Message board topic:

We just got back from the mall, about 80 miles away.  There are closer malls but that one has the choice stores.  There are strip malls here in town but we can hit those few places that matter all the time.

The kids behaved very well but did drive me a bit crazy.  We took them along so they could point out what they wanted, and while they were mostly kidding around, they wanted everything and they wanted it now.  I took them while Cheri shopped for them and Cheri took them while I shopped for them.  Then we all ate at the food court.

We stopped at the mall directory to find a few of the stores.  I pointed out the little sticker that says, "You Are Here" and leaned over and whispered to the kids, "But how does it know?"  Karly had a curious look on her face and Seth looked at me like I was an idiot before he broke up laughing.

Even though we have a bookstore here in town, I can't go up there without going through the Barnes & Noble.  All Karly had on her Christmas list was books, which surprised me.  I took her list in with me.  As she was about finished with the book she's reading, I got her one for now and anything else is for Christmas.  Since Karly was getting a book immediately, I let Seth look around for something and he picked out a chess set.  Again, I was really surprised.

I learned the lesson when I was a kid, that parents should not pick out kid's clothes, so Karly picked out what clothes she wanted.  Cheri loves jewelry but I learned that same lesson from her.  Don't pick out Cheri's jewelry.  She probably won't like it.  Let her pick it out and hope I can afford it.  We already had a few more expensive things for the kids, like a gaming microphone for Seth, and computers for both of them, and I got Karly a guitar tuner and clarinet reeds, so they're taken care of.  Cheri and I haven't got anything for each other yet, but I'm sure she's leaning toward jewelry.  Me, I probably won't ask for anything.  (Santa Claus never does.)  John

Glad you had a good time at the mall. While in Barnes and Nobel, did you stop for coffee and come deserts for the kids there?

No, I rushed them in and out so I could do the actual shopping.  Of course, I had to get one for me too.  I always do when I go there.  I've got more books now than I can possibly read.  We had taco burgers at the food court, where Seth out-ate me 2 to one, and we sat there playing with his new chess set while Cheri and Karly went clothes shopping.

I think most of the time was spent walking what seemed like miles, and trying to stay out of everybody's way.  I know it was "Black Friday", but it was more crowded than I expected.  John

Okay, what is a taco burger? I am pictureing a flat taco shell on the bun with the filling, or perhaps the burget patty in the taco shell? Never heard of them.

Cheri got me started on taco burgers and they seem to be fairly popular in this area.  It's basically a taco, (ground hamburger, lettuce, shredded cheese and hot sauce) but between hamburger buns rather than in a taco shell.  I kind of prefer it over the traditional taco shells.  John

That almost sounds like a sloppy joe with cheese shreds and lettuce. ;)