(Today, I’m at bat over at Long Awkward Pause! Mostly because Chris really hates it when we play baseball in the office…)
It’s an American tradition: Kicking off the holiday shopping season by spending the morning after Thanksgiving standing in line at your favorite department store, shivering in the pre-dawn hours, determined to be among the first to get through the doors before your holiday dinner bowel movement hits. It’s a calculated risk, but one we are willing to take in order to make our loved ones’ holiday dreams come true, even if it means wearing Depends Undergarments and knocking fellow shoppers unconscious with a Spongebob Squarepants beach chair.
Admittedly, the last time I participated in the madness of holiday shopping was several years ago as an observer, which is a little like trying to be an “observer” while standing in a mosh pit. One minute I was leaning on a rack of scarves; the next minute I was being used as a battering ram by two large women trying to knock over an electric cart that was blocking the video game aisle.
The women’s names were “Marge” and “Judy.” I know this because, each time before swinging me head first, I would hear the following exchange:
“Ready, Marge!”
“You bet your sweet ASS, Judy!”
After three tries the cart was cleared and I was tossed — discarded, really — onto a table of wool sweaters, where I remained in a fetal position until the three-hour sale ended… (Read more at LAP!)
Ned's Blog 
I use my fingers to shop. Clearly the best was to go.
Absolutely. And if you ever want to order a surprise for yourself, you could always use your feet!
You never disappoint w/ your posts. You are seriously one funny guy. And brave. Let me not forget to mention brave. I’m looking for items off my desk to gift wrap for Christmas presents. #Practicality and #Laziness
Many thanks, Hottywood. Oh, and if you come to my funeral don’t worry about bringing a gift. #hunted #fearful
The more I read your posts which sort of touch upon the gender thingy… the more I think my body is wrong about my gender, but it insists it’s right and that my thinking it is wrong is wrong.
I hate shopping at any time of year, and am very creative about avoiding it due to years of practice and survival stuff… I was about to make a reference, but wasn’t sure if you knew who Ray Mears is. I even have very good reasons why no one gets anything at Christmastime or otherwise… okay not very good reasons just ones which people are a bit nervous to challenge due to a crazy license bought by someone else but given to me some birthdays ago. I still like this gift! Use it up wear it out, make it do or do without! It still does what it says on the label.
Learned how to be a person from this film (a gift which was watched with delight at such a quirky gift) – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2479384/ – How to be a Man (2013) – man? woman? person? human? Same thing, right? Or are we supposed to act according to gender stereotypes handed out by Santa when he (she?) ran out of options for gifts but still had to fill needy gift-seeking hands?
Very funny, enjoyed the post (sorry about the comment, you inspire me with… or do I just do that naturally?)
Very few things do what it says on the label or as advertised, so I’d definitely use that license for as long as possible. And depending on what you learned from surivialist Ray Mears, that could be a very long time 😉
Ray Mears! Ray don’t shop…but if he did he’d be first in the queue with a perfectly built Basha built out of shopping trollies
I avoid anyplace with a cash register the day after Thanksgiving. I hate the crowds & the chaos. There’s nothing I need that much!
I agree. If I need something that much, I should probably join a support group.
NOT EVEN IF IT WERE FREE!! would I stand in any line and shop retail the day after Thanksgiving!! You and I would be in the same support group if I ever needed anything that much… ha ha! I hate to shop ANY time of year except sometimes for clothes if I am in the right mood. I like to look pretty 🙂
But even then I pull just about everything I want to try on, take it to the dressing room, put it on and look in the mirror and make a decision. Then go to next piece. I can try 10 pieces on in less than 10 minutes. Hubby actually doesn’t mind gong with me! LOL!
I DON’T buy Christmas for hardly anyone but I will this year since I have a brand new baby niece born just yesterday. Babies are a blast! 😀
The holidays are stressful and I can’t wait to get them behind me most years. However this year we have tickets to see TCU beat UT Austin in football! so no turkey or dressing or pecan pie that I have to cook! woohoo! and I won’t even go into my feelings about the commercial aspects of Christmas I hate. I was in a Sports Authority the other day (mind you it was 80 freaking degrees outside here in Texas) and they were playing CHRISTMAS music and wearing Santa hats? Really??? O M G! It keeps getting earlier…. 😦
It sounds like you and your family have a lot to celebrate this holiday season, Courtney! Babies are always a great excuse to buy things and act in ways when we’re around them we wouldn’t otherwise act unless we had too many beers. Making goofy faces and goo-goo sounds.
I lived in Dallas for six years, and MAN do I miss really good pecan pie 😦
Try to stay cool this Christmas and enjoy that new neice! And Gig ’em Horns!
🙂
I do make an awesome pecan pie though.. 😉
I hate shopping period. As far as Christmas I usually only have one or two gifts to buy. I shop early like I’m done now. Or I shop online. I want to keep what sanity I have left. I hope this year when you go, you remember to where your football uniform!
Our goal this year is to spend as litle time in the stores as possible. Mostly because my football uniform is too tight.
Let me know how that goes! Did your uniform shrink?
I think it was the new dryer…
Well that would do it.
I like to thin I’m wise enough to stay home – or in the lobby – during the holiday shopping season…
Probaby safer for everyone that way.
Forget the big TV bargain. I’m going for the Spongebob Squarepants beach chair bashing, Ned-As-battering Ram, the hapless “Todd” separated from the herd…
The best part is, you can do those things pretty much any time of year.
I sympathise completely! I HATE shopping!
Amen! It’s too dangerous nowadays. Some people are still missing at our local Walmart…