Deactivated

I had one job. Just one job to do while my main squeeze was out of town on business. All I had to do was get school socks for the girls.

I remembered that I had two $5 gift certificates for Old Navy, so I went there after work and rummaged through the children's sock displays to find plain white or plain navy socks that are suitable to accompany a Catholic school uniform.

After successfully finding plain white socks for a five-year-old foot, I went across the store to locate plain white socks for a nine-year-old foot. God forbid they be in the same place...or anywhere near the shoes.

After standing in line with two packages of socks for over 20 minutes, the cashier called me over and asked me if I found everything okay. I lied and told him that I did.

I used my Old Navy card...rewind...I inserted my Old Navy card into the credit card machine only for it to be denied. The cashier informed me that my credit card had been deactivated, probably because I hadn't used it in over six months.

He attempted to set me up with a new credit card because I was not able to use the gift certificates without using my store credit card for the remaining balance. I felt uncomfortable setting up a new credit card to purchase socks for crying out loud, not to mention I was afraid that it would negatively affect my credit score.

Luckily, that application got declined for whatever reason...okay? I ended up putting the gift certificates back in my wallet and simply paid with my debit card. Oh well, it was worth a try.

I ran to Target and picked up other things that I needed, the whole time stewing about the stupid socks and my interaction with Old Navy and my declined card. In a weird way, I felt like I was some financial delinquent.

Had my credit been compromised? Had I really not used the card in six months? That's very unlike me.

Once returning home, I contacted the phone number on the back of the card just to see what the heck had happened. Prepared to reprimand the phone representative because I was embarrassed while at checkout and afterward, something he had nothing to do with, I was relieved to hear that whatever happened in the store was simply a miscommunication of some kind. It's not that my Old Navy card had been deactivated, it was that I had never activated my new Old Navy card. That explains why today's credit card application was denied. I already had active card. Well, sort of.

In my opinion, there's a huge difference between not activated yet and deactivated.

While I am thankful that everything is essentially back to normal, I'm still annoyed with the cashier at Old Navy for not even suggesting that it was a possibility that I hadn't activated the card at all. He made it sound like my account had been shut down without my consent.

I refuse to take the fall for this one.

Speaking of fall, I need to get back to Old Navy. They have some great fall looks.

The "Me" Album

I was single for a long time. A long time. A lot can be said about that reality.

When I was single, I ate fast food. When I was single, I wasted a lot of time watching TV.  When I was single, I was a more visible friend. When I was single, I spent much of my evenings desperately scrolling through online dating sites...and, as a result, I had a photo album on my phone overflowing with pictures of me.

Me on vacation. Me on the couch. Me apple picking. Me at a friend's wedding. Me at another friend's wedding. Me. Me. Me.

These photos were kept in the archives to keep my dating profile current, or to send to a potential future ex-boyfriend.

I don't think I'm alone here. Do all singles have a "Me" album? An album of curated photos, perhaps filtered, that have passed the "do I look dateable" test.

I suspect I had the "Me" album photos less for them and more for me. I needed those good photos as a reminder that I am awesome and adorable. Stashed away where only I have access.

I am happy to report that my "Me" album has been edited down to just two photos for some time now. Just the photos that make me smile when I see them because they're a time capsule.

Sophomore year in high school

Glamour Shots in middle school

Maybe you are happily married and still have an album of great photos of yourself. I guess the reasoning behind each album is different.

I just hope that the album is for you and not for them. In my experience, the people that care about how perfect you look in those pictures are not worth it.

My New Favorite Thing

Hey, everyone! It is early May, and it has been some time since I have blogged.

It's not that I've had nothing to say. Quite the contrary. I have been keeping photos and screenshots and notes in my phone to remind me of topics that I want to discuss with you, but I have just not enough time in the day to get it down on screen.

The reason why I am taking the time to get this one particular topic out to you guys is because I have found a product that has literally changed my life.

Before I get into it, we need an understanding that you will not judge me by what I type from this moment going forward.

Agreed? Agreed.

For years, I have been guilty of using dryer sheets in my ballet flats in an effort to keep them fresh and clean smelling, especially in the summer months. I don't mean while they are in my room overnight. I mean before I put them on for the day, I put one dryer sheet in each of my shoes before I put my bare feet in them.

I know, I know. I should be wearing socks, or nylons, or Peds. Frankly, I just don't like the look or feel in ballet flats.

