Friday, Blaaack Friday (to the tune of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" by U2)

Well, inquiring minds (ahem, John) want to know if I found any deals on my Black Friday adventures. And I can tell you most assuredly, no, I didn't.

Thanksgiving night we usually gather over at my dad's to go through all the sale ads--of which I never have any because we're too lazy to go buy a paper. This lack of sale ads usually makes my step-sisters edgy because it means that I must then use theirs to do a price match. I looked through the ads something like four or five times and just had a big ol' blank on my shopping list.... with the exception of the Aladdin DVD that is meant for our house and not a Christmas present. I mean, really, I am NOT trying to bring any more Lego systems into my house. I'm so tired of fishing them out of the dogs' mouths or wherever the cats have batted them to. Logan would love a Video Now, but the discs are relatively expensive and I have to keep after him to keep his Pixter and LeapPad cartridges, as well as his GameBoy and Gamecube games in order (and it still doesn't work. Argh!) When it comes to Hunter, well, there really was a lack in age-appropriate baby things in the sale ads. So, in other words, I didn't find anything that was a must-have. I toyed with the idea of canning the whole trip and actually sleeping Thursday night.

Of course I went shopping.

If you're going to insist on knowing why, I have to tell you it's because Black Friday is a spectacle you wouldn't believe unless you'd seen it with your own eyes. Soccer moms almost at blows over the newest Elmo doll, Bratz thingy, DVD player.... Whatever is hot, these people are running and diving and sacrificing their bodies (and normal human dignity) to grab. I did buy things for the kids, and also for my husband (he already "has" his present, as I figured he could use it right away--a portable heater/cooler for his work truck so he can take food warm or cold). But most of the things I grabbed weren't hotly-pursued items. I did get a good deal on the Aladdin DVD ($9 at Wal-Mart) and the Garfield DVD ($8 at Wal-Mart), but that was about it. It really was more about the fact that I love watching the insanity. It is perfection, as far as people-watching goes. I don't think you'll catch more women in sweats shopping than on this day. My step-sisters do have this down to a science, though, and can pretty much recite to you who has the best deal on what and what the exact price is (it's never something that ends in .99, either. always .87 or something strange).

For no deals in particular I stayed up from 8 a.m. on Thursday until about 9 a.m. on Friday, when I finally decided to nap on my dad's couch. I made it home at 11:30 a.m., still weary, but home and done with a good chunk of my holiday shopping.

At 7 p.m. I made my way to church where we were having a going-away party for the pastor's oldest daughter. I drove Meagan and Mat (my niece and nephew for those of you who are not family) home, and shared my day with them. Meagan commented that she'd like to go sometime.... and that she'd like to wear a helmet and kneepads. I think I'd pay her to do that. Then she even suggested that Rich (my brother-in-law) go dressed up as "Dave," his geeky alter-ego he breaks out for VBS every year. I think that's a fabulous idea, and I'm going to give it more thought. If only Rich had no life and could cater to my whim to do such a thing. Hah.

Anyway.... If I think of more, I will add more to my Black Friday adventures. In the meantime, I'm hungry and need to search out some grub. Ciao!

Why Conan O'Brien Rules

So you think YOU have problems?

FUNNNNNY, FUNNNNY STUFF.

A cornucopia of topics

It's really not that I mean to be up at 1:30 a.m. Really. But I am slated to leave my house at 3:30 a.m. to meet my step-sisters for some good ol' Black Friday festivities. If I fall asleep now, I can almost guarantee there will be no wakey-wakey for Jen in two hours. Plus, I just finished with some overdue typing for my boss. She's not missing it yet, but as matter of personal preference, I would've liked to have it turned in last night.... C'est la vie.

For all of you guys anxiously waiting for news RE: Rock Financial, no news yet. I did have the appraiser out on Wednesday, which was.... whatever... She was asking for all these things I have no clue where they are (surveys and legal descriptions, yadda yadda yadda). My life's in a box, I'll call you when I find it. Heh. And all the while I'm thinking, Melinda has never given me this much guff about stuff--is this just because she is especially good at what she does, or is it because she has better access to things regarding my house/property? Hummm. I'd like to believe the first option (way to go, Mel!). So I guess there really is no reason. I mean, the loan officer was all gung-ho about how much money he could get us and what his plan of action was--but then again, he had to send our papers to an underwriter. Doesn't the underwriter have the final say? I mean, if I got this far, does that mean it looks like a go? I'd really like to know, because this money is greatly needed!!

