Adventures in Mall Shopping

Last weekend, I braved the Parks Mall in Arlington once again. I think the last time I was in the mall (other than the movie theater that's attached) was last year at this time! I have an aversion to big indoor malls these days - it's almost like a claustrophobic reaction or something.

There are several reasons:

1. A great majority of the stores hold no interest for me (Build-A-Bear, Disney, teeny-bopper clothes, electronic gadgets, crazy expensive shoes, etc.).

2. There's no way to 'dump off' purchases at your car or anywhere else as you shop - so if you buy something, you have to carry it for hours (enter: back pain).

3. It gets so hot in there as you are cruising around, carrying stuff and dodging other shoppers who are walking the wrong way down the right side of the hallways.

4. You get accosted by the people selling stuff at those 'carts' in the middle of the aisles. This is especially prevalent at Christmastime (which is the only time of the year that I really shop in an indoor mall). I try not to make eye contact with them, but sometimes I still get attacked.

This time, I was actually asked this exact question (yes, I was so shocked/annoyed that I stopped, pulled out a pen/paper and wrote the sentence down so I would remember to blog about it later!): "Ma'am, which flat iron do you use to style your hair?" Ummmmmm.....really?! I have been sporting my curly hair for months now and there's NO INDICATION that a flat iron is being used on my hair AT ALL. WTF?! I just looked at her and said "Uhhhhh, my hair is CURLY. I don't use a flat iron." UGH.

Then, I just have to bring this up since I'm talking about the weird vendors in the mall aisles....what's up with the 'ferret-looking' furry toys that seem to squirm around on their own and wag that nasty tail?! #1 - GROSS and CREEPY. #2 - Who actually buys that?!

5. This is actually one redeeming quality that I found in the mall this time - a mall convenient store! Yes, it sells pop, water, snacks, and typical gas station/convenient store items that you might be needing during your visit to the endless abyss that is the mall. What a great idea! You might just want a ponytail holder or a safety pin or kleenex or something like that - and there you go! Good job, Parks Mall, for making an oasis like this for mall-haters like me. :)