About a month ago, I was scrolling through Facebook and I saw a sponsored ad for Gekks. The product is a sock, of sorts, that you stick into your shoe so when you slip your bare foot in, it provides a layer between your the sole of your foot and the shoe itself. There are a few adhesive pads that you stick, like a sticker, to the sole and heel of your shoe, and there is a little flap that your toes actually go into just like a sock.

I purchased two pairs just to try it out and see how I like them. It took a little while for my order to be delivered, but it was well worth the wait. This product legit changed my life. Not only do I save money on dryer sheets, but I don't have to worry about it showing as I walk or slipping out. I can take off my shoes without needing to hide the fact that there's something hidden inside. Not to mention, my shoes last far longer than they have in the past. There's no need to replace them as often because they're not as...gross.

And, my shoes do not smell. At all. My feet do not smell. At all. I'm not exactly sure what fabric the product is made from, but it just takes that sweaty foot smell and makes it smell like new shoes.

They are just magical! So magical, in fact, that after just a couple days of using them, I ordered three more pairs and sent recommendations to friends about Gekks.

For the record, I am not a paid spokeswoman for Gekks. I am just a very satisfied, and, truthfully,  surprised customer.

So, tell me...what product has changed your life?

This Is McCrazy

When I heard the news several months ago, I was convinced it was just a rumor. A mean-spirited, crazy, ludicrous rumor that could never be true. Unfortunately, this afternoon, I witnessed it for myself. It is true. McDonald's no longer serves Hi-C Orange Lavaburst.

In Warwick, RI, it has been replaced by Fanta Orange, which, according to the McDonald's associate that I just came into contact with, is only different because it's carbonated. Ummm...yeah.

Apparently Ronald McDonald doesn't care about my childhood memories. He doesn't care that Hi-C Orange Lavaburst was 75% of the reason why my family would choose McDonald's over fast food rivals. The other 25% was the fries. 

He doesn't care that in the late 80s-early 90s the local McDonald's would donate Hi-C Orange Lavaburst by the gallons to recreational softball award ceremonies or gatherings because that was the drink of choice. He doesn't care that every single time I go to McDonald's, which admittedly is not as often as it used to be, I order Hi-C Orange Lavaburst to accompany my meal. He doesn't care that soda is terrible for people to consume.

Ronald, this changes things. I may be out of the McDonald's game for good because of your decision...your decision to make a couple extra bucks because soda is cheaper than Hi-C, I assume.

Shame on you, Ronald. Shame on you.

2017: A Retrospective

2017. That was fun.

Here are just a few of the things that I did this past year...

• Became an ordained minister, and successfully married two of my best friends off to men named Brian.
• Attended four weddings. Congratulations to Brian & Cindy, Darrell & Jessie, John & Pam, and Brian & Nikki.
• Reignited my love of reading and libraries, reading 14 books with paper pages. 
• Drank 88 unique beers.
• Was reminded yet again that alcohol and ice cream don't mix well. 
• Went to the gym 66 times. 
• Walked in a parade. 
• Met a camel in Kennedy Plaza.
• Witnessed the Fenway faithful hug it out with a diehard Cubs fan.
• Watched a ball game from the berm at McCoy.
• Paid money to see Andy Cohen (and Anderson Cooper) only to run into him in Beantown months later for free. 
• Finally mastered a Paint Night photo.
• Walked in memory of Jimmy and Susan in the AHA Heart Walk. 
• Took on some additional work responsibilities, and received a promotion. 
• Watched Billy Idol perform from a hot air balloon within Petco Park; and NKOTB, Boyz II Men, and Paula Abdul at Fenway. 
• Volunteered in the community with work colleagues, friends, and family. 
• Cut soda and some people out of my life, which have both shown good results for my well-being. 
• Ate the most delicious lobster roll in Rhode Island. 
• Captured a perfect rainbow spanning over Providence. 
• Crossed "visit Chicago" off my travel bucket list. 

But, most importantly...

• Met the love of my life. 
• Met the two loves of his life, which formed a pretty perfect little family, if you ask me. 
• Mastered making elementary school lunches. 
• Have undergone a name transformation. I will forever be known as Miss Trish, and I love it. 
• Simultaneously rolled my eyes and laughed harder than I ever have before. 
• Introduced talking about our favorite and least favorite part of the day every evening.
• ...and so much more. 

If 2017 it's any indication of what 2018 will be like, "yahoo!"

Happy 2018! Cheers!