Day 3 - 10K

I arrived in Philly this evening for an overnight work trip. I come to Philly often for work and when I'm up here, I stay at the Marriott at King of Prussia Mall. KOP Mall is huge. The best part: clothing and shoes are tax free. Coming from Chicago where sales tax is 10%, I feel like this is a fire sale. Okay, not really a fire sale but it's nice to know that when you see a price tag, that is it. Nothing more to pay.

Another good thing about the hotel at King of Prussia Mall is that it is connected to Bally's Gym. I know Bally's Gym is nothing to brag about but it's way better than any hotel gym.

During my 10K, I had my thoughts of gratitude today....

1. My trip to Tony Luke's in Philly - I ate three 6" subs. 1- veal and provolone topped w/marinara, 1 chicken and provolone topped w/marinara, 1 cheesesteak. Unbelievably tasty. Bummed this stuff exists but not close enough to my house where I can eat it everyday.

2. Treadmill - I typically hate treadmills but today I'm grateful to have access to one because it was freezing cold outside.

3. Football and Wife Swap - Treadmills are awful BUT they are tolerable if there is a good football game on and a good tv show to watch. I was watching the Tech -Michigan game and then watched Wife Swap in between commercials.

So I just recognized the things that I'm grateful for today but I do have to be honest about the things that annoyed me too. Beware that I can be bratty about things that aren't worth getting mad about but I have to admit, little things can set me off. Then I calm down because I know it's silly to get worked up about something so petty.

So here are things that set me off today...

I went to KOP mall to walk off my 18" of subs. While I was window shopping I saw a candy store. I got excited. Nothing better than having your purse full of candy - especially gummy treats. I walked in eager to fill up my plastic bag with Swedish Fish and Sour Patch Kids. They had Swedish Fish but not the big size, only the minis. Bummer. I settled for the minis. Then I looked for the Sour Patch Kids - none. I asked the store clerk if they had them. They said they don't carry Sour Patch Kids. I was seriously annoyed . What kind of candy story doesn't sell Sour Patch kids? This is a disgrace. They call themselves a candy store in one of the largest malls in the country? UNBELIEVABLE. I paid for my mini fish and left. I wanted Sour Patch Kids even more after knowing that I couldn't have them. I went to the CVS in the mall and bought a bag of Sour Patch Kids. I was satisfied.

After my walk through KOP mall, I went to the gym next door. I ran my 10K on the treadmill. Then I walked to the vending machine to get water. The vending machine is located right at the entrance of the gym. I put my money in and the 1st water button said, SOLD OUT. I then selected the 2nd water button, then the 3rd and 4th... all SOLD OUT. I went to the counter and asked the gym employee, "Do you guys have any bottled water?" The employee doesn't say a word. Instead he points to the vending machine. I replied, "The machine is sold out of water." The guy responds with, "Well, that's it then. No water." Now I'm so thirsty. I feel like I walked through the desert because I'm so thirsty. I had to get my last words into this guy..."You're a gym. How do you not have bottled water? How is this possible?" He didn't say anything but shrug his shoulders. My last response was, "BALLY's. GO FIGURE." Then I walked away. I felt bad afterwards. It's not like I'm paying a membership at this gym. It's not like this kid at the front desk owns the gym or owns the vending machine. He's just a kid working hard to make some money at a part-time job (I'm guessing). Why do I have to be so rude? I guess I should add another thing to my Gratitude List today - Be thankful these are the only things that "troubled" me today. Even though this is only an overnight trip, I miss Steve already.