Thursday, February 21, 2008

The Shopping Gene and the Enabler

So the other day when we were in Florence for doctor appointments (seems that's about it for a day on the town anymore) I had the dubious pleasure of visiting the Magnolia Mall. We walked in at 9:45 only to find that the mall was, you won't believe this, closed. Well, the mall itself was open, just no shops. Kirkland's was closed, Belks and JC Penny's had yet to roll up the wire door...just no one. Banker's don't get those hours. And for the love of all that's Holy, even Barnes and Noble had not opened their sleepy eyes. I had fifteen minutes to kill before Mac had to go in to get his eye exam (I'm telling you people, you know you are old when you schedule everything on the same day) and unable to browse in B$N we walked (walking is good for you) from one end of the one story mall to the other. On our return I stood in front of B$N like a puppy at the back door of a restaurant. Finally, 10 AM arrived and as Mac went in for his exam, I went for the books. You know, I'm like a drunk...I can stop anytime I want. I just don't want yet. There are so many new things out that it's hard to choose. I saw Fanny Flagg had a new book out and so as not to have wasted my trip, I bought it. I went back over to Lenscrafters and found Mac patiently waiting for me. He ordered his new spectacles and out we headed to Mall Central. After walking around a bit, Mac decided he was going to sit in the chair area for awhile. I left him happily talking to another unfortunate male who had been dragged to the mall. Fishing was the topic of conversation (color me surprised?) as I walked over to Belks. I wandered though the ladies junk as my sons always called it. Dresses, skirts, blouses, slacks and lingerie. I was absolutely gobsmacked at the prices. Now my shopping gene is as strong as it ever was, but apparently my inability to get to the "real" Department Stores (such grand prices must have grand titles) had blinded me to how much it cost to make some of these apparent treasures. I went from rack to rack seeing prices like $125 and $119. I found one shirt hanging over a pair of jeans the price tag was $74. It was just for the shirt. I left hurriedly and went to where Mac was sitting with the other fella. "Find anything?" he asked. I told him I couldn't believe the prices. They were marked down from 'You've got to be kidding' to ' Expensive'. I told him I was going over to JC Penny's and off I went. It was the same story inside. Everything was so high you'd need a second job to pay for it and they thought so much of themselves they had one of those set ups like in the bank, a fence to keep you moving by the cashier...only problem was there were no customers to take advantage of this "stay in line" mechanism. I left there and wandered over to a gift shop to see if I could find an Old English Sheepdog in their porcelain section. A prissy little man with an honest to heaven monocle on followed me around as though I might slip something up my sleeve. Now, I don't think I looked like a thief, but I didn't tarry. As I was leaving I heard him say, "Please come again, Madam". I almost turned around to tell him not to call me Madam...hell, I'm not that old. Nor is that my occupation, whatever he was inferring! So I rejoined Mac at the center of the mall, he and his new friend were talking about stripers...that's a fish. He raised his eyebrows at my empty arms. I shook my head. "Everything is so expensive, and the worst part of it is, most of it was ugly," I complained. As we headed off to pick up his glasses, he put his arm around me and said, "that's alright Baby, we'll stop at Wal-Marts on the way home."
God, I love that man!

29 comments:

Vee said...

So did you find something at Wal*Mart? Hope that the Fannie Flagg book is great!

(Love reading about your adventures and excursions. I laughed out loud about the doctor appointments all made on the same day. My mother was just telling me the benefits of this a few days ago.)

Mima said...

My appointments work in exactly the opposite way, I have to make sure that I space them out otherwise I wouldn't make any sense! Sorry to hear that shopping was such a disaster, but at least you came home with a book to show for it. And bless Mac for being patient with the whole shopping "thing", it sounds as if he has had some practice though!

PAT said...

You're so funny! Your day sounds just like ours. Everytime we make drs appointments we not on schedule for the same day, we see the same doctor, most of the time and we always go to the exam room together. When we were there time before last they put us in separate rooms. When we stopped at the desk to schedule our next appt, for the first part of this month...I said to J, why did they put us in separate rooms, then I said...that ain't gonna happen again. So when we had our Feb appts, they put us in the same room! Sometimes when you get snow on the roof, you can say just about anything!! We always make a day of it, when we go to the doctor.

Anyway...J has to see a specialist next week. I'm trying to plan our day. The appointment is really early, not far from the big city and I take every advantage I can, when our appointments etc, involve crossing the big Missouri. Which is usually when we have to go to the doctor! Mr J, hates crossing the Missouri River...at least via the bridges that cross into St Louis County. He refuses to "cross over" unless he just has to! So I'm figuring out all those little places etc, I want to visit, as long as we're crossing the river anyway.

Pat

Anonymous said...

Boy Sandi you got that right. I had to go to the Mall for the same reason as Mac...to get new glasses. Otherwise no way I am going to the mall. All the clothes look the same, they're expensive, cheaply made and shoddy and look cheap (at least to me). I would much rather shop at a little boutique. I may be more but at least I am getting something well made and cute and I am going to wear it for a long time. ~ Lynn

Anonymous said...

~chuckling~ at that last little bit!
I hardly ever buy anything at the malls...nice to wander around in out of the weather but forget it on the prices!
Maybe a coffee or a jalepeno pretzel and sit and watch kids play in the play area...always fun!

Have a great day!

windycorner said...

Oh Sandi....that's the best husband remark I've heard in a while! Walmart to the rescue.
The mall near us has "husband stations" all around featuring massaging recliners and tv's tuned to a sports or financial channel. I'm sure it helps their business.
Holley

kari and kijsa said...

LOL...you are the best...thank you, thank you for all the sweet words for my birthday (and then the day after my birthday)! You have made my day...

Have a blessed and wonderful week!

smiles, kari & kijsa

John-Michael said...

