Ah, shopping

Unlike most women, I don't generally like shopping. Oh, don't get me wrong, I do enjoy perusing department stores by myself from time to time to see if there's anything cute on sale, but I probably do that as often as I see the dentist (and yes, I'm a good girl and visit my dentist twice a year :-D) As a rule, I like to go into a store with a shopping list (or at least, a set idea of what I intend to buy, such as particular household goods), get all the items, maybe allow myself a few detours by well-placed, marketing-approved display items, and get out. An exception would probably be bookstores, as I do like to just wander the aisles without any agenda and see what's new. But even that is a rare occasion, as I do most of my book shopping online through used-books outlets. The last time I bought something brand new at a physical Borders store, it was only because 1) it was a compilation-- seven of C.S. Lewis's books in one tome and 2) I had a 40% off coupon, making the net price of each of the individual titles quite cheap.

And so it is with amusement and general amazement that I read about folks like Joe and Tabitha braving ungodly hours on Black Friday. What fortitude! What determination! What bargains to be had! :-) My parents themselves hit the stores on Friday, but went later in the morning, thus avoiding the mad crowds... and all the terrific sales :-) Not me. My days of getting up at ungodly hours are over-- 8 years and counting (wow, it just dawned on me that I've finally been out of the Army, post-discharge, than I've been in!), and I wouldn't trade my warm blanket and pillow for anything.

Still, Black Friday or not, there is always holiday shopping (and its accompanying madness) to contend with. I had blogged earlier about how grateful I am that Allan has a small family, making our holiday celebrations nice and calm and low-key. That also comes in handy when it comes time for Christmas shopping! We all tend to get each other the same things every year, and to be quite honest, I rather like the predictability of it. It makes shopping each year a snap.

Best of all is when it can all be done online. Save for actually placing the orders, I've already finished my Christmas shopping this year. I've picked out what I want to get each family member, and logged it all in my Kaboodle.com shopping list. A few clicks of a button and it's done. No long lines. No antsy customers. No harried cashiers. No traffic to fight. No parking spots to vie for. No fidgety kid to drag along. No crowded aisles to squeeze through.

It doesn't get any better than that... does it?