Never Under Estimate the Power of a BJ at the Mall

Pardon? What is a BJ exactly?
My blog is part of the big, scary www. Would I ever write something about the BJ you are thinking of? Let me surprise you!


I am spending so much time recently at the mall, my fingers finding their own words on the keyboard to write about my temporary, fun BJ (bridge job). 

Having a temp job at the mall is so much more than just a job -
it's a learning experience. Plus, it is a fabulous tool for time management:

Today I get more stuff done in my two hours between homecoming and dinner preparations than my previous five hours at home alone.

Today I know the mall is more than just a place to drop your cash in exchange for goods.
The mall is a safe place for all things creative and active.
 E.g. for the Asian dance group or the New Moms stroller group.

 

Today I could totally hold my own and give you an appropriate answer if you tell me
 "I am friend zoned."
Yesterday I raised an eyebrow, I had no clue what you are talking about. Yesterday I laughed out loud, today I would feel sorry for you.

Oh I love hanging with the young ones. They have so many new fancy words for us!
Today I know you have been dumped or better: you have been down graded from being a potential boyfriend to a friend only.
Today's young women (or men) are cruel, wouldn't you agree?  Why couldn't they at least  tell you face to face to get lost? We did it, twenty years ago!

Today I know wrapping gifts can be as creative as you want it to be and you can become as wrapped up in the activity as you allow yourself!

 

    

 

                                                   

And last not least, I knew it, the mall is temptation written with a capital T. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over; the regular sales are continue to flourish and I need to be as frugal and tight fisted  not to cave in with all these wonderful goodies around!

I can't stress it enough: A BJ at the mall is a string of extraordinary experiences! 

NEW DISCOVERIES

It has been a week of new discoveries on all fronts for me.
.
Today I understand the true meaning behind "Join us for a fun filled fund raiser at the local pub".

Decoded it means:
 Spend lots of money for the off change to win a crappy present. Sit in a booth and chat with your booth partners.
OK, fair enough, we had fun. But why didn't I win anything crappy?

I also reconfirmed my belief about going to a party by myself:  You don't get distracted by your husband, you will meet so many new faces, you have a good laugh  and you can leave whenever you want to.

During one of my solo trips at a local deli I came across a 'familiar face'.

"Where did we meet before?" We both couldn't figure out how, where or when we met earlier - we both knew it was here in B.C. and not during our previous life!
Hilda told me her story and it all came back to me:

 Do you remember about my job at the pharmacy department?
Do you remember the hip and trendy senior I told you about who couldn't decide which pyjama bottom to buy?  The lady who was going to divorce her husband of 53 years?
 It's her, the hip and trendy lady!  We met again amidst other strangers at the party.  Please tell me that is crazy!

And true to her word she left her husband!

And last but not least I made the scary discovery  "Big Brother is watching me" right here at our local  shopping mall parking lot!
Big Brother was watching me and took a picture of my car as I went across the road (20 meters) to purchase candy at a shop across from the mall.

 The fine? $ 63,50 for leaving my cat at the parking lot and not shopping at the stores in the mall!   (In fact I did that earlier. Big Brother didn't watch me then)

Isn't that crazy?
 Apparently there are seven signs with the warning "For Shoppers only"
 Does anyone know what that means exactly?

Why don't they write on the signs:
"DON'T LEAVE YOUR CAR HERE & SHOP SOMEWHERE ELSE
 WE WILL WATCH & CHARGE YOU $ 63,50!

I wrote a firm, informative letter to appeal against my ticket.  Let's see if  the written word makes any difference;  otherwise, these Halloween candies were the most expensive ones ever!

An ACT of MADNESS

When I first heard about this tradition I was shocked! Then I shook my head in disbelief: "You guys can't be serious! You will actually go shopping on Boxing Day? Good Lord, this is too crazy for me!"
My second thoughts were somewhat different: "Why not? I should go too, just for the experience."
At least I will have my opinion (i.e. bitching about it) based on real life experience. There will always be a next year to go back to the tried and tested German tradition of drinking, eating and be merry!

The story goes, various shops will offer their first 50 or so customers a gift or at least discount vouchers. These words worked magic on our boys and three out of the four decided to join me on this unholy event.

Oh what a joy to get up at 4am, to arrive at the mall by 5am, to stand in line - outside in the cold- for an hour and finally walk through the doors into the holy grail of electronic stores!

All this for what? Personally, I don't care about and need any more electronic devices in my life (I am happy I know how to operate the ones which already live with me)! Electronics are my least favourable item to shop for - and no, they NEVER promissed gifts either, only unbeatable prices on flat screen TV's.

I did it for our middle son! He had his mind firmly set on 'beats' headphones. But fortunately he came to his senses when he saw the discounted price of $ 250.00 was still not discounted enough.

In the time span of three hours we lost each other at least five times, we got pushed around and stood in line for hours to pay for our bargains. The boys were so hyped they needed a greasy McBreakfast to concentrate on their next purchases again.

Shopping on a budget offers a real insight into the future spending habits of children:
- Our teenager knows what makes the world go round and what stimulates any economy. He would pass any Immigration spending requirements in a heart beat ( he spent it all!).
- Our Korean exchange student displayed a magnificent talent for bargain hunting. He found the best possible deals for his desired objests and brought back over half his money.
- Our middle son doesn't have the insight knowledge of his teenage brother yet, nor does he have the patience and mastermind of his foreign 'brother'. He is a simple soul with a one track mind: It has to be 'beats'or nothing. He will only rest when he finds the right set at the right price. Needless to say, he didn'r buy anything!

And I? In the name of experience I sacrificed my much needed beauty sleep and ruined most of my waking hours to accumulate savings of $30.00 for these two beauties:



It is not extra-ordinary to have our own traditions in life - what is extra-ordinary is to stick to these traditions regardless of the country you find yourself in.
Believe me, sometimes it is ok NOT to go with the flow. Next year on Boxing Day I will be back to eating, drinking and reading a Jackie Collins book while slouching on the sofa!