You both have Prizes, in each other. I really like this Mac guy!

Unknown said...

LOL Sandi! I think I wold love your hubby, he sounds so funny. At least you found something at the bookstore. There never is anything good at the mall this time of year. I don't want any winter things and it's too early for Spring so books are always a good fit. Have a good day!

myonlyphoto said...

Lol, yes I hate high prices too, have you ever gone to Winners (we have one here in Canada), well they like to show what the clothing used to cost like $200 for a pants and your deal is $100, but they forget that it is out of style now, and it should be $20, lol. Thanks for sharing this story, lol. Anna :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Sandi, hon you are too funny.

We are imagining you walking around this classy department store with that little man with the moncole following your every move!! Laughing so much we have tears! How annoying he must have been?!

So did you find something at Walmart? You can always find something at Walmart, we don't have a Walmart in Aus but if we did we be right there, everyone talks about Walmart!

Thanks goodness for Mac (WTHF) everything is right in the world :)

Gosh we are going to miss your posts :( Thanks for your unwavering support and always fun comments, we promise to drop by and not be LURKERS!!

Take care hon :)
Jenn and Jacqui xo

Anonymous said...

Hehe. Our Belk is having awsome sales. I do agre JC penny used to be a normal all around store,but now they are trying to move up in the world. Sorry you had a bad shopping day.

Melanie said...

Back when both hubby and I both worked and we didn't have a baby and had lots of extra spending money I used to spend money like that. Ugh- now I think about how much money I could have had in my saving account if I hadn't spent so much on clothes.

Jeni said...

You are soooo right about prices, materials, designs too of clothing these days. Who in bloody blue blazes can afford to spend $75 AND Up for a measly blouse and then tons more money on top of that for a pair of slacks or a skirt to go with it too? J. C. Penneys used to be one of my favorite stores but any more, I don't feel I can even afford to walk through the doors there. And, if you know how to sew, can make your own clothes, that used to be a way to beat the high cost of clothing but even that now is almost as expensive as buying ready-made. As long as I can still get my fat fanny in the glad rags I have now, and unless I can find stuff and a really -and I do mean REALLY great sale price -looks like I'll not be getting any new duds for a long while.

the mother of this lot said...

What a great blog! Hope you enjoy your new book!

Tara said...

This is such a cute story! Wal mart really has it all anyway!
:0)
Tara

Michael Serafin-St. John said...

I love Fannie Flagg and her somewhat skewed but honest interpretation of life. "Fried Green Tomatoes" was truly a classic work of writing, and the movies was spellbinding, funny, and heartbreaking all at once. You write as a professional does, Sandi, and I found this little slice of life very funny and touching and true. Thanks for visiting Nerd Shots and leaving a comment about Mary's Eclipse picture. She loves getting compliments. Come by "Everything in Particular" sometime, too..Mary and I work on that blog together. Have a great day!...Michael

Michael Serafin-St. John said...

PS::: Your header photo is absolutely outstanding!

suchsimplepleasures said...

i'm so glad you came to visit my blog!!
i have the same addiction...i buy so many books that, i need a new house for them!!
love the pictures of your cats...i'm a huge cat fanatic...we have 4!
have a wonderful weekend!

Charles Gramlich said...

I tend to do most of my clothes shopping at the second hand store.

BarnGoddess said...

Wal-Mart never fails :)

I was in Dillards the other day and say blouses that cost $78 that looked like my Grandmother's 1978 bathroom curtains-ew.

Pam said...

I feel the same way about book stores, just like a drunk. ;)

Jodie Adams said...

That story is too funny!! Luckily for me it made me realize I am not missing much from not being able to hit the mall this weekend. The prices are CRAZY! I always go directly to the clearance rack. Sorry that you had a bad experience. It always happened to me when I had money. However if I was broke they had everything I wanted. What a pain!!

Merisi said...

You know what I really miss here? T.J.Maxx, Marshall's, and the like. I always got great quality at great prices there. For books I have to get used to the Euro prices for American books. It really makes even a bookoholic like myself think twice before purchasing one.

Adla said...

Oh Sandi,
Thats the kind of shopping none of us would want to do... Hope you see better shopping days soon. Mac sounds like my hubby , never following me into the shops ever!

chat soon, Adla

bj said...

I have soooo BEEN THERE...DONE THAT. Every time I get down just nearly naked and have NOTHING left to wear, and head for the mall, I come home empty handed...too dang high. But...I HAVE noticed that I don't mind spending money if it's SOMETHING FOR THE HOUSE. Guess I'm just not interested enuf in clothes. Hmmmm...but I DO need to go find something to wear...my closet is looking mighty bare!!
hugs, bj

Love Bears All Things said...

When I was growing up, stores in my town opened at around 8:30. I was surprised when I got married and moved to the big city that 10:00 was normal.
I usually hit the 50-75% off sales and wonder at the profit these people must make on regular prices.
I do not, do not, like the geometric prints out there.
Mama Bear

Mockingbird Hill said...

Fannie Flagg has a new book?? That's like the best news I've had this week...;)

My dear Hub is not a shopper and I guess, in all reality, I am not either...but, he can walk into any store, pick up exactly what he needs and walk right back out. I do not have that skill or ability...at the very least, I will take the "long way" around the store to pass the fragrance, purses and shoes to get where I am going..yea, I can live it up.

Cassie

San said...

Sandi, I'm not a big shopper. I tend to look on it as a task to accomplish. And when I have one of those clothes-shopping days in which everything is ugly (at least on me), plus it costs too much, I feel dispirited. Like I've lost a chapter of my life to nonsense.

Books, they're another story. I can spend a lot of time browsing books. And even if I don't buy anything, I count my time well-spent.