10.30 this morning when I limped off the sofa to get some supa-strength flu drugs, honey and lemon, it was strangely quiet. There was virtually no traffic on the roads, the pavements were quiet and I didn't have to queue at the checkout. Very strange.

Ugh, at 9am when I was walking to the bus to go to work (HATE) there was already people shopping. Stupid New York. Home from work now though (yay!) and off to drink bloody marys and watch football.

Friday night I needed a printer cartridge right away, and somehow forgot about Christmas shoppers, and ended up stuck in a parking lot that has a gridlock problem even in the non-holiday rush seasons. Ugh.

You are not kidding, rainbaby! I was at one mall yesterday, and another mall today, and both were pretty crazy. Even The Dollar Tree was crazy (as it should be- I love a good Dollar Tree!).

You know the worst part about Christmas shopping and shoppers? They are, generally, incredibly rude and pushy. The lack of manners during the holiday season makes me pretty sad inside (not that its much better during the rest of the year but this is supposed to be the "good will towards men/women" time of the year).

The Walmart near me starts 24hr shopping tonight, they are usually only open for 12.

And for any Calgarians I give you the gift this season of stressless, painfree shopping: go downtown in the evenings after 6. The TD/Eatons/Sears/HBC malls are open and empty. I was in the Bay a few days before Christmas around 7pm last year and shoppers were out numbered by sales associates on the floor I was on.

rainbaby, I just wanted to say that the phrase "I don't wish to alarm anyone, but..." is one of my all time favourites. Please do continue using it.

I don't wish to alarm anyone, but there are many people shopping.

I read it as many people shooting. Which, of course, is what I want to do to the people who won't get the fuck outta my way when I'm shopping.

I've vowed to do all my future christmas shopping at Kmart. I went there to buy aspirin on Saturday and we didn't have to wait for a cashier (they didn't seem to have lines) and while she wasn't very friendly, hey ! no lines.

Forget Barnes & Noble at this time of year. What a mob scene! (though there was no line at the music area). I didn't even venture in the mall when I stopped in Sears for a gift for my brother. (Figures anyway, the sale started yesterday, it's not a hugely popular item, but they're sold out. I just walked out)