I finally accumulated enough money and enough good ideas to do some X-mas shopping.
Leave work.
Find a parking space at the Galleria with a minimum of trouble.
Go past Hallmark store; have eye caught by some Peanuts figurines. Admire extravagantly a music box: Lucy leaning on Schroeder’s piano. A perfect rendering; she even has her mouth open. Discover that it plays Fur Elise. Also discover that it is thirty-two dollars. Move on, thinking “I might get a smaller figurine here, for Steve.”.
Go to Illuminations. Spend fifteen minutes looking at candles. Cannot find any one piece that makes a decent present by itself; do not want to invest in their scammy kits; cannot afford to create own assortment. Decide Illuminations sucks. Move on.
Head down to FAO Schwartz. Examine Spawn action figures. Decide not to get Mr. Rilch a creature so lacking in equilibrium, because it will be I who will end up righting him every time a stiff breeze knocks him over. Scan X-Men figures for Sabretooth; finally spot him on a shelf out of my reach. Ask clerk for assistance; reject two figures whose boxes are broken. Accept intact box. Comment that Sabretooth must be trying to fight his way out of box. Watch as clerk drops partially, now fully, broken box. Express remorse. Make first purchase.
Enter GameKeeper. Chat with clerks who remember me as the person who bought a high-ticket item without flinching (the reason for my current frugality). Purchase two key chains with workable games on them: Battleship for Mr. Rilch, Monopoly for Steve. Steve had the misfortune of being born on December 22nd; still carries bitterness towards relatives who said, “Now, this’ll be your Christmas and your birthday present.” This will be one or the other.
Cross to Edwardian tea and gift shoppe, thinking, “Kate (the person for whom I was examining candles)'s so ladylike, there should be something for her in here.” On first revolution, espy a tiny teddy bear costumed as an Edwardian lady. Congratulate self on accurate prediction.
Return to Hallmark store. Evalute other Peanuts figurines and decide Steve’s birthday or Christmas present will be tiny snowglobe of Snoopy presenting the Pawpet Theatre.
Leave Galleria; return to Burbank and Virgin Megastore. Hope Escher book is still available. Find last copy.
Rejoice that, except for the traditional hidden cigar and hidden chocolate, X-mas shopping is finished.
Anyone else want to talk about their odysseys?