We will get to the story behind the title in a minute, but first let’s look at the lead up…

Today we’d planned to go to Woodbury Common. 

A massive 300 store factory outlet centre about an hour out of Manhattan. We made it in the end, but almost didn’t. 

We were up early, about 7am and got ready to catch the bus from 42nd street. We arrived in plenty of time for our 8.45am bus. Upon arrival we were hunted by a tsunami of hawkers trying to sell us bus tickets. We told them a number of times we had tickets, leave us alone. Sadly though we also told our contact to leave us be and it took us a few minutes to realise he wasn’t selling us tickets, he was rounding up pre purchased ticket holders. Anyway we finally sorted it out only for him to tell us the bus was overbooked sand we should follow him nine blocks to a different bus. Off went our scam alerts and we said, nope. We’d ring the company. So we rang, the number was disconnected. Oh no.  

We then emailed the company and started chatting to the initial contact. A few minutes later the company owner turns up and starts apologising to us. 

He sorted the next bus for had, gave us a part refund and ensured we got on the bus and on our way. 

An almost lost day turned around and we arrived at the common by 11. 

We then began the daunting task of walking around and checking out some 300 shops. Mrs Organised (Mardi) acquired four highlighters and during the bus trip reviewed every store, rated them in order, devised a map and planned the route and shops in order finishing at the bus pick up point. 

Some seven hours later, 22,000 steps and a bag full of some nice new clothes we boarded the return bus. 

However during the 22,000 steps at about step 17,000 we were in the Nike outlet. I spotted some nice orange walking shorts. They were up high and I couldn’t see the sizes. So I grabbed pair after pair so I could find my size. One grab too many and I dislodged a rather hefty sign. By hefty I mean solid steel about dinner plate size. The sign came crashing down on my head then onto the concrete floor. Imagine the noise. Especially that looking for something to hold to stop falling over I knocked another one off. BANG. 

Staff appeared from everywhere offering ice packs and a seat, but damn, no free shorts! In the end they didn’t have any in my size. We quickly made an exit and found a quiet corner to recover. 

The rest of the day continued with out incident and we eventually made our way home. 

A fun day and some great bargains and only a small bump on the head in the end.


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