born to shop

Had 2 funny little experience in a shop today.

It all came about because J is going away for the long weekend to a tropical island resort (uuuuh, actually more like a volcanic island resort!) and he wanted a frisbee to play with. That sounds quite ridiculous now that I wrote it, hahaha, but last weekend we were at a picnic for our playgroup families, and he was playing frisbee with an American daddy, and he was like, wow, I haven't done that in ages, it was fun! And since he is going away with his mates for a wild (as in natural, in the bush type) weekend, he thought a frisbee would be just the thing to take with him.

So I said leave it to me. I went down to the local k-mart style store, and found one there, but I knew that he would be stoked if I got him the Patagonia one he searched on the internet for (and left the page open for me to see). So after lunch today, I loaded K up into the stroller and we headed off to the Patagonia shop, which by chance(!) are having an end of season sale. I wasn't really planning on buying anything more than the frisbee, and maybe a shirt or something for J (he's been working hard, he deserves it! And every time we go out lately, we end up with something for me,so I guess it should be his turn once and a while, haha). But you know when things are on sale..........

I still managed to be sensible about it, and even refrained from picking up the fleece vest I have been wanting for ages, but I did end up coming out with a reversible jacket for K, that will hopefully last this winter AND next winter (am I crazy to think that?); 2 base wear shirts for J, the type that take the sweat away from you and keep you cool/warm whatever the case may be. and of course the main reason I went there:

Tried to take photos of the actual clothes, but K wanted to wear it all, and got upset when I took it off her, haha. And I couldn't let her have them, because I am not sure I got the right size for J or not (gasp! she doesn't know her hubbys clothes size! double gasp!!!)

Anyway, the funny experiences:
1) The staff must have thought I was a freak or something, going up and down and around the aisles, but it is hard with a baby in stroller and tiny shops with lots of people eager for a bargain. Finally one staff member had enough courage to ask me in English if I was looking for anything in particular. She guessed my accent when I said "a frisbee" - turns out she lived on the Gold Coast for 5 years, and I was like, well, I am from Brisbane. Then we were talking about some things, her hubby is a kiwi, my hubby is Japanese, yaddah-yaddah-yaddah, and as we were rounding up the small talk, we both said "excellent" at exactly the same time. That really made me giggle. But I am wondering now, if "excellent" is actually something I caught off J and my kiwi friends? Do Ozzies say that? Hmmmmm.

2) I go up to pay for the goods, and pull out the money I have stashed in an envelope for our weekly shopping (actually, it is supposed to be enough to last for the next 2 weeks) and would you believe that it was almost the EXACT amount, only 40yen out! It was a sign from the shopping gods that I was MEANT to buy all those items. That money was born to pay for the patagonia goods.
I was so happy walking out of the shop, probably the happiest and most satisfied I have been when shopping recently (I seem to have lost my shopping groove).

When J comes home for the 1 hour family visit between his business trip last night and heading for erupting island tonight, I will first bring out a frisbee I bought at the 100yen shop - can't wait for his reaction (bet he is totally pissed off). Then I will bring out the shopping bag. Hehehe!