The last time my husband and I got away by ourselves, without children, without any agenda, was eight years ago. Far too long. It was our tenth anniversary and we decided to stay in the same inn where we had honeymooned years before. Only on that particular weekend, a skunk had sprayed the chimney down in the basement, and guess whose room had the chimney go right up through it? We did switch rooms, and all was well, but in the years following, we decided we were just as happy with Chinese takeout from a local restaurant.
So last week, when my sister asked if she could take my children for the weekend, I didn’t hesitate too long at all and made plans for them to visit her, and for my husband and I to hightail it out of town. In fact, we left the country. We debated camping because I’m a smart shopper (cheap), and I have an incredibly unhealthy fear of bringing home critters from hotels, which is very ironic when you think about it. In the end we stayed at the Hampton Inn, the hotel voted number one in Bangor, Maine, by people who stayed in hotels in Bangor. Or someone like that.
Based on my vast years of extensive research, all while not leaving the country, I have discovered that people like to shop in Bangor. I like to shop. Therefore I figured that we had chosen a proper getaway location.
If it weren’t for the roaming charges on my non-iPhone cell phone, I think I could have live-tweeted the entire shopping adventure. But instead, you will have to be satisfied with my belated not-so-live tweets via this blog post. So here goes…
@terrishoyt They let us out of the country. #hopewecangetbackin
My husband is happy to be with me!
@terrishoyt Motorcyclists don’t wear helmets here. #safetyfirst, #thatcouldhurt
@terrishoyt I’m in Bangor. I forgot where I wanted to shop. #shouldhavedoneafacebookpoll
@terrishoyt Found the Christmas Tree Shop. Not one Christmas tree in sight. #mustbechristmasinjuly
@terrishoyt Dollar Tree. Have another $397 before we reach our 24 hour limit of $400. #startingoutslow
@terrishoyt Found LLBean. Husband may be out of control. I found a dress I wore when I worked in a museum in 1989. #plaidiswhereitisat
@terrishoyt Buffalo Wild Wings. Have more flavours at Smitty’s back home. #knowwhereiwillbenextwednesdaynight
@terrishoyt BWW. Tzatziki should be a wing flavour. #ithinkiamontosomething
@terrishoyt At Kohl’s. Must. Part. With. Money. Can’t. #mightbecheaperatwalmart
@terrishoyt Finally found our hotel. Looks nice. Didn’t find any creatures. Where to next?
@terrishoyt Found a Christian bookstore. 15 minutes until closing. #shopfast
@terrishoyt Found a giant Wal-Mart. Oh. My. Soul. #diedandwenttoheaven
@terrishoyt Walked into Wal-Mart. Saw school supplies. #almostthrewupinmouth, #thisisnotheaven
@terrishoyt At Wal-Mart. Found only a few deals. Must be wrong time of year.
Me showing off my daughter’s new clear sunglasses from Wal-Mart.
@terrishoyt Women’s clothing in 3 different categories. Mature women, Casual women, and Not Enough Material for my body. #iamacasualwoman
@terrishoyt Discovered someone who shops at Kohl’s. But she forgot to buy a shirt to go with it. See picture below for more details.
@terrishoyt Next stop mall. I think my husband may have lied to me. I don’t think we saw the entire establishment.
@terrishoyt Olive Garden to eat. Oh. My. Soul. Why does our province not have one of these? #neverevenglancedatkidsmenu
@terrishoyt Husband taking me for drive through back roads. I debate in my head out-of-country issues of van breaking down out of country.
@terrishoyt Back to hotel. Sleep. No children crawling in with me tonight. And yet, I still wake up 3 times throughout the night.
@terrishoyt Quick breakfast, checkout, and off to Target. I want a new blue purse. #defeated
@terrishoyt Next stop is the Burlington Coat Factory. Takes a while to find the coats. Apparently having COAT or TREE in your store name means little.
@terrishoyt Hi! This is 1992 calling. I would like my pants back. This picture may have cost me an arm and a leg due to roaming charges. #worthit
Hello 1992!
@terrishoyt Off to Old Town Canoe in where else, but Old Town. Husband bought a paddle. I slept on a display chair. #tiredofshopping
Bucket List Check Off
@terrishoyt Final destination – Marden’s, where I bought when I saw it. #finallyspent$4onmyself
@terrishoyt No problems at the border. #whew, #breatheagain
@terrishoyt On our way back, pick up children, and thank sister who conveniently just fed my youngest ice cream with chocolate in it. #exhausted, #thankful
Did I say that out loud? 