Open the Box? Nope.

My son thinks he is dying. Not literally, of course, but the suspense is killing him.

I refuse to open the box that came in the mail today.

Late last month, I discovered that my reward points for my credit cards had a lower balance and I hadn’t redeemed anything. I called and threw a polite fit.

“What do you mean they’re expired? Tell me WHERE on my statement did you warn me that 14 THOUSAND points were going to expire at the end of December? I was TRYING to let them build so I could get something really nice. You know, my husband’s Chase card statement has a line that you don’t have on mine: ‘points to expire on December 31, blah blah points’.”

In what many might say was only a minor victory, not only did I get those 14K points restored, there is NOW a line telling me when the next grouping of points will expire.

So there. Told you so.

I figured at this point, it was wise to spend those restored points before I forgot about them. I logged into the site and started building a wish list.

“Hey, Honey? Come look at this drill press, would ya?” I should share, right? It might be my credit card reward points, but his money does pay the bill.

After I finished looking at the large assortment of overpriced junk, I viewed my wish list. That drill press, being a tool and all that, would be used for, I don’t know, re-building the kitchen cabinets. I’m sure there are several crafting applications for a drill press also. I decided to wait on the tent that looked nice. Maybe I’ll ask for a Belgium waffle maker for my birthday or Christmas.

I ordered the drill press this past Saturday. It warned “four to six weeks for delivery.”

They lied. At least it was a good lie. The box was waiting on my doorstep on Thursday.

I wondered if the delivery person was slightly annoyed that no one was home. Then I tried to move the box. My God, that thing is HEAVY! The delivery person was probably relieved the doorstep was only as far as they had to carry it. I shoved, pulled, wrestled, and turned until the box was finally inside the door. I pushed it out of the walkway and left it there.

At this point I should mention I’m fighting a cold and/or wonderful Spring allergies. My symptoms include a lovely headache (Sinus pressure, ARRGH!!!) and zero energy. I was doing good to get that box of lead bricks inside.

Now, for the last several hours, I’ve had to listen to, “Mom, when are you going to open that box? It has Black and Decker on it…”

Don’t you just love emergent readers?

Papa Jimmie gave him an assortment of Black and Decker toys for Christmas. His Daddy has Black and Decker tools. A walk through Lowe’s provides us with plenty of “Look! More Black and Decker!!!” (He saw another toy set JUST LIKE HIS last visit.) Even if he’s not actually READING the name brand, he recognizes the company logo.

IF and I mean IF I open the box before this weekend, it will be after children go to bed and only to ensure all parts arrived intact. We have plans to attack the garage on Saturday. After the junk is removed and the shelves put in, there might even be room to set up the drill press permanently.

But I’m not opening the box now. Nope. Can’t make me.