Boxing Day oh-9

The second best holiday of the year was a smash hit this year, but it was an expensive one, and it's driven me to consider putting myself back on the temp sheet for Templine in January because I also have to pay for a ticket to Ottawa. Ottawa, again? Yes, and I'll get into that later. First, the goodies!

So, I was up at 7 am on Boxing Day, and out the door, walking to Metrotown by 8:15 (you don't *drive* to Metrotown on Boxing Day if you live close by...unless you're planning major/heavy purchases). I arrived, and for the first time in years, didn't have much of a plan...I just know that after two months of having no money to spend, or having to spend what little I had on xmas presents, I'm going to go mad if I don't go crazy on Boxing Day. So the plan was "look for something interesting". Well, I dropped into a store I rarely enter in Vancouver, but frequented more in Ottawa (I don't know why), Femme de Carriere. It's got nice stuff, but I wasn't seeing anything until I nearly finished the lap, when I spotted a devilish little blue sweater...half off. Done!

I moved on to some of the usual suspects, but nothing was knocking my socks off...until Banana Republic! I spotted a grey pea coat, and even though it's not thick enough to withstand winters, it is sufficient for those West Coast days when the temps are about 7-14 degrees, and neither a light summer coat nor a big winter coat will do. It was already marked down 50% from $218 to $109, so why not! I continued on through the mob (it was far busier there this year than in years past), and found some dresses that looked work-appropriate, so I tried them on. With some alterations, one was perfect, and marked down from $185 to $99, so Done! In addition to these deals, it was 30% off of nearly everything in the store, so really, I made out like a bandit!

After that, I decided it was time to leave the mall (it was only 10:30), and head downtown to my secret treasure, The Bay. Seriously people...with patience and a keen eye for deals, The Bay (especially the big flagship stores) can be one of the best kept secrets in the Shopping World...designer and brand names on sale for 30-50% off is a regular feature, and then there are extra markdowns...my love affair with The Bay is well known among those who compliment me on my clothes, accessories and shoes.

Anyway, I made my way up to the shoe department to see if there were any good boots worth considering...and here's were the newest love affair starts. I found a pair of black espadrilles to replace the smelly lace ones I loved but can no longer wear due to the stink, and of course they were discounted by a further 25%. Then I moved on and spotted a couple of pairs of black boots, one by Fossil, one by Nine West that I had to try. While I was waiting for the boots to be pulled from stock, I noticed a pair of camel Fossil boots that really knocked my socks off. The sample was a 7.5, so I slipped it on to see if I'd even like it, and immediately fell in love. I requested them in a size 8, and set about trying the black boots. The black Fossils were out, they just weren't doing it, but the black Nine Wests were awesome...they look like women's biker boots...sold! Then my gorgeous camel Fossil beauties came out from the stock room, and slipping them on in my size...well, I knew in that moment that I loved them more than life itself.

So, faced with an expensive choice? No, not Fancy! Both pairs were around the $270 mark, but guess what? Boxing Week, 50% off! So literally, both pairs for the price of one! I knew it meant I couldn't venture upstairs to the Ladies Department, but who cares! I was in love! And after I bought them, I was a good little consumer, and went home. I made it home, having saved something like $600-700! All before noon! Yes people, Boxing Day shopping got PWNED!

It didn't end there either. Rod went out exploring, looking for shoes, and when he went down to the Adidas Outlet store on Marine Way, he learned that EVERYTHING in store was marked down 50% off the last ticketed price. For a place that's already marked things down, it's crazy cheaper. But the line up was 3 hours long to pay, and I needed the car, so we decided to go back the next day.

(Which we did, and I made myself stay under $100...final total: $86 including taxes on a pair of running shoes, a bag, and a hoodie, regularly retailing about $200)

I rushed off to see Brent, who was home for the holidays, and enjoyed watching the scene: picture a very middle class home in one of the nicer parts of town, with an upright, church-going, loving family...it was all very...anthropological. Seriously...coming from a lifetime of knowing the more "colourful" side of life, it was fascinating to see the Nuclear family in action. Not bad, just different! But the observing had to come to an end, as I was off to a party at a friend's house, which Rod had gone ahead to, so I passed off a couple of Ottawa-bound presents, and took off.

I was late getting to Anastasia's, but it was a fun time, with everyone feeling the liquid holiday cheer, so the night was filled with talking and laughter, and serious discussions...not a bad way to end the second best day of the year!

Now, back to this Ottawa business. Well, I spotted a really interesting conference on development in Africa, and I'll be attending. As per usual this year, I've lined up cheap (free) accommodation with a friend, and the registration fee for the conference was a mindblowing $60 for students...so now the tricky part...paying the $600+/- airfare. Well, originally, I was only supposed to spend $250 max on Boxing Day, but those boots were meant for me, so I'm down to no money to put towards the flight. You might ask yourself if me temping while in Grad school is a smart idea...well, it's not my first choice, but this semester, I've lined up a Monday nights only class, and a 10-day intensive course in April, so I will have the time to work at the start of January to pay for the trip to Ottawa.

I will also have to go back in March to find an apartment for May. Someone suggested I have a friend look for me, but in truth, after my bad experience this summer, I can't take the chance of leaving a big decision like a place to live to someone who doesn't know me well enough to know my insane standards. At least I know which parts of town I want to live in, so I'm ahead of the game on that account. But yeah, the enormity of this move is not lost on me. Moving from Yellowknife to Edmonton is small potatoes, because I just bought the furniture in Edmonton. From Edmonton to Vancouver was a little trickier, because we were moving our stuff, but it was really within a day's drive. This time, the challenge is moving stuff across this enormous country...I suppose this is practice for the day when it's time to drop everything and move across an ocean!