The count down to Christmas.

[SnowAngelChristmas]

Only 29 days (for me) until Christmas.

As the day comes closer, stores become packed. If you would like to share any adventures through shopping for gifts, this is the place. Or Tell if you had to work the day after Thankgiving at a store. Or if you don't have any "adventures" to share with us tell us how you do it!?

[Jeff Westover]

Great topic, SnowAngel!

Gotta tell ya, today was the earliest I have ever gotten up for Black Friday -- 4:00am. I'm nota Black Friday shopper, I am an observer. Of course, I'm working today but before I go to work I usually look around and try to gauge how the season is going to go retail-wise each year. It is my own personal business barometer, as I'm in retail too.

All my instincts in setting up my stores and training my people over the last couple of months have told me this could be the biggest Christmas in seven or eight years. Everything I saw this morning convinces me that is still true.

I cruised by Best Buy, as I usually do first thing. And as usual, I didn't even get out of the car. The line was wrapped around their building, all the way back through their parking lot, down the side of a Home Depot and even further still about 300 feet down the street. I don't get that. Their ads specifically state they only have about 20 units each of the hot-priced stuff and even then there weren't all that many special items.

Following course, I cruised Wal Mart and got there about 15 minutes before they opened at 5am. Pandemonium. Their ad did nothing for me this year so I didn't even stick around for the fireworks.

I happened to be listening to the radio and heard that Target would be open at 5am. I was right there and saw only about 20 people in line so I thought, what the heck, I'll go for it.

I stopped and chatted with people there for a while until a man came out and said what we had all heard on the radio was wrong and it would be another hour before they opened at 6am. It was 22 degrees outside and, having nothing to really buy, I left to get warm.

I drove over to Penneys and saw they were open at 5am. Just like the last several years I decided to get my Disney snowglobe.

Now here's the kicker:

Last year when I was in Penneys it was deserted. But not this year. Ok, I was a little later this year than last but people were buying a lot.

We're really short on money this year so I really had nothing to buy. But when I saw I could get the kids some coats for 60% I bit the bullet and made the buy. Amazing. Six of my kids got coats and I spent about $120. So I became a Black Friday buyer afterall.

Here it is now, a little after 8am and I'm supposed to be working.

But the day after Thanksgiving is never a big deal in the candy business. Oh, we'll have a nice day. But it won't get busy until later on this afternoon.

I'll be ready for a nap by then.

Jeff

[sheepsnot]

I have taken a 2nd job at Bass Pro and heard that several hundred people were there at opening (6am) today. I got up at 6:30 and went in at nine. I am not a crowd lover. I even prefer to watch the blockbuster films after they have died down and are only showing on one screen. As for shopping, one of the truest blessings I have experienced in married life is that I have one person to buy gifts for and one only. She buys all the rest and loves every minute of it. I can concentrate on decorating and focusing the family on the "real" meaning of Christmas, which is different for everybody. :) :D 8)

[SnowAngelChristmas]

Only 28!

My Brother works at wal-mart and he works from around 10:00 pm - 7:00 am so he gets to see all the people swarm for gifts. Last year when they opened at 5:00 am he was with the electronics and once they opened it was like an army running in for gifts. I hope he made it okay this year.

[SnowAngelChristmas]

Only 25!

i was very busy the past few days so i couldn't get to posting. I got a miniture REAL tree in my room. Love it! Still gotta put up the family tree. Just finished for the day decorating. Not saying i don't have any left. to be truthful, almost my whole downstairs is covered with boxes of Christmas joy.

[Saxomaphone]

My tree in my room is up. The other tree goes up next weekend.

I haven't put any decorations up yet, I'm leaving them for Thursday!

[SnowAngelChristmas]

24!

Happy days are near! love the joy!

[SnowAngelChristmas]

23.

just put up my advent calender. okay my dad did, so i don't know what to expect. It's just like opening your presants. If you know, there is no magic.
Reyjoce!

[Saxomaphone]

I love advent calendars. Mine is a Madagascar one, lol. My Mum's is Postman Pat, :D

Yep! 23 days til the big day! It's my birthday in 18 days, and my Mum's wedding day TODAY! This is a great December!!!

My decorations are now up. Had fun putting them up! Couldn't reach a corner, so used my pool cue to put one up, haha!

EXCITED! :D :D :lol:

[SnowAngelChristmas]

21!!!

was busy putting up decorations. Still have more. But not as many! can't wait!

:grin: :) :) :grin: :) :) :grin:

[Smemorina]

:grin:

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/8769/daythree8vh.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Ciao ciaooo
http://img400.imageshack.us/img400/7466/kittyz10ra.gif (http://imageshack.us)

[SnowAngelChristmas]

20!
The cheeseheads are gonna beat up some bears! i hope. In case you didn't know i was talking about the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. we finished decorating the tree, and put on some football. the tree now golows with warmth.
:) Rejoyce :)
8) Joy to the World 8)

[SnowAngelChristmas]

19!!!

