MetaChat - unless i am almost done shopping by this time next year....

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21 December 2006

unless i am almost done shopping by this time next year.... →[More:]

My family will get cards and money. I have mostly fought off whatever new illness I was trying to get, but I still feel tired and generally crappy and the stores are just crawling with people. Like cockroaches.

People parking at an angle and using up two spaces so nobody will scratch their precious car, people walking across the parking lot directly in front of your car rather than moving to the side. People STANDING in the middle of the drive in front of a store so you have to wait for them to disperse.

Half of what you look for is gone and the store workers neither know nor care if there are any more elsewhere. And I didn't accomplish much. I must go back again in a while. And again tomorrow and probably the next day too. I will be so glad when this year is over. And of course nobody bothers telling me what they want. "I dunno."

I hate shopping when you are just having to guess at what to get. Last year everybody told me what they wanted, I had my decorations all up, I was all festive. This year I have no clue what to get anyone, I have nothing but a tree up and I'll be glad when it is over.

Okay, I'm done.

post by: weretable and the undead chairs at: 17:58 | 17 comments

SHOP TIL YOU DROP

posted by Wedge 21 December | 18:07

My folks live a five minute walk from a big shopping mall. I'll be home tomorrow, and I'll probably hit the mall on Saturday or Sunday. Going to the mall is okay when there's no going to it.

posted by Hugh Janus 21 December | 18:14

everyone gets walking lederhosen from me this year, I think.

posted by small_ruminant 21 December | 18:27

I have self-serving reasons for saying this sort of thing, but in my personal experience as a former big box and indie retailer, smaller local shops tend to have much shorter lines and employees willing to help.

posted by drezdn 21 December | 19:49

I'm three important and four unimportant presents off finishing my xmas shopping.
God, I hate shopping.

posted by seanyboy 21 December | 20:08

I got a bunch of stuff for my kids online, have picked up some other things offline and made presents for my family back on the other coast. I got the last package today and its the coolest, if you're into it!

But people do seem to suck more around Christmas time than the rest of the year.

posted by fenriq 21 December | 22:57

Even when I think I have all the gifts bought, I still keep shopping up until the last minute. It's like a compulsion. I don't enjoy it, but I still do it.

I like to ask the cashiers how they're holding up and if they had any jerky customers that day. They always seem so happy for the chance to vent and you hear some funny stories.

posted by jrossi4r 21 December | 23:11

You know what? Assuming were all still here and still love each other next year, we're going to form a support group. We're going to set a schedule and have all our gift shopping done by, like, December 10 and our decorating done by December 15. Or vice versa. Whatever. We'll start in November, post reminders, help each other think of gifts, point out online sales/resources, etc. We can even do it with other related stuff like creating menus, baking treats - whatever any people have as goals.

We'll nag each other, and help each other, but mostly we'll be in it together, because trying to motivate yourself to go out and start your shopping when you have other stuff to do is tough, and solitary, and we don't do it soon enough, which makes these end days hellish hell (the worst kind).
But if your internet friends are doing it at the same time, and we all come back here and report our successes and our problems, it makes it easier, and more fun (I theorize).

I swear we'll do this.

posted by taz 22 December | 09:39

But where were you this year, metachat? When I needed support? NOWHERE!

(I am totally going to remember that, taz. Start thinking about father-in-laws, 2007, right now!)

posted by gaspode 22 December | 09:56

fathers-in-law

posted by gaspode 22 December | 09:57

Do remember it. We'll totally do it.

By this time next year we'll be leaning back comfortably, warm dog at our feet, gazing at our perfectly decorated home as we sip our brandies in front of the crackling fireplace and the snow drifts softly outside. Everyone else will be dashing about madly, weeping and cursing God and Santa Claus as we reach for another delicious canape and fire up yet another of our delightfully excellent Christmas mix tapes.

Our spouses will smile fondly at us as our perfectly behaved children crawl into the big armchair with us to snuggle up and read a story. The cat will purr contentedly while mouthwatering aromas drift from the kitchen... and we'll sigh happily, and say "Thank you, metachat!"

Or something not quite like that, but better than this.

posted by taz 22 December | 10:09

Gah, it's very difficult to shop on a sprained ankle! That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! (I haven't done any shopping yet! I am absolutely the worst!)

posted by muddgirl 22 December | 10:17

This thread reminded me that I bought gifts, but not cards to go with them. Damn it. I was looking forward to not having to go out in this mess today.

(Also, I've been doing all my shopping online for several years now--it rocks).

posted by Prospero 22 December | 10:40

hmmm... Prospero, it's possible that you won't have to go out... email me at gmail with the name razzmataz.

posted by taz 22 December | 10:51

taz, check your email!

posted by iconomy 22 December | 11:01

Prospero, maybe you could use these tags?

posted by iconomy 22 December | 12:01

Oooh. Problem solved, I think.

posted by Prospero 22 December | 12:21

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