possessed...a Halloween tale

I have had a rather busy week. I should not even be on here right now, but I have to write about the funny thing that happened to me. It is actually indirectly related to my busy week.

See I had to run to Anchorage for this elusive glaze that we are using in our Relief Society Fabulous Friday this weekend. I got left being in charge of a beaded necklace with Scrabble tile pendant when someone who knew how to make this project moved and therefore getting promoted to running the whole thing vs. just helping shop for parts on eBay.

Back to the story... After claiming my rare dimensional glaze (That is a technical term in the scrabble tile necklace world) I was starving on my way back to pick Olivia up from pre-school. My 7 AM bowl of Cheerios wasn't cutting it anymore ( it was 3:00). I did not have time for much not did I have more than $4 in my wallet. Taco Bell did not sound tempting. Nor did anything else. So I decided to run into the gas station for a drink and a Luna Bar to tide me over.

But I get to the drink station and sense something staring at me. Boring its eyes in the back of my nourishment deprived brain. Vulnerable to its powers I turn in slow motion to see the hot dog station. (the red font color is supposed to be scary...like blood. The italics is supposed to be shiver-y).

My mouth begins to water.

Mustard. Relish. That sweet and tangy mixture tempting the back of my throat.

I could not resist.

But half way through fishing the dog out of the hot water with tongs that had been resting in an empty drink cup and squeezing the relish out of the Heinz bottle instead of opening up an individual package, I realize (too late) the sanitary (or lack of) situation I am in.

The relish bottle was a sticky, and slightly crusty, squeeze kind. So was the mustard. How hot does the water have to remain before awaiting hot dogs grow bacteria? And when was the last time these tongs sitting next to them were cleaned? I bet they have never been dropped on the floor. Or picked up by the grungy construction workers outside.

I want to put it back or throw it away and continue my search for a Luna bar. But what kind of social / legal consequences are there for throwing away an uneaten hot dog in the convenient store? How close do they monitor those cameras? I bet they are just waiting to nab a nice mom like me and then I will be late for preschool pick up.

So I pay for the hot dog and drink and head back to my car. Passing more than a couple of trash cans on the way.

Because now I have paid for good food. And like a good mom I know there are starving children in Africa who would love this, so I should be grateful.

And that bottle wasn't that sticky. The health department was sure to have just been here testing with their little thermometers and clipboards.

So I eat it.

Like a woman possessed.

Or at least like a stress eater.

PS-for those of you in Anchorage, the Scary part of the story happens when I tell you where I actually bought this delicacy: The Holiday on Muldoon... I know. Yikes.