Black Friday/ Thursday...

This year's Black Friday deals were sort of disappointing. I'll start by saying that I look forward to this EVERY year! It's a tradition to get up before dawn, to make my list, check it twice, read the ads on Thursday and make a plan of attack.

This year was no different, but it was a little bit special... I got to go shopping with my Mom, Aunt Jan and DAD (plus Cruiser)! Which I haven't gotten to do for years. This was the first year that Dad came along and it was awesome.

Dad chauffeured us around- dropping us off at doors and picking us up. We were able to do the shopping for the charities that we will be donating to this year at rock bottom prices, which was amazing to say the least.

We went to Fred's first- which is TRADITION. You have to get there early if you want to get some good socks. Then we headed over to Target and it was a TOTAL MAD HOUSE. I have never seen it quite so crazy in there. They had good door busters- but we nearly missed them! Got the last of the 1.50 towels that we needed! Seriously- only 4 left in the bin and they happened to be all the same color. That's pretty good luck!

Then we went to Ulta and Best Buy for some quick pick ups. Then off to breakfast with everyone at Rose's Deli. It was great to eat with everyone again before they all had to leave and we went out to the Farm to hang with Steven's family.

Even though it makes me really tired (because I can never sleep the night before, then I get up early) the day is always worth it. No matter what! But here are two stories that really hit home for me...

We went shopping on Thursday Night for the FIRST TIME... Mom, Dad, Grandma, Jan and I all hit up Old Navy, Kmart and Michaels. Old Navy had great deals and it was really nice to not be elbow to elbow with people shoving for deals early on Friday morning. We took our time and picked out some nice things from our list.

Then we hit Kmart and we were looking to see if the "Bike Deal" (every year someone has a "Bike Deal" as a door buster) price was good on Thursday. We were shopping for a little girl who wanted a bike for Christmas. Well we found the bikes and the prices weren't listed for the sale yet! So we bring over an employee and ask him "Which bike is on sale?"... He has no idea, Mom goes to look for an ad and we ask him if he will scan one and see how much it rings up. We are all excited and frazzled so we start pointing at random bikes and I can hear him mutter under his breath "I don't have time for this... I have other things to do right now!"

That's great. Helping customers is not your top priority. That's fine, but don't TELL me about it. GOSH! I was getting really frustrated with this guy. We're just trying to find this price and he won't help us. In the end we ended up at customer service and the price was only good on Friday morning. BUMMER!

But here's another story that totally makes up for that guy:

On Friday morning- I'm at Target and we've picked up everything from our list, so I set out to find Flight of the Conchords on DVD. Steven told me that he really wanted the set and at 8.99 for each season, that's a STEAL. I look all over, but this year they've organized the DVD deals into these giant green boxes in RANDOM Places- like Women's Apparel and Children's Apparel and Accessories! What the heck!?! I'm very confused, so I go to the DVD SECTION and ask an employee... He has no idea where they are, but finds the bar code on the shelf and takes it over to scan it- he says what they have out is out and again tells me where the Green Boxes are. Then says sorry. He was actually very helpful, suggesting trying another store, checking customer service to see if any were in the "To Return" bin...

I'm standing at the DVD section and guy about my age pickes up "The Big Bang Theory" Season 1 on DVD, which is on sale fo 12.99 (a good buy!). I tell him the show is hilarious and he should get it. (He's been staring at it for as long as I've been looking for FOTC). He says he thinks he will and I ask him if he's seen my DVDs. He says he hasn't but he will help look for them, because at that price he wants them too!

We give up looking and go our separate ways and I meet back up with Mom and Dad. We check out at the customer service desk (NO LINES!) and I wait at the doors for Jan while they get the car. I'm feeling kind of bummed because I wanted those DVDs for Steven.

While I'm waiting the guy walks up to me after checking out- " I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU!" he says. I found the FOTC on DVD and I'll show you where they are!

He takes me over to some completely random Green Box Unit and pulls two DVD sets out of the back. "These were burried and I set them aside for you"...Sure enough- there is season 1 and season 2 and they are marked 8.99!

He hands them to me and says "Have a really Happy Holiday Season!" and walks away to meet his friends.

I hurriedly check out and meet Jan and hop in the car with Mom and Dad. I tell them the story and hold up the DVDs and they are so excited! Nice people do exist at Christmastime! I am happy to get my "deal" of the day and get what Steven wanted and that someone totally random helped out. I shall be looking out for someone to pass the kindness on to!