The Commissary

Today I went to the commissary at the embassy with my friend, Sam, and with Sawyer in tow. Sam and her husband brought their car with them to Thailand. When I'm in her car, I really wish we'd brought ours, too. It's nice to be in a vehicle without strangers for a change. Sawyer loves to whine and cry in taxis and I'm sure one of these days a driver is going to stop in some strange place, open the door, and say "No baby. You get out." At the same time, we're saving some money by using public transportation. Driving here is insane, but I'm not the one who drives. It wouldn't be all that frightening if it weren't for the motorbikes. They are everywhere and weave in and out of traffic. The number of lanes on a road is always changing. Built for 3 lanes? Let's make it 4 lanes, why not? There are plenty of times where another vehicle is about an inch or less away from yours, and moving. And it's no big deal. Like everything else, you get used to it.
The commissary is nice when you go for the first time. There is a pretty good assortment of the typical foods we buy in America. Lucky Charms. What else do you need? As you look around, you start noticing that it's pretty expensive. Not everything, but I'd say most items are more than what you'd pay back home. The alcohol is very expensive, but that's because of the huge tax (I think). That won't stop me from making mojitos, though. Lime and mint is really cheap and easy to find. Also, just about everything, and all sale items, is expired. Really expired. I think they freeze stuff. So actually, meats are probably frozen before their expiration dates and are fine. But expired non-frozen ricotta cheese? The date on that was May 8. Yuck. I eat lots of expired cereal and cookies from there. It's so funny what becomes acceptable and not acceptable when you're in a third world country. At home, I would never have eaten anything expired. Now, if it tastes like home, I don't care how old it is. At home, Big Lots just freaked me out. I thought is was creepy and weird and wouldn't go in. After being at some of the smelly backwards markets here, Big Lots may as well be Bloomingdales.
Tomorrow night I'm going to Suan Lum Night Bazaar. My first time going out in Bangkok without the baby!!! I'm putting him down to sleep at 7pm, leaving him with daddy, and running off to the bazaar. Money will be spent and food will eaten. A good time WILL be had because this is my first time away from Sawyer's side in at least a month and a half. Except for when I ran across the street one night for a Thai massage by a very old lady...it was interesting and I think I'll try a new spa next time. If anyone has any requests for Thai silk, lamps, anything, just let me know!