In regards to the Pistons/Pacers melee.... I've seen the clip, and here are my thoughts. Yes, you get to hear what I think, because everyone has an opinion. First off, I think the foul Artest made on Wallace was bad (ouch!)... But I think the retaliation made by Wallace was three times as bad (YIKES!) and shouldn't have been tolerated, either. I have no flippin' clue why Artest ended up laying on the scorer's table. I can't say why a cup of beer was thrown onto Artest's head. I can't fathom why Artest ran up to beat up some dude who he couldn't determine actually threw said cup of beer. All I know is that it made me sick to watch, especially the part where the "fans" were throwing anything they had onto the heads of the Pacers as they were rushed to the locker room. Do I think the penalties fit the crime? I guess. Do I think Detroit fans should be blamed for this? As a citizen of this fabulous state (and metro-Detroit area, you dig?).... No. Do I think they oughta ban beer sales to idiots? Yeah, probably. Heh. I may not agree with what the players did/did not do, but I do know that the people who did throw food/beverage/objects/beat up on other people made themselves no better than the professionals who are drilled NOT TO GO INTO THE STANDS UNDER ANY CONDITIONS. That was embarrassing for me to watch. It's not the sentiment of Detroit. That is mob mentality, and it happens everywhere.

Okay, now to a funny story. I was riding home from my dad's house this evening (well, yesterday evening) with my sister, her husband, and her three children. On the way, I was asking the kids what they thought their mom and dad wanted for Christmas. I got some mundane answers, like a bed, a fan with leaves on it, yadda yadda yadda. Then Lucas, the six-year-old, says, "Makeup" for his mom. Wendy makes a comment that Maya, her three-year-old daughter ruined half of her makeup the other day while Wendy was napping. I start giving my sugar-coated Aunt Jen lecture, "Oh, you know you shouldn't do that" kind of spiel. Maya suddenly confesses that she was putting makeup on Caspian, their cat. This is news to Wendy, and we all start laughing hysterically. She's like, "That explains SO much! I couldn't figure out why there was makeup on the carpet!" In the meantime, I've commented "So that's why Caspian looked so pretty!" and, also, "No, Maya! The makeup is NOT tested on animals!" It may not be funny for you, but I seriously have some mental pictures that won't go away. None of these mental pictures are of a happy Caspian. =)

I am seriously hoping my shopping venture is worth it, but it is looking doubtful. All of the stuff on sale is not stuff I'm wanting to get Logan (I am so sure that I don't need to buy another Hot Wheels Track--he'll probably get two as gifts!), and I just don't know what to get the Hoooonterbar. The sale ads were mighty meager this year, too. Oh well, guess I'm going more for the ambience rather than the good deals this year. That's okay, though, since the cash flow is low.

Funny stuff!

Milk and cookies I am loving this website--especially the clip of Anna Nicole Smith. Yikes.

Wow!

Did you miss this one?!

Grab your Kleenex!

Bwwaaaaah..... Make it stop!

Don't thank me, thank the people over at lil'moopants. I had an early afternoon sniffle over this one.

Insomnia strikes at will

Yes, it's really that early, and I'm blogging. I guess I was trying to pay bills online, and every freakin' website is down for routine maintenance. Bah! Foiled again in my attempts to pay my debts! Argh!

I had an interesting Saturday. I can't say "an interesting day," seeing how it is now Sunday.... But those are just mere details! Anyway, I cut (i.e. SHAVED) Logan's hair, and we ended up going to see The Incredibles with the D'Amore's.

The Incredibles was veeeeeeeeeeeeeery good--although pretty mature for a Pixar film. And when I say mature, I don't mean anything insane. I mean, they show guys shooting guns. They imply that people die by being sucked in jet motors due to those darn capes! They show the wife grabbing and bringing her husband back inside the house when he really should be going off to work. Those are not ideas you see in most Disney/Pixar films. Well, not so.... out there... anyway. All in all, it was a great movie--one I think the whole family would like. And, if you've seen it, picture a truly-inspired Logan running circles around us with extra-quick little steps. Yes, Dash is his new hero.

After the movie, the D'Amore's came over to the new house to have dinner. They even brought their 8-week-old puppy, Oreo. And when I say puppy, I really mean that in the loosest form of the word. He's a Great Dane, and probably like 30 pounds already. A-dorable. We kept Izzy and Abby locked in the basement (although we left the door open and a gate up, so they could see us and make sure everything was okay). In hindsight, it really seemed like a better idea than it was. Izzy acted like she would tear the puppy's head off at any second if he got within a three-foot radius of the basement door. Of course, the puppy thought this was very fun. And, also, of course, when we brought the girls out to go potty, we let them meet the puppy (with a leash & Halti), and neither one of them made any kind of fuss at all. All show, I tell ya.

The night ended up with my falling asleep in my recliner next to the fire. Ahhhh.... I only wish I didn't have to wake up to actually get into bed. Therein lies the reason I'm awake. And possibly that big cup of coffee I had before our guests left. Hmmm.