If the whole weekend counts, I DID finish by Thanksgiving.

After watching the news coverage/hype and getting one firsthand intelligence report of Friday morning, I vowed not to leave the house until Monday. Yesterday I was told the world momentarily regained sanity with the roads and stores not even up to normal weekend traffic. Very skeptically, I called and got conformation. Late yesterday I made a cautious dash to the supermarket to find no waiting at the deli counter as expected the days AFTER Thanksgiving. I very reluctantly and slowly approached a shopping area like the apes at the opening in "2001 Space Odyssey" approaching the obelisk. There were check-outs with clerks looking up the isle for customer that might enter their lane. After crossing 4 things off, I stared at the last two items on my list.

I checked my fuel gage for a near full tank incase I had to quickly swerve off course onto a avoidance detour, recounted my cash and wrapped it in the freshly printed exchange rate sheet for pesos and kanuck$, laid in a GPS course to approach the 'MALL' from the back truck entrance road and made sure I had a full magazine. After sliding up a deceivingly empty ramp I merged into light traffic that allowed me to pass cars in the middle lane of the freeway. I got off the freeway one exit early and found the road that lets me sneak in the back way and rounded the corner of my target, Target.

I slammed on the brakes and rechecked my position to find the very sparsely populated lot was in fact the parking area. After slowly cruising the entire perimeter I headed on a glide path towards the doors. I pulled into a row of cars and was able to creep straight ahead to the next row and stopped the car, nose out, in case the need for a quick escape. I was within 150 ft. of the doors.

Looking through the glass I could not see the clusters of people and had two leaving and one other person that just charged through the doors without checking ahead. I watched her advance unmolested until she was out of sight. After a few seconds I went through the portal and saw as many clerks and sales people milling about as customers. I showed a smock wearing young lady my list of two items and she was able to give me headings right to the departments. Quickly moving in only a slight zig-zag pattern, I was there, found the items on the front of the shelf and was to the checkout with only one person in front of me. Out the door without incident and I'M FINISHED!

I hope they made their $$$ on Firday because it didn't look like they were doing it Sunday.

So are you a person who doesn't care for the crushing mobs of Madison Avenue Zombies, or one that enjoys the hustle & bustle of the season shopping and door-busting excitement?

__________________