Happy Birthday Laurie!

Laurie's birthday was 12 Sept--Fri. I won't tell how old she is--but she's high 30's--the highest 30 you can be without being 40 (that'll be next year). I wanted to make sure that Laurie had an awesome birthday. That was something of challenge during Ramadan--remember most stores are closed during the day. I'm used to being able to go to Target, Bath and Body and I'm done.
I had a vision of what I wanted to get Laurie--clothes, jewelry, chocolates, bubble bath--you know the good stuff. Laurie had her vision--a computer, something about ink for the printer--and other stuff I can't remember. As usual our visions didn't match.
Timmie and I went out at 7pm on Wed night--surely the progressive Kingdom Mall would be open. Traffic was very light. We got to the mall quickly. Parking was plentiful--that should have been a sign. We go into the mall--all the stores are closed. Then we heard prayer starting. We decided to drive around for a while looking at the lights. Timmie talked to me about life, school and other topics (I really enjoyed being with him). After a while he said he was tired and could I take him home--so I did. By this time it was 8ish. Laurie was in bed--something about being tired--I wasn't really paying attention. I gave them both kisses and told them I was going back out. Out I went.
It was 845ish. The traffic was heavier. Lots of cars playing loud music. Lots of younger guys driving--teenage looking. The good news--all the malls were open. The bad news--Marks and Spencer didn't have what I was looking for. Now I'm about to panic. I go to my favorite mall--the Hyatt Mall.
I wandered around Hyatt trying to get inspired. I did. I found a shop that had awesome smelling bath gel. The desert warrior was a good salesman. I bought 4 and then he wrapped them in a box with a ribbon--very nice. Ok one gift--but I wanted others.
I spotted a Chinese store. Went in. The Chinese guy was so nice I felt like I had to buy something. I bought Laurie a cloth jewelry box and Timmie a small dragon (he's our dragon). Ok I'm starting to feel better. Off to Danube.
Danube has the best--yes the best (so far)--cakes that I've ever eaten (Ruth--the cakes are such a temptation!). The most delish cakes! I both a huge cake with chocolate ganache, chocolate squares and chocolate covered strawberries on the outside--inside it was three layers of chocolate cake with a light creamy filling--wow. It was a beautiful cake. I'm feeling a lot better--but I still needed one more thing. Then I remembered--Laurie mentioned that she wanted the Wii Fit. AND the guy I work with--Lenny--had told me the day before that Jarir had the Wii Fit. Now I'm off to Jarir. And the time--around midnight and I've been shopping for 3 hours.
I had to go to two Jarir's--the second one knew what I was talking about and helped me find it. Wow! I bought the last one. I was so excited to see how Laurie would react to this gift.
I got home and unloaded the gifts and cake. I looked at the clock--0130--yes--it was 0130. You should see the streets--full of cars. So much honking. Music blaring from the cars--this was a whole side of Riyadh night life that I hadn't seen before and I loved it.
I hid the gifts in the maid's room--under the bed--and put the cake in the fridge. The next day was Thursday. I showed Timmie the gifts--he was impressed. We ended up giving Laurie all of her presents that evening. She loved them all. Then we had a big slice of cake--so yum. And the Wii Fit--we've been using it an it's awesome.
Happy Birthday Laurie! You're awesome!