Black Friday

Thanksgiving is over, and for once I can look back to say it was a really nice one. Ten of us gathered, noshed, caught up on our lives, tried to play my copy of "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" (a tradition) and feasted on the usual turkey dinner and pies. Sis3 brought her "new boyfriend" ... her puppy Wally, a super cute poodle/terrier mix, and he was very well behaved. My niece and her SO were here and they make such a sweet couple. I hope this is the Christmas when they become engaged. My husband's bachelor brother drove over from VT and stayed to hunt with him this morning, something they enjoy but don't often get to do together. Sis2 and her husband drove up and chauffeured Mom here, bless them. It's out of their way, but Sis2 wants to make the detour to keep the matriarch in the mix. Mom was subdued and mellow compared with years past. I thought she was going to stir up trouble when she voiced puzzlement at why Sis3 had named the pup Wally, and there was an exchange of comments, but several of us redirected the conversation to forestall any hard feelings. The last hour or so Mom slouched in my computer chair wrapped in a throw and looking very much like my grandfather did when he was apparently dozing but listening to everything and waiting to say something that would make someone cringe. That never happened here, probably because the conversations were moving too quickly. The gathering ended with people happily filling their Tupperware with leftovers to take with them, and my husband taking a break from the pots and pans washing. He's so much help cleaning up the aftermath that I'm fine with him limiting his pre-dinner chores to vacuuming, mopping the kitchen, and peeling the potatoes. I'm thankful that we all had a good day.

Today began during the dark hours before dawn as I made my way to a nearby WalMart. My goal was a particular large screen tv, but the store's allotment was gone in the first 10 minutes so I settled for another brand. I stayed long enough to pick up three things on my list and two things that weren't, both Christmas presents. The trip was fairly productive, but I doubt that I'll do Black Friday in the wee hours again. People were pushy and cold, shoving overflowing carts straight ahead and anything or anyone in their way be damned. I'll have to want something reeeeeeally badly to put myself through that again the day after Thanksgiving's glow.

In order to accommodate the new tv, our big Christmas gift to ourselves, we had to empty and move the entertainment center out of the living room and into a space in the den, and then empty and move the cabinet I've been using to hold my all-in-one printer and paper cutter from the dining room. Then we had to try to figure out how to set up the new tv. It did take a while but at least we can see our cable shows on the BIG SCREEN. I'll figure out some of the other features soon. For now I'm happy to have the furniture moved, the tv set up and giving us about double the size and much better quality picture than we've been watching for years.

I have a craft fair tomorrow morning. To my delight, I discovered that I can fit the tables and my boxes and bags and trays of jewelry and supplies into my Prius once I put the back seats down and I take out the bar with the cargo cover in it. Amazing! Now I won't have to impose upon my husband to borrow his Ford Explorer, and I'll get better gas mileage to boot. All I need now is to make some money at this craft fair, and then I'll be a very happy camper.