I think I'm done shopping for the rest of my life. Or at least for the foreseeable future. Good God! I'm terrified to add up all my receipts! Simply terrified!

Jewel and I spent a leisurely morning in the room, showering, packing, having coffee and breakfast (they have the best Eggs Benedict!), and watching Law and Order on TV before checking out. We were both very sad to be leaving - this vacation has been fun! - but there was shopping to do, and more fun places to eat!

The first thing we did upon arriving at the Lake Elsinore Outlet Center was return stuff - my two too-small anklets, and some of Jewel's linens. Then, it was time to shop! I hit The Gap, and promptly found a pair of low-rider bell bottom jeans in a size 18 (which is the size I hope I will still be after this weekend of cafes, buffets, and room service, not to mention the alcohol!), and two sport-bra tank tops. As I shopped, I was mentally going through my recently reorganized closet and drawers to see what, if anything, I could take out to make room for my new stuff. I'd done the same on Saturday when I bought the two new outfits for work, and the several pairs of shoes. I was pretty sure I still had stuff I wouldn't be sad to part with. Pretty sure.

We hit a few more stores, but really didn't see anything too exciting. I bought a new coffee maker, which I really need, but nothing else struck my fancy. We decided to hit the Avenue store when we got back, and see if we had better luck there. (As if we need any more luck with shopping!)

Along the way, we decided we were getting hungry. We didn't want to eat too much, as Jewel was taking me to Daphne's Greek Restaurant, so we stopped by a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf for a couple Ice Blendeds. It was the perfect thing: it satisfied our hunger while still leaving room for gyros and calamari strips later! As we sat at one of the tables outside indulging in our respective vices, we eavesdropped on a couple college guys studying for a final in an AIDS class. One guy really knew his stuff, but his friend was apparently on some kind of scholarship. At one point he asked what "ho spice" was. Ho spice! I kid you not, he said ho spice. He was talking about Hospice (not necessarily this particular hospice, but a place like this.), but he pronounced it Ho Spice. I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing! Jewel struck up a conversation with them about their class, and we chatted for a bit. They headed off to their final (good luck, guys!), and Jewel and I went to see if we'd have more shopping success at Avenue. As we drove, we giggled about the never-seen fifth member of The Spice Girls - Ho Spice! Heh.

Yeah. Guess you had to be there.

As luck would have it, I hit the freakin' jackpot at Avenue! I found several nice outfits to wear to work and a couple items in a smaller size to replace my baggy, too-big favourites: two pair of pants - one regular trouser and one silk capri, both in the new springy taupe colour - two light-weave sweaters, three blouses, a tank and sweater set, and a new pair of denim capris. We floated off to dinner on a Shopper's High, and landed at Daphne's Greek Cafe where we shared a wonderful calamari with hummus and fire appetizer. Then, I had the gyros plate with a Greek salad and rice, and Jewel had the shrimp. Lord! It was good! Daphne's needs to open a cafe up here in SLO; I'd eat there at least twice a week, if not more!

After our amazing Greek meal, we debated where to go for dessert. Nothing really sounded good, and eventually we decided to just go home and have some of our leftover hotel munchies and some tea. Suddenly it hit us: we really ought to go to have margaritas at El Torito. Oh! And chips and the best tasting salsa ever! I decided on the Cadillac margarita, and liked it so much I had two more. The cantina was packed, mostly with college students "studying" for finals, and a couple birthday parties. It was also 99¢ chicken or beef taco night. El Torito really needs to open up a place around here. They really do. And, now, a couple photos of Thelma!

Tomorrow I head home. I'm sad to be leaving, but at the same time, I'm excited to purge my closet and get all my new stuff put away. I'm still thinking of stopping by that Lane Bryant store on the way - I'll need to take a driving break or two after all. I'd really like to find some new workout clothes. Just two or three outfits that I won't be embarrassed to be seen in. But that's all. Just Lane Bryant. No other stores. Really.

Reading: The Lovely Bones by Alice Seabold.

Classic Book: Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens.

Previously: Animal Farm by George Orwell.

Listening to: Nothing.

Writing: Nothing.

Gratitude: Good food. Really, really good food!