Lollies

It's Lindsay's last day so I dragged myself along with Trace who was tasked to procure a farewell gift for her.

"So should we head round to the flower shop then?" Tracy mentions

"I dunno, I'm just coming along for a walk." I say.

(Actually, it's more useful for me to finally observe what Trace's shopping habits are. I'm planning on writing a documentary for National Geographic's Jurassic Shopping Habits not knowing how terribly complicated it was.)

So we went inside the local mall and perused what wares the florist had on display. Pretty soon, Tracy got bored and asked me if I wanted to go and check out the local mart where "everyone gets a bargain." Or as what Tina would put it "where everyone gets a hard*n." Yuk.

"Okay, sure." I said, quite surprised thinking that they also sold flowers there - but soon realised how wrong I was.

With her taking the lead, we went from the tool section, on to the baby section, and to the underwear section where Tracy abruptly stopped and dangled some knickers in front of me saying "ooh la la!." Embarrassed, I turned deep red as I saw a couple of ladies from the corner of my eye ogling at us. I tried to run away but was unsuccessful as she ran after me twirling a couple of bras like a helicopter.* (Okay, the last sentence didn't really happen.)

"Whew!" I sighed, as I ran to the xmas lolly section to take refuge. I grabbed a big mixed pack as It was supposed to be my turn filling up our communal office lolly jar. Tina's and Vicki's really been diligent filling (and eating) it up - they love their lollies. In fact, Tina had her tooth filling done lately, which didn't stop her from trying out the sweets.

"It's the reason why I had my teeth done in the first place, to eat more of these." She said to me once.

Anyway, I motioned to Tracy that I'm done while she's looking at some baby suits.

"You know those pink suits would definitely go with Lucas' eyes" I said, not realising that she was looking for ideas for Rayloc's maternal farewell.

"Ha ha. Funny!" Tracy laughs baring her white (and sharp) teeth. I could never really tell if she's genuinely amused or holding off strangling me. It's a sign that I've been watching too much animal docos as I could have sworn that's the way a lion snarls at you just right before you get jumped on and get gnawed to bits. I mentally take a note not to piss her off too much - as I wasn't sure when she might snap.

I head to the counter to pay for my goodies but made a quick stopover when I saw the "proper" lolly lane. My mouth just went open as I stared at the shelves and shelves fully packed with treats. Oh the joy! And look at those discounts! It truly felt like I'm getting a bargain! I grabbed a couple of pineapple lumps, some fruits bursts, and spent more time trying to decide whether to get wiggly worms.

Thankfully, Tracy was around to rouse me off my blank state and drag me to the nearest checkout.
We finally got back to the florist - and decided to get Linsday an xmas plant rather than flowers. Lasts longer - but unsure if Lindsay wants to remember us after her retirement.

The walk back was fun. I had to carry all the heavy stuff but got a quick break after tricking Tracy saying I was hot and needed to get my jacket off. I still owe her for saving my life though as she caught me just in time the blustery wind was about to blow me out to sea.

6-inch

Walked to Subway for lunch today with Subway being the closest food place and the weather being windy and threatening with drops of water on our heads. Chris had to hide behind me as the largest object in our lunch bunch nowadays, so that the wind doesn't pick him up and fly him 2 steps back for every step forward. Tracy was gone in a nostalgic memory of Wellington days, while Jared could only think of Subway. Can't help but remember Homer trying to think and all he sees in his mind is a donut.

After about a 10 minute wait in the queue and meaningless conversations about different types of subs each of us will have it's Tracy's turn to order.

- "I'll have a 6-inch BMT. Thanks!" Which is completely different to what she said she will have, but her favorite. The order guy started piling up a tiny piece of bread with ham, when she looks at me. "Does that look like a 6 inch to you?"

This is one of those questions where you shouldn't ever hesitate: "Does my butt look big in this?", "Do you think I gained some weight?" and I enthusiastically respond: "No!". So Tracy turns back to the order guy: "This is a very small 6-inch" by pointing her finger at it. All things being equal…

He patiently unsticks the ham, salami and other things he so neatly packed on that small 6-inch, gets another piece of bread and cuts off about 60% of it just for Trace before her short paws reach out and tear the 6-inch apart.

"That's much better!" I say just as enthusiastically to the guy, when I get a sharp nudge from Chris to stop annoying the guy. Thank goodness they make you a sub right in front of you, so you know no extra spit-spice goes in it. Right Trace?

After we get our subs we are back on our way towards the building with the wind in our backs now. Holding Chris by his jacket, so he doesn't fly off we try to listen in to what Tracy and Jared are talking about but no luck.

Jared is gesticulating wildly, showing someone slapping his face and then describing something that involves a large stomach?

"What do you think they are talking about?" I ask Chris.
"I think he got slapped on the weekend" replies the flying stick.
"What was that gesture about a big stomach?" I cautiously ask while rubbing my own sack of potatoes that seems to be growing every hour now.
"Maybe his stomach got bigger"
"After he got slapped?"
"Possibly"

Tracy and Jared look at each other, rolling their eyes as far back as possible: "Can you give us the stuff you are on?"

Only later during lunch when we were discussing how hard it is to get your loved pets into this country and how donkeys are really cool animals to keep and how you should never trust movers packing your stuff and how early one needs to get up to make it to work from the west, Jared ventured off topic as usual and described how a big wave splashed over him while he was walking in Mission Bay. It's a really important incident: wave splashing over. More important than say movers stealing a pack of really expensive kitchen knives or packing a grill from the oven, just cos it was there.

At least Chris and I finally understood who slapped him. We are yet to find out why his stomach got bigger though.