Weeks 29 & 30: Shopping Without Buying

New things the last few weeks involved field trips to new places:

I took my daughter to walk around Pinecrest, one of those new outdoor shopping 'malls.' They are popping up all over. I like the idea of them, because I like being outdoors, but they are really only viable 7 months of the year here. This one has a Whole Foods store as an anchor, along with movie theaters, retail, and patio dining. I'm never impressed with Whole Foods' prices, and I can get the exact same items at my own local grocer anyway. Here's REI, another overpriced store. We just spent our time window shopping.

This was the most interesting shop we came across.

It had lots of retro candy and odd flavored soft drinks.

If I ever need some gag gifts, I will return.

Someone out there needs this!

Another comment about one of the shops: Duck Donuts. These type of donut places are becoming popular and seem to be a gimmick to me. They are plain cake donuts, covered in different colored icings and topped with a spoonful of something weird, like Fruit Loops or bacon. It's false advertising, in my opinion, to claim you are selling strawberry shortcake donuts, when it's just a plain donut with pink frosting and some graham cracker crumbs on top. They can't throw some strawberries in the donut batter? Bogus!

Last week, I tagged along with three friends to visit the city of Wooster. I've driven through a few times, but never walked around the town. A classic Midwestern town established in 1812 and named after David Wooster, a general in the Revolutionary War.

Rubbermaid was founded in Wooster (initially called Wooster Rubber Company) in 1920 and lasted until it merged with another corporation in 1999. Nothing is made in Wooster anymore, but this store still exists. We walked around its three floors of Everything Rubbermaid. It sold everything from garbage cans to toys.

While waiting for the other two who were inside making a purchase, my friend and I stood outside talking about which shop to head to next. A quartet of older folks exited the store and overheard our conversation. The male of the group decided to insert himself in our discussion, pointing out the history of a neighboring shop, and yadda, yadda, yadda. Then the women joined in and questioned whether we were from around there. My friend said, no, we were from Cleveland. One of the ladies said, in a very snide voice, "You're not from Cleveland!" (Insert long pause . . . did they think we were lying??) Then she continued, "Nobody's actually FROM Cleveland . . ." Well technically, we are from one of the 83 suburbs of Cleveland, but since no one's ever heard of the majority of them, everyone says Cleveland. My friend relented and told her where she resided and this seemed to placate Nosy Nellie. By this time, our other friends were walking towards us, so we left. I told my friends that the next time someone asks where we are from, the answer will be, "Bitch, I'm from Cleveland." Sounds more believable that way!

The day ended with a late lunch at this island themed pub called Flamingo Jack's. We had the outdoor area to ourselves. It was cloudy, so not miserably hot. I had pulled pork tacos with a cucumber and watermelon relish and a cold, tropical beer. A very Cleveland thing to have, I might add.