Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Wednesday, October 15 "Exploring"
Aeden and I had a big day exploring today. We walked back over the freeway bridge to go to Migros, but it wasn't open yet (opens at 9 AM apparently), so we HAD to stop next door at McDonald's for some hotcakes. While we were there eating, I heard a group of 3 people talking amongst themselves in English, so I interrupted and asked if they knew where a cash machine was in the area. Indeed they did, so I followed their directions (which included crossing one of the giant, crazy roundabouts) and wandered around a bit in search of a cash machine. I found lots all in a row, and the first one I tried worked, so I was feeling much better about things. (Brian's card had some fraudulent use on it and his card wouldn't work on Saturday when we had tried it...because the bank canceled the card and we hadn't gotten in touch with them yet to know the whole story).

I wandered a little further just to see what was there and stopped in a linens store to see if they had any padded mattress covers (the bed still feels like a floor to me...). After going to the display bed, pulling up the sheets and pantomiming a thick cover on the mattress, no luck. But the older man who was working seemed to enjoy having visited Aeden. Nearly everyone oohs and aahs over him and gives him a little rub under the chin. He's a great ice breaker to have around :-)

I crossed back over the crazy roundabout and decided to keep exploring a bit before heading back to Migros. There is a street with boutique stores along both sides running out behind Migros, so I kept walking and walking and just observing things. I think I'll need a guide if I decide to actually purchase any clothing at any of those stores, as there is a window, a dressed mannequin, couches, and a salesperson. No racks of clothes, no other models to browse. Very intimidating for a scavenger shopper like me, who would prefer to look through the boxes of shoes over having a person fitting me, thank you.

We headed back over to Migros and I found socks for the girls, towels for the dining room chairs, and all kinds of carefully chosen junk that just filled, but didn't overflow, the basket on the stroller. And we found peanut butter! Good old Jif. I choked on the price, but couldn't leave it on the shelf. We headed home with our spoils and I was so proud that I had found an ATM, explored on my own, and made it back all in one piece. And the walk felt great.

We got home and I picked through my finds, cutting tags off towels and putting things away. This part of my shopping I think is my favorite, but it never seems to last long enough. I laid out the socks on the stairs for the girls to choose which ones they wanted, and had six pairs. Then I was putting the stroller back under the stairs and saw another pair of socks in the seat. I had paid for six pairs. Six is an even number, 3 pairs for each. Seven is an odd number. I didn't buy 7 pairs. That would make one kid get 4 and one only 3. Aeden apparently had a pair in the stroller with him and it didn't make it onto the checkout belt. He's a thief! I instantly remembered his pickpocket tendencies while we were waiting to board the Disney Cruise. He was in the stroller and just the right height to unzip and otherwise mess with people's suitcases and bags as they wheeled them along unsuspectingly...as far as I know he didn't make off with anything with those attempts though.

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