$9.75

Since when does it cost ONE person $9.75 to go to the movies? I swear, I know I don't get out much, but come on? I can't imagine what it costs to hit the theater in NYC....

I decided to take Jack out to the movies last night. It's been a long week alone for the three of us. Todd's basically been gone (or home late) since Monday, so I was getting a little stir crazy. I called our sitter and asked her if she could come over for a few hours and watch Riley (while she slept) so Jack and I could get out of the house w/o Miss Priss. Trust me, I was tempted to leave them both home and hit the nail salon, but that would be selfish of me. (I'll do that tomorrow while Todd hangs w/ the kids).

Jack and I hit the ATM on our way and got out $80.00 for the night, praying I wouldn't use it all, but knew the sitter would be $10.00 an hour so just had to be sure. We arrived at the theater at 6:30 and bought our tickets. I asked the lady what the kids age limit was and she said ages 3-11 are only $5.00, what a steal, huh? So my ticket and Jack's totaled $13.75. But, in a turn of events she peeked over the glass divider and said, let me see your little one. I picked Jack up and she said (verbatim),
"Oh my gosh, he's so cute. Let's say he's only two." Sweet.

Works for me. We got in two for the price of one, $9.75.

Ten bucks down, then we hit the concession stand. My lord, they charge $5.00 for a SMALL popcorn. Granted, this popcorn is enormous and I can't imagine what size person would order the large, but still. You know it can't cost them more than $.25 to pop that corn and throw it in a bag (not a bucket, a bag.) After a kids meal, small popcorn and a bottle of Dasani water (that put me back $3.75- the worst rip off of the night) the treats cost me $13.75. We're now up to almost $24.00. Jack finished the candy that came w/ his kids meal BEFORE the movie even started. At least we got our moneys worth on that one, huh?

We saw Ratatouille. It was a cute movie, about a rat named Remi who gets lost from his family and ends up "cooking" in a restaurant. Jack liked it. I couldn't tell you how it ended b/c we left before it was over, with Jack falling asleep before we left the parking lot.

Note to self: If you ever see a night movie with Jack again in the near future, make sure he naps first.

We get home and I get Jack to bed. Meanwhile, Riley has been asleep the entire time. We're gone about three hours so I hand the sitter $30.00. She looks at me like I am crazy and refuses to take so much since she "didn't do anything," in her words. I understand that, but still, it's three hours of her time, so that means $30.00 to me. We compromised and she took a twenty and went home.

So the night ended up costing us almost $45.00 (and could have been almost $55.00.) It was worth it though. Jack craves alone time with Todd and I and it's rare we get it, so in the end, it was fine.

But, in my next lifetime, I might open a movie theatre.

Until next time....