No Black Friday for Me

I got up at the normal hour of 8:30 this morning. I had absolutely no desire to join the Black Friday mobs. For one thing, I worked at 11AM today. For another, I have some pretty basic rules about holiday shopping. I don't do fancy electronics or video games, and all of the kids in the family know it. I try to stick to a budget limit as much as possible. I did buy a few things on Black Friday last year, but it was a couple of non-sale titles from the FYE in the Audubon Crossings Shopping Center that I picked up late in the afternoon at work. With that store gone, I have neither the reason nor desire to venture into the mall. You couldn't pay me to go into a Walmart today, especially one as small as the store in the mall!

I started taking down the Thanksgiving and fall decorations, but I didn't have a chance to finish before work. Work was surprisingly on-and-off busy all day. I figured it would be dead, like it was last year on Black Friday. A lot of people must have gotten their government money early. We were short on help, too, due to many people asking for today off to get their own shopping done. I was just barely out on time.

I did have to do some grocery shopping of my own today, but it was my usual Friday shopping. I needed to restock some baking items. Bought ground chicken and small beef steaks that had manager's coupons. Needed toiletries and contact lens cases, cranberries, celery, and to restock peanut butter and powdered sugar.

When I got home, I finished taking down the Thanksgiving and fall decorations, then ran With a Song In My Heart while I had leftovers for dinner. This is a fairly intimate 20th Century Fox musical drama about real-life radio singer Jane Froman, who was a major star when she was badly injured in a horrible crash during a World War II USO tour. Despite needing 39 operations on her legs and arm during her lifetime, she would continue to perform for troops and radio, TV, and nightclub audiences for another decade and a half, including several years after the movie came out in 1952. Susan Hayward, herself no stranger to playing tough women, was marvelous as Froman (who did all the singing). I also liked Thelma Ritter as her sensible nurse who becomes her most supportive friend.

Oh, and I have a pretty good schedule this week, probably the best I've had since September. Tuesday and Thursday off, no days later than 8PM. 

Gray Friday

I spent most of my Black Friday in the safest possible place - a grocery store. Who wants to go grocery shopping the day after Thanksgiving? I worked from 9AM to 4:30PM, and we were dead all day. It got mildly busy around noon and again around 2-3ish, but other than that, I spent most of the morning and afternoon standing around, reading magazines with Christmas cookie recipes. Needless to say, there were no major problems, and my relief was on time.

The weather was no help. It didn't rain again, but it was cold, gloomy, and damp for pretty much the whole day.

I did go to FYE after work to find some DVD requests. I picked up presents for Lauren and Keefe. Didn't find the DVDs I wanted for Khai or Amanda - I'll keep looking. They were busy, but not so much that I was tripping over people. There was a line, but it moved fast.

Went to an early dinner at Arby's next. I just had the All American Burger meal. I wasn't really hungry enough for anything else.

Next on the list was grocery shopping. In addition to stocking up on anything I ran out of this week (pumpkin, yogurt), I'm back to buying fruit and vegetables at the Acme now that the Collingswood Farm Market has ended until early May. I also grabbed some things for Christmas - a bag of the red, green, and Candy Cane Lifesaves they have out this year, candy canes for when I put the tree up next week, and this year's cheap Advent Calender with the terrible chocolates.

Speaking of Christmas, when I got home, I took down the Thanksgiving and general fall decorations. I'm going to finish the cleaning tomorrow and start the Christmas decorating by Monday.

My schedule next week should give me plenty of time to get things done. I have three days off again (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday), with two late days and one early day. I even get off on Sunday in time for the second half of the Eagles-Bears game - thank goodness it was bumped to 4:15.

Bargains

I was up early this morning...but for 9AM work, not 5AM sales. I think that's crazy. Who cares how low the sales are? Unless you're truly an early bird, 5AM is when you should be sleeping, not shopping. Besides, I don't buy any large toy items or electronics for anyone.

Work was on-and-off steady, which is busier than I thought it would be. Normally, a grocery store is the last place anyone wants to be the day after Thanksgiving! Other than some mildly cranky customers (must have gotten up for those "doorbuster" sales), there were no major problems, and my relief was on time.

