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| Celtic Radio Community > General Discussion > Shopping! |
| Posted by: Sekhmet 27-Nov-2004, 02:51 AM |
| If anyone hasn't had the (ahem) pleasure of shopping on Black Friday, I highly suggest it if you don't have nagging little problems like high blood pressure, a short temper or sleep deprivation. My mother is one of those types who gets up at O-God-Thirty in the morning to hit the "doorbuster" sales at the stores. This year I pled culinary exhaustion and my little sister got dragged out instead of me. I should've thought of that excuse years ago. I had to go out this afternoon in order to get groceries, as I've been frantically preparing for Thanksgiving for two (yes two) households for the last couple of days and haven't been paying attention to the mundane things like peanut butter, bread and TP. So I pack the kids up, grab the bank card, and off we go. Then sat in traffic for half an hour getting to my exit for the grocery store. Then sat another 15 minutes getting through two lights to said grocery store. Ten minutes to get a parking place in Outer Mongolia. Five minutes waiting for a the poor hapless kids working there to bring carts in so the other fourty people waiting could actually shop. One woman had the audacity to yell at one for taking so long. Considering he just risked his skin trying to gather these suckers up and *not* get run over by the traffic in the parking lot, that was more than a little harsh. Twenty minutes fighting my way upstream like a salmon to the spawning grounds to get the simple odds and ends that I needed. Ten minutes total telling my children they couldn't have half of the things they snatched and snuck into the cart. One hour and twenty minutes getting through the checkout. Right about then I get a call on my cell phone. My mother wants to know if I'm near Wal-Mart (I am) and if I could pick up a couple of odds and ends for her since she forgot to pick up such mundane items like peanut butter, coffee, bread and butter. Whimper, put my stuff in the car, tick off four people in their cars as they followed me to my parking place assuming I was leaving, go back in, children in tow. I got called some interesting names, lemme tell ya. Lather, rinse, repeat. I swear I'm going to go to a 24 hour grocery at 4AM, stock up till January and not come out till at least then. It's a nice thought, but I know that I'm going to have to brave the crowds at least a few more times, as my husband hasn't even begun to start shopping for his side of the family. Augh! |
| Posted by: Irish Stepper 27-Nov-2004, 03:48 AM |
 Sorry...I just had to laugh. I've got a co-worker here thinking I've lost my marbles!  I absolutely refuse to go anywhere other than home and work during Thanksgiving weekend. We'll live on Ramen noodles and Spaghetti-O's before you get me out there!  And yeah...there's definitely something to be said for 24 hour grocery stores.  |
| Posted by: TheCarolinaScotsman 27-Nov-2004, 05:55 AM |
I was lucky, all I had to do was go to work.  |
| Posted by: maisky 27-Nov-2004, 07:07 AM |
| We have the good fortune to have a large grocery store that is a 5 minute walk from us. It is MUCH faster to walk. |
| Posted by: Herrerano 27-Nov-2004, 11:12 AM |
| Spaghetti-O's! yummmmm Leo |
| Posted by: MDF3530 27-Nov-2004, 11:47 AM |
| I usually do my holiday shopping during the week. I get it all done in one day (mostly by buying gift certificates ). |
| Posted by: Rindy1202 27-Nov-2004, 07:27 PM |
| Sekhmet, that is so funny. I stay away. I am glad you got home. I wonder how much money is spent on this Black Friday. From now on people will be cranky. I usually do the shopping for my husbands family but he has to mail them all. I have been on both sides of the shopping and selling. The Black Friday is the worst to work and shop. Now the wrapping the baking hohoho!  |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 27-Nov-2004, 11:49 PM |
Sekhmet, I know exactly what you are talking about. I made that mistake one year. I wasn't even Christmas Shopping to boot. Just was needing some household items. NEVER AGAIN.  My ideal time for shopping is by myself when there is no one in the store and then it is still a carefully planned operation to get in and out as quickly as possible.  Great Story BTW. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 27-Nov-2004, 11:50 PM |
| Just and additional note: Next time leave the Cell Phone at home. |
| Posted by: Iago 28-Nov-2004, 01:07 AM |
| I think leaving the cell phone at home is a VERY good idea. I refuse to leave the house on Thanksgiving weekend. It is utter CHAOS! People like to get into the Christmas spirit by yelling, screaming, gesturing and just being plain rude, just to get it out of their system. Or so I can only guess. Seems like they need alot more than just a month to get it out though. As for me, I just sit back and reflect on how thanful I am that I live in a free country, I have shelter and food, and I have a happy, healthy family! ~Iago |
