A few weekends ago, my husband and I decided to get in one final ski-trip. Along with my parents, we went up to a friend’s condo in Stratton, VT. We packed the car – pack and play, stroller, diapers, food, toys, clothes, ski clothes, ski gear and the baby and started the 4 1/2 hour drive on a Friday night around 7:00. It started off nice and relaxing and then about half way through I started to have a panic attack. I started to think about all the things I should be doing this weekend like cleaning, food shopping, shopping for upcoming birthday gifts, etc. While I was looking forward to getting away for a weekend, I was also stressing about how much I needed to do.

I realized I still had about three hours in the car and that I could actually be productive and start crossing things off my list. I bought two birthday gifts right from my iphone and I even did all of my food shopping right from my iphone. I recently started using Peapod, Stop & Shop’s online grocery shopping and delivery service.

It’s amazing. It takes me about 15-30 minutes to do my shopping from my computer, ipad, or even my iphone. I select a delivery date and time. You have to get in by 12:00 noon the day before for morning/afternoon delivery and by 12:00 midnight the night before for evening delivery. Sometimes weekends book up a little faster but usually you need no more than 2 days in advance. The standard delivery window period  is 2 hours but you can save $1.00 by selecting a 3.5 hour delivery window. Your groceries (including fresh fruits, produce, and meats) are delivered straight to your door and the delivery person even brings them right into the kitchen. For a $6 fee I find this service well worth it. With a 15 month old baby every trip (like our trip to VT) becomes a project so having this convience is great. Also, I believe that I save money. I buy what I need and not what I happen to see and buy out of impulse.

After finishing my gift and food shopping. I sat back and relaxed for the rest of the car ride and thought about the great skiing I’d get to do for the weekend.

P.S. If you are interested in trying out Peapod use this link for a special friends-only deal – http://peapod.tellapal.com/a/clk/dpzGh

I drove into the city today and assumed that it would take me two hours to get in because of the “threat” of a torrential rain storm.

I started out looking for gas.  My tank was on empty so I went to my local gas station and asked for a fill up.  The guy who usually pumps my gas was avoiding me and I didn’t know why. When he finally came to help me it was about 10 minutes later, he told me that they didn’t have gas.

I drove over the loop into Merrick and was nervous that I would run out of gas. I got a call from a friend from the Entrepreneurs’ Organization.  We started to have a conversation about different topics affecting our chapter and in the meantime, I drove right passed the gas station!

So, I turned around and got out of the car to pump gas. She was talking on my bluetooth in the car and I rolled down the windows to hear.  But she was unable to hear me, so I told her I would call her back.

After filling up the tank, I got on the Meadowbrook parkway and headed into the city.  The Meadowbrook turns into the Northern State after the Roosevelt Field (large shopping mall) exit.  I was on the Northern and I hear a car honking.  I look over and it’s my client and friend, Larry Roher from myVRM.

I rolled down my window, “where are you going?” I asked.

“Into the city,” he said.

“Me too,” I said and all of a sudden the cars started honking us from behind.  We waved and went our way along the Northern to the Grand Central Parkway.

When I got to the intersection of the Grand Central and the Long Island Expressway, I noticed a large green bag of trash on the side of the road. Someone actually took their trash out of their house and decided to dump it on the side of the road like that?  I couldn’t believe it.

I drove onto the Long Island Expressway and tried to edge in in front of a white Mercedes. She started honking me.  She didn’t want to let me in!

I finally get to the toll at the Midtown Tunnel and I get up to the gate and you know what happens? Nothing!  Nothing happened!  The gate never went up.  My mother was on my car phone and I told her that I had to go. I started to look for my EZ pass and couldn’t find it anywhere.

A police officer came up to my car. “Oh my God,” I said, “I think my EZ pass was stolen. What do I do?”

“You give me money and I’ll give you change,” he said. I gave him a $10 bill.  ”Go pull on the side of the road before the tunnel.”

I did that. Another car was behind me.  I guess the same thing happened to him.  I got out of the car and as I got out the rain started to come down like a shower.  But, I was determined to find that  EZ pass so I continued to look and got soaking wet!

The police officer finally came back. (For a while, I was thinking he would keep the change because it was taking so long!)  He gave me my change and told me that if this happens again I will get a ticket.

I drove into the tunnel.  There was no traffic.  And, when I came into the city, it was bumper to bumper traffic.

Just another amazing morning… (If you had an interesting morning, please share with me….)