After work, I ran to FYE to see if they had a present for someone. FYE was slightly busier than usual, but they don't exactly have a lot of huge TVs laying around, either. They didn't have it, so I went back to the Acme to pick up the few grocery items I needed this week. I found a set of foam balls two of my cousins might like and picked it up for their Christmas present.

Two of the local stores in Audubon who have me on their e-mail list mentioned special Thanksgiving Weekend sales. I bought a gift for my brother Keefe from my old friend Bob at Abbie Road Used CDs. Had a nice chat with the owner of Willie the Woodsman's and Wife and bought Christmas presents for two of my best friends, Lauren and Amanda.

I just went home after that. The day was windy, cloudy, and much colder than yesterday, probably only into the mid-40s. It was certainly not a day to be out running around on a bike.

After I got in and put away my groceries and presents, I took down the Thanksgiving and general fall decorations and put them away, then dusted the windows. I want to finish cleaning tomorrow and start putting out the Christmas stuff by tomorrow night.

And my schedule next week is a pain. While it's only slightly fewer hours, with no long days or very late or early days...I don't get another day off after tomorrow until NEXT Saturday. How do they expect me to get anything done? I really, really wish I had consistent hours, so I could tell people exactly when to expect me. Flexible hours are for mothers with children and college students with classes.

It's the Holiday Season

I spent my Black Friday morning at work, where it was steady, but not really crazy. Who wants to go major food shopping the day after Thanksgiving? Um, ok, I did, but I didn't cook yesterday and a "major" shopping trip for me is $30 (and in fact, today's only came up to about $20). I also got my schedule for next week. While the upside is more hours...the downside is LOUSY hours, including only one day off (counseling day) and 7AM to 12PM on Saturday. I hate having to go to bed really early for those early days. Throws off my internal clock. I really wish I had consistent hours.

After I finished shopping, I went straight home, put everything away, changed my shirt, and made a quick run to the bank. I heard the tellers complain that it was busy earlier, but the tellers were the only people there by the time I arrived around quarter of 4.

The rest of the day was devoted to taking down the Thanksgiving decorations and cleaning the kitchen. I'll do as much cleaning as I can tomorrow and try to start putting up the Christmas decorations Sunday.

Harvest Time

Went to the last Collingswood Farm Market of the season today (the first time I've gotten to the farm market in over a month). Pears are gone, but I bought mushrooms, celery, an onion, a green pepper, sweet potatoes that still have a "fresh from the earth" scent on them, and beautiful little apples. The honey booth, crepes mini-cafe, live music, and a few veggie booths were gone; in their place were several craft booths, though their wares were too expensive for me.

Stopped at the post office to get Christmas stamps; I have bills and holiday cards to mail. The line in the cramped little Oaklyn Post Office was almost out to the door when I arrived! The poor guy (and only guy) working said despite the time of year and the crowds on Saturdays, the post office apparently refuses to hire more help for that day! According to him, several people had already walked away. He's right; they are losing revenue. (I also checked out a church bazaar and a yard sale, but nothing interesting at either place.)

I wasn't surprised that work was very, very busy. People are starting to buy their Thanksgiving dinners this weekend (not to mention food to feed all the guests they'll have NEXT weekend). What DID surprise me was getting my break snack on the store for the second Saturday in a row. They were having a big chili cook-off for employees. No, I didn't join in; it's hard to carry a crock-pot on a bike. I did get to vote, t though, and sample not only the chili, but the cake, fruit, and dip that was also in the back room. (No, my choice didn't win. I was the last voter before they "closed the polls," though.)

I got up early this morning and was fairly tired by the time work ended...or didn't end. I stayed an extra half-hour. Once again, I need the money...but I am tired. I'm not entirely happy with next week's hours, either. Thanksgiving is my only day off, and I begin work at 8:30AM the day after...Black Friday, one of the quietest days of the year. Who wants to go grocery shopping the day after Thanksgiving? All the older women and mothers must have decided they wanted to hit the Black Friday sales for their kids and grandkids and requested the day or morning off.

Oh, and my WebKinz are both very happy. Not to be obvious, but Rosie Pony eats like a horse...and she eats a lot more than Miles! I may have to buy a second fridge just for her and put it in her room. ;)