Friday, October 12, 2007

One Man Shopping

Today I spent nearly six hours shopping along Chicago’s N. Michigan Ave. I didn’t realize how shopping-deprived I had become after living in Australia for only three months. But, the choices and the prices found in American stores just can’t be beat. My first stop was at the Apple Store. I got to handle an iPhone for 10 minutes, including sending myself an email using its beautiful touchscreen (the iPhone won’t be available in Oz until 2008 at the earliest). I also played with the new iPod Touch and the cool video Nano. It was like spending time in a geek porn shop. I then had lunch at the original Uno’s, where I had a marvelous deep-dish pizza. I had forgotten how tasty a real Chicago-style pizza is. After stops at The Gap, Niketown, Borders, Radio Shack, and Filene’s Basement, I paused my spending spree to save room in my suitcase for other things on our shopping list. Our son is getting plenty of new summer clothes, which are now heavily discounted here because winter is just two months away.

I did remember to attend the opening night reception for the conference I’m attending. And then it was back to my room to watch the end of “Survivor: China” and the latest episode of “The Office” while I munched from a bag of Cheetos Puffs. Don’t worry. I still want to go back to Australia after all this!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Omg it's posts like this one that make knots in my stomach and a hundred questions spring to mind. I will refrain however from voicing my worst fears! I'm glad you are enjoying the windy city though and all the shopping. One question though - hope that's ok - what makes you say that you still want to go back to Oz?

Anonymous said...

Eric-
Enjoy your time back in the states!! And enjoy visiting your family. Say hello for me. Call if you have some time and/or a layover at LAX on your way back to OZ.
Love,
Andrew

The Prof said...

Oz is beautiful and uncrowded, author. And although the shops are smaller and close at 5:30, there really isn't anything major that we miss there. My shopping trip and the subsequent cheetos was like a day in Disneyworld. You still want to go home after spending time at Disney, right?!

And, andrew, thanks for checking in! I'll give you a call this week...