November 21, 2007
Any fun Thanksgiving traditions out there? I know one family that would eat dinner then go to bed and set their alarms to wake up at 2 am so they could go get in line at the mall. Black Friday.
Mmkay. Don’t EVER wake me up in the middle of the night and then tell me we must go SHOPPING. At the MALL. I SHUDDER at the thought. I would claw your eyes out if you ever did that.
Ms. Battle Station and shopping, we do not necessarily enjoy each other. And at any rate, waking me from my slumber for any reason is altogether dangerous. This Holiday shopping stuff, it’s madness! Do ya’ll do that? Are you one of the crazy Black Friday shoppers?
My shopping experience usually consists of me perusing the store displays (I don’t dig and move things, the clothes must be neatly and tidily laid out before me, preferably upon a mannequin. No moving of hangers or shuffling of non-identical items is allowable. Ross sends me into convulsions.) I grab whatever I think looks cute in whatever size I think works, I buy that crap and then I EXIT the premises before I start to hyperventilate. I move QUICK and if I don’t find anything within the first store, I take that as a sign and forfeit the shopping day. I will NOT stay the course, I will give up. Life is too short to cry in a dressing room.
Buying for OTHER people, I love. But what happens is I spend mass amounts of money and Mike has to then start donating plasma again in order to provide my assistant with a little something I picked up called an Espresso Machine. Case and point: I was invited to a baby shower at my work the other night, we all were, it was a work baby shower. And the preggo Momma was really sweet and thought it was so lovely that we had thrown together a little shower for her even though we don’t know each other all THAT well. We’re nice. The baby shower’s nice. Blah blah blah. Preggo Momma starts opening her presents and everyone ooohs and aahhhhs at EVERY. SINGLE. ONESIE. like we all do at baby showers, right? And then she gets to my bag. And what everyone else’s presents were to a truffle, mine was to 5 tiered wedding cake. She just kept pulling and pulling and pulling those outfits out and with each outfit, it got weirder and weirder and weirder. I almost wanted to jump up and go “OH! My goodness! I’m so sorry! Half of those outfits were for aNOTHER baby shower!!! Hahaha!” and I’m almost certain she and everyone else in the room would have let out a big WHOOSH of breath and chortle “I WAS GONNA SAY!….. YOU’RE ALL GIVY-GIVINSTEIN! hahaha YOU WIN! YOU’RE PRESENT WAS THE BEST! hahaha big dork!” And it would have been much more comfortable. More comfortable than me sitting there with my face all red and muttering “ya, I had a hard time choosing….” You’re welcome. No, it was nothing. you’re so welcome. No problem. You’re welcome.
I guess I’m one of those that shows affection by buying stuff. What’s that type called? The Nonverbal, Unemotional, Unaffectionate Robots Who Throw Money and Things At You To Express Feelings? Yeah, I think that’s what were called.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Be thankful!
Posted by Jamie @ 1:04 am • random goodness
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November 21st, 2007 at 2:43 am, Misty Says:
No… I am totally a buyer. I show affection/love through gift giving… I always have… It’s just the way i speak/receive love…
The baby shower thing is SO something I would do too…
November 21st, 2007 at 3:01 am, Julie Says:
Me too, I hate shopping. I do it all online. And I’m the same way with gift giving… showing affection by buying stuff. That’s why the in-laws are getting gift certificates from me/us this year.
But if you’re on my good side… you get the awesome gifts!
November 21st, 2007 at 4:02 am, Emma Says:
You don’t like shopping?!??!!!! Please tell me you like chocolate, or I will start to question your genderhood.
November 21st, 2007 at 8:38 am, JMC Says:
I hate Black Friday too. The traffic is awful and there are so many damned PEOPLE. I’m not fond of a whole bunch of people all trying to be in the same place at one time. Actually I pretty much dislike going to the store at all on weekend days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, because all the stores are horribly crowded when I’m trying to buy things for other people. I really don’t care that that’s what they’re doing too. And they’re all so pushy, and I always just meekly let myself be pushed. And I shop like you, in and out as fast as is humanly possible.
November 21st, 2007 at 9:41 am, julie Says:
Oh, thanks for writing this post so I can just point and say “me too! me too!” Shopping for myself = wanting to pull my eyelids off. I hate spending money on myself. Even though I’m an average to small size, it still seems impossible to find something I like at a price that won’t make me shudder. If I do shop, it’s almost exclusively online.
But….
I love shopping for other people, especially babies. I have a whole tote in the basement of cute baby gear I found on various clearance sales which gets tucked in with something on the registry. Plus I usually make something. Plus I stick a book in. Opening a baby shower gift from me can be timeconsuming! Love the babies!
But shudder at the Black Friday.
November 21st, 2007 at 10:29 am, Jess Says:
My mother owns a toy store so Black Friday is great for us in that it’s the beginning of serious money-earning season, but horrible in that everyone is expected to haul themselves and their post-Thanksgiving, bloated bellies to the store on Friday to pitch in with the hordes of delirious customers. Not fun.