| Posted by: MDF3530 28-Nov-2004, 01:23 PM | ||
Richard, I believe that's called breaking and entering . |
| Posted by: dragonboy3611 28-Nov-2004, 06:51 PM |
| Aww man black friday...in my opinon...the WORST time to shop! The people are crazy. I saw a women, push a cart straight into the back of another to try to get the line moving alittle faster. Alittle later in another store, I saw another customer get upset and through a glass jar a bath salt over her shoulder, into the forehead of an un-suspecting customer. To tell you the truth, I was right scared! What these people will on there 1/2 off days! |
| Posted by: Rindy1202 28-Nov-2004, 06:56 PM | ||
Dragonboy that is totally scary what is the human race in the US turning into??  You won't catch me outthere nope and I live in a small town...  |
| Posted by: BluegrassLady 29-Nov-2004, 11:05 AM |
| Oh, Sekhmet, I know that it wasn't funny while it was happening to you, but believe me, it is a great story. While visiting hubby's family in Michigan over Thanksgiving weekend, I did the early bird shopping with my daughter, son, their spouces and my hubby. What an experience!! Definitely do NOT plan on repeating it!! We were at the stores by 5am......... What were we thinking?  |
| Posted by: Ceciliastar1 29-Nov-2004, 11:12 AM |
| I've never shopped and never will shop on Black Friday. HOwever, this year I loved that day soooo much. I went back to indiana for thanksgiving and we drove back to ohio on Friday. The highway was completely empty! Everyone was in the cities shopping! The drive home was a breeze! Thank God for Black Friday! (not really, haha) |
| Posted by: dragonboy3611 29-Nov-2004, 12:41 PM | ||
Well I think it's just some people, not all! At least black friday is good and over!!! |
| Posted by: catlynelizabeth 29-Nov-2004, 02:23 PM |
| My mom looked at me over the Thanksgiving break and said that she loved my Christmas list because it could all be found online and she wouldn't have to go out to stores in the mass rush to find that perfect gift. Neither of my parents shop on Black Friday because my mom used to work in retail and knows exactly how awful it can be sometimes although a few years ago they did go to a store at like 5 in the morning to get part of my brohter's gift and it took them nearly an hour to get the one little thing they wanted and get home. |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 29-Nov-2004, 05:20 PM | ||
They actually have a name for that? |
| Posted by: freekenny 29-Nov-2004, 07:55 PM | ||
O'siyo, ~ I am strongly considering having my cell phone turned off for good! I mean, what in the world did we do before the age of cell phones?  Communicated in person by actually taking the tyme to visit; had our lists made out before hand...and if we forgot something, we either did without or went back out and retrieved it.. ~ I am with Iago  too much Chaos for this gal...besides, like Iago, I enjoy sitting back with all the food leftovers and oh yeah, spending tyme with leftover company I just give Thanks for all that I have been blessed with..the good and the bad 'things' that occured throughout the year!  ~~Sty-U  |
| Posted by: freekenny 29-Nov-2004, 08:06 PM | ||
O'siyo MDF, ~ ~~Sty-U |
| Posted by: MDF3530 14-Dec-2004, 04:07 PM |
| Is anyone done with their shopping yet? I just have to get something for my mom. Probably a gift certificate. That's what everyone except for my dad is getting this year. I got my dad the Monty Python movie "The Life of Brian". To go in with the presents for my sister's kids, I also got some throw-ins. Megan & Amy are getting some stickers of doggies and kitties. Jay is getting two Hot Wheels cars. A yellow Hummer (his favorite), and a 1940 Ford. |
| Posted by: Rindy1202 14-Dec-2004, 04:16 PM |
| I am going to finish up my christmas shopping tonight. I have to ship a lot out of town so I will have that yet to do. I can't believe its almost here. Happy Holidays Everyone! |
| Posted by: Spradley 14-Dec-2004, 04:18 PM |
| I'm done with everyone but my wife. Hopefully I'll figure something out this weekend |
| Posted by: Keltic 14-Dec-2004, 04:23 PM |
| Only nine days to go until I start my Christmas shopping!!! I work better under pressure. |
| Posted by: MDF3530 14-Dec-2004, 04:36 PM |
| I just happened to be passing by a Target today. I thought that since my sister shops there often, she might like a gift card so I stopped and did a little shopping there. That's where I got the Hot Wheels cars and the stickers. Also, I got a birthday card for my mom and a mouse pad and power strip for my computer. Previously, I had the monitor & the CPU plugged directly into the wall outlet. That was fine but I'll need the other outlets if I get the speakers I want for Christmas. BTW, I don't see what some people have against giving gift cards/certificates. It makes a shopping trip much faster. |
