the convenience of self-checkout

i went to hollywood fred meyer today. didn't need much-- a few apples, some creamer and a furnace filter. really no big deal. the plan was to run in and out.

who was i kidding?

there were about four checkstands open and about forty people standing in those four lines. ok, maybe twenty people. way too many for any kind of efficient experience. no problem, i'll just use the self-checkout. it's easy and quick.

who was i kidding?

oh, the drama of the weighted apples and the robotic cashier. i tried to convince the machine to sell me the apples. to no avail. it kept commanding me to, "remove item from bagging area." finally, the attendant came to 'help' me. she gave me a quick rundown on all the things i may have done wrong to provoke the robotic cashier, pressed a couple of buttons and dashed off. i hadn't actually done any of those things but..ok..all's well that ends well, right?

oh, who was i kidding?

robotic cashier just didn't want me to buy those apples. the command was now to, "place item on scanner." forget it already, i didn't even want the apples anymore! and oh, geez-- now the attendant was coming back. she shared some new ideas about how i could have caused this malfunction. so helpful. i gave her the apples, paid for my creamer and furnace filter and got the heck out of there! phew, not going back there for a while.

i just went to switch out the furnace filter. it isn't the right style. i guess i'll be returning to fred meyer tomorrow. i'm sure it will just be a quick trip. yes, i'm kidding.