Shop Drop and Roll

I was away this weekend. Did anyone miss me? Of course you did. Well I'm here now and that's the important thing, isn't it?

I took off to America this weekend for some shopping with Mom and Dad. I will do my best to give the highlights in a succinct manner.

Friday, 12:17 pm
I booked a 1/2 day vacation, which meant I should have left the office at 11:30. The last thing to hold me up was a computer crash after realizing I shut down without turning on my out-of-office notice. Really, would anyone miss me that terribly on a Friday afternoon that it was so important I let them know I wasn't actually going to see their e-mail until Monday morning? I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

2:30pm
We hit the road. I realize that I had forgotten my list (written on an oversized envelope because I don't have any note paper in the house. Recognizing this, I also added, "note paper" to the list. Perhaps I should have added "This list" to the list). I am also bothered by the fact that my Hydro bill showed I owed them over $500 this month while my parents, who live in a house twice the size with 4x as many do-dads plugged in, only owed $100. Clearly there was a mistake that I would have to fix on Monday.

3:30pm
We arrive at the border. The border guard seems hung up on the fact that I have a passport while my parents do not. He also does not understand why I have no stamps in the thing. I got a passport because A) I needed it for flying to America and B) I thought it would make things even easier when taking weekend trips across the line. I conclude that the border guy must be new and cranky he got posted at the 49th parallel instead of the US/Mexico one.

4:30pm(ish)
We arrive in Grand Forks, hit the liquor store and head to the hotel. Upon opening the door we realize we clearly did not buy enough liquor to make the place look pretty. It's dark. There is one light at the doorway and a small lamp between the beds. The walls and ceilings are all cedar panelling and there are some strange decorative pieces nailed to the wall. The telephone is a converted one of those crank kinds. Over the beds there is a large painting of a ghost town. Oh yes, and it smells like stale cigarette smoke with notes of beef jerky. I didn't pack my camera for this trip and at this point I am really wishing I had, just so I could share this special place with you better.

5:30pm
Mom and I hit Target and Walmart. I pick up two pairs of shoes at Target--one pair a total steal at $7.48.

Saturday, 5:45am
I am awake.

7:30am
We are at McDonald's for breakfast. I get my usual, the Hotcakes. It is snowing out but we are on a mission to get out of GF and get to our new hotel in Fargo, ND.

8:00am
Driving conditions are not great. The snow drifts across the highway and every once in a while a plow, going the other way on the other side of the highway, sends a cloud of snow our way, reducing visibility to nil for a few long seconds. Now I know how race car drivers feel when they're trying to drive through a smokey crash. Except they have the benefit of a spotter to guide them.

8:30ish
We make it to the mall. Shopping resumes.

6:00pm
We stop shopping and go back to the hotel. Mom is tired but I could go for more. The hotel is much nicer here. Later, we walk to the restaurant for dinner. Walking in the new snow is hard and reminds me of walking in sand, except for the freezing temperatures of course.

Sunday
More shopping and then drive home. On the way we see a few cars, including a Sheriff, have landed in the ditch. The weather is much better today though and so my dream of getting stuck in America due to treacherous road conditions, with nothing to do but browse the shops, is shattered. I return to Winnipeg with three new pairs of black shoes, among other things. I know there are people reading this who completely understand why I need three pairs of black shoes. I also treated myself to a special bottle of white wine. Why is it special? Because it is called J, that's why. I intend to enjoy it on my birthday later this week.

I may post some pictures of my purchases later.