color) in a 2-inch line sinking fast into the Berber.

Sheer panic!  I tried blotting it up with paper towels and that just pushed it in deeper.  I quickly googled some carpet cleaning companies to call for advice, but they were all, "um, I don't know if we can get that out."  Well if they can't, who can?  I hung up on one of them and started blotting the spot with nail polish remover.  That makes sense, right?  Not really.  Now I have a larger mottled stain with a lightness around it.  Crap on a crapper!  This is a disaster!

I called the carpet cleaning company back and they will be coming over tomorrow to assess the sitch.  Basically they'll spray some dry chemical on it and we'll sit back and watch for results.

I texted my husband who was out of town on business and in return I got a sad face.  That's all.  I don't know what that means.  I think I'm in trouble.

And Wavelength is in the trash.  I don't think I can ever wear it again.