By Patti Parish-Kaminski, Publisher
It’s not necessarily that I break things – things just aren’t made to last!
I have recently become an online shopping guru. Now I previously, from time to time, shopped online, particularly for office supplies and such. But now, I’m such an avid online shopper, it’s a situation.
Just yesterday, I went to the Walmart. Yes, my retail options are quite limited in Pagosa Springs, and I needed a few essentials and sundries. You can get anything at Walmart, right? I was a bit hesitant because of my trip to said retailer last week was for rope and lime, and it’s such a small town, I feared the same sales associate would be on duty. I was correct.
Fortunately, my list this week wasn’t as ominous as last week. I did, however, greet and smile brightly at the sales associate. Mr. Kaminski was not with me this time. The sweet sales associate seemed concerned. Oh, well.
As I scanned the aisles for treasures, nearly everything I found I quickly realized I could get online – and cheaper – without having to wander to and fro aimlessly in a huge box retailer. And best of all, whatever you need comes directly to your door. I like that.
I paid for my essentials with a real live sales associate, as I do not currently work at Walmart – a happenstance that annoys Mr. Kaminski to death. He will go to the self-checkout at any retail establishment forgoing assistance with his purchases no matter how complicated the purchases are. I simply will not. It vexes me to no end to scan my purchases, search for purchases that do not scan properly in an unfamiliar and unfriendly electronic system, wait for customer service as there is typically wine involved, select how to pay my bill, pay my bill, bag my items and then get shaken down at the door for my receipt, which I have already put in my purse – if I remembered to grab it at all. If a retailer is that concerned about checking purchases, they should not have self-checkout as an option.
Knowing Amazon Prime Day was imminent, I didn’t get all on my list at the Walmart. My trusty Amazon account would come in clutch, plus the bonus of Prime Day.
I was locked and loaded day one of Amazon Prime Day with my list in tow. The first two pages of items on Prime Day Deals were cleaning mechanisms and supplies or electronics. Really? I need stuff, not cleaning supplies, and Mr. Kaminski is in charge of all electronic purchases.
In my defense, I am not a fan of cleaning nor of items with which to clean with. Frankly, I’m not good at it. In the last two months, I have broken a Swiffer and a vacuum cleaner. It was a new vacuum cleaner. When we pulled up in Colorado, there was another mop in the garbage that I broke last time I was here.
“Why is the mop in the garbage,” Mr. Kaminski queried.
“Remember honey, I’m strong, very strong.” His eye roll said it all.
As Mr. Kaminski left, he gave me a small leaf blower and showed me how to charge the battery to combat the pine needles on our porch in lieu of sweeping – quicker, easier. I was confident I could manage this task. After all, it looks so easy when the yard guys do it, right?
Apparently, there’s a right and wrong way to hold a leaf blower when in use. And they are powerfully strong, kinda like me. They will get away from you and break into pieces. Good thing it’s Amazon Prime right now. I ordered Mr. Kaminski a new one. It will arrive before he even notices. See y’all next week – on the porch!
Patti Parish-Kaminski
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