Black Friday makes Tired Saturday

I've been up since 5:30 this morning. Make note: I AM NOT A MORNING PERSON! My dad is up most every day by this time, but I'd rather stay up late. At any rate, as I say at my Pampered Chef shows, when there's a good deal, I'm there! When it's free, it's even better.

Last night I spent about 1.5 hours scouring the ads and searching online to figure out what to do. I decided to stay here in Marion, at least at first. So, I left home at 5:50 (it's really nice being so close to the stores!) and headed over to Staples, but found that not only was the parking lot FULL, there were cars at least 6 rows into the next store's parking lot. So, I decided since I couldn't get through to Staples and I didn't want to be trampled, I'd go over to Wal-Mart first. So, when I found a spot at Wal-Mart (actually the 2nd spot in the row - close to Wal-Mart), I was able to find all of the things on my list and get out of the store within 40 minutes. Then, I headed to a crowded Staples. There were so many angry people. Apparently Staples handed out flyers for all the "blitz" items, and you had to get one of those in order to get the special items. They directed me to one of the people walking around with the flyers so I could get them. Then, after searching the store for some items they didn't have, I got in line. A lady I recognized from church on Sunday asked me if I had been at church because I looked familiar. I replied that I had. Then she asked if I was a Pampered Chef Consultant (I was wearing PC gear as usual). I replied that I was, and she said that she sold too. We chatted for a few before the line took us different directions.

I had been quite smart by taking a book to read with me because I knew I'd have to wait in line. I enjoyed my book while getting a good chuckle out of the people who were swearing about their whole shopping trip. The lady in line behind me had been in line for an hour and thought that the whole trip was a bleepity bleep bleep bleep and that she would never bleep bleep visit this store again. These Bleep Bleep BleeEEEEEEp lines for a whole hour...I wanted to turn around and ask her, "So what were you expecting when you go shopping on Black Friday?" Isn't that half the fun? I know some people (like my mom) would disagree, but to me, it's like conquering traffic in the city, finishing a big project, achieving a big goal...making it through Black Friday without getting beat up or beating anyone up. Some people might say that's a sick way to look at it, but it's part of my tradition.

After returning home, I checked my answering machine and my email so that I connected with my customers who had placed orders for my Annual Pampered Chef Black Friday Sale. Then, around 10:45, I left to go to Castleton Mall, Kohls, and Goodwill. I enjoyed the day alone and got some good deals. I even bough my husband a pair of dress pants for $1.37!

I returned home to find supper almost ready. There were 4 ultra-light parachute type planes in the air and they flew over our street, and in our back field. It was pretty exciting.

Now, it is time to head for bed. I'm exhausted and I need some sleep.

Happy Black Friday.