Lack of ice and other stuff.....

I'm trying to think of what to write about tonight. But I'm just plain old tired out. We went to the mall tonight. And that was a blast. Did you know that they have bathrooms specifically for children to use, and for parents with babies that need a diaper change? Yes. It's true. Every single toilet stall came cutely equipped with a miniature toilet and low hanging toilet paper dispenser. Now, if you've read my blog before, I had mentioned that another bathroom was less nice and was lacking in accessories. This mall on the other hand was much nicer than the one that I mentioned before (here). It even had a row of baby diaper changing stations. It was actually quite cute.

I stumbled upon this quite by accident really, because I was looking for a bathroom for myself. And in doing so I ended up in a line with 8 women. Single file, we stood. Mostly silently, but waiting for the elusive flush that never came. And then there was a ruckus as a mother with two small boys walked straight to the front of the line. I wish I could tell you what was said, but again, I am not proficient in my new found language. Some day I will be, but today I am not. There were some angry words exchanged and the mother nearly forced her way into the bathroom. Yes, I'm quite certain it was she who went in, poked her head into a stall and threw somebody out of their space and claimed it as her own. Absolute brilliance. The other women at the head of the line muttered under their breath. Again I don't know what they said. But I'm imagining it was along the lines of shock and awe. You don't want to mess with a mother who has two kids who need to use the toilet. As any mother of kids (of any age) knows, it took them quite some time to learn to use the toilet, and a group of women waiting in line with full bladders were no match for what she has been through, or what she was willing to go through in order to avoid an accident. They all smartly shut their mouths. It was when another mother with 3 children pushed to the head of the line that I turned and walked out. At that rate, I would never get my turn. And that's when I found a less crowded bathroom, and then the children's bathroom as well. I wonder why the other mothers didn't go there in the first place? Had they not known either? The mall is so big, it's quite possible.

I was absolutely dumbfounded by the sheer number of people that were crowded into this mall. It was busier and more congested than any place that I have ever been to. And come to think of it, I've never been an inhabitant of a place that claims nearly 6 million people as residents. That is one crowded city.

So here we are back in the hotel after a busy day of walking, shopping and fighting the crowds. We bought some shoes, sweaters, and an adorable puffy sleeveless vest for Alexa. We also managed to find some small toys that weren't too overpriced to keep the kids from ripping off any more wallpaper in the rooms. Hopefully they will do the trick. It was almost painful to buy more toys, as the kids have plenty. On a boat. Floating out in the ocean. Slowly making their way to the port. And slowly they will be processed through customs, before they will ever see the light of day. Unfortunately mommy and daddy's nerves do not have the kind of patience it takes to wait and see if the kids will make it here in the hotel without something at all to keep them from creating their own destructive little games with what is readily available. So, we bought two cute soft and colorful balls for them to kick at the light fixtures and lamps and tables and at the laptop that sits on this desk. (yes they've done this already) And we also bought them some soft squeezy (non-toxic) dinosaurs that they can take turns beating mommy with. In the back. It feels great. (totally untrue) And then in the face. Yes, the side of the face that I recently had two wisdom teeth removed. And although I was told by my oral surgeon I would regain feeling in my chin and lip in about 2 weeks ( it has currently been 3 weeks and 1 day) I have not. And despite having numbness, it doesn't feel any better being smacked in that side of the face by my 21 month old daughter with a T-Rex. Soft. Squishy. Or non-toxic. But at least they are not ripping off the wallpaper. Right?

So I sit here, blogging. And I am drinking a soda. Without ice. Because that's how they do it here. And when in Rome.....

Oh and I must say that I am very thankful to my mother and father. ( and my sister for helping them get the boxes together) Because they sent me our first care package. And do you know what glorious thing was in that box? SNICKERS!!!! I really honestly didn't think about chocolate so much since I know that they do sell it here. But it's not the same, they don't have the same kinds. And then the hotel stocks the room with overpriced snacks and little bottles of liquor and other things that you don't need. Well I have had my eye on a single Snickers candy bar. A regular sized candy bar. They want to charge me $3.50 cents (US dollars, yes) for a candy bar that costs .44 cents at Walmart. I almost fell over. But honestly, one night I picked up that candy bar. After staying in this room for 10 days picked it up and I held it in my hands and stared at it for like 3 minutes. I remembered how good that they tasted. I so badly wanted a bite, and then another. I wanted to scarf that bar down whole. Then I thought of how cruel the people who run this hotel truly are. How dare they put that candy bar in my room. I almost ripped it open without shame or hesitancy. Almost. But I couldn't get over the fact that they were just praying on my weakness for a Snickers bar. So I stopped.

And like winning the lottery, I was sent some truly wonderful KING sized candy bars. I can't remember the last time I had one. But being unable to purchase one at a whim just made it all the more alluring. I had nothing but pure enjoyment at eating only half of the candy bar. I had to savor it. And not to mention, you don't just sit down and eat a WHOLE king sized anything. At least you shouldn't.

So that was my day. The kids played, beat mommy, went to the mall, got tired, came home, kids beat mommy some more, ate snickers drank a coke with no ice. And now I need to head off to bed. I need to get some rest for tomorrow's adventure. Because life in a hotel with my 3 year old Eddie, and my 21 month old Alexa , is an adventure.