lessons on shopping in LA

• Start early . . . but really . . . that doesn't matter because hundreds of other people have thought the same thing.
• Be prepared to stand in line everywhere you go (even the garden shop).
• Plan for extra time to look for parking --there is none.
• Super Target is your new store for everyday items because there isn't a Wal-Mart any where close!!  Now I love Target but they don't always cater to the simple things like a kitchen sink stopper.  Sure they have them but they cost $10.  Really?  I was just looking for a cheap $2-3 made of rubber not the ones with stainless steel edges.
• You can find (just about) anything if you go to enough stores (I'm still looking for the stopper).  There is every store you could ever want, but they are smaller and with less variety.  I guess in North Carolina (where we used to live), they have to serve such a larger geographical area that stores are larger and carry a wider variety.
• Here, Costco is by far more popular than Sams, which is next door.  Parking is cutthroat.  The store is the same size as in NC but with 2-3 times more people.  They have twice as many cash registers and the food cafe is outside and at least 3 times bigger.  I really think they need to adopt Sam's early hours instead of waiting to open at 9.
• The best part is that instead of making my shopping a two day affair like in North Carolina (Wal-Mart in one town + Costco and Sams in the other town + a lot of miles = 2 days).  Here in LA I was not only able to go to these stores (insert Target) but to Lowes and Home Goods and still make it back in time to pick up the girls all in one day.  There is something to be said for compact geography

The picture doesn't have anything to do with shopping.  I just wanted to include it.