I was doing a gas shop this morning and was already trying to make haste before I froze up as solidly as my camera kept trying to do. It was 13 degrees out there today with a strong wind and a windchill of "oh heck it's cold", you know it's really cold when your pen won't write because the ink keeps freezing.

I was in the process of taking the last couple of photos so I could get back to the relative warmth of my car when I got approached by a pair of Jehovah's witnesses who were doing their thing. After I nicely said "no thank you" one of them speaks up and asks me if I was part of the petroleum company's conspiracy against the working man. I looked at him like he was nuts, then replied in fluent gibberish before quickly leaving the site.

I imagine the MS company editors will copy that story and post it to their bulletin board as they do with my other adventures. One of them called me one day and said that's exactly what they do.

I had a lady come up to me at a gas station while I was checking the POP on each of pumps, trash valets, etc. She accused me of writing down information on everyone that was getting gas. I tried to tell her I wasn't I was doing a gas station audit. I don't think she believed me.

@pegleg2000 wrote:

I had a lady come up to me at a gas station while I was checking the POP on each of pumps, trash valets, etc. She accused me of writing down information on everyone that was getting gas. I tried to tell her I wasn't I was doing a gas station audit. I don't think she believed me.

I would ask her which vehicle was hers again. With a smile, of course.

@Sybil2 wrote:

I would ask her which vehicle was hers again. With a smile, of course.

After asking her to spell her name, of course.

I have been asked where is a good place to buy cocaine, but not approached by Jehovah's Witnesses yet.

Cettie, I love it when you shop!

Taking weird to a whole new level! It's the illuminati!

@christinereed wrote:

I have been asked where is a good place to buy cocaine, but not approached by Jehovah's Witnesses yet.

I've been asked if I'd like to buy cocaine.

@bgriffin wrote:

@christinereed wrote:

I have been asked where is a good place to buy cocaine, but not approached by Jehovah's Witnesses yet.

I've been asked if I'd like to buy cocaine.

Did they want cash or trade?

I haven't been asked to buy or sell drugs, but I have witnessed a drug deal at the pump that was not fast. It was the last picture I needed too! On a different day a man asked me if I would like to go for a ride with him after he took a loaf of bread to Delores.

I would have said weird stuff like "only if we could deliver muffins to Herman along the way."

On a related note, I was doing the restroom check at a gas station in the unisex bathroom. The toilet seat was up and the whole restroom was nasty, including the toilet. I snapped my photos, washed my hands, and left the toilet seat up. A man was waiting outside for me to come out. A few minutes later he came out when I was standing in line to make my purchase. He looked at me very strangely up and down and had a puzzled expression...I imagine since I am a female he was wondering about my "plumbing" (since the toilet seat was not down when he entered). LOL!!!

@Cettie wrote:

I was doing a gas shop this morning and was already trying to make haste before I froze up as solidly as my camera kept trying to do. It was 13 degrees out there today with a strong wind and a windchill of "oh heck it's cold", you know it's really cold when your pen won't write because the ink keeps freezing.

I was in the process of taking the last couple of photos so I could get back to the relative warmth of my car when I got approached by a pair of Jehovah's witnesses who were doing their thing. After I nicely said "no thank you" one of them speaks up and asks me if I was part of the petroleum company's conspiracy against the working man. I looked at him like he was nuts, then replied in fluent gibberish before quickly leaving the site.

I imagine the MS company editors will copy that story and post it to their bulletin board as they do with my other adventures. One of them called me one day and said that's exactly what they do.

Oh how I wished I would've remembered some of your stories a couple of months ago in Corpus Christie. I was approached by a panhandler at one location and some icky guy at c-store. I freaked and made a beeline to my car. Gave the Chihuahua grief for being complacent and regretted I haven't gotten a new Rottweiler.

Please keep your stories coming; if for no other reason, I'll eventually remember to ask myself...'What would Cettie do?'

MaryAnn.

I ask myself that at least once a day!

I would have pulled a "ssh! can't you hear the gas pumps are talking to me? They're talking in code that only I can understand them."

You realize, of course, that I'm going to try that out now!

I once had a guy complain to me because he was offended that I took a picture of him or his vehicle (no identifying features). The picture was of a storefront in the Field Agent app. The picture wasn't even saved to my phone, and no one at Field Agent or the client cares.

