The Mall

Dear Lisa

I've now been in downtown Indiana for 10 days training for my new job. I wouldn't exactly call this grueling considering there are enormous chunks of unscheduled time in which I am left to entertain myself. And what better way to entertain oneself than to spend money.

I much prefer flipping through sale racks at the local TJ Maxx over say a visit to the Native American museum. This city has a cleverly constructed mall to which almost all the downtown businesses are connected through a series of gerbil like tubes and walkways. The thrilling result is that you are never more than a heartbeat away from Forever 21.

Since my arrival to this thriving metropolis I have been on a puzzling and dare I say fiscally irresponsible mission to eat at and purchase something from almost every conceivable franchise including but not limited to: Chick Filet, The Hard Rock Cafe, Borders, Bakers Shoes, Carson Pierre Department Store, Au Bon Pain, The Running Store, Starbucks, Steak N Shake, PF Changs, TJ Maxx, CVS Pharmacy and some chocolate store that I've never heard of but I'm sure must be a chain or it wouldn't be here. I now own 4 more pairs of shoes than I did 10 days ago. In addition to the shoes I am also the proud new owner of 2 pair of Hanes Silk Reflection panty hose, 2 tubes of Maybeline Extreme Lash mascara, dental floss, a plastic sleeve filled with cotton cosmetic pads, Garnier Fructose hair mousse, 2 different brands of chocolate covered cherries (one of which was discarded for not being chocolatey enough) and whole lotta receipts for overpriced cocktails.

I need 'tough love'!!
Lisa