SHOPPING!!!!!!!

On Thursday, August 4th, we drove in the jeep to Cabela's, the number 1 outdoor store. It had everything from fishing to hunting to camping to archery. I, myself, even bought a shotshell wallet and I got a birthday present for a very good friend of mine (not saying his name). It was really fun, and my birthday being only 2 days away, everyone was trying to find something for me to buy. I turned down all "Oh, look at this" except for the wallet.

Then we had a good lunch at Portland Pi Company, a pizzeria with great nachos (that's what I got). It was very good.

For a while we just rode around town. Then Dad parked by a bike shop. "Why are we going here?" I asked with curiosity.

"Dad wants a kickstand for his bike," Mom answered suspiciously.

"Can I take my book?" I said.

"No."

"Why?"

"Just because."

"Okay?" I said in bewilderment. Why wasn't I allowed to bring my book? I was so confused.

Going into the little bike shop, Mom and Dad smiled as they showed me multiple bikes.

"I already have a bike."

Mom approached me slowly. "Andrew, for your birthday, we're going to get you a new bike. Your other one is getting quite old and small."

Despite my reluctance and assurance that I didn't need a new bike, they insisted. I looked at a lot of different bikes, but one caught my eye over all the rest. It was a dark blue bike that was pretty big but, as the nice salesman named Andy said, was fast and efficient. He asked if I wanted to try it outside.

"Sure." He got a helmet my size, then wheeled the bike to the parking lot behind the store.

"When I say 'carup!' that means a car is coming. Okay."

"Okay."

Now, what you want to do is basically stand over your bike, and then let your butt... if you don't mind me saying it... on the seat. Also put your left leg on the low pedal and scoot your way until you are ready to ride. K?"

"Okay."

I did what he said, and I was off.

I later decided I would like the bike, and Mom said that we would be back tomorrow with my older bike to trade in and the bike rack to put the bike on. Andy said goodbye.

After that, we went to the enormous, mall sized, famous L.L. Bean, that had a total of three different buildings. We only cracked the surface of it that night, going to men's, women, and kids stuff. I got a hoody fleece for my b-day.

The store was really cool. And really big. Cabela's and L.L. Bean tired us out that day. It was just too much shopping.

We ended the night and I ended The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring. It was a very good action epic, and I recommend it to all who like books about elves, goblins, dwarfs, and of course, hobbits. It is (in my opinion) the greatest Fantasy Epic of our time. I will be starting the second one soon. The second one is (just so I don't have to repeat it again) The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers.

Don't get your head stuck in a shopping cart...been there and done that,

Andrew.