I was doing a Gas Mystery Shop at one of those "more liquor and cigarettes" less than C-Store type. The station was on a 2 lane frontage road of an Interstate Highway. The area is between rural and middle class suburb.
A nerdy 25-30 young man is filling up his 4 door Old Lady Car . He's the kind that wears a button down shirt with a pocket protector and slacks that don't match.
He is watching me taking the photos of the station's main sign as he's pumping his gas.
I drive up a small hill to park on the frontage road to get the overall shots of the location.
I'm snapping up shots. I always take extra and change my settings for insurance.
I suddenly realize this guy is walking up the hill......directly into my shot and yelling at me!
"Are you taking pictures of me?"
I'm so shocked, I go to my standard, professional lie. "No, I work for a sign company."
He looked so stupid and embarrassed. The packed pump area had to have seen him.
What an idiot! REALLY? I will always wonder was he paranoid? Or just inflated ego?
#1 If I was a PI taking photos of him. He walked right in for a great close-up shot.
I still think of all the great thing I wish I had said...........
#2 What would he do if I said "Yes!" - with a Russian accent?
#3 "Yes! I work for Playgirl. I shouldn't tell you this but they are thinking of offering you a big contact. Would you mind taking off your shirt?"

@pegleg2000 wrote:

I had a lady come up to me at a gas station while I was checking the POP on each of pumps, trash valets, etc. She accused me of writing down information on everyone that was getting gas. I tried to tell her I wasn't I was doing a gas station audit. I don't think she believed me.

I had a lady come up to me at a gas station to ask me if I was auditing the pumps because there was something wrong with the gas at that station.

Ronald does not do shops in the ghetto anymore but you bring back fond memories.

One day you are the shopper, One day you are the pig.

I had nostalgic moments when I was asked if i was buying or selling,. "Ladies" of the evening approached me during the day asking if they could "pleasure " me. They appeared to be much older than their true age. The panhandlers asked for "change", but when you offered them a hamburger they turned it down. walked around the block and got into their luxury vehicle that was being "protected".

The streets are real and dangerous even in the day time. Police radios crackle, "shots fired".. They use real bullets. Shops should have the "drive by" rule. If you do not look like, dress like, act like the people on the street, you should not be there. Cettie has "crazy" down real good .

I'm actually a social worker, I'm certified to know crazy when I see it.

You and I Cetti are or were involved with similar demographics I WAS a Sheriff's Officer. My county had both the very wealthy and the indigent. I was dispatched to the calls that required "negotiations". because I was good at it.

PILED HIP DEEP is a valuable asset in Mystery shopping and other situations.. I have the ability to use any verbal means at the level I am playing at to get out of sticky situations or, in another businesses and employment, resolve misunderstandings..

CEO's who misspoke and became emotional told each other "I WILL NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH YOU AGAIN". Obviously they were emotional and not thinking about the business relationship or the loss of, in some cases millions of potential dollars. I got the call as a paralegal and consultant to resolve the misunderstanding.

They had stock holders or if self employed, the future of their company without customers to think about. Many were fortunate to restore the relationship. I was invited to many country clubs to celebrate the relief that comes when solutions are found. I am restricted by confidentially agreements to write that book.

On the flip of the coin, people are in disbelief that I did not want to abuse them or put them in jail, Even the drunk and disorderly get the "free pass" but do not abuse it.. I was a county officer. I did not have to write tickets to make quotas or give "offenders" a visit to a judge where the judge will fine them their food money to feed their family. That will not help them or their family. Many appreciated the compassionate alternative.

99% of police officers NEVER draw their weapon and shoot at a person.in their carrier as a police officer regardless of what the TV and movies show. Many of the shootings of "unarmed victims" are falsely reported. You do not see the follow up news reports where they tested the hands and clothing of the "unarmed victim". Upon testing the "UNARMED victim did fire a weapon. The gun was probably picked up and sold or used again by someone who picked up the gun before the police secured the scene.

I enjoy "crazy" every once in a while. It is a break from "normal living" whatever that is, different strokes for different folks". I appreciate social workers, there are not enough of them or resources to assist them.

My late mother, who performed social worker/social services duties, did not think in such terms. She was educated and trained in another century and utilized other types of insights and descriptors. Was she crazy? Are there additional ways in which to behold our fellow humans?

Anyway, this thread humbled me to the max. I am paying more attention to the words I use and the thought processes I bring to each job. Thank you for this!

Now just imagine if you were the shopper and it was ME you had to shop somewhere. That in itself might be an interesting report to write up.