I’m exhausted. Like, seriously pooped. I’m pretty sure my feet are about ready to pop off my ankle bones. They’re propped up and pulsating Fred Flintstone-style from all the running around I’ve done over the past few days. It’s been a very busy weekend (for everyone, I know) but since it’s my blog I get to whine about how busy it’s been for me.We’ve had Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and we hosted a belated Thanksgiving on Sunday with the hubby’s side.
I previouslyposted about my Black Friday plans brought on by my obvious bout of temporary insanity. We were supposed to hit the local Toys ‘R Us at midnight on Friday. Initially I was a little apprehensive about waiting up until midnight to shop. Back in the day, in my younger and wilder days, we would wait until midnight to even go out to the bars. Nothing was happening before midnight. It was like the witching hour. The point in time where inhibitions were let go and fun was to be had.
God…what happened?
I practically had to stick toothpicks in my eyes to stay awake. I was checking email, polishing silver for Thanksgiving withthe hubby’s side that Sunday, mopping the floor, doing situps (I have no idea where this came from) and plucking my (sparse) eyebrows all the while trying to keep myself busy enough so that I wouldn’t fall asleep on the couch. It was like knowing I couldn’t go crawl into bed was making me sleepier! I would sashay past the bedroom door glancing at the bed, wishing I was in it. Jer was still awake working on his website and I would ask him, “Why aren’t you in bed?”
“Because I’m not tired.”
“What do you mean you’re not tired? It’s super late.”
“It’s 9:30 Mindy.”
Well, I’ll be danged. Father Time had slowed to a crawl just to tick me off. He knew that I wasn’t exactly comfortable with the idea of midnight shopping so he thought he would “stick it to me” bydragging the whole thing out. Just like a man.
So 11:45p.m. finally got here and I suddenly perked up. I actually got excited. It was like I was about to do something forbidden, something taboo, something wild and crazy. I pranced out to the Expedition, fired her up and headed out to pick up the girls. We chatted and giggled in a silly excitement all the way there reminding ourselves how crazy we were being.
And then it started raining.
Hard.
And I have curly, frizz-prone hair. And rain is not very kind.
Trepidation set in, once again, and was magnified ten-fold when I pulled up to Toys ‘R Us and saw probably 300 nutjobs standing in line. Did I mention it was raining? I pulled into the parking lot, thinking, hoping that maybe all of these people were lining up for something that had nothing to do with Toys ‘R Us. Maybe they were offering free helicoper rides up there. Oh, I know. Maybe it’s one of those VFW chicken booths. We pull up near the front of the store and quickly discover that a) there was no helicopter and b) there were no vets schlepping barbecued chicken. These people were here for Black Friday.
I’m pretty sure I squealed my tires pulling out of that parking lot. The only thing that would have me standing in that line would be a meet ‘n greet with the Thunder from Down Under and I saw NO speedos anywhere near that store.
So, we drove home. At midnight. Three wild and crazy gals with a dream for marked down Legos and Littlest Pet Shop. With nothing to show for our trip out in the inclement weather…but frizzy hair.
Oh, well. There’s always next year. I think I’ll write the company and suggest the meet ‘n greet idea.
Oh, and in just in case any of you are worried that my experience in the Toys ‘R Us parking lot may have jaded me from any further Black Friday retail therapy, we were out and about by 9:30 that same morning and did our share to boost the economy. You’re welcome, Mr. President.
Mindy
Mindy, i’ve been enjoying your blog immensely since finding out about you a few weeks ago through a friend. The blogging culture is new to me and I’ve only been an eavesdropper around your campfire. Just had to comment this time. I did read the “Just Who is This Suburban Chick?” because I wondered that too. I am sure you’ve been told many times that you are a gifted writer, someone with a great wit. Laughter is not easy to come by these days and you are providing a valuable service to us all. Just wanted to say THANK YOU. Your writing should be seen in a daily column in a big newspaper somewhere.
Jeannie…wow! Could you be any sweeter? Geesh! You have absolutely made my day! I’m sitting here completely shocked and supremely flattered by your comment and I really appreciate the kind things you said about my writing. I’m fairly new at this whole blogging thing myself and am so grateful that you take the time to read it! Thank you!!!!! =)
Your new BFF, Mindy
“Back at ya!” Just stating the facts ma’am.
jeannie
I’m sorry your plans didn’t go well. I’m surprised that there was that many people out in the rain just for shopping.
I think Mr.Time does that to all of us who are sitting around waiting for a certain time. It’s insane how slow those ticks on the clock can be.
I totally agree with Jeannie!
Yep, I was pretty surprised too. For some reason I had this image of me, my girls and the janitors in the store that night. Boy was I wrong!
=)
Mindy
I’m glad you drove away! (And having curly, frizz prone hair myself I totally would have hauled butt home too!). I heard people actually got hurt at some of the Toys “r” Us midnight shops!! Crazy talk! People are unreal. Sorry your midnight adventure didn’t hold so much “adventure”.
♥Spot
Oh, I can imagine that if I had been standing in that line for hours on end SOMEONE would have ended up getting hurt. I’m not very patient. =)
Mindy
Your too funny girlfriend! You did forget to mention the 4-wheeling you did that made Jer so proud!! HEE HEE! ~Valerie
Yeah, the 4-by-4ing was definitely the hit of the evening! Jer has been looking at me differently since. =)
Mindy
ok that is too funny!!!!
why is it if you have something to do you get tired by 9:30 but with no plans you can stay up later??? I remember stayin up until 3am ‘just because’ now – 12:30 is late!!!
i’m so sad you didnt get anything but there is no way in the world I would have stood in the rain either!!!
It’s crazy, isn’t it?? It just ain’t worth staying up that late anymore. I wake up with luggage under my eyes and pillow creases on my face. Not pretty. =)
Mindy
You’re braver than I am for even getting out! My grandmother and mom tried to lure me out at 6am Friday morning to go shopping by telling me that one of the stores had a set of pearls on sale for $40 down from $120. I still didn’t bite.
You probably made a smart decision. I wouldn’t be surprised if that store had about 3 pairs of the $40 pearls on sale. Dirty tricks, I tell ya. =)
Mindy
They would have to actually hand me a sizable wad of cash to get me to Toys R Us with 300 people at midnight in the rain. You were smart to cut your losses and head home. Enjoy your cookies. I’m having a chicken caesar salad – no croutons. 🙁
Okay, I’m hanging my head in shame here. I had more than one cookie. That’s all that needs to be said. Good job with the caesar salad-sans-croutons. You’re a stronger woman than I.
=)
Mindy
I don’t even peek my head out the door on that day, so good for you! Good job getting out there, even if you didn’t get the good “goods” at Toys R Us.
300 really? WOW.
Yeah, pretty ridiculous. I kept wondering if they were giving away gift cards or something. Nothing, and I say nothing, would entice me to stand in line with 300 morons at 1:00 in the morning. Except maybe for the Thunder from Down Under. =)
Mindy
I hope you got some great deals!! To stay up that late and face a huge crowd in the rain, is more than I could handle. But now that I think about it, you have more than the great deals to show for it. It’s a great story too!
Thanks Marly! I gave up ship and headed home empty-handed. I knew I’d probably end up spending more in my frantic shopping mode than I would save so I beat feet for home! =)
Mindy