An Outlet Mall is a Many-Splendored Thing

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And, because it's an outlet mall, shopping is that much better when you're unemployed, because everywhere you turn, there's a bargain. "Buy one, get one 50% off!"

Today, Sarah, Brenda, Nancy, I (all former co-workers at a telecomm company that shall remain nameless) went to the Wrentham Outlet Mall for the day. We had originally scheduled this for last Friday, but I had an interview issue then. So, they all rescheduled the trip to today for me. Thanks, Goils.

These are the same goils who used to plan the rockin' parties at our previous place of employment with me. Yes, we were collectively called the "Funsultants." Our parties were legendary, well, at least in our own little group they were.

So, this morning at 9am, we all met in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn in Boxborough. Of course, I was the last one to arrive. At 9:05am, I had just gotten off Rt. 495 onto Rt. 111 when my cell rang. It was Brenda, and I said, "I'm almost there. Where are you?"

She told me that they were in the parking lot, and that I should veer right instead of left, and I would eventually find them. I said, "Okay, but to make it easier for me, jump up and down like you're in front of a web cam, so I know it's you!" She said they would, BUT they didn't!

When I arrived, everyone got out of their cars, and there was a major hug fest; however, then I noticed the sign that said parking was for hotel guests only. Non-guest cars would be towed.

We all laughed about our cars lingering and the fact that three of the four cars would be loitering there; and as we drove away in one car (Nancy's car), we said, "Yeah, we're staying at the hotel, but we forgot to buy beer." And off we went. Well, not to buy beer, but to buy "stuff" at the outlet mall. Hello?!

Once we arrived at the mall, everyone, except me, whipped out their maps. And, I didn't whip out a map, only because the week previous had wiped me out. Brenda, Nancy, and Sarah had agendas. I did, too. It was just to have a good time, which I think jived with their agendas, so they didn't look down on me because I was mapless!

We sat in Nancy's car for a few minutes, plotting our initial shopping strategy. Our strategy was "Pee, cell phone numbers, and stores." Men can never say we women aren't organized, especially when it comes to shopping! After we synchronized, we were off to the bathroom and then to the stores!

I knew I had to get Iz a "present" while away, so I met Nancy at the "Claire's" store. I bought Iz a necklace, a ring, a bracelet, and a holiday penguin pin. When leaving Claire's, I asked Nancy if her daughter, Kelly, ever wanted an American Girl doll.

I asked, because I had received the catalog, and Iz had chosen a doll. Well, she had cut it out of the catalog, making it difficult for me to determine which doll it was. Nancy told me that her daughter had received one as a present and never played with it. I told Nancy that I really wanted Iz to get a doll, because I thought it would take the pressure off Thunderbolt and Liam when Iz wanted to play "school."

As the afternoon progresssed, we went together to stores, we separated, and if found ourselves "lost', we texted or phoned each other. We knew we had to meet up for lunch, which we did at 11:30. After lunch, we resumed our shopping.

At one point, Brenda phoned me and told me she was at the Saucony store. Brenda is totally a Saucony girl; their running sneaks fit her feet best. When she called me, I was walking by the Godiva store. I love their, no, not the truffles, chocolate-dipped apricots!

I said to Brenda, "Um, I'm just passing Godiva. I need to go in here, and then I'll meet you." Another woman walking ahead of me overheard my conversation. She laughed, and I knew when I opened the door to Godiva that I shouldn't feel badly.

After consuming my dark-chocolate-covered apricot, I headed to Saucony to meet Brenda. She had already chosen her perfect sneaks. I sat down and tried a few pairs on; however, they didn't do my feet justice even thought they were pink.

On this trip, if anything, I was looking for the perfect white shirt. I was looking for a fitted white shirt that I could wear with jeans; however, as of late, I could only find white shirts that exposed a good deal of me! That is, I wanted a white oxford that I could put on without anything else; just say "No" to a cami.

You'd think that wouldn't be a difficult shopping task, but, believe me, today it is very difficult. Every white shirt I tried on from Banana Republic to Eddie Bauer, it didn't show my bra, but it exposed my body from the bra down.

When I met Brenda in Eddie Bauer, she asked me if I had tried on one of their white shirts; it was the same thing however! You put on the shirt, and most of your body showed beneath it. Who was designing these shirts?!

I told her that I loved the white shirt at the Calvin Klein outlet; however, I wasn't sure if the shirt showed too much. I then said, "I hate shopping by myself!" Sheepishly I asked, "Would you go with me and tell me what you think?" Brenda said, "Sure."

So, she, Nancy, and Sarah followed me down to the CK outlet. I took the shirt off the rack, entered the dressing room, and then Brenda told me that she'd "loiter" by the dressing room. <3

I walked out, and she gave me the okay. This shirt didn't show my "nude" bra; however, it did show a bit of my light peach skin. And if Brenda thought that was okay, then it was okay with me.

After shopping saturation, we climbed in Nancy's car and headed home. I had WONDERFUL day with all of you, and surely, in retrospect, it is love that is a many-splendored thing. I love you, Sarah, Nancy, and Brenda. <3

Thank You Steve Note: As I writer, you're supposed to write a bit every day. Sometimes it's REALLY hard to write something here every day, but I do, and I'm glad I do.

When we all went to depart in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn, Brenda gave me a CD, and she said, "Here. This is from Steve." Steve is her husband. She said, "He loves reading your blog, and he doesn't listen to popular music usually." I think she meant that Steve listens to my soundtracks, UNLIKE SOME OF YOU! :-)

Anyway, the CD contained three songs by Steve who is a magnificent sax player; he went to Berklee on a full scholarship. I wish I could have made him my soundtrack for this blog. Steve, I will get you on youtube someday, my pretty! Anyway, he is incredibly talented, and the second song on his CD gave me the chills. Today, it was lovely to know how much someone enjoyed my writing, yet, tonight, it meant so much to me to receive that back in music and then some. Thank you, Steve. <3