Costco and shopping

I went to Costco today - very fortunate timing. I had to buy Microsoft Office and they just happen to be $30 off this month. Still cost $90 though. It makes me very annoyed to have to buy Microsoft Office, especially when I have had to buy it before.

I like to walk by the home and garden section in Costco, because that is often where the RANDOMEST shit is sold. Decorative things that look like very unique items that you think you wouldn't often see in people's yards. And then you realize they are being sold en masse at Costcos around the world. There was the fugliest thing ever. I tried to find it on Costco's website but it wasn't posted. This is the closest thing I could find on Amazon.com:

They're decorative mushrooms for the garden! The costco ones weren't so colorful, but the idea is still the same: stick three giant mushrooms in your yard. I wondered, who is going to buy this? Then I realized that the next time I visit Arcadia, I will probably spot a few on people's yards, especially if there's a coupon for it over the summer.

There was also a demonstration for ladders. Tons and tons of ladders of different heights and uses. There was one that extended ALL the way to the roof of Costco. And Costco roofs are RIDICULOUSLY high. WHO is going to buy that ladder? Ladders that high should be specially ordered, not bought at Costco.

My shopping spree is kind of over. I go back to Berkeley tomorrow and start work on Monday. I didn't buy any nice tops ... I will make do with what I have. I think I just have to dress fairly nicely the first few days, maybe the first week, then gradually shift into t-shirts.

I now feel TERRIBLE about all the things I've bought! Well actually, I have to say I like my H&M jeans a lot more than I anticipated. I apologize H&M - I judged your jeans before ever trying them on. Surprisingly, I do not feel like I'm wearing a burlap bag, which is what I expected. But I read an article on nytimes.com about people who are trying to get by in this recession. I think they have one every week (and I read them every week, fully knowing I am just going to depress myself) - how are the unemployed getting by? how are college students getting by? how are people who took pay cuts but still have jobs getting by? how are people who still have jobs but think they might get laid of getting by? So many reminders of the economy. I look around my room and think about my apartment at Berkeley and wonder, how much of the stuff I bought is crap? I probably could have saved thousands of dollars if I were more thrifty. But I guess fashion is an investment. I figure, people's peak buying time should probably be around 20-30, it is just unfortunate that I am 20-30 during a recession.