Middle America's Worldview

I flew in to Philadelphia Saturaday evening. Not a bad trip, didn't get stuck waiting for the plane through Dallas. So no complaints. Not that it would help anyway.

I normally always do the same routine when I arrive in Philadelphia. I get my bags (obviously) and then a shuttle to National Rental cars. Once I pick up the small car (I like the small ones due to good on the gas and easy to get around up here), I drive my way to King of Prussia. The route is the same, 202 South to 476 North, Valley Forge exit, then Mall Blvd. Easy enough to get to. The snow wasn't nearly as bad as I had feared. I see it in spots on the side of the highways but nothing like I was told and none on the roads. Once I make it into town, I normally pick up all my grocery items at ACME (for the week), something to eat and then register in the hotel to plot my lazy butt down for the night. This time I hit ACME first and then register and unload in the hotel. Once that was accomplished I went to the mall to get something to eat. Yes, the mall is very large and they have a Court as well as a Plaza there.

I figured I would get some excercise by walking through the mall to the Court. There was a brochure in the hotel's lobby showing a discount for travelers at Borders. Cool, I had planned to go there looking for some Pokemon books or mags for my kiddos.

I pulled in the parking lot near TGIF, going in placing my order to go. I then proceed to walk through the Plaza into the Court for Borders. Being Saturday night, TGIF was busy anyway. Hey, it will take them time to get my tostada nacho's ready.

I go for it. I walked the mall many times, but rarely purposefully literally through it to the other side. I make it all the way to the end and outside. I messed up by going around the side, not over to the court. OK, I then proceeded back around outside and then through the crosswalk into the court. OK, now I begin to make it through the Court. "There's Disney, where the hell is Borders." I don't think it's this far. I asked a guy standing around in the middle of the mall where is Borders. He gets this look of confusion then says "Oh yeah, it's around the corner to the left." Thanks man. So I am going the right way. I make it to Borders finally and I am already out of breath. Yeah, out of shape. I then peruse around until I find someone with a store tag on and ask about the sale. "That's for real estate agents ect. " Real Estate agents? Bummer man. "So do you have anything for Pokemon, cards, mags, ect?" A silent look. "No, the only thing we have is a one manga." As the asexual helper walks away with another nagging customer. "One manga? Whatever that is." So a bust on both ends. sigh.
I then make my way outside the store and hit a game shop on the way back. I asked the guys in there for any type of book ect that shows what cards are availible ect. They only had a price card list. Some guy there was asking me about the Pokemon card game and I ended up answering more of his questions then getting answers for myself. Seems the Deoxys theme decks were selling like crazy. Oh well. I gotta make it back to the other end of the other mall.

I managed to make it back to TGIF. But on the way back, I started to get sick of my stomach, out of breath and feeling dizzy. Geez this sucks. My bottom part of my legs were now from sore to just there. I was thinking 'what the hell, I hope I don't pass out. That would be embarrasing.' I grabbed my nachos (which they didn't give me extra jalepeno's as requested) and went back to the hotel. I found out later, it was the fact I hadn't ate anything in nearly 7 hours. Once I ate something, I felt better.

That was my Saturday. All day in the plane and then a bust at Borders.