"let it snow! let it snow! let it snow! just hear those sleigh bells ringin'..."

On wednsday it supposed to snow here. Nothing thing that will stick, but still, it will be nice to wake up to frozen toes and snow. Counting the days until the big day. In band we are doing a secret santa and can't wait to get my gift! I already gave my person his. I wonder who i have. It would be no fun if i knew though.
Happy Holidays!!

[Jeff Westover]

I think the secret Santa thing is one of the best things you can do. Never thought about doing in when I was in band.

What do you play?

Jeff

[Smemorina]

:grin:
-18
Ciao ciaooo

[aduffmanchristmas]

holidays are coming.........always coca cola............

[SnowAngelChristmas]

18!!
Happy holidays are getting closer and closer! And to anwser your question Jeff, i play the clarinet :grin: :) i now can do "Rudolf the Red nose Reindeer" on it! :grin:

[aduffmanchristmas]

holidays are coming.........always coca cola.......

[Lethal_Santa]

YEZZZZZZZZZZZIR"!!!!!!
:-) :-) :-) :-)

[aduffmanchristmas]

its the finaaaaaaaaaaal countdown................

[SnowAngelChristmas]

17!!!

Got my Secret santa gift. we were supposed to give a gift betwen 5 - 10 $ i got a $5 gift card to target. i just thought of something cool i want for Christmas, a $50 Gift card to target. That would be so cool!!

[SnowAngelChristmas]

YEZZZZZZZZZZZIR"!!!!!!
:-) :-) :-) :-)

could you explain?

[SnowAngelChristmas]

12!!!!

Have been busy preparing for those "wonderful" finals. Had A babysitting job persay on fri. and Sat. been very busy. But just can't Christmas! :grin:

[SnowAngelChristmas]

7!!!!

Hooray! Only a week 'til Christmas! only a week to finish shopping! ( :-o uh-oh :-o ) Only a week to finish wrapping! only a week... oh great only two days until finals.

[SnowAngelChristmas]

Tommorow! Tommorow! I love ya tommorow! christmas eve is only a day away!
Now that i'm done with my melody, Christmas Eve is tommorow!! And finals are over! Can life get any better! Yes, because Christmas is on Sunday! Wahoo! Finished wrapping! I finshed shopping! Yes! Yes!!
Don't ya'll have someone that you love pieces, but they're the worst to shop for. All the men in my family are like that! either they have all that they want or if they really want it they can go buy it or they don't tell you what they want which is just as bad as the first two. Oh well, with my brother, if all else fails chocolate and coffee always will work.

[SnowAngelChristmas]

All i have to say is...

:grin: :) :grin: Merry Christmas Eve! :grin: :) :grin:

[SnowAngelChristmas]

okay, maybe i have more. I just love christmas eve! It's almost as good as Christmas itself. Have a lot of cooking to do. But my favorite things around holiday time are to cook and be with the family. My nephew is 1 and is his second christmas. i can't wait to see the smile within his eyes. Have a good Chrismas! :-D

[sheepsnot]

It seems that Christmas has become more flexible as the years go by. When I was a kid, our family opened gifts on Christmas Eve and ate ridiculous amounts of junk food until we fell asleep or went into a sugar coma. This year I could not gather with my parents and sisters, but they opened gifts on the evening of the 23rd! (How you can open what Santa has not delivered I don't know!) This was due to my sister having to leave the morning of the 24th to get back home to work. My first reaction was, "Whoa! What about tradition?" But, the more I thought about it, the less it mattered. Since gift-exchanging is not the "reason for the season" anyway, it isn't crucial to nail it down to one or two acceptable times, is it? By the way, my boss emailed us his Christmas bonus - after we all left on Thursday the 22nd, he sent out a message saying he had sold the company. That'll put a cramp in your Ho Ho Ho. :o

[SnowAngelChristmas]

... and ate ridiculous amounts of junk food until we fell asleep or went into a sugar coma.

my big bro brought over like 20 million lbs. of candy. Okay, maybe thats an exaggeration. But it was alot. i bet my family was about 2 pieces of candy far of a "sugar coma" My grandma and grandpa are coming today with their 2 cute dogs. Can't wait! Ho ho ho and have a good rest of 2005!

oh yeah! :grin:
363 days till christmas!

[SnowAngelChristmas]

Merry February 26. 2 months since my last post. it's a weekend. woo hoo

[gustavobastos]

243 days to the Season!
285 days to Christmas!
THE FIRST THIRD MARK TO THE SEASON HAS BEEN REACHED. JUST 2/3s TO GO!!!
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f131/gustavobastos/Merry-Christmas.gif

[sheepsnot]

I can't believe that half of you shop all year for Christmas! You are the most organized bunch of folks I have ever met. I rarely ever shop before Thanksgiving. This year I started giving extra early, though. I just gave my dentist a house payment!

