China & Center

Because there’s so little new to report for Week 4, I’m adding this post that I was writing prior to the state of emergency.

China & Center is a strange name for a store, no? Actually, in Catalan it’s “Xina & Center” – the “X” is pronounced like “ch.” We have a giant, Walmart-sized store with that name.  Presumably, all of the contents of the store are imported from China.  Most of them are of extremely poor quality, but if you don’t need something to last, or you have minimal requirements, this is your go-to place.

The China & Center totally cracks my ass.  There are so many strange things, including a huge assortment of weird ready-made costumes, including bull head caps.

The list of inferior quality products could go on and on.  I bought my mini-Christmas tree there, which was pathetic, but I really didn’t care.  I bought a package of 10 ornaments.  Five of them broke when I removed them from the packaging.  That’s what I’m talking about.

I needed a step stool. I bought one that was wrapped in plastic, so I couldn’t open it to see what it really looked like.  I thought it would serve my purpose, but it is THE WORST step stool imaginable.  It has only one step and it’s about 8 inches from the ground.  I should have taken it back.  That’s a roll of paper towels in the background, not TP –  I have plenty of both.

Then, there’s the truly bizarre.  Last summer I saw a bathing suit in a preteen size that had, as you can see below, a top that had a unicorn on one boob, appealing to young girls, and the words “good luck” on the other appealing to well, you know…

On one of my recent trips I found this shaver for BABIES!  BABIES!  I have no words. Note:  “Children of professional hair styling tools” – my high school English teacher would have croaked!

There were also several giant paella pans together with a giant fork.  I think they were for real.

At this point in my confinement, I’d love nothing more than to go to China & Center!!