www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Black Friday, how many?

Just for our own amusement, how many will be brave enough to venture out this black Friday the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season in the US in hope of bargains? At what time did you get up to be at the stores? Were those bargains really worth the effort and aggravation?

Have some of your shopping habits switched to internet shopping with you saving on some of the hassle?

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

BLACK FRIDAY !?!?!?!?!?!?!

shurely shome mishtake

It's Friday 23 November isn't it ?

Black Friday is Friday the 13th

well in civilised places it is

I'll be statin ghome, and avoiding both the cold and the rush.

No need ot be trampled underfoot by middle-ages mothers seekign bargins, or bulking men seeking to do their shopping.

I did my shopping for a computer in the late hours of Thurs night. Bought a pc at Best Buy at 10:30 and by 1:30 am they had sold out. I'm not about to venture out in the wild and wacky world of black friday. At least not to shop. I might venture out on the porch to have a cigar.

Jason

Just in case you really DON'T know why it's called black Friday...it's traditionally the first day of the fiscal year that retail stores turn a profit. They are "in the black" as of the day after Thanksgiving, which is always a Friday.

Though I will grant you that Scotland *is* more civilized than the US on such things. Unless of course you zip down to London for the Harrods New Year sale!

Jason

I went to a couple of stores last week for enough needed items to last until after Christmas. I will not be going into any stores, other than a grocery store, until the madness ends. Any other shopping I do will be online.

For St. Amazon.com we give thanks.

My wife is out shopping now. I'm at home "watching the kids" who are watching the Spongebob marathon.

I have no idea when Amber will be back.

Hopefully, she will come back. They do crazy things when they get in those stores.

Actually, she is very good with our budget. We had an agreement when we got married, that I would make the money and she would manage it if we got any. It's worked so far.

I did my Black Friday Gymboree shopping Wednesday evening! The prices were knocked down earlier than the prices for in store. It is well worth it to me to shop from the comfort of my desk chair. I don't really like to shop much. And I hate large crowds of people even more than shopping. I will do most of my shopping online for Christmas except for the things I need and can not get online without some ridiculous shipping fee.

The irony is fitting.. November 24th is the Feast of Mor Clemis in the Syriac and Malankara Churches, November 23rd in the Latin Church. Mor Clemis, aka Pope St. Clement I of Rome.
His Holiness stated:
"We must look upon all the things of this world, as none of ours, and not desire them. This world and that to come are two enemies. We cannot, therefore, be friends to both; but we must resolve which we would forsake, and which we would enjoy. And we think, that it is better to hate the present things, as little, short-lived, and corruptible; and to love those which are to come, which are truly good and incorruptible. Let us contend with all earnestness, knowing that we are now called to the combat. Let us run in the straight road, the race that is incorruptible. This is what Christ saith: keep your bodies pure and your souls without spot, that ye may receive eternal life."

I have a personal rule. I don't shop on the Friday after Thanksgiving when everyone is trying to buy the perfect Christmas gift and I don't shop on the day after (Western) Christmas when everyone is trying to return the perfect gift for one they really want or for the money.

I'm camped out at home today, enjoying the peace and quiet.

BOB

I think that it is pathetic and ridiculous. I am not going near a store today...

(no offense Dr. Eric--it is easy for me to say now because my children aren't little anymore and I don't have extended family to buy for because I am an only child, and my husband's only sibling and his wife live in Greece.. In a way, it is the only time of the year which I am really happy to have such a small family!! LOL)

Alice

Ahhh, but you see it gets her out of the house, which she never gets to go any where since I work and I get to stay home (which I very much enjoy as I'm always gone.)

Doc,

If she is out and has the plastic it might not be until your credit card limits are reached. Time for a rate increase in your practice.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+
(who just got back from Manhattan picking up some photo equipment, but used the mass transit, no hassles!)

That's it, office visits will now be $200!

I went to Physical Therapy today and you know every person from the Tri-State area was shopping. The PT (a friend as well) said that a huge fight broke out at the local Circuit City. People ripped out the tag-detectors (the things you walk through exiting a store) and such, the local AND State Police showed up. When the State boys roll in to back up township and city cops you know it must have been serious.
In our state, the state police don't just patrol the highway. They also are the police for the areas that don't have police. In the county next to me, about the size of Rhode Island, they have two towns with police. The rest is covered by the state police.
So, the state police usually are so busy themselves in any given area that they really only come to back up locals when it is absolutely needed.
ps., I have three friends that I grew up with that are local state police, you couldn't pay me to do their job. God Bless our Police! And the retail workers today.

Any news on the missing Mrs Dr Eric, or is he just helping unload the tractor-trailer with the purchases of the day?

She's home and bathing the kids.

I would expect a Secret Squirrel to know that already.

The Secret Squirrel and the Great Pumpkin must be in cohoots these days?

Yes, but notice how Dr Eric did not say whether he had to help unload the tractor-trailer or not?

My dad and I used to go faithfully every year to buy whatever electronic gizmo my brother wanted. Since he passed away 3 years ago, my poor low-tech mom has had to go, this year with my sister. But they just went to Target for a TV/DVD player and that's about it.

Call 1-800-DEBTRELIEF!

Alexandr

No tractor-trailer, I assume the Toyota Sienna is full with presents though.

How'd you get my new Land Rover in the back of your Sienna??????


Alexandr

It wasn't easy...

Doc,

Let's see those things are real roomy, and figuring about $5 of gift valuation per cubic inch, maybe I should ask if your credit card bill will be delivered by freight carrier after this cycle?

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Let's just say that our mailman is now in traction!

My daughter and her boyfriend went out on 'black friday' and came back with a Bissell PowerSteamer for me. I guess they are tired of my complaining that I want my carpet back white again. HUmm, if it had been earlier in the day, I could have had a 'white friday' That's all the bought too. Said it was too good of a deal to pass up

Isn't it nice to know they care

i was up at 5:20am and standing in line at a Staples at 5:40 (for a 6am opening) to grab a TomTom GPS unit. I got one.

Around noon time, I went out again - this time with wife in tow. We went by the Fry's Electronics and the line there was literally "around the store" ... I went just to price check against a television I purchased a few weeks earlier (30 day price protection) and after seeing the line, I didn't need anything from Fry's that day.

unload it? how do you think it "drove away" from the warehouse to begin with?

The dogs started stirring early this morning - 5:30 am - so I got out of bed, leashed the three up, started walking and said to myself "Well I am up now , maybe I should check out..."

And then my otherwise sane neighbor almost ran the four of us over backing her boat of a car out of her garage...

"...maybe I should get the heck back inside and STAY THERE for the rest of the day."

And that's what I did.

Smart man! Beware of women drivers in ocean liner types of cars that are enroute to Black Friday sales. Could be dangerous to your health. Reminds me of the old cartoon from when I was a kid, The Flintstones, when Wilma and Betty would go to a sale with a bugle horn cry and yelling, "CHARGE it!" striking fear into Fred and Barney because of the many years of "easy" payments to come. (Did that sound familiar Dr Eric?)

I have to go to Home Depot today to look for a snow blower. It is nowheres near any other shopping traffic so I might be safe.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Now, just for the record, I do not have a CDL license.

So? You don't need to have a cdl to know how to drive a truck. Notice I didn't say "drive truck" as in do it for a living.

I went out for a little while, but I ended up not doing a whole lot of shopping. I couldn't find many things that I actually needed.

That's news to me.

Dr Eric - you are slow there