The Joys of Underplanning

So the only thing I had planned was that it would be mine. I had scouted out the lovely 42" plasma flat screen for months. Finally I had enough money to take her home and went to Walmart and went straight to the electronics section, scoped out the TVs one more time and informed the semi-stoned Walmart employee that I wanted the TV. Nothing would be stopping me this time. I had no doubts in my head until he brought out the box. Now I drive a Hyundai Elantra with a fairly large amount of room in the back seat, so I figured that a 42" TV would easily fit in there and at the most fit in the gap between the front seat and the back seat.

But the box was gigantic.

It was at least a foot larger then the TV and was at least a foot and a half wide. As he was ringing it up, I was questioning out loud to myself whether it would slide into the back seat like I planned. Semi-stoned Walmart employee voiced his doubts, but as always I was still optimistic. Beaming I wheeled my brand new TV through the store, catching the admiration of every guy I passed. I even ran into my friend Nathan "Buddy" Davenport who informed me that I could drop his TV off later and I would be able to watch it whenever I wanted. I wheeled it out the door and did my best to make it across the parking lot to make sure that a car wouldn't turn my precious into a bad youtube video.

I made it to my car safely and opened up the back door. I picked up the box, which was about twice as heavy as I thought it would be and started pushing it into the back seat. The 60 inch box went in a foot and stopped. I tried moving the front seats up as far as they could go and went back to pushing on the box. It went in another six inches and stopped. Great. I thought about So I did the only thing I could do, I tugged it out of the car and took it out of the box. Being as careful as I could I easily placed it in my back seat, it fitting perfectly. After that I looked at the box. I couldn't just leave it in the parking lot. They probably don't sell that many big screens at Walmart in a day so when some poor sap would have to pick it up (which would be hilarious if it was the semi-stoned electronics guy but still sorta mean). Also I figured I could use the box as a protective buffer for the plastic wrapped TV. So I commenced with tearing the box apart to fit it into my car. In the 90 degree heat it was like a war ripping the heavy duty staples out of the sides. Finally fifteen minutes later I had everything stuffed inside.

I slowly drove home, picturing the ironic situation in my head where I somehow get in an accident which wrecks my new toy. I pull up to my place and the only spot left is right next to the tree. But seeing how I didn't really want to lug the TV down the road I figured that spot would be good enough. Now planning it out I go up to my apartment and prop the door open so I wouldn't have to worry about working the door with my hands full. I went back down and pulled the TV out gently and my first couple steps were in the pine straw that southern landscapers seem to like so much. Even watching my step, I almost lost it on the first step with my baby in my arms. I lugged it up three stories and happily made it safely inside. But that was definitely a much more difficult endeavor then I ever imagined.