Shocking Shopping Shenanigans (and some funny/crazy stories)

Mattress and a Firetruck
So I was walking home the other day and saw a firetruck in the outside lane on the main street of town. I thought something serious was going on and then realized that the ladder was extended to a top floor of an apartment building.  Thinking that some daring rescue was happening I looked up to see the ladder and a large mattress being moved into an apartment.  Hehehehe!  Random!  Got to love Manizales!

Girl with the Short Skirt 
A different day I was walking home and happen to start walking about 10ft behind a girl in a short jean skirt with some dark leggings.  As I walked behind her I noticed that she was drawing some attention from old men (with their wives), 13 year old boys, and just about any other living male that passed her.  The few minutes that I was walking behind her I saw 11 guys pass her then turn around and take a second look!!!  It was quite funny to watch it all happen.  Guys are so predictable!!!!

Shopping Shenanigans
Diego and I went out shopping on Saturday to get some new jeans and bathing suits for me.  It was quite strange in that I cried when I thought I would be happy and I was happy when I thought I would cry.  AND....Diego would get on me for doing something that is completely polite in my mind.

In preparation for our beach vacation Diego and I went bathing suit shopping for me since my other bathing suits were quite old.  Normally, when I have to buy new suits, a few things like tears, frustration, and embarrassment come with it.....but not this time!  I was able to to find 2 bathing suits that support and cover all the necessary parts while also being a true 2-piece rather than my tankini wannabe bathing suits of the past!  I am quite excited for our vacation, because it's the first time in a long time that I don't feel super awkward and embarrassed!  Vacation in 5 weeks!!!

Diego and I went to a little shop that had a very large selection of bathing suits which took quite a while to go through.  Diego also started reminding me that I shouldn't put away any of the suits that I was looking at.  Each one was on a hanger inside a plastic bag that folded them up (making it impossible to see what they looked like without taking them out completely!  Of course I felt obligated to put them back on the hanger and inside the bag.  Diego actually took one from my hands to stop me!!! Apparently in Colombia, it's better to just leave things randomly and messily throughout the store so the salesperson can put it away "properly".  I claim that having an OCD dad has taught me to memorize exactly how things are organized, arranged, etc, either way I left about 8 or 9 bathing suits for the woman to take care of....I felt so bad!

So after feeling elated from finding the perfect bathing suits, I thought we could easily find me some jeans and every one knows that jeans are less stress than bathing suits to find. Not true!!! At least for me in Colombia.  So I am a size 12 for US sizes, but since I live in a country where women are much smaller in both stature and frame, it is not so easy to find jeans.  I tried on a pair of 12s and couldn't even get them up.  I tried on 14s and couldn't get my thighs in them.  My waist was fine, but skinny jeans apparently don't go well with my "Swedish Farm Girl Thighs".  The sad thing is that most stores don't seem to carry sizes bigger than 14 so I am officially too big still for most stores.  How's that for a slap in the face!  So after some tears and a hug from Diego, we decided that I will just wait for a few weeks (and further progress on my "get healthy plan") and then I can go back and try it again.

Anyway, after all the surprises/tears Diego and I built up quite an appetite for Chinese food (American-Chinese food!!!!) and we had quite a lunch.  Hopefully, in a few more weeks I should have some new jeans and not have to wear Diego's anymore!