[SnowAngelChristmas]

... This year I started giving extra early, though. I just gave my dentist a house payment!
:lol: Well i do it when sales are going on to get great deals. And just to let ya'll know only 281 days till the *starts singing* "it's the most wonderful time. It's the most wonderful time. It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!"*Ends singing* Oops. :shock: Hee hee hee. awkword

[SnowAngelChristmas]

Hello To one and All. 263 more days Until The... Must... Stop... Singing!... "Till it's the Most Wonderful time of the year!"... Agh! note to self... get mental help :lol:

[sheepsnot]

I told someone the other day that I was looking forward to Christmas and they looked at me like I was a loon. I've been singing lines from Let it Snow lately. My poor parents, who just had six inches of snow, are singing another tune. I also just listened to a little Burl Ives. Good any day of the year! :)

[HolyNight7]

It's just about 90 degrees here and I was listening to Christmas music at work today. :lol:

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

:) I guess I missed this one. I'll touch on a few comments by other folks in my reply.

I shop all year long and put items aside so it doesn't all sneak up on me. I don't buy very many Christmas-type gifts for family and relatives so I can shop all year for them. I get a few Christmassy items for friend. I start buying those in November.

I am always able to take holidays from work usually during the week between Christmas and New Year's, once after New Year's, but it wasn't as exciting for me.

We usually alternate Christmas visits between my parents and our children and grandchildren who live a four and a half hour drive away.

Christmas morning seems much less rushed now that we are all grown up.

I remember as a child waking up just after Santa visited and waking my brothers and all three of us waking up our parents with glee. It was only 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning a few times. Our parents made a rule that we couldn't wake each other up until after the street lights went out to indicate that morning was when we could see what was in our stockings (still have the same ones our mom made us when we were babies), the display from Santa and open our presents from our parents, relatives and a few neighbourhood friends.

I love visiting the grandchildren at Christmas to watch the excitement on Christmas morning, but I'm a traditional sort of person so taking turns and spending Christmas with my parents still remains a special time for me.

I wish companies wouldn't choose Christmas as the time of year to lay people off or dismiss them from their employ. It makes it so much harder to enjoy the holidays. I'm not just talking about the fact that people won't have much money to spend, but it's harder to be "merry and bright" when you don't know how you will pay your bills. This has never happened to anyone in my family, but I have a few friends who have had to experience it and it doesn't seem fair.

:-D I picked up an adorable elf ladder ornament. It's draped over the tall oval mirror attached to the dresser in the Master bedroom. I can't wait to find a spot for it on my Christmas Tree this year. (It's not plastic, it's wooden and it's a homemade craft - not by me.)

[HolyNight7]

I was one of those people that that happened to this past Christmas. I got let go the week before Thanksgiving and couldn't find a good job until well after the holidays were over. In fact I just started it three weeks ago. I think that's why I hunted down a site like this. It was very hard to keep the Christmas spirit because I had the worry of trying to make ends meet. I had bill collectors calling. It was horrible. :sad: I have a good job now with benefits and everything. Even more then what I had before. I can only thank God for that. :-D So hopefully this coming Christmas will be much more enjoyable. :)

[AuntieMistletoeDear]

:-) HolyNight7 - My Great Aunt used to say, "out of something bad comes something good", you lost your job and struggled for awhile, but you found this place and what sounds like a better job. I'm glad for that.


:-D I am so pleased that things worked out for you and touched by your love for Christmas so much so that you looked for ways to lift your spirits.

Some of the folks I know were not expecting to be "let go". It was so hard on them. Most of them have children.

All of a sudden "Kyle" can't go to a shack dance unless he gets a paper route and he lives on the outskirts of town so if there are three paper carriers - he doesn't get a route. He's only twelve and his friends want to go to a movie - but the hydro needs to be paid. His sister "Anne" doesn't understand why she can't have a big Birthday party for her "golden year" birthday. Relatives had to help her with that and instead of a magician they were entertained with stories and puppet shows from me (for free of course). I know Christmas isn't just about gifts, but when your children are used to getting presents from "Santa" and suddenly there are only a few items under the tree and a lady knocking on the door with a box of food to cook for Christmas dinner it breaks my heart. I know of two families that were appreciative for those items, but so terribly humiliated that they needed to ask for them. I also know people have it harder than this, but it's so hard to explain it to children. I'm glad there are organizations out there that are able to help and people willing to donate to them.

:) 242 Days until Christmas. 8)

[digbugsgirl]

188 days left!!!!! :grin: :) :D :smile: :lol: