Well, I’m another year older. Whee.
Yesterday was my birthday. It was a nice day. Had a nice brunch, did some shopping, spent some time around family, and then a nice dinner.
Today, I’ve been lazy… laying around watching movies (The Women), watching trashy reality TV (The Real Housewives of Atlanta), and chatted some.
I know, I can hardly contain the excitement, too.
I’m finally done with all of the wrapping, the stuffings are stocked, or something like that. Now, I’ve got Mamma Mia! in the DVD player, new sheets and comforter on my bed, and I’m snuggled in to try to drift off to sleep.
Here’s wishing you and yours, a wonderful and very Merry Christmas! May your holiday be filled with lots of friends, family, laughter, smiles, and love.
Usually, this time of year is magical for me. I love the weather, the way the snow falls and makes everything… different. I love the music, the movies, the laughter, the lights, the pretty bows and wrapping paper, the decorations, the friendships, the family… the love. I love giving presents and seeing that persons face light up. I like making people happy. Every year, I look forward to Christmas.
Except, this year. For some reason, I can’t get into the Christmas Spirit. I’ve tried, I want to, but it just seems out of my grasp. I’m not sure what it is. Well, that’s not true. I kinda do know. It’s a multitude of stressful things that seem to be dive-bombing me lately. I know that I don’t have it worse than anyone else. I know that there are many, people who have much much worse than I do. But this year, I just want to curl up in a corner somewhere, pull a big blanket over me and disappear for a little while.
I’m hoping this goes away soon. I’d hate to miss out on the magic of Christmas, when I know that I’ll regret it later.
You would think, that after the past few years of participating in Black Friday shopping, that I would eventually… decide to learn from the past and NOT GO. I mean, there’s never really anything that I have to have and will die without. We are never that pressed for items that we can’t pay a little extra. Sure, some things are great deals. But, really. Man oh man.
This year was a little different. Instead of dominating a few stores, we chose one. We picked Wal-Mart because they had the most items we wanted, and since we both weren’t off work today, it made the most sense. Sense. Right, remember that word.
This event should be a movie. Seriously. People were nuts. I couldn’t sleep Thanksgiving night. I didn’t end up getting to sleep until around 2:00am. I woke up at 4:00am to rush to Wal-Mart because the sale started at 5:00am. Drove by Best Buy just to see, and it was horrible. People were lined up all over the parking lot and building. I could live without my GuildWars game for awhile. Finally, at Wal-Mart…. I twisted and turned the shopping cart through the store. Managed to not hit many people, and managed to get all the items that were wanted. Wal-Mart had the items in the oddest of places though. Movies and CDs that were on the ‘sale’ were by the lunchmeats and seafood. Other items were all over the store in places you just would not normally look. They had them on the pallets and out in the middle of the aisles everywhere. I made it out without too many problems. But, let me tell you. There is NOTHING you can buy at the store, that is that serious, that you find yourself… feeling the need to act a fool. I mean, come on. Here’s what happened…
I had went to the back of electronics (yeah, I know… this wasn’t my smartest move). They had PS2 games on sale for $19.98. This is a great deal, considering some of the games run around $39 or $40 easily. I overheard people talking about where the games were located that were on sale, and I quickly gently made my way back there. Now, apparently there was a laptop and a desktop on sale too. Let me tell you, people are serious about their PCs. Anyway, I got the games I wanted, and started to move OUT OF THE WAY. This guy comes out of the back with one of the desktops, and asks me if this is the one that I wanted. I smiled and politely said “No thank you, I wasn’t shopping for any PCs.” The lady behind me told the guy she was waiting for a laptop, and he said he would be right back and would go get it for her. Now, I’m trying to move the shopping cart (Full of stuff, all wanted items — but will be sorted through and weeded out for what we really wanted to buy) out of the electronics area. This other bitch, heffer, woman lady screams says to the guy that SHE’s been waiting for a PC! and she turns around and starts heading right towards me. It was like we were going to play chicken or something. You know, where two cars go really fast towards each other, and the first one to swerve is the chicken, and loses. Not the smartest game, by the way. Anyway, I smile and say excuse me, and proceed to tell her that I’m just trying to get out of this area, and then she can have my place (since I was closer to the PC guy than she was). She runs into my cart, I say “Sorry” and she says… are you ready for this? No really, are you ready? She says “That’s okay…. BITCH!” So, I said as sweetly as I possibly could.. “Well, that’s a good thing, thanks BITCH!”. The people around laughed, and said that’s what I get for being nice. I was just shocked, that she was this serious about a pc, when I really was trying to help her and move out of her way… so she could be closer to this one item, that she obviously was going to DIE WITH OUT. Far be it from me, to let someone die because they missed out on a PC.
Finally made it out of the store by 6:15am and went to have breakfast. Came home, tried to watch TV and fell asleep for a few hours. Ahhh, what an event.
It’s official… Holiday Shopping Season has begun!!
I braved it… like I do every year. And every year, I say… “I’m not going out in the madness THIS year”. Yet, every year I find at least ONE thing that I simply *must* have. It’s like an addiction. I don’t really like shopping. Well, get me in an electronics store, or books, or purses and I can shop for hours and hours. Otherwise? no thank you. I’d rather shop online. I don’t like going to the malls… I used to when I was a teen, but I’ve long outgrown those days. Anyway… this year, i was excited to go through all the Black Friday ads. I was sure there were going to be tons of things listed that I *had* to have. To my surprise, there were but a few. — So, after cooking Thanksgiving Dinner… eating a delicious meal (yes, I’m bragging on myself here -lol- it was my first Thanksgiving Meal by myself).. then cleaning up the mess… take a much needed nap. I was preparing my strategy. I had to go to two places… Radio Shack and The Devil’s house… some may know this place by it’s nicer name… “Wal-Mart”. So, at 4:15am off I go — first stop, Wal-Mart. Only needed to grab a few things, didn’t take long at all.. surprisingly, I got what I needed and all back in the car within 45 minutes. WOOHOO! Then, off I am across the street to Radio Shack. Only 2 people in line. YES, this is my day. LOL — so, I’m standing inline the store opens at 6am. That’s right, not 5:55am even though there were 20 employees there. Oh no. When they say 6:00am, they MEAN 6:00am sharp. The door oepns, and we rush in. I go directly to the side of the store for mp3 players. *GASPS* they have only ONE of the one that I want! My hand grasps it firmly and I’m not letting go! People swarm in behind me and trying to reach around me…. grabbing and pushing. I calmly, let them know that the Radio Shack person has to unlock the rack for them to come off. (umm DUH, you think I’m just standing here for my freaking health??). Anyway… The employee comes over and notices me, hell he should, I’ve been here since forever. He unlocks my mp3 player and takes it to the counter…. others’ are screaming “i want this one, I want that one” and he says — I’ll come back after I check her out. HAHHAHAHAHAHA -grins- So, with all that said and done, I got both items that I wanted and was out of the store in 15 minutes! I drive myself home in a daze (I’ve not slept except an hour earlier….) and get home… unload the car, and change clothes (halfway) and fall into bed. Ahhhh, another Black Friday Down. — I’m not going next year! (Yeah right…lol)
Now comes the time that I gotta start figuring out what to buy everyone. Part of me wants to do gift cards for everyone… but, that’s kinda boring. So, who knows. I’m not giving any hints here… (family might read this) LOL
If you’ve not shopped on a Black Friday before, you really should give it a shot. Sure, it’s a pain, but it’s also exciting. People are crazy… and I do mean CRAZY. There were fights at some stores… kids and adults both. Sure, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 is nice… but COME ON!! And yeah, the $99.99 laptop was cool too.. but it’s not worth fighting over. LOL So if you go next year, best of luck! My advice? go with another person… divide and conqour!
… well testosterone is busting at the seams (I’m at Buffalo Wild Wings and FOOTBALL is on every tv that the eye can see). so I’m outta here for now 
~S