| Posted by: freekenny 14-Dec-2004, 05:31 PM | ||
O'siyo, ~ I agree with you MDF, gift certificates/cards are very easy and it allows for the recipients to go and get what it is they would like to have! I usually bake 'goodies' and put them in tins/bottles/bags with a personalized card made up for that particular person....sweet traits, Ni Ya We's for good deeds, why they are such a special O'ginalli..little things like that...always makes for a special touch and good feelings! Of course, there are some people that just have to have a 'gift' that is store bought so, that is where gift cards to book stores, liquor stores and little, funky boutiques come in handy ~ Personally, I would rather have if anything, something homemade....especially if it was baked and is considered fattening!! ~~Sty-U  |
| Posted by: Monarch's Own 14-Dec-2004, 07:54 PM |
| Hey I feel for you. I did shopping once on that particular Friday. It was 4 years ago and I only went because I wanted the Computer they had on sale - it was a good deal and I still have it (handed down to my son) But they actually had to call in the cops to break up a fight over a scooter which were so popular that christmas. They actually hit each other and that was scary. I was lucky - I was in, grabbed the item and went right back out and didn't even stand in line for long. But seen that totally changed my mind to ever go shopping on that day after Thanksgiving. I just stay at home and enjoy the leftovers from the day before. Whatever I need can wait till the next day or I just get them later in the evening when it's not so bad anymore.  You really get scared by some of these shoppers. I try to get my christmas presents during the year so I don't have to worry about Black Friday. |
| Posted by: Rindy1202 14-Dec-2004, 10:04 PM |
| Hello Monarch's Own, Just wanted to say I like your new avatar it is really nice. |
| Posted by: bigjimhainey 15-Dec-2004, 01:45 AM |
| I used to work at an outlet mall at the Tommy Hilfiger store(when he was at the height of his popularity) and i had to work on Black Friday. fortunatley i was in stock so i didnt have to deal with the people other than to take clothes out every once in a while. and then it was a quick sprint and drop and run back. the year before i worked there a woman had brought out a stack of tshirts and got mugged as she was bringing the shirts out. they knocked her down and started snatching the shirts out of her hand. she got up and quit on the spot. said screw this and left. and thats why i stay my butt at the house on black friday. |
| Posted by: Rindy1202 15-Dec-2004, 07:26 PM | ||
Boy, that is just awful. Materialistic things should not be of that much value. What happened to being nice to each other. I don't think this will ever happen. Did they catch who did it? Are shirts and assault worth prison? Guess may be some of these people don't think about the consequence. Slainte Rindy |
| Posted by: bigjimhainey 16-Dec-2004, 12:39 AM |
| you would think that people would be a little nicer during this time of year but NOOOOOO. They get downright vicious at the store on that day. knock people down. fight over stuff, even when theres more there. its a shame really. |
| Posted by: TheCarolinaScotsman 16-Dec-2004, 05:46 AM |
It's called X-treme Shopping.  Part of the X Games. |
| Posted by: maisky 16-Dec-2004, 10:14 AM | ||
But it's FUN to watch!!! And if you want to get to a crowded table, try yelling "they're giving away FREE SOX on the lower level"! |
| Posted by: Monarch's Own 17-Dec-2004, 07:37 AM | ||
Thanks! Just liked to change a bit! |
| Posted by: MDF3530 18-Dec-2004, 12:43 AM |
| I don't want to brag, but I'm going to ... All my Christmas shopping is done and all my  s are wrapped .Of course I mostly gave gift cards and small, easy-to-wrap stuff. I am never gonna wrap gift cards again. Those suckers are deceptively hard ...A tip: for wrapping stuff like CDs, DVDs and video games, buy sheet wrapping paper rather than rolls. The sheets will cover four CDs, two DVDs or two video games. Plus, it's much easier to wrap without having to hold the roll. |
| Posted by: Sekhmet 18-Dec-2004, 09:39 AM |
I haven't started yet.  Well, no...I can't say that. I do have *some* gifts lined up; I start picking things up around Labor Day if I have the available cash. Fortunately this year I did. I got a few things at a couple of the Highland Games too. But...I still have to do all of my side of the family. Gack! |
| Posted by: Richard Bercot 18-Dec-2004, 02:32 PM |
| I am planning on starting Monday morning and finishing Monday morning. And "YES", I will have it done early this year. |
| Posted by: Rindy1202 18-Dec-2004, 10:03 PM | ||
Hey you have a reason to brag!!!! Enjoy the moment!! Now sit back and let it happen. I am also done. Other than Christmas Dinner. |
