I normally wouldn't complain, but...

I did. I meant to blog about this yesterday, but time got away from me. Plus, Gabe came home early and I didn't want to waste that time blogging. So, yesterday, Maddie and I stopped at the grocery store, Giant, in Hayfield on our way home from Gymboree. It's on the way home and I normally don't like Giant (the one near our house is pretty ghetto), but this one is actually nice and Gabe and I have been there several times before. The checkers are usually really nice and helpful and the store is clean and well stocked. Well, yesterday was a different story. Maddie and I had finished our shopping and picked lane 5 to pay for our groceries. We were 2nd in line and I kept reminding myself that I want to ask for paper bags (I have to remind myself to ask for this, as well as if I have any coupons because often I get caught up with the baby, or finding my wallet, and I forget). So, it was my turn, and the woman was ringing me up (strange saying) and halfway through, I realized I forgot to say "paper please." I want to note here that there used to be a time when you, as the customer, were asked "paper or plastic?" Remember that? Now, it's just assumed that you want plastic, even though the facts are that it takes about 500 years for that bag to disintegrate at a landfill. Don't get me wrong. I, too, have plenty of plastic bags-they are very useful for poopy diapers :) Anyways, I tell the woman "Oh, I'm sorry . I meant to ask for paper bags. You don't have to re-bag the items already in plastic, but could you please bag the rest in paper bags?" If looks could kill. This woman was sooooooooooooooooooooo put out by the fact that I dare ask for paper bags! This really pissed me off because isn't my choice? She acted like I had totally put her out and she continued to not only ignore me when I thanked her, but she bagged my groceries the way Maddie would do it; not in any sort of order and without thought to how heavy they were. She basically threw my groceries into the bags (including dropping my apples). It left me with a TERRIBLE taste in my mouth and as I drove home I debated calling the manager of the store. I thought to myself, "she's just having a bad day." But then I decided, "that's not my problem." So, when we got home and I put Maddie down for her nap, I called the manager. He was pleasant and listened to what I said. He said he'd take care of it and I did feel better. Whether he talks to her or not-I did feel better because the level of service in many industries is terrible and I think I'm sort of done dealing with that. Especially in the name of the environment. It got me thinking that there should really be a way for grocery stores and stores like Target, to promote paper bags instead. I know many are thinking that this takes trees, but if you reuse or recycle the paper bags then it's a win-win situation. I encourage you all to ask for paper from now on. At some stores it's a little less convenient because they don't have the paper bags with handles-but it's worth it. Or, better yet, bring your own reusable bags. They sell them at almost all stores for like $.99. That's my rant/opinion for the day. Discuss amongst yourselves...