Starfish Dreams

Black Friday

Black Friday – what a weird name. :) It was only a few years ago that I even heard it called that, but it in any case, I always join the madness. At 3 in the morning, dh and I both wondered why, LOL. (Actually, I was woken up by the baby before 2 am – ugh. No sleep from about 1:30 am on. It's almost 5 pm and I'm feelin' it now.)

Anyway, we had a plan of attack – dd17 and dd11 decided to come with me, so I got them up at o'dark-thirty (really, it was about 3:15 am), then off we went to Kohl's. Have you noticed the stores are opening earlier and earlier? Last night, CompUSA had a sale from 9 pm to midnight – that's getting a jump on things! Anyway, Kohl's opened at 4 this morning. I went to look for a leather jacket for dh, but the only one I really liked was $350 and not on sale, so I did not get it. I did pick up a nice dragonfly necklace for me, regularly $175, today, $58, then grabbed a couple of other things while dd17 waited in line – we were outta there by 4:30, then off to JoAnn's, my dang favorite store on the planet. There are two places where I love to shop – JoAnn's and the bookstore. Sigh. Anyway, we were there a little before 5 am, if you could believe it. Outside temp was about 22* and we were woefully underprepared. No hats, no gloves – but at least I had a fleece jacket. Luckily, we also had a new (thinnish) comforter in the car from the Thanksgiving Day sale at K-mart, so dd11 and I wrapped ourselves in it while her older sister slept in the car.

We visited with some of the people in line. One lady was down from down from Washington – she said she got 60 bolts of flannel last year and wanted 100 this year. She is in charge of humanitarian projects for her ward and said she went through the 60 bolts relatively quickly. When I was in JoAnn's about 3 weeks ago, I was commenting to the lady that I always talk to there about the Phoenix store calling and asking for them to ship them just a couple of yards of a specific flannel – I thought that was funny. She said that they had the most flannel of any store in the US – something like 1500 bolts. The store manager had been ordering his maximum allottment for weeks.  It was gone within minutes this morning.

Anyway, back to my story. So, we stand there in line – I was like shopper #12 or something (but probably the 30^th one actually in the store – rude people) and we can hear near rioting over in the line at Toys R Us – seriously. Apparently people thought someone was trying to cut in line – at least twice while we were there. I can't imagine there being something I want THAT MUCH, know what I mean?! Anyway, we get to 5:53 and the line is now 100+ people long. They opened the doors early and women started rushing around all of us who had been standing in line for an hour! I never did find out if that lady got her 100 bolts – but I got plenty of really cute stuff. Sewing, here I come! I am excited – Christmas is coming from the sewing machine this year. After I loaded up on flannel, we got in line, while Alina got jewelry-making supplies. She is actually quite good at making very cute things. We were in line probably a good half-hour or so, but were out of the store by 7 am – wow!  It's gotta be a record.

We then went and got breakfast and then went over to Mervyn's. I got dh some new clothes for his new job (not quite as casual as his old job!) They were all in the neighborhood of 60% off – worth getting up for. At a different store in the mall, I picked up Easter dresses at 80% off – nothing like planning ahead. After a stop at Claire's for earring and head bands, we stopped at Wal-Mart on the way home and finally dragged in a little before noon. I was tired after putting in a full day's work, LOL, but dd17said she could have kept going another 5 or 6 hours. Of course, she ended up coming home and sleeping for four hours straight.  Oh to be a teenager. . . .

So – there are our adventures for Black Friday!  We're having snacks tonight and hopefully an early night (and fingers crossed for a full night's sleep from the baby!)

<i>Untitled Comment</i>

21:29, Friday, November 23, 2007 .. Posted by blessedmomof10

Wow ....... I am tired just reading your entry! You have a lot of energy to get up that early and shop! :)

I detest shopping..... so I would be a real drage to take with you -- so great that your daughters were able to come along and enjoy the time with you.

Please share all the things you make with the flannel......... the story about the lady running in was hysterical! Some people can be quiet mad at times... why anyone would rush in like that is beyond my understanding. :)

Hope you get some sleep -- or hope baby lets you get some sleep!

Blessings,
gloria

Edited by starfishmama on Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 07:47

LOL

06:40, Saturday, November 24, 2007 .. Posted by starfishmama

I hate shopping too, on every other day of the year (well, except at the fabric and book stores). This is the one day I enjoy shopping - weird, I know! I've already started on jammies . . .

Edited by starfishmama on Saturday, November 24, 2007 at 07:48