So, this was my first time trying the black friday shopping, and I still have mixed feelings about the whole thing. I have never really enjoyed shopping too much, and so to get the majority of the shopping done in one day for Christmas (at a great price) was very appealing. But, the over-anxious customers and the grumpy employees didn't really scream 'Christmas spirit'. I was fighting a head cold, didn't sleep well, and woke up at 3:30 to start the whole adventure--so my pounding head probably didn't add to the Christmas cheer either.
I know these pics aren't great, but I was surprised at my first store (Kohl's-at 4:00 a.m.) to see such a huge line. Of course this picture doesn't do it justice.
I took a picture of the clock in the truck because I was feeling so good that I got in and out of Kohl's in 28 minutes with the couple of things I wanted. I was feeling pretty efficient heading to the next store.
Toys R Us was where the real fun began. The line was probably only 1/4 the size of Kohl's when I got in line at 4:45, but the store was so packed with people on a mission I couldn't find anything I was looking for. When I finally did find all I wanted, I hopped in the winding line and shortly after met the first grumpy employee. Someone had decided the line needed to be redirected so he haphazardly tried to move everyone starting right after me--he was just yelling, and had no clue why everyone didn't understand his confusing plan.
My last stop was WalMart (because I have heard horror stories and didn't even want to attempt the craziness when it first opened). I got there around 6:00, and although the parking lot was still packed, the amount of people inside wasn't too bad. I inevitably always pick the slowest checkout line, but after standing patiently for 15 minutes I felt so committed (and always do) there was no way I was going to switch lines. I still don't know how the guy ahead of me took sooooo long. To top off the day-as I walked out the doors of walmart I was abruptly stopped (after just being stared down-not a word said) by an elderly lady with a permanent marker in one hand. She just said "Uh..I need your receipt" like this was something they did every day and of course I should know what was going on.
I think I drove home asleep.
As I got writing this down I noticed how good I am at complaining. It really wasn't that bad, and I'm sure this year won't be my last black friday shopping experience.
So--I haven't blogged since Black Friday. I'm a dork, but we've been sick a lot around the Blankenstein Household which = sleepless nights, grumpy kids, grumpier Momma, and no desire to blog. 
