3 September 2007 – Labor Day in the heat

Although the weather gurus forecast a cooler day today, they either lied to make everyone hopeful, or they similar don’t get it. While it may not have been as hot as yesterday “somewhere”, it was still 105 degrees on the freeway coming back from an abortive shopping trip in south LA.

Collectively, we all wanted to visit IKEA to look at desks and tables. The store was a madhouse. Everyone with small children decided today would be a good day to get out of the heat and into a cool (both temperature and merchandise) environment. Kids were screaming and running about – flopping down on beds and chairs. You couldn’t move without bumping into someone – or if you stopped to look at something, they bumped into you. Finally we left in exasperation.

On to Margaret’s favorite store (other than IKEA), Whole Foods Market. She’s had great experience in other WFM’s. Joe and Jane told of wonderful experiences at the WFM in Manhattan Beach. Carol had never been to one, so off we went. I think it was a different group of people than at IKEA (I didn’t see anyone I recognized!), but the result was similar. You couldn’t walk the aisles comfortably or stop to look at a food display without someone running into you or pushing you aside to look. We finally threw in the towel and left.

The net result was we agreed to try again on a SCHOOL Day – maybe when it gets cooler.

Lunch wasn’t as bad because we were sitting down out of the mainstream. But the restaurant was crowded with screaming kids. Carol observed it was hot, kids are “buckled down” in their seat and for many, it was nap time. Consequently, a child has few options but to scream and wiggle. At least the food was good. It was a BBQ place and we had the sampler platter with quesadillas, wings, Jalapeno stuffers, chicken strips, fried green tomatoes, and onion rings. For a side, we had fried okra! You’d have thought we were in the southeast US of A.

Upon returning to the motor-home, both Margaret and I took well-deserved naps!

The weather folks are again promising cooler days ahead. Maybe Henriette will bring in some moisture and cooler breezes.