Bah Humbug! And other Gripes…
So all the freaks went out shopping yesterday morning, er, some late Thursday night…to find that perfect bargain.
Black Friday’s bargain frenzy kicked off just after midnight as throngs of shoppers shrugged off Thanksgiving Day fatigue to grab early bird sales on flatscreen TVs, clothes, jewelry and toys.
Electronics - especially high-definition plasma and LCD TVs, GPS navigation devices, Apple’s iPhone and MP3 players - were expected to be among the most sought-after items.
Many retailers offered “doorbuster deals,” which are special sales offered only for the first few hours on Black Friday.
Not me.
I’m all done with my Christmas shopping. I wouldn’t have the patience to go out shopping on a day where millions of others are out; I would definitely get arrested for assault and/or battery against my fellow (crazed) citizens.
Speaking of things I have little to no patience for: Christmas LISTS.
That’s right. I hate being given lists of things others want me to buy them. Where’s the surprise? Where’s the wonder? Don’t gimme that crap you don’t know what to buy people…come on…use your imagination and be creative. An exception to my rule might be for aunts and Grandparents buying for very young kids: You should check with their parents to make sure you’re all not getting the same toys. But that’s about it…I wouldn’t even ask what the little ones WANT beyond that.
I know people, parents, who insist their teenage kids give them a list every year for holiday shopping. How annoying it must be to be a kid now a days. To know exactly what you’re going to get…to know your list demand is your parents command. I never asked for lists from my daughters when they were growing up. Evah! Of course I was an involved and active parent who knew what they needed, wanted and dreamed of owning; shopping for them was fairly easy. It still is too now that they are college aged and a little older. Some claim it’s difficult to buy for tweens and teens; NOT when you know them really well.
I shop all year for Christmas gifts. There are plenty of bargains to be found too- and the WII and other hard to locate items are available before the mad rush sets in. I manage to find things for everyone on MY LIST- which includes most people I know not just the few I decide to budget for at the end of the year. Co-workers, long lost friends, acquaintances, bosses, selectmen, the pizza delivery boy are all people I buy for. Without breaking my meager bank account. I never get gift cards or give cash…those have to be the cheesiest and laziest gifts ever.
Ah well to each their own, I guess. It is a totally foreign concept to me to NOT have my shopping completed by October 1st of each year; all the gifts are wrapped and labeled and put away until the tree is up. Speaking of which, I am decorating for Christmas today since I have the weekend off from work.
SOME of my Santa Collection:
How do you take care of Christmas shopping and similar things? Do you ask for or need lists? Do you wait until the last moment to do your shopping?
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Raven here is my list:
I want a new 52 inch TV
A Bose Stereo for all rooms with speaker remote;
A subscription to Playboy- for life;
and so on.
November 24th, 2007 | #
I hate shopping. Always have felt that way.
For most of the family members, I ask for a list. In the past, I’ve given too many useless gifts–and have gotten a lot, too.
I used to be prepared for Christmas way ahead of time, but not so now.
Once classes end the first week of December, I’ll do most of my shopping. Some is already done or on order.
November 24th, 2007 | #
Oh, and that’s a great Santa collection!
November 24th, 2007 | #
[…] Raven says some freaks went shopping. Love her Christmas collection. It’s awesome […]
November 25th, 2007 | #
Sorry Raven, I think Christmas isn’t about the shopping at all… It’s about the family gathering in spirit if not in person and connecting with one another again for another year. The presents are nice when they mean something, and useless when they don’t.
Love your blog, found it from the Pirate’s Cove.
November 27th, 2007 | #
Joe stuff it up your ass.
November 28th, 2007 | #
AOW, for me lists take away the wonder and excitement of the holiday. If I had my way, there would be no gifts period because it’s become too commercial. I think that’s why I tend to buy all year round- to avoid the rush and crowds and foolish demands and non sales and all that. The whole process has left me pretty disillusioned with this time of year to begin with. Adding the stress of a list would make it much worse for me.
November 28th, 2007 | #
Oh the Santa collection…THAT has taken me 20 years to amass. I have TONS more than pictured too- literally thousands of the little jolly old man things. LOL I bring them out every yr and put them away after the holiday; this yr though I might find a BIG space on a wall in the basement party room to display them, all yr round.
November 28th, 2007 | #
bonafide, thanks for coming by!
I agree with you totally- and this whole shopping things brings down the value of the spirit of the season. As I said above in comment, I hate lists and all that for the same reasons. Christmas should be about family and being together, sharing love and presence. But no…somehow it’s become a big gift chasing, list demanding hogawash of a day. Bah hum bugg, as I titled this post. LOL
November 28th, 2007 | #
You are pretty thrifty and smart Raven! We do our CHRISTMAS shopping during the entire year and love yard sales and flea markets too. My wife is a crafter as well, and now all Christmas gifts are paid for and wrapped… and it’s still November! Merry Christmas!! We also give cash for presents for our loved ones get to go out and shop the day after Christmas and get two for the price of one, or sometimes three items! * 75% Off 2007 *
November 29th, 2007 | #
PS: We have a few international ‘Santas’ as well and a cherished 1963 Santa that mom made for me when I was a child… Remember the Germans on December 6th - St. Nicholas Day & Christ Kinde…
Frohe Weihnachten.
November 29th, 2007 | #
Yeah someone else who is like me!!!
November 29th, 2007 | #
Raven, I detest these capitalistic commercials that capitalize on … stupid shoppers this most wonderful time of the year. When the sales creeps approach me in the mall, I just talk German or French and they go onto someone else! If I hear “BUY THE PERFECT GIFT” one more freaking time…! ‘Perfect’ my Ayatollah Assahola, and at least in flea markets there’s still a few things that aren’t made in China.
November 30th, 2007 | #