GROCERY SHOPPING Parking Lot con't

10.  You know, the cart corral is pretty easy to figure out.


3 sides have metal bars and the front is open, perfect for containing the cart when you've dropped off your groceries in your car.


The cart's back side usually folds in to the basket, so that when another cart is pushed against the back, that cart will slide in to the one in front of it, somewhat locking the carts together and "compacting" the line, allowing more more carts to be stored in a given space.


But, it seems, this concept is difficult for a lot of people because you see carts that are sideways, not pushed together or jammed in to a row that isn't wide enough for them!


Also, being a late night shopper, I see corrals that are over filled with carts, sticking way out from where they should have stopped.. A few manage to get lose and roll in to the driving lane of the parking lot...


OK, may be no one is free from the store to bring them inside every once and a while, I can see that...


But, why do people keep adding on to the ever-growing cart line when an alternative is so easy to do?!


This is what I do:


Usually the corral is put in one of the parking spaces and is a little narrower than the spot.


So, the inside of the corral is full, but there is that "free" space next to it that is about the same width as the cart.


I just start a new line next to the corral and hope others will use it instead of continuing to make the inside lines longer!


Pretty simple.

GROCERY SHOPPING Parking Lot

9.  OK, we made it though the grocery shopping despite the carts, customers and cashiers... But, let's back up a bit...


We had to get to the store, more than likely, by car, and that opens up a whole new series of Peeves, even before we get in the store!


One thing I'll mention, but it's not really a Peeve because you can't do anything about it, is the crowded Parking Lot.  If their busy, the likelihood of getting a good parking spot, one close to the store, is almost nil.  More of a frustration than any thing else, especially if it's raining or windy and cold...


Now, for the Peeves!


How about a nice close parking spot you see ahead, but when you are about to pull in to it, you see it's got a shopping cart (or carts) left in the spot and you have to abandon that parking place for one that's further away!


C'mon people!  How hard is it to return your cart to the corrals (metal framed holding areas) and not just leave them in a parking spot?!?!


There are only two reasons I would ever abandon a cart...


One, it there's a nasty lightning storm, I would not press my luck pushing a 4-wheeled lightning arrestor!


Two, would be during a tornado or hurricane when every second matters getting to the safety of your car!


Yeah, I've never been shopping during either one of these events either..


So, basically, put the carts away in their proper place!