searching for the right thing

the other day i wanted to put new cleats on my bike shoes. my old ones were really worn down, thus loose in the pedals. for some reason i had to twist my left foot really far to get it out. not fun. i had brought some new cleats along figuring i would need them. when i took them out of the bag i had them in i discovered i was missing 2 screws and a washer. and the washers from the old cleats were to big for the new ones.
so today my plan was to get my shoes updated and tighten a washer on my back wheel. also i wanted to get another part checked out too. so first i went to the second nearest bike shop cause i read they are a trek dealer. thus if needed to be fixed i could figure out someway to get it for free. i got there and there were a few other people in the shop. who i assume the owner is was helping another so i waited, then he finished and asked what i needed. i asked if he was a trek dealer. he said it did not matter and what the problem was (which actually it does matter), i told him. he said something i did not understand. the guy next to him said something too. then he said to the other guy. he does not understand, then turned away from me. just like that. it was my first real experience with what could be considered some kinda of racism i guess. i have heard some germans strongly dislike outsiders, i am one. and i would bet that this guy is one of those who dislikes us...
so after about 20 seconds i realized what had happened and promptly left. and i am planning on not returning.
i then went to the bike shop which i consider to be the best in this town. tightened my back wheel up. and asked if they had any washers/screws for my shoes. they did not have them individually, only with cleats. so i came home and switched bikes (so i could go to the grocery store).
after changing bikes i went to the nearest bike store, which i thought would for sure have some washers near what i needed because it is kinda like a hardwear store. they didnt. i went to the next shop. no luck. then went way out to the industrial zone to a shop i did not know about, no luck. then back downtown to a shop about a block from where i started. they had what i needed. so my 6th shop of the day ended my search.
on the way home i stopped at the grocery to get some meat and milk. saw one of many people like the lady below..

both the nearest carts are hers...
changed my pedals. went for an easy bike. nearly was blown over by the wind multiple times. an hour and a half later i was back here.
i then found out we are leaving at 5 a.m. sunday morning. the race is at 8 30 or something crazy like that. my usual 2 hours of prep time will not be available. thus no french toast. also that is a bit close to race time in order to properly digest it all. i decided i would find some oatmeal. so it was back to the grocery store. i was armed with the translate word this time and found it right away. 2 kinds. i was not sure which i should get so i got both. no biggy. 24 cents for one and 29 for the other. both 500 gram packs. i found out one is ground the other is not. i want to make sure i feel ok after eating it so thats why i got it today.
got home. made chicken, green beans, and mashed potatoes. was quite good. then played chess. lost the first two games on dumb mistakes and won the third on a good move.
now it is bed time.