Black Friday - up at 4:20 - nap at noon - bed at 8

Ahhhhh consumerism. Only $11.99 jeans and 60% off flannel sheet sets could get me up at 4:40 in the morning. Well, that and having some bonding time with my sisters and mother -in- law.

What began on two flakes of snow and sheer will power actually turned out to be a pretty fun day.

I arrived at the in-laws promptly at 5:20. We then drove to pick up sister #2 who (and yes, she is a saint) was just coming home from having done the paper route. (Ahh, getting up at 2 am has got to be fun). We then went over to Kohls. And the flakes have increased to a little dusting coming from the sky - and starting to stick a little.

So, with lines that wrap 1/2 way around the store (but hats off to them for a VERY organized system of getting folks through the registers) we preceded to purchase lots of deals - jeans, flannel bedding, towels, toys, pajamas, etc. Check out whizzed by despite the population of a small nation waiting in line. Again, I bow to the management at Kohls for exceptional organization.

Next up: Caribou for coffee. Theresa dropped Beth and I off to get coffee while she and mom waited in the car. We ordered and received in rapid time our coffees and ran back outside (Please note it is still pitch black and now all out snowing). Up pulls the car and we get in. But shock! And with great embarrassment we realize we have jumped into the wrong car. (I did mention pitch black and snowing right?) So, with great apology we bowed out of the car and frantically searched for the correct automobile. Ah - there they are frantically waving their arms. Dashing with heads down in shame we precede to the correct automobile. Once we stop laughing and calm down mom who was in fear that we had been kidnapped we head off to location #2. Circuit City.

Busy - no parking spots - and snow furiously coming down. We grab the items we need and head for store #3. (Circuit City earns an okay - not too painful review - well staffed with all registers chugging)

Store #3 is Marshall Fields - we purchase a few things. They have been sold out of the major door busters since 6:30. Sigh...............But nothing we can't live without.

Store #4 - Herbergers. Great deals! Horrible lines - and mistakes at the register. OK - it's the day after Thanksgiving, these kids at the register have been here since 4 am. I'm not going to throw a fit. Not a happy as pie experience but what do you expect?

With snow piling up, walkways slick as ice, and road conditions rapidly deteriorating we head for home. We have filled the trunk and have bags on our laps. Our morning was a success.

And let me tell you, leftover turkey at 11:00 in the morning never tasted so good :-)

The drive back home for me was a little icky, but slow and steady gets you home safe. Michael had just recently got up and we enjoyed a pleasurable day together. (is it sad that I had been up 8 hours just when he was falling out of bed?)