Saturday afternoon

Yesterday afternoon was one of those comedy of errors that we'll all look back and laugh on at some point...but not at the time.  At the time, it made me want to cry, but it all worked out and life could've been worse!

My mom is buying the kids a ping pong table for Christmas.  We are really excited about this.  I've purchased the paddles and extra balls and that is what the kids are going to unwrap from her.  The table itself will remain safely in our garage until we are ready for it.  The purchase however, was an adventure.

There is a Meijer in the nearest major community, just over a 10 minute drive away.  This weekend was credit card discount, which means 15% off general merchandise.  I had noticed at another time they had a ping pong table that was $200 which mean I would get $30 off.  Andrew and I ventured yesterday to purchase it along with our weekly shopping.  We were fairly certain it wouldn't fit in the van, but weren't concerned because we have a luggage rack on top.  As an added bonus, it was marked down to $160 and I still got the discount...woo hoo!!!!!  Anyway, we confirmed it wouldn't fit so the gentlemen put it up on the rack, and I started loading our groceries while  Andrew went in to buy tie down straps.  He came back out several minutes later and spend another several minutes removing them from the package, when I quickly realized they were too short.  He went back into purchase longer ones, and returned and removed those from the package.  These however, were not "simple" ones like the first ones had been and we were completely clueless as to the design.  Two college educated individuals are standing there stumped in the parking lot by tie down straps!  Fortunately a kind samaritan with a clue recognized our problem and not only showed us how to use them, but made sure everything was secure so we could get on our way.  We laughed at our stupidity and were all set to leave...when the van wouldn't start.  We had left the hazards on for 45 minutes, and because of the age of the battery and the very cold temps (winter has arrived!) it didn't have enough juice to start the van.  Of course!!!  Andrew went back into the store and happened upon the store manager who had cables, and another manager brought his vehicle over to jump ours.  Seventy-five minutes after checking out we were on our way home!  We took back roads and went very slowly because after everything that had happened I could just see the ping pong table falling off on the road and begin destroyed.  We made it home safely though, and a neighbor came over to help get it down and hide it in our detached garage.  What an afternoon!