I went shopping and I bought

My friend TC called me this morning to postpone our lunch appointment (something about having to work - this work lark seems to interfere with a lot of things). So I took the opportunity to go to the outlets. There are located 45 miles west of Chicago. I would go there occasionally when I lived in Chicago usually with my friend R. However poor R also had to work so I went alone. M&R bought my old car from me when I was leaving Chicago. It was strange to drive it again after more than 3 years. I had forgotten how incredibly easy it is to drive automatic cars and felt sorry for poor Americans struggling with rental cars in Europe

I know it sounds ridiculous to drive more than an hour to go shopping and really I am not the type of person to do that but the outlets are worth it. Everything is so much cheaper there. I took my mother there once. She was raised in more frugal times and she still talks about how good the value was. I remember another time when I bought 8 pairs of shoes in one trip. Today was not that day – I could only find one pair shoes that fit me. Indeed the day was going pretty badly until I found myself in Ann Taylor. I don’t think I have spent so long in a changing room. One of the sales assistants decided I needed help and she made it her mission to help me. She was wonderful, fetching sizes, suggesting styles and colors. At about 5.30 I thought I had about 10-15 minutes left before finishing. I was wrong I didn’t leave until almost 7pm. But there was such value – 40% all discounted styles and I had a coupon for 15% off entire purchase. In the end I only paid more than half price for 6 of the 22 (yes 22) items I bought. No more shopping required.

Packing for the return journey has just become a lot more challenging!