Post thanksgiving shopping

Today I did something that I've never done before. I dragged myself out of bed at 5:15 AM and joined all those other crazy people at Target for some holiday shopping.

Anyone who knows me, knows I dislike (and that's a mild way of phrasing it) getting up in the morning. But yesterday, I looked over all the sales flyers and saw a digital camera for $89, and an iPod for $199 at Target. There was also a laptop for $200 at another store. That store opened at 5:00 AM, and that's just ridiculous to even imagine I'd get up at 4:15. But I discussed the whole "get up at the crack of dawn" scenario with the kids and they were supportive. The youngest even promised to have coffee ready for me. So we made a pact and everyone went to bed semi-early.

At 5:00 AM daughter number 2 comes in my room with a bewildered and protesting cat, which she shoves in my face, this being her favorite method of waking people up. Oh my God. I had no idea it was that dark that early. And cold. But I got up, dressed and off we went on the adventure of a lifetime.

And when we got to the store, 5 after 6:00, it wasn't that bad. A few people had already made their purchases and were already leaving, but there were plenty of iPods and cameras left. So we got them and a new stainless steel coffepot for me, and some other gifts for various other people. And ya know, it wasn't that bad. I'm happy that I got a good deal on some nice stuff. Didn't get the computer though. We went to the other store and of course by 7:30 they were already sold out. In fact, there were a bunch of grumpy looking people standing in a looooonnnngggg line, complaining that they had been in that same line since 5:00 AM and the store only had 15 of those laptops anyway. Glad I missed out on that line, I must say. Even if it would have been too cool to have a laptop.

So my new plan for next year is get out of bed and hit the stores, getting presents at spectacular savings. Oh, what a deal.