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!

news just in....

so I just went to put on a pair of socks so that we could take R for her morning walk, as the rain hasn't set in today yet.

and would you believe it, but ANOTHER pair of socks have fallen victim to the hole phenomenon. I swear, this is just too bizarre - almost every other day when I put on a pair of socks, they turn out to have a nasty big hole in them. I am starting to think that the mogura (beaver? mole? I don't know the English, should check I guess... in Australia the closest thing we have is an echidna, perhaps? lol!!) from Gaijin Wife's garden has somehow made a tunnel directly into my sock draw and is taking holidays here!

Leave my socks alone, you mogura, you!

So glad I made up that "socks" tag on this blog.....

memo to self

never, I repeat, never ever go back to the supermarket at 4pm.

I just ran down after K woke up from her nap, to get some milk, and some greens to go with planned spag bol for dinner.

OMG, It was like shopping warfare in there. I swear about 20 ba-ba-tarions* jumped over K's stroller (or ran into it, actually) to get past me. I couldn't move. there were people EVERYWHERE. I actually stood in the corner shaking my head at the pandemonium going on around me. wish I had taken a photo!!

as it turns out, got an email from J JUST as I arrived back home to say that he has to go out for dinner with the boss. so planned spag bol is being まわすed to tomorrow night!!

vocabulary list:
ba-ba-tarion: a human-like looking female form with the strength of 20men. Can leap shopping trolleys at will. Can pull 100yen broccoli out of the special cart with one hand, while simultaneously grabbing the largest bunch of bananas for 100yen with the other. Same species that pushes everyone and anyone out of the way to get into the lift/onto the escalators/ through the door first, and makes comments about babies without socks/ hats/ blankets on. Cousin of inaka-ba-baba, often seen at inaka festivals catching mochi with their apron or umbrella.