Ho, Ho, Ho. Merry…
Wait a minute! We’re not quite there yet (despite the Christmas music playing in the background as I write).
When I think about it, Thanksgiving and Christmas are probably my two favorite holidays. Sure, I love the fireworks of the 4th of July and Halloween is a blast…but the end of the year has four big holidays over a five-six week span (well, you have to count my birthday on 18Dec…but that’s a big holiday for me!).
Thanksgiving is especially fun because as my kids have moved away, it’s gotten harder and harder for them to all get home at the same time. Christmas isn’t guaranteed, since it’s often not attached to a weekend, so it’s a one or two day holiday a lot of years. But Thanksgiving is always a guaranteed 4-day weekend…so we usually have a house full. Just like I like it.
In the days leading up to Thanksgiving I’m prepping and planning. Heck, this year I’m already knee deep in figuring out where everybody is going to sleep, what the meals will be, what snacks we’ll be having, and what foods I need to buy. The only thing I don’t have to worry about is what to do with the leftovers. What we don’t eat will be packaged and sent home with the kids. So the fridges will stay cleaned out too.
Win, win!
But there is one Thanksgiving tradition that I don’t get into. Black Friday.
Ever since the sales started up, I’ve thought they were a bad idea. As they’ve crept deeper and deeper into the actual Thanksgiving day I’ve increasingly resented them. Honestly, I was really pumped when I saw the long list of stores closed on Thanksgiving at Dealsplus this year! I’ve even created a naughty list of stores  open on Thanksgiving. Sure CVS, Rite-Aid, and Walgreens might need to stay open for emergency medical needs…but the others are being reported to Santa!
Yet I’m definitely in the minority at Hectic Manor. I’m certain Hectic Mom and the kids will use my naughty list to plan their Thanksgiving and Black Friday shopping.
Seriously, one of the reasons I don’t like Black Friday is super-practical. By the time the doors open, I’m beat. I’ve planned breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks for a jam-packed four-day weekend. I’ve shopped and cooked endlessly. And by the wee hours of Friday morning (or the late hours of Thursday) I’m ready to just sit back and relax.
The last couple of years I have been a dutiful father and husband and packed snacks and beverages for the shoppers. I just can’t get away from being a caregiver. In fact, we’ve even got a special blend of hot chocolate that we’ve labeled Black Friday Cocoa (although technically it’s not cocoa)!
OK, I realize I’m in the minority here, so here are the places that are some resources to help you with your Black Friday shopping. And you can be assured that you won’t run into me!
Amazon
Bass Pro Shops
Best Black Friday
Best Buy
Black Friday Adsnet
Cabela’s
Dick’s Sporting Goods
DealsPlus
Target
The Black Friday
Walmart