No small children to buy for, so a dollar figure with my sig makes everyone very happy. Ho Ho Ho
I guess I'm lucky. I always have my gifts here at home....blank checks in my checkbook.
I do almost the same. My parents, aunts and siblings get edible gifts--none of us really need more "stuff". All of the next generation except my youngest niece get prepaid Visa gift cards so they can buy whatever they would like. As a result their presents are always the right size and color and they don't groan at my totally non-existent sense of style and my utter ignorance of what's fashionable this year for the under-25 set.I guess I'm lucky. I always have my gifts here at home....blank checks in my checkbook.
We're going to try our darndest to avoid the stores until 2009. But this week we bought $500 of HD gift cards for $400 from eager Craigslist sellers, and we're expecting even better deals after the holidays.
isn't your back acting up again or something?Nope - no Black Friday AND I am conviently not hearing suggestions I start digging out the boxes in the basement containing the outdoor window and yard Christmas decorations let alone the artificial tree and stuff.
Bah humbug. Where's my Curmudgeon certificate!
heh heh heh - nuts! arrived today - the various cookies I was was conned into buying for various Holiday causes by the neighborhood kids will begin showing up next week.
Watch out for the green coated nuts in the catalogs(Chinese horse radish) - that was last year.
I used to work with a guy (he was only about 4'8") that used to dress up as an elf when he went to holiday parties. Problem was, that he started drinking long before the parties started , and by the time he showed up, he was slobbering drunk. He end up making a spectacle of himself, make crude and lewd comments to people, and usually ended up puking on himself before he got thrown out.i shall get in the spirit by dressing up as one of Santa's elves on Dec 6th at a kids' xmas party. Sickeningly Cute Elf will be my theme du jour.
Slow Ride, by Foghat, is a pretty good song, too...
So, I braved the crowds long enough to walk around the mall for 30 minutes, which was all my swollen knee could handle. Lots of people, some of whom appeared to be shopping. Got a raspberry-mocha frappacino; lord knows I'm in calorie deficit after yesterday.
Heard a rousing rendition of Hotel California on pan flute...
I knew the song was "Slow Ride", but I didn't want to admit I'm a fossil...so now the secret is out....
The older you get the slower you get....
am I hearing my "marching orders" here?I used to work with a guy (he was only about 4'8") that used to dress up as an elf when he went to holiday parties. Problem was, that he started drinking long before the parties started , and by the time he showed up, he was slobbering drunk. He end up making a spectacle of himself, make crude and lewd comments to people, and usually ended up puking on himself before he got thrown out.
Every time I see someone dressed as an elf, I think of him.....elves are scary!!
Everybody around here must have shopped 'til they dropped yesterday! The town looks deserted....no traffic...no crowds....amazing! Black Friday must have sapped all their strength
We went out for breakfast this morning, and the place wasn't very busy.....it's always packed on Saturdays & Sundays. Then we ventured toward the grocery store....only 6 cars in the parking lot, so we went in and shopped. Went across town to Aldi's.....almost deserted....even the cashier was stocking shelves! Hit Walgreens on the way home, and there were a few folks there, but the checkout lines moved very quickly.....most were dropping off film, or picking up photos...not many 'shopping'.
Gotta go back to the store in a bit to pick up 1 item we forgot.....hope people are still at home recouping!
I spent less than $5 yesterday morning....2 cups of decaf, 1 carton of milk, and 1 bacon, egg, & cheese biscuit sandwich. Oops! I take that back....I also spent $6 at another restaurant in the afternoon for 2 coffees & 2 soups, for my buddy and me.....and then went bought a bag of bird seed for the feeders! I sure gave a big boost to the local economy!
are we related?...I never do the binge shopping, like on Black Friday....never have....hopefully never will. It's not just a matter of detesting crowds.....heck, I just don't like people all that much...whether in groups or not! I love animals....and only mildly tolerate humans! And absolutely HATE 'big box stores'!!! ...
I've nearly turned into a carbon copy of my dear ol' Dad......he'd only shop at locally owned and operated stores and restaurants...the 'mom & pop' joints. I'm pretty much like him...although I do shop online for what is unavailable locally....or if I can get a far better price...if the price online isn't vastly lower, I'll opt to pay a few bucks more to buy from the local 'mom and pop' joint!
in my middle age? if so, cool. 
I do go to the 'big box stores' throughout the year.And absolutely HATE 'big box stores'!!! Plus, when I shop for gifts...which is seldom...I'm looking for something unique and special, and those things aren't going to be on any of Black Friday's 'blue-light specials'. Electronic stuff we buy on an 'as needed' basis throughout the year, leaving Christmas and birthdays for 'memorable' items.
I do go first to the local merchants and farmers. Definitely willing to pay extra for unique or custom stuff.When I bring in the newspaper, I pick through the inserts to get the coupons for what we use from the grocery stores or Walgreens, and for eateries that we like. The rest of the junk is immediately direct-deposited in the round file, including all of the 'big box' fliers.
I've nearly turned into a carbon copy of my dear ol' Dad......he'd only shop at locally owned and operated stores and restaurants...the 'mom & pop' joints. I'm pretty much like him...although I do shop online for what is unavailable locally....or if I can get a far better price...if the price online isn't vastly lower, I'll opt to pay a few bucks more to buy from the local 'mom and pop' joint!
