Braving the stores today

[a1mamacat]

all prayers would be helpful

Big J is desperate to have some type of Ipod. Today is the last useable payday before Xmas, so hi ho hi ho....

Step grandsons are getting cash, step daughter and spouse are getting a dinner GC, step son just lost his job, so he's getting some cash too. Nieces are getting earrings.

Adults in my family are getting lovely sentimental cards, and something for the stockings. They are all much more financially better off than I am, so they agreed with me about adults not exchanging.

CleoHamstra is getting a new chew stick!

[mellytu74]

Is J set on an actual IPod or will a fine other-brand-gadget do?

My cousin swears by the Sansa/San Disk version. I believe hers is 4G and holds pictures and videos and many songs.

[Mini [Bot]]

Sharpen the elbows. Wear steel-toed boots.

Then come home and drink heavily.....

[sunflower]

I've gone out a few times and it hasn't been bad at all. Walmart, Target, Circuity City, Borders...and even the mall. Not a lot of shoppers, or where there were, they had more than enough cashiers to handle the volume. It was nice.

My fingers are crossed for you that you have a similar experience!!

[MarleysGh0st]

Is J set on an actual IPod or will a fine other-brand-gadget do?

My cousin swears by the Sansa/San Disk version. I believe hers is 4G and holds pictures and videos and many songs.

It doesn't have the "cool" factor of the iPod, but I like my Sansa Clip. I've seen the 4 GB version on sale for the same price I paid for my 1 GB model, last winter!

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

I went to Downtown Disney to do some shopping and there were no lines.

First, I went to the Lego Store to buy some Limited Edition Lego Sets for Jeff's nephews and there was hardly anyone in the store.

There were a few more people in the Basin store, but I didn't have to wait in line. Basin sells handmade soaps, bath fizzies and bath salts. Maddie's friend is turning 18 on Saturday and Maddie asked me to pick out a gift for her. She just got a bone marrow transplant because she has Leukemia, so I didn't want to do a gift card.

I also went into the Quiksilver Store thinking that I might pick up something for the nephews and they are having a buy one get one for 50% off sale on Hoodies. I didn't see any boy jackets that I liked, but they did have cute girl Roxy jackets that I contemplated buying for Emma. She's so picky though, that I would probably have to take her to the store and have her pick out her own jacket.

By the way, I found out from one of Maddie's friends that Limited Too is closing all of their stores by the end of the year. They have been having buy one get one free sales and it's because they are closing down, rebranding as Justice. They will be selling clothes like the stuff they sell for Limited Too, but it won't be as well-made and it will cost less.

[minimetoo26]

It was strange, but in all my stops yesterday, everyone was really friendly and chatty! Maybe it's because NO ONE is getting ahead, so we're all in the same boat of getting by.

People were chatting in the bank line and in the Target aisles, the workers at KFC were joking and laughing, and helping each other (a nice contrast from the Tray Flinging Episode last time I went inside there) and the 7-11 was like an impromptu party with everyone deciding to buy lottery tickets with their milk, tobacco, and Slurpees and wishing each other luck.

It was actually fun running a million errands on a Friday night!

[SportsFan68]

It was strange, but in all my stops yesterday, everyone was really friendly and chatty! Maybe it's because NO ONE is getting ahead, so we're all in the same boat of getting by.

People were chatting in the bank line and in the Target aisles, the workers at KFC were joking and laughing, and helping each other (a nice contrast from the Tray Flinging Episode last time I went inside there) and the 7-11 was like an impromptu party with everyone deciding to buy lottery tickets with their milk, tobacco, and Slurpees and wishing each other luck.

It was actually fun running a million errands on a Friday night!

I hope I have the same experience today. It would be hard to have worse weather -- a skiff of snow with a heavy layer of fog on top. Just enough to gloom up the place and make everybody grouchy. I'll do my best to present the opposite affect.

[christie1111]

I tried to add my part to the holiday spirit.

I helped a woman load a large TV into her car.

It was about $500 according to the sticker.

I also spent a bit of $ at LB's Co Store. But not that much.