Super-Duper Wacky n' Tacky Euro Adventure

is one of my less busy days as it seems much of the office is busy getting some audit (whoda thunk it!) done by today and they don't have time to continue giving pet projects to the intern. Good for them, and my nytime.com browsing skills, but not so good for productivitys sake.

Can you believe that on Sunday I will have already have been here for two weeks?! Me neither! That's what this crazy town does to you. It just keeps you so damn busy that already the time is passing way way too quickly.

Yesterday I took a quick trip to my local bougie grocery store (they don't charge for the plastic bags!) as I was hankering for something hardy at dinner time. After rummaging through the store and settling on potatoes and some sort of pork cutlets, it was time to make my exit. But not before strolling the impulse aisle before you get to the register. I settled on a pack of Orbit Мятный Бриз, as my Costco gum supply that my parents presented me with on their visit a few months ago had now vanished. I got out my rubes, payed the lady, and franticly tried to bag all my stuff before the next customer booted me out of the way (It's not that bougie that they'll actually pack your bags for you!). I barely made it before being yelled at for being to slow and returned to the lockers to retrieve my bag. After fiddling with the key for about a minute, I got a tap on my shoulder and an uncomprehensible sentence from someone behind me. Turns out the checkout lady had left her post just to give me my pack of gum that I had forgotten by the plastic bags in my rush. I thanked her and took my gum, finally getting the locker open and liberating my belongings. I couldn't help but think of all those nay-sayers who say all Russians are mean and rude to strangers. I'm sure our constant anecdotes of unruly behavior sent home doesn't help the image back in the states. But these kinds of stories never do get told. So there you go. You never know when a complete stranger in Russia can make your day and save you 50 cents. Now if only the babushka at the entrance to the metro would stop yelling at me for reasons unknown!