This is why I hate shopping

For the past few days, I've combed New York City (well, Manhattan, or lower Manhattan to be exact) for the 3.5" by 5.5" Moleskine 2006 weekly planner. Although generally I am not particularly attached to labels - to me, $30 Levi's jeans look just as good as $180 Seven jeans, the un-attainability of the Moleskine planner has made me want it more and more (I am only being a human!). Also, deep inside, I feel that if I purchase a 3.5" by 5.5" Moleskine weekly planner, my life will be uber-organized and, as a result, I will procrastinate less and do more meaningful and productive activities.

I went to several stationary and art supply stores in the Union Square area where I discovered a variety of different planners but no Moleskine ones. There were also a ton of other Moleskine products but no planners. Then I made it to not one, not two, but three Barnes & Noble stores and all had an abundance of planners but alas, no Moleskine planners. Of course, there were tons of Moleskine notebooks. Then I stopped by Pearl Paint on Canal Street where I found no planners of any kind but a display, which covered most of the wall, with different Moleskine products. As I looked at the display with disappointment, a nice sales clerk told me to go to the Container Store where one can buy the much coveted Moleskine planner. So I gathered the remainder of my strength, buckled my boots, tightened my scarf, took a deep breath and ventured out on the streets of Manhattan to the Container Store, which, unfortunately, is located near Union Square, about 15 blocks from Canal Street.

It was a lonely journey. Thanks to electricity, New York City streets are lit with overhead streetlamps and displays advertising trips to warm lands and post-holiday (not Christmas, of course) sales at Old Navy, yet January evenings in Manhattan are dark and dismal. It's cold and the holiday (not Christmas) cheer is gone, people bundle up, brace themselves against the bone chilling wind which makes 35 degrees feel like 25 degrees and scurry down the street. Since I've been walking for about two hours already, my feet were killing me and every step was permeated with pain. Hunger pangs were torturing me and I salivated every time I passed a pizza shop. My body was losing its energy fast. Yet I was determined to make it to the Container Store to buy my soon-to-be most prized possession.

Once I got to the Container Store, I felt a surge of excitement and energy as I stepped into its warm sales floor. A cheery greeter asked me if I needed help and I quickly described what I was looking for. She looked at me, turned around, and told me to walk to the back wall, turn left, walk to the end and take a right. As I followed her directions, I almost ran in excitement and anticipation. As I turned right, I saw a display of what looked like planners and notebooks and planner refill pages and other variety of products which would enable people to be organized. I was so happy. Well, that ended really quickly when I realized that the display was full of planners and notebooks and other random and useless stuff. But no Moleskine planners.

Of course, I can always order one online. I may, I plan to go to a couple stores near Columbia and then a stationary store near Columbus Circle. The $10 shipping charge and the 1-2 week wait may be worth it. In the meanwhile, I shall continue to procrastinate and write stupid blog entries.

Oh, and if anyone knows of any stores in Manhattan that sell Moleskine 3.5" by 5.5" 2006 weekly planners, please, please, please let me know. I promise I will credit and thank you when my first book gets published, I find cure for AIDS and solve world peace.