November 21st, 2007 at 10:57 am, Stephanie Says:
I hate shopping for myself. I just have a hard time, I was actually pushed by my hubby to buy something for myself. I ended up with Veronica Mars Season 1 and 2. Its a start. LOL
Last year I did the Black Friday thing at Wally World. I got scared - hoards of people coming at you with a look of madness in your eye you tend to start quaking, even if your 5′8 and can see over most of their heads. LOL I love the people in their PJ’s. Can you actually do that? I don’t think I could. I got dressed to shop with the crowds. I do believe I took an elbow. LOL
This year I started early, I will be doing the black friday thing AGAIN. Seriously. I am a jeans snob, I hate stretchy jeans - whoever made those need to be shot. dead. seriously. they show every flaw. I go to Old Navy for my jeans. Old Navy is having a 1/2 off sale. YAAAA ME! So I am getting up at the ripe time of 4 am and going to Old Navy to get my jeans. Then I will proceed to Best Buy to buy hubby his presents from the cookoo girlies. Actually I am buying a family present of a cordless dust buster. It’s important we have this.
And if I have time I may hit Toys R Us, if not I am coming back to shop online. I just am shopping for far too many people to be lax. Thank goodness for the giant trampoline plan.
November 21st, 2007 at 11:03 am, Tarah Says:
Jamie,
I HATE friday shopping as well. BUT, did you hear the mall is doing 1am shopping? They have amazing give aways like a Nintendo Wii, and gift cards. I could deffinately stay up late and do this! Let me know if you want to go with me and some friends. I have an early morning massage I have to function for, so I plan to be in bed by 2:30.
November 21st, 2007 at 12:15 pm, becca Says:
I have never, nor will I ever- I hope, shop on Black Friday. In fact, I even try to load up on necessities like diapers and formula so I don’t have to go to Walmart for those things either. The thought of it makes me crazy! I just got chills thinking about it.
Maybe I would go if I had your old buddy, Gary, with me. That way he could clear the path for me with his evil eyes and I could get the bargains. That’s an idea.
November 21st, 2007 at 8:41 pm, sari Says:
Last year we went at 4:30 AM to get this great laptop at a “Big Electronic Type Store”.
Um. The line was over a mile long (literally!) at 4:30 AM and guess what? They only had 20 of the laptops so being at .75 miles meant: no laptop.
That was the last time I do that!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I’m thankful we’ve become friends via blogs, I think you’re wonderful!
November 21st, 2007 at 10:02 pm, mandy Says:
I do most of my shopping online! I am so not into crowds, getting up at the butt crack of dawn, crowds, fighting with people over a cart (happened one year on black Friday)….the whole thing is really not fun for me. I will be sleeping in on Friday. Then settling down in front of the computer with my cup of coffee and just relax! Happy Thanksgiving!!
November 21st, 2007 at 10:54 pm, Tam Says:
I think we were separated at birth…well, if not for the fact that we couldn’t have more opposite looks and/or the, you know, HUGE age difference. Other than those minor details, though…
Hate shopping! If I need something, I like to go in the store, get it, and LEAVE. Roni, though, LOVES to shop while I stand there sighing and looking at my watch.
November 22nd, 2007 at 9:22 am, Anna Says:
I think we should start a support group for woman (yes I swear I am a female) who hate to shop- hate to go to malls- do everything on line (and you absolutely must use http://www.maatiam.com) and spend money on shipping instead of gas! I have everything shipped to work and then have to hear how “well, Anna must be shopping online again” but I do not care. Because you will be swearing at grumpy other mall shoppers while I am in my pj’s shopping away and done WAY before the actual holiday (I have to be, or else I pay more for shipping and handling)! And I claim to be non-materialistic because I’m not shopping for Thanksgiving…
November 24th, 2007 at 10:02 pm, Don't Eat My Buchela! Says:
HA! I love buying presents too!
November 25th, 2007 at 11:44 am, dcrmom Says:
LMAO!!! That’s a disease, really, there MUST be med’sin for that somewhere.
So. Black Friday. BAH. I do NOT shop on Black Friday. And girlfriend, you KNOW I love to shop. I did used to work retail on Black Friday, though. THAT was a nightmare.
November 26th, 2007 at 10:56 am, emily Says:
I also hate shopping, buy everything that I can online, but do love to buy for others. It makes me happy. I don’t think you are a robot, just generous:)
November 26th, 2007 at 1:28 pm, Marlene Says:
It’s a once a year tradition! Yes, I have been told by my husband. I am a WEAVER! In and out of traffic, cars and people. I do not believe he will attempt going with me next year!
November 26th, 2007 at 2:01 pm, Ms. Karen Says:
Socks. I buy socks once a year when they’re on sale, Friday morning. Early Friday morning. It is insane. We call it The Annual Sock Pillage.
One store, free coffee, socks half price, and some quality time with Spawn.
Oh, and new socks. I loves me some new socks.
November 28th, 2007 at 10:22 pm, Chandra Says:
Does fighting with my siblings count as a family tradition?
I hate shopping too!! I don’t particularly like shopping for other people either. I could do without any of it (unless it’s for movies, candy, food, or some other random things).
Hope you had a happy turkey day.
Chatter
November 30th, 2007 at 9:30 pm, Erin O' Says:
I’ve gone the opposite way and given something much LESS than everyone else — to be fair to myself, we were told to give something that reflected “ourselves” not to spend too much, blah, blah, blah…
6 little Tiffany-blue boxes later, the bride-to-be opened my gifts (make-your-own watercolor thank you’s and a whimsical drawing I made), and stared uncomprehendingly.
Silence all around.
Sigh. I never quite fit in to that crowd.
PS LOVED your post about the late-night indecent proposal.
December 2nd, 2007 at 12:31 am, Melissa Says:
Um, where are you? Did I miss something? Where did you go? Do we need to call out a search team? Missing your fun posts!
December 3rd, 2007 at 9:31 pm, Mandy Says:
I agree! I miss your fun posts too! Hope all is well…