Dead Beat Strikes Again!

So serioulsy, is there a notice out there somewhere sent to all the stores and businesses of our town about me and my 'dead beatedness' as it were? Really this is getting ridiculous. Today it was only funny because of what had happened last week and because Wilma was there to witness the whole thing and laugh with/at me. So this is what happened:

I went to register yesterday for 'something' that is happening in our town this weekend, there was a small fee to register and wouldn't ya know it, I couldn't pay it yesterday! I had no cheques with me and I couldn't pay with debit so I said I would come back. Well today while I was out running various and sundry errands....NOT AT THE GROCERY STORE EITHER.....I ran into Wilma, I hugged her as it seemed the appropriate thing to so as someone just had commented to her how she's being hugged and congratulated all the time now since she became Mrs. Puffy Unkle Kracker Daddy Jack Cap'n Kirk Man. Then both Wilma and I ran into a mutual aquaintance/friend and wouldn't ya know it she's in charge of collecting on my registration fee so there I am in the street this time being asked for my $x.xx again! It was TOO TOO funny I tell you!

Think I'll put up posters of myself around town warning all of my failure to pay and to not let me in unless I show my cash on hand first!

I tell ya with me being a Dead Beat and my husband having a whole phrase coined about his 'one sided' sharing tactics with certain beverages of the bubbly, bitter, "beerish" variety - we are really living up to our potential as citizens of our community and role models for our chillun!

DEAD BEAT MOM!!!

Well On Friday I went to the local Shop Easy to get a few various and sundry items with my two in tow.....and while I am perusing the aisles the Manager (not an original Townie) approaches me with a bill for some groceries I had charged a while ago (about 2 - 3 weeks) because I had forgotten my purse one day(thispoint does not add to my side of the case I know!) . I knew I had paid it when I saw the bill and the amount because I don't make a habit of charging my groceries and I remember having asked to pay my bill on a different day when I was in for groceries so that's what I told him, thinking he would believe me, say 'okay' and take the bill away. But not.....instead he explains that it doesn't show it's been paid and that he wiil get 'the girls' to check it out. Fine, that's fair. So feeling satisfied that they will discover the proof that I had indeed paid my bill I go about my perusal of cereal on display. Next thing I know this little 'Bull Dog' of a woman comes out of the office with my bill in hand and explains to me that it wasn't recorded that had I paid so I must not have paid it. I then try to explain to Bull Dog my case again: that I know I paid it and someone must have made a mistake and the Bull Dog disagrees and reiterated her point (as I am sure my $34.19 is a very close and personal problem for her) that I must not have paid it because the people that run the cash register do not have access to the book that she is holding in her hand. So I then stop arguing because I am already embarrassed at having my bill confronting me while I am trying to shop and being implied a liar and a dead - beat Mom who doesn't pay her bills and ask "So I should just pay it again then?". Not backing down she once again shows me her book and let's me know it hasn't been paid. So in an effort to stop the embarrassing confrontation and further hold up the days business I respond: 'Fine, I'll just pay it again, it's only $30, whatever."

Afterwards as my groceries that I had selected from the visit were passing through and tallying up I was starting to get really mad about the whole situation;

1) The being approached in front of other shoppers about my outstanding bill which I can't for the life of me understand why it wasn't just mailed to me. If you knw who I am you know how to mail it!
2)The not being believed when I say I already paid it and not given any oppurtunity to really prove that I had - which wouldn't matter any way because I have no proof to speak of other than my memory and my debit transaction from the bank the day I believe I paid it before which wasn't for the amount in question because I was paying for other food as well.
3) The 'big city' attitude towards a very 'small town' situation. I mean if their policy is to let cutomers charge their groceries which is SOOOO small town then in keeping with that policy are they not somehow responsible to trust and give their customers 'credit' in other matters such as this at least one time when I am so obviously adamant that I had already paid? I can see tracking me down and demanding payment on an overdue account if it is clear that I make a habit of not paying my bills.

Anyways, while these points were passing through my mind and my groceries were passing through the scanner I decided to not buy the $50 worth of groceries I had taken off the shelves and cancelled my order and asked, again, to pay the Stupid Bill, thinking 'I won't be shopping here anymore.'

Then I went to the Grands and told them what happened and Gramma was SO MAD! It was hilarious! She wanted to go down there right now and set them straight! 'They'll know who was right when I am done with them! Esmond! Take me down there right now!" It was so sweet to see her upset with them for me!

Anyway, I am not as mad about it now, in all likelyhood (and this is not in anyway an admission that they are right and I am wrong) I probably didn't ever pay the bill ,knowing myself, I just thought I did. I mean I am the girl who goes and buy's the groceries and just leaves them there at the store - because I am towing two and at the moment and especially lately feel quite proud that I get out to do the shopping at all - and I am the girl who goes to the store to buy groceries and forgets my wallet but I am NOT the girl who tries to get out of paying for something I owe! All I have is my memory and it just may not be correct. I am still mad about the way it was handled though. It embarrassed me and made me feel small and untrustworthy in MY town that I grew up in and they are only there because the last two fools that tried to take over the store got fired! So hopefully they do too! I won't be arguing the point about my $30 I think I have paid twice now and have no proof of but I will have to make mention of how poorly that situation was handled somehow me thinks. Sadly, I think I still have to use the store as it's the only one we've got! I need stuff and I can't just be running to the nearby town that's 48 km's away. Sadly, because it's our little small town it has to be set right, at least in my mind.

There! Are you happy Puffy Kracker Daddy Cap'n' Kirk Man? I posted sumpin'.