LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIPS

1. IKEA

I'm going to just get this out. I don't like going to IKEA. Not at all. I know I'm supposed to like it and I know it's cheap, indie, and earth friendly, but I hate it. A- I don't like going anywhere that has a cattle-in-a-feed lot feel. I don't like that you HAVE to go the direction through the store that they force you to. I don't like the hordes of people (cattle) who are traveling in that same direction with me. I want a mom-and-pop shop where I know the owner and I buy a little piece from him or her every so often.

Today we decided that we needed to venture to IKEA. In Burbank. We had the kids with us and said, "Come on guys. Let's go to Ikea and get a bookcase or two." It sounded semi harmless at the time...(this picture was taken at the front of the store, before the process began. Actually, it was when it started to dawn on me that I was not going to like this and would need to blog about it later.)Things turned bad when we entered the feed lot, I mean store. Suddenly, everything was so impersonal and wrong. I even decided that I don't live in Europe!! As much as I love Europe, why does everything have to be in Swedish?! Malm....Senille....Engar....Boslo... Can't you just say it's a white bookshelf? And I don't want to go find it myself. I really don't. I want a nice worker guy helping me and loading it in my car. I don't want to have to stand outside in the heat with my 3 shopping carts while Brett waits in a two-block line of cars just to get into the loading area.

By the time we escaped, we had two dressers, 3 bookshelves, an under-the-bed rolling storage thingamabob, a light, some storage thingees, and two candy bars grabbed by me at the cash register. (Of course, they were to share.) Good thing I had those or I would have hurt someone.

2-DISNEYLAND

Dear Disneyland: I know that you labeled yourself "the happiest place on earth" as if we can't decide for ourselves where the happiest place on earth is. For me, it's my home, followed by the temple, followed by a friend or family member's home, followed by a concert or live music performance. You can't just tell me that it's Mickey's house. I'm all right with you, and have enjoyed myself from time to time if a-the weather is mellow... b-it is not crowded... and c-there is no baby involved. You give me a hot day, or swarms of people and lines, or a sweaty little one needing a diaper change, and not only are you NOT the happiest place on earth, you are a very uncool, bordering on miserable place.

There. I admitted it. I'm not a huge Disney fan. I feel a lot better. Darcy, I'm sorry! Laura, I'm sorry! Heidi, I'm sorry! Laurie, I'm sorry! Mark and Peggy Rinehart, I'm sorry! Forgive me! I'd rather go to a park. Or a cruise. Or weed my garden. BUT, let me say that I will be taking Sydney soon, because she doesn't understand why we live here and haven't been yet. I will do my motherly duty and provide the "Disney Experience" for my kids. But let me say, that I will do it on my terms. I'll only go with Kate if her best friend, Brett, is with me. And I'll only go if it's a day when others are in school. And I'll only go if the weather isn't too hot.

3-COSTCO

Costco, I don't need super large quantities of ANYTHING! You sucker me into buying way more than I can store, or can eat every time, especially now when I have no storage. I don't even want to see large packages of anything, let alone walk out of your establishment hundreds of dollars later wondering what the heck just happened.

I can handle you, even appreciate you for big events like Lake Powell, a church party, cheap gas, or even when buying big electronics like a TV. I also like getting pictures developed there, but only because it is right by the door. I like you then, but on a day-to-day basis, you mostly just make me tired. Make me go to Costco on a Saturday, and I'm in a bad mood the rest of the day.

Give me a local market where I know the friendly workers, it's by my house, and I come away under $60 most of the time. Nice.

4-OUTLET MALLS

I know. I should love outlet malls, right? After all, who wants to pay full price? The problem for me is that outlet malls are a waste of time. By the time you shop for things you don't really need in store after store, you end up spending MORE MONEY. Most outlets aren't even cheaper than the sale racks at the store. Most outlet malls aren't necessarily close to home either. By the time you spend gas to drive to the plethora of stores that you never normally shop at and spend 3 hours aimlessly looking, I come away exhausted with perhaps a shirt or two.

The only time this doesn't apply is when on a girls' trip and I have no children or place I need to be instead. Only then is it enjoyable. I don't mind if I don't buy anything. It's just fun to be on a girls' trip.

***side note. Ali just came and asked me if I would put on Carole King. Wow. That made me happy. I just listened to So Far Away. That doesn't make me sad at all. Not one bit.***

***side note. I really like this town we live in.***

Well, I'm going to go help Brett put together the boslo and senille and malm units we purchased today. That's our Sat. night date night.

Oh, and all I can say about the fancy party in downtown last night is....WE ARE NOT IN UTAH ANYMORE. :)