Chicken Tonight?

As anyone in my family will quickly testify, I seem to run into 'issues' in the local market now and then. There was the coffee incident with the scotch tape, handing the bagger my pre-purchased cloth bag for my groceries only to hear him say, "Oh, I've already got your items bagged," returning a roast that was put in my cart in error (prime rib - no less) and the list goes on. I've been working on being more relaxed in the stores (and their respective parking lots) the past few years.....so now the stage is set.

Shopping at the local Costco on a Friday is much preferred to shopping at a Costco on Saturday. This is one huge advantage to not having a full time job with traditional hours somewhere! The lines are do-able, people are friendlier, and the folk who seem to want to have just samples for lunch don't block the entire pathway of the aisles. It's all just a bit more relaxed.

I remembered to get the paper towels; is it 12 or 20 in a pack? So then my cart was more than half full. "I must shop wisely" I thought, as I do not want to have to get the orange truck for my purchases..... I wandered past the sodas (without DJ or JJ, I'm helpless lifting them) and entered the frozen section. "Ah - we do need some chicken this time," I said to no one in particular. We'd just finished a large bag of frozen chicken breasts that some nice person somewhere had wrapped up each one in its own little plastic package. I was happy to see that Costco had once again stocked the section with the non-individually wrapped chicken breasts, which are so much easier to use.

I wandered on, getting the eggs, milk, cheese (the real kind - DJ does not like the nacho kind in a can) and, of course, some treats for Max. Adding a bit of Lysol, my task was done. Oh boy, oh boy, a line with only one person ahead of me! Can you believe it? In the middle of the afternoon, no less. A nice gal started helping me unload my items and then she saw it - the package of chicken. "Ma'am, we can't sell you this." I looked around, wondering if I was in a 'No Chicken' line. "Why not?" "We don't sell this chicken any more. Would you like me to go get you the individually wrapped chicken breasts?" Hmmm... I thought. "I was so happy to see the un-wrapped chicken breasts. I really don't like the other kind, because when you open them up they drip chicken juice all over you and the counter. I'd really rather purchase this package." "Let me go ask the manager, Ma'am."

At this point the woman in line ahead of me chimed in, "I really don't like the individually wrapped kind either. It's not nearly as good. The chicken seems over-prepared by them jammin' it in those little wrappers." The checker was also most interested in this dilemma, and thankfully, no one was behind me in the line. Here she came, "Ma'am, this package is a half-pound less than the other style. Do you still want it?" "Sure." So she asked the checker to ring it up. Nope. It wouldn't ring up. "Ma'am, we can't sell you this chicken." "What will you do with the package of chicken that I'd far prefer?" "We can't sell you the chicken Ma'am." "O.K., well, I won't get chicken then."

JJ would be so proud, I thought. My blood pressure had not risen, the lady in line with me AND the checker agreed the situation was silly. I suggested they give the chicken to a homeless organization. The checker said, "No - they'll just throw it away."

So I guess I'll have to go fight the parking lot at Trader Joe's this afternoon. I'll have to choose between Chicken Gorgonzola, Tahiti Chicken Delight or Blue Mojito Chicken Cha Cha Cha. It's never just the bulk 'frozen chicken' there.