Wish I'd Said It

Weeds are flowers too - once you get to know them.

- A. A. Milne

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Christmas Pre-Shopping

Thought I'd try something new this year. Instead of actually shopping, I went pre-shopping today. I strolled around a giant mall with absolutely no intention of buying anything. It was liberating.

Rather than burdening myself with parcels and bags and jostling with sharp-elbowed shoppers, I ambled from store to store, making mental notes: "Oh, that fluffy steering wheel cover would be great for Son #1 if he ever gets a car. Ha! That lipstick shaped like a penis would be terrific for all the women on my list! Well, maybe not Sister Marcella at Our Lady of Peace. But if she drives she'd probably appreciate a fluffy steering wheel cover."

My mental notes included the whereabouts of each store of course. Luckily, most of the ones with spiffy stuff were on the basement floor, in a kind of darkened part of the mall, near the back loading doors. Rents were probably cheaper. Which would explain how that nifty lipstick could be sold for only 6 bucks. The stores should be pretty easy to find when I actually do decide to shop. Which will be pretty soon. I've learned my lesson. No more Dec.23rd frenzies. I'll probably conduct one more pre-shop, downtown this time, on Monday. Let's see, that would be the 18th.

Then, on the 19th, if the pre-shop hasn't taken too much out of me, I'll do all my shopping in one swell foop. If I am too pooped after the pre-shop, I'll take the 19th off to rest and tackle the stores on the 20th.

It makes sense you know. Getting the lay of the land. Saving time and energy when the crunch comes.

I'll let you know how it all works out.

6 comments:

Othmar Vohringer said...

Christmas shopping is just like fishing. First you scout so you know where the fish are and then you go fishing. :)

Hope you and yours have a very Marry Christmas.

Othmar

Frank Baron said...

You got it Othmar.

All the best to you and yours too. :)

Matt said...

Ha. My wife does that "pre-shopping" thing, and it usually blows my entire paycheck. And then when she does her "real" shopping she complains there isn't enough left in the budget.

Frank Baron said...

I'll bet you still count yourself lucky Matt. She gets to deal with the crowds. You just have to cry poor. ;)

uniquematerial said...

Put me down for the 'fluffy', Frank. I don't wear lipstick. ;)

Frank Baron said...

Okay Unique. ;)