Overstuffed and Outa Time (LynnK)

Burp.

I'm just home after a six hours of good company, non-stop conversation, and a fabulous Thanksgiving Dinner. The picture is of our host, John, who probably isn't holding a gun under that napkin. Across the table is Richard, who can best be described as unique. My efforts to capture the splendor of Mohammed and our hostess, Thea, were unsatisfactory. But as you can see to the right of the not-probable gun, John's home-made pumpkin pie and apple torte were superb.

So was the entire evening. Sometimes, getting together for a holiday with family isn't possible. For some, it isn't exactly desirable. After all, we can't choose our families, and not all of us luck out in that regard. Some of us, like me, have no close family within reach.

But we can choose our friends, and I got to share a treat of an evening with two fairly new ones (John and Thea, who live across the street) and two who are utterly new. I like them all enormously, and there wasn't a boring moment in our vicinity.

Well, from my perspective. I yammered a lot, and for all I know, they were all itching to shut me up. Hmm. Maybe that was why John's hand, the one nearest my mouth, was making nice with the napkin.

I'd tell you more about the evening, what I can remember after the excellent wine, but in four hours . . . the stores open for Black Friday!

It was not my intention to stalk the Wild Bargain. Never crossed my mind. Crazed shoppers in crowded malls? Not for me. Long lines waiting to pay for StuffIDon'tNeed? Na Gonna Happen.

Then the newspaper, fat with brochures and advertisements, thumped against my door. My nose lifted, sniffing a Sale. My fingers reached out, nails extending toward my wallet and credit cards. The Goddess of Hunter-Gatherers lit a fire inside me.

"Go forth, brave pilgrim, and seek out the pre-lit artificial Christmas tree for twenty bucks." Hey. I haven't had a tree for nearly twenty years. Must be a Sign from Heaven. Time to use those ornaments you've collected from all over the world and never displayed.

And I need those 5:00 a.m. Doorbuster specials. Already I forget what they are, but I remember wanting them. I even made a list of which stores to hit, what time they open, and what they have that I crave. Now I can't find it, but Walgreen's featured prominently. Who shops for Christmas gifts at Walgreen's? Me? Am I that tacky?

But Macy's was on the list as well, for good stuff, and mostly I intend to stock up on staples while the getting is good.

Assuming I plunge into the nutsiness at all. My late-night intentions (especially after infusions of wine) do not always match up with what I do when the alarm clock goes off. In this case, that will be three hours from now, at which time the Goddess of Hunter-Gatherers will do battle with the Lynn of Roll-Over-and-Go-Back-to-Sleep.

Right now my wine-woozy money is on Lazy Lynn. She'll win if I actually go to bed. But Greedy Lynn is thinking about napping in the recliner and working off some of tonight's feast with a morning of Power Shopping.

At this point, the dice are still spinning. I'll report back in Comments to let you know what did (or did not) happen.

Meantime, did you brave the malls on Black Friday? Or do you stealth-shop away from the crowds? Any tips on how to find the best gifts at prices that don't break the bank?