Friday night Lisa and I met for drinks and nachos at Moxie's downtown. We decided to sit in the lounge.
"Can I see some IDs please?" the high school cheerleader of a waitress asked us.
"I almost wanted to ID her to see if she was old enough to serve us. Apparently at 27 we can still pass for high schoolers!" We laughed. We know, this is a good thing.
After Moxie's we headed over to Portage Place with the intentions of catching U2 at the Imax. I even had a buy-one-get-one-free coupon. I got up to the ticket window and let out a sigh. A piece of paper taped to the window read:
"The 9:30 pm showing of U2 3D has been cancelled. Sorry for any inconvenience"
"Can I at least get my parking validated?" I asked the girl behind the glass. At least that inconvenience was taken care of.
After some Starbucks and big dreams chit-chat with Lisa, I headed home to finish packing up my stuff for my getaway to America.
We took our time getting to the destination--Albertville and its many many outlet shops. We got there around four on Sunday evening. It was hot and humid. Traffic going into the mall was so busy, they had the county sheriff directing people into the parking lot.
Mom and I went in while dad stayed back at the RV with Elmo. We didn't quite finish the first block of the mall before we had to head back so we'd make it to the campground before sun down. I came back with one pair of runners. Not exactly a stellar performance, but a decent kick off to my goal of five pairs of shoes.
Back at the campground my dad got on the Internet with the free WiFi. Someone turned on the TV and got the local CW channel. Thank God for the RV's air conditioning. I can still call it camping, we roasted hot dogs over a fire. (Call it whatever you like, I still like it better than staying in a hotel.)
On Sunday, another scorcher, we headed back to the mall to finish what we had started. Again, dad and Elmo stayed back in the motor home. I felt bad for Elmo. When I came back for some lunch he was looking pretty hot and uncomfortable. My dad was fine. He had beer.
I was determined that I was going to dedicate my funds to buying shoes, most likely at the Nine West outlet. But after resisting the fashions at The Gap, Polo Ralph Lauren, Guess, Bath and Body Works, and making a small exception at Banana Republic, I was supremely disappointed in the offerings when I arrived at the Nine West store. Desperate to put money down for some new footwear, I went to every other shoe store, even the old lady ones. The two young guys working at Aerosoles were very friendly and helpful, but sadly, they did not have anything that made my eyes lit up (aside from themselves, of course, but in my melting and disappointed state I was in no shape for any kind of flirtations.)
My favourite purchase was a cute, straw hat for less than $8.00. I also got a pretty dress for $16 (even with no place to wear it yet, at that price I couldn't really say no). I did end up with another pair of cute runners from the Nike store.We planned to check out the zoo on Tuesday. Of course, summer had moved out at the end of the holiday Monday, so it was cool and drizzly. Minneapolis has two zoos, the Minnesota Zoo and the Como Zoo. I had a hard time choosing (Dad would not do both) because one was large and spectacular, while the other was small and free and featured a PENGUIN exhibit. I chose the large and spectacular Minnesota Zoo. It was not a disappointment.
Today we are on our way back, somewhere around St. Cloud. The Internet here is spotty. I checked e-mails but had the hardest time getting a connection long enough to reply. I refuse to log in to chat--that is where I draw my line.
I will be home on Friday and my long vacation will soon wrap up. I feel very good, here, on a Wednesday, so far away from work. I miss my friends there, but I did have a terrible dream this morning about a jobsheet meeting.
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