Christmas Shopping 07
I did it.
I made a list and stuck to it.
It wasn’t as bad as I thought.
Yesterday, the Saturday before Christmas, I ventured forth and did all my Christmas shopping in one shot. Yea me! It only took two hours. I went to a store just off a highway. That was an easy in and out. People seemed to be calm and happy and generally in the spirit of the season. I left there and decided to drive through town to get to the next store. I took my time and was listening to King Crimson’s “In the Court of the Crimson King” in my car so I didn’t really care how long the drive was. I got to the bookstore and retrieved what I went there for and the 20-something moron with all the bits of metal sticking out of his face behind the counter was definitely not happy in his work. By the time I left I was not far from reaching over the counter and non-surgically removing that crap stuck in his face. Oh well he was a jerk and now I don’t have to deal with him any more. I was back on the road heading for a mall. I turned the music up louder. While driving to the mall, on a highway, I thought maybe I’m driving too slowly because everyone is passing me quite quickly. I glanced down only to learn I was clipping along at 75MPH and everyone was passing me!!! Geez, slow down folks!!!
I arrive at the mall and when I pulled in there are two lanes. One to turn right and another designed for those who wish to turn left. I pull into the left turning lane only to find the idiot in front of me driving right down the middle. I’m not in any great hurry but this semi-evolved simian was stopped so I drive around them only to be met with horn honking and arm and hand gestures I’m fairly sure was not complimentary. I turn left.
It was then I realized that the big traffic snarl at the bookstore was caused by someone driving a Lexus SUV just like the one that stopped dead in the middle of the mall entrance. So I came to the conclusion that to own a Lexus SUV not only does one need to pay twice what any other car costs but apparently one must take and fail a test of common sense.
I park around back and entered the mass consumption area commonly referred to as the mall and again I was happily surprised to see the overall stress level of the consuming public was pretty darn low. Folks were happy and smiling and nice and all. It was a welcome change. I had expected a very high level of stress and a lot of not-niceness but like I said I was happily surprised.
I bought the last present on my list and drove home.
I was supposed to go down the legion yesterday afternoon but I drove by there on my way home and the parking lot was packed and it was only 1300. So I blew it off. I wasn’t up for dealing with drunks at 2 in the afternoon.
Christmas Shopping 07 completed in two hours.






Two hours to buy one voucher? What took you so long? Apart from terrorising poor SUV drivers?
Congratulations ona successful outing! I think my total in-store time was comparable, but I did my shopping on Thursday – um, snow? blizzard? wind? brilliant! – so the driving time was greatly increased. Ah, well… it’s done and I’m ready for family to arrive…
Hahahaha . . .I’m with Grandad! Should have nailed it in one! We did our grocery shop on 23rd just to be safe but I still have to venture out to buy strawbs at a local strawberry farm . . .they were $3.50 a punnet in the shops . . . I hate the way they raise prices just becuse it’s Christmas. Have a great Christmas Brian. Ours is about to begin. Sunny but cool, we’ll be able to eat outside after all!