Dear REI Corporate Headquarters,

Today I took my kids to the Redmond REI. We were going to get rain boots for myself but I thought I'd ask about waterproof hiking shoes for my 3 year old daughter since she spends half of her school day hiking and exploring the woods as part of her preschool program.

The first woman to help me showed me three shoes that would work for my daughter. Only one was priced under $60 so I said I'd think about it.

My kids and I quietly wondered around the store and finally I decided that she needed the shoes and would be willing to pay the ridiculous price if it meant she had some good outdoor shoes.

I went back to the shoe department, grabbed the shoe we wanted to look at and waited for help. The two employees were busy with other customers and I was fine to wait. However, as I was getting close to waiting for 15 minutes, I started getting a little agitated when I noticed one of the employees was now chit-chatting with the customer he had been helping about biking to work and camping at some lake.

Another 5 minutes later a woman came over to shoes and started straightening the shelves. I waited until she was as a good stopping point before getting her attention. I had now been waiting with my two small children for close to 25 minutes.

Female Employee: Have you been helped?
Me: No, not yet.I have the shoe right here though.
Female Employee: Okay, come over here and I'll help you.
This is when I exchanged a confused did-she-really-just-say-that look with another mom in the shoe department. I stayed where I was until the female employee sighed and took her time getting over to me.

She asked if I wanted my daughter's foot sized and I told her I was pretty sure she was in a size 7. Now, if I wasn't irritated already, I become so as this female employee takes the shoe from my hand, tells me that this shoe does not come that small and then, as I'm talking to her, trying to explain what I'm looking for and why i had grabbed that particular shoe - SHE WALKED AWAY.

The other mom in the department and I were baffled. I have never been treated this way before.

Now, I'd like to assume this female employee was simply stepping into the back room to check and see if the shoe came in my daughter's size or perhaps she was getting someone who knew more about children's footwear but, as I stood there, mouth ajar, I couldn't help but think - are you freakin' serious?

I visited REI hoping for a great selection with exceptional quality and wonderful customer service. However, I left the store upset and empty handed. Further, I will really consider whether or not REI is the place to take my business when looking for outdoor supplies from now on. The entire REI trip was a complete disappointment.

Sincerely,
Liz Allen
Bellevue, WA

Last night I had this wonderful, promising chat with Ethan about how my hip was feeling a lot better, how I wasn't limping anymore, how there was no longer a sharp pain. We thought, maybe it was because it had popped out of the socket, releasing fluid and relieving pain. I said that it is still sore sometimes but really seems to be getting better. When he asked how it feels in the morning I explained that that is the only inconsistent time. If I sleep well (and perfectly still) then I wake up and feel fine, no soreness at all. If I tossed and turned and slept on my side all night, I wake up sore and sort of swollen feeling.

Well, surprise, surprise... I had these awful, very precise muscle crams in my left leg last night. Mostly on the front of my thigh, groin and hip. They hurt so bad a few times, I was actually scared. They let up a bit as I was going to sleep, but it took forever. I tossed and turned all night. I felt like I had restless leg syndrome all over my body. This morning I woke up and my hip was killing me, the sharp snapping pain is bad and I also am limping again. I am so disappointed. Not only that... but I woke up with a cold, a few hives and canker sores. It's all due to stress. I know it is. Those damned essays last week were really getting to me. But, that was just the start of my day.

A later in the afternoon, Phoenix came running in to tell me Scarlett had lipstick and she squirted it all over. What? Crap! I ran in and she had a raspberry chapstick that she had just decimated. It was everywhere. All over my office chair. All over her. And chunks of it all over the carpet. I had Phoenix run and get the baby wipes for me while I kept Scarlett from touching anything. She thought it was hilarious though and (laughing) told me she was going to take a shower. I didn't want to get real mad at her but it was ticking me off that she thought it was all a joke. I did end up sticking both the kids in the shower while I cleaned up. They stayed in there for quite a while so that was nice.

When they got out, we were putting on clothes and Scarlett threw-up on the carpet. Ugh. You're kidding me, right? It wasn't bad. She had probably drank too much shower water and was too wild and had a bubble in her tummy. She kept trying to touch it though and informed me that it looked like a moon. Please someone tell me she's not going to turn into some artist who's medium is vomit.

Fortunately the rest of my day was smoother. Though I'm sick and hurting, my husband is amazing and let me sleep for much of the day. He was also super busy packing up a lot of the house. And, they kids were fairly well behaved today too so I just got to zone out and watch television shows on DVD. But now I'm trying to do at least a little writing so my day doesn't feel like an entire waste. ;)