New Poll Question

Thanks to everyone who voted in the 1-95 construction poll. It was pretty evenly split. Don't forget to take the online survey that I linked to in the "Interesting Bookmarks Entry."
Our new poll question is all about Christmas shopping. With my recent experiences at local retailers, it's first and foremost on my mind.
Remember, your vote counts here!

Back to Normal at Wal-Mart

Being mad at the Constant Friendship Target about the Wii fiasco has thrown off my whole week. I've been trying to branch out to other venues, but now I remember why I was so faithful in the first place.
This a.m. after I put the kids on the bus I ran over to Wal-Mart because I needed to get a birthday present for a party my daughter is attending this weekend. I parked close to the door and believed this was a good sign.
Shopping is much more pleasant since the remodel. The aisles are wider, it's easier to find things. It looks cleaner.
I was even humming a Christmas carol when I lined up at the register.
That's when it started.
I was in a long line. 3 registers were open. A cashier zipped behind me and helpfully told the elderly people at the back of the line she would help them next. This is a pet peeve of mine. Customer service at people at Wal-Mart never speak to me, because I don't fit the elderly demographic. Which, now that I think about it, kind of makes me happy. This happened 3 times while I was in line, but I thought I'd stick it out in my line because I was already committed. 15 minutes later, my goods were being checked out, but wait, the main purpose of the trip, a lovely Sleeping Beauty Disney Princess, was not in the system. It would not ring up. The cashier called the toy department. Nobody called back. She called again. Nobody called back. She called a manager, who ambled over and took the doll to customer service. Customer service couldn't find it the number and spent a lot of time examining the box. This wasn't an obscure item. It was a Disney Princess. They called the toy department. 20 minutes later, they decided to manually input the price.
Then I made the mistake of asking for a gift receipt.
This proved impossible! They couldn't do that! So I said Enough. You got me. I've got to get out of here. I thanked the very patient lady behind me and the cashier. The manager was mean to her. It wasn't her fault.
The woman behind me mentioned the Wal-Mart commercials where all the cashiers are playing Christmas music with their register lights. She summed it up best, "I guess they didn't see that commercial here."

Interesting Bookmarks

Picked up two interesting items at the Bel Air library. The first is an easy way to support the library while doing your Christmas shopping.
At the Bel Air library (not sure if this is available at Abingdon) you can pick up a voucher for the Barnes & Noble Bookfair supporting the Harford County Public Library Foundation.
On Dec. 7 at the Bel Air Barnes & Noble if you present the voucher to the cashier while making your purchase, a percentage of the net sale will be donated to the foundation. It doesn't say how much, but any bit will help.
Two new interesting titles we're interested here at TAA are The Letters of Noel Coward and Options, by the Fake Steve Jobs.
Another bookmark takes us back to one of our favorite topics, road construction. The bookmark asks readers to "Help Shape the Future of Transportation in Maryland" by going online and completing a 10-minute survey. The answers "you provide will be used to shape Maryland's 20-year vision for transportation."
Here's the link.
Take the survey

Road Work

If you're traveling down to Lowe's, Regal or BJ's, be aware that for some reason they've dug a big hole in the road in front of the new mega pet store and it's currently one lane with a big bulldozer in the middle of the road. Traffic isn't bad, but with the size of the hole it seems as if the crew will be there awhile. Maybe they've decided to start building underground, too. Maybe a new storage unit!

Deer Watch

Be careful out there. At Tollgate Road, by the Monmouth Meadows traffic circle, a deer jumped into the road around lunchtime. They must be confused about where they're going and what time it is because of the fog. Keep an eye out for them. I know there are always some around the new Toll Brothers development. We saw a herd run by the library not too long ago.

Early Christmas Spirit

Although the leftover turkey and various other leftovers are still jamming my fridge, the holiday spirit is in full swing in Abingdon. Just ask the lady who was in front of my DH this a.m. at Target who bought four of a very desirable, very hard to get gaming system even though it plainly said it was "1 per customer." She of course, got the last ones, leaving DH emptyhanded. So she must really, really, need the money she's going to get from selling those for exhoribant prices on ebay. She must be taking that money and doing something very worthy with it that others cannot possibly comprehend. So thank you, madam, wherever, you are, and also the concerned and alert Target team member who made it possible!

Thanksgiving Fun

The Abingdon Branch of the Harford County Public Library is having a "Turkey Trot" for kids pre-k through 8th grade every day from now until Nov. 30. Kids who spot a gobbler in the stacks will "harvest" a reward.
The library is also collecting donations of food at all of its branches for FISH and the Salvation Army. While you're checking out all those free movies for Thanksgiving, why not leave a can of veggies?