Wandering Wednesday: Woodbury Common

On Saturday I went shopping with one of my dearest friends from high school. The point of the trip wasn't so much the shopping as the talking. We probably could have walked along a dirt road somewhere and been almost as entertained, but since Woodbury Common is about halfway between us we meet there when we can (which is not often enough).

Actually, it's not halfway between us, it's totally closer to my house. But that's the kind of friend she is; she knows that just getting out of the house by myself is a challenge, let alone driving very far. She claims that it is easier for her because her children are older, but I think it has more to do with how organized and competent she is. Anyway, Woodbury Common is kind of a shopping mecca. Like, there are tour buses that go there not just from NYC, but from local airports. It's an outlet mall, but it has things like a Balenciaga store and a Dolce and Gabbana store.

We did not go into to those stores. We might have gone into the Tory Burch store, but there was a line.

Look, it was bright and I was using an iPhone. But you can still see the rope and the door guy with a headset. When I first noticed it, I thought they'd put a club in or something. 

Of course, since the only actual restaurant in the whole place is an Applebee's, a club requiring a door guy would presumably be out of the question. They should really work on the restaurant situation, though. There's a food court and a Starbucks and an Applebee's. I don't understand why all the people shopping at the actual designer (as opposed to when some outlets claim to have "designer" stuff, but it's really just stuff from Ann Taylor Loft) outlets haven't complained enough to at least get them to put in a Cheesecake Factory. 

Hell, as someone whose only purchase was at the Aeropostale outlet (apparently this is where girls shop when they are over Justice, but I actually bought underwear for me and not anything for Ironflower just yet, as she still really likes Justice), I'd like to complain about the restaurant options. 

Not that we ate anything, we were too busy walking and talking. But maybe we would have eaten, if there was a Cheesecake Factory there, that's all I'm saying. Okay, I'm also saying that if you plan to go there, don't plan on having a nice, leisurely lunch to break up the shopping. 

Hot Guy says that I came back in such a happy mood that I should go more often. You know, I love all of my friends, but there's something so special about being with a friend who's known you more than half of your life. Hot Guy is totally right. 

Oprah and Jerry Springer

Yesterday I had the privilege of going to a baby shower for one of my oldest friends with another of my oldest friends (not that we're old. Really. Isn't 40 the new 20 or something? But we've been friends since high school. Which was quite a while ago.) This is a long-awaited first baby, so I think that made the shower a little more poignant than most I've been to.

These friends of mine are amazing and wonderful women. Truly. I am so lucky that they have put up with me for all of these years. I have learned so many things from them, from what shoes are cool to how to be a better person. They are kind of like my own personal Oprahs - they illuminate how to be my best self and give me treats I wouldn't normally give myself. But they don't yell. Or force Dr. Phil on me. So really they're better than Oprah.

I am more like their Jerry Springer. I encourage them to eat fattening food, giggle about gossip and accept their minor flaws. Although I don't encourage them to confront friends turned enemies in my living room (not that they have enemies). So really I'm better than Jerry Springer. Thank God.

It should be noted that I have not watched either of these shows in a decade. So my analogy may only make sense in my head. Sorry.

In your friendships, do you consider yourself an Oprah or a Jerry? Are you one with some people and the other with different people? Does this make any sense at all?