Black Friday, Black Idea

So I decided that since I had the day off today I would partake in the after holiday festivities of Black Friday shopping. Oh was that a bad idea! So I started my day by getting up at 3:40am in the morning, after getting home from work at 10:00 pm the night before. Mind you I had gone to work Wednesday evening at 4pm so yes that meant I worked a 24 hour shift and on Thanksgiving. (I had a 3 and half hour nap in between shifts) So I got myself ready, put the dog out and went and woke my mom up. She had no shopping she needed to do but had agreed to go with me. She decided that getting up that early to go shopping was dumb and went back to bed, which meant I was on my own. I had managed to convince one of my bestest friends Tammie to venture the crowds with me and meet me at Clackamas Town Center at 7am. I had decided that I would hit Toys R Us before I met her. I got there at 6am, got a parking spot and went inside. I was met by and employee that was directing people to the registers. I proceeded through the story toward the Aquadoodle area, a friend at work had asked me to pick up 2 things for her. By the time I had made it to the Aquadoodles the ones she wanted where gone so I headed for the stuff I had come after. Remind you I was told not to get a cart and there were none so my 2 hands were all I had. I found the gift I was after and went to find the second thing my friend had wanted and the last thing on the list. To my amazement I was wandering around and found it just sitting on the top of another pile of stuff so I grabbed it. nest was to get in line, but I had to find it first. It was LONG! So I stood in line and stood in line, the standing turned into 1 and half hours. While in line I found another gift I could give that had been cast off by another shopper. Needless to say i finally reached the check stand which took no time. I paid and headed to the mall. I thought on my way I would do something bad and go to McDonald's for something to eat, yeah the line was way too long so I continued to the mall.

I had told Tammie to met me at the Sears end where I found a parking spot rather quickly. I called and Tammie had finished a little shopping at Sears and was waiting outside of Lane Bryant where we had some shopping to do for outfits for my Chirstmas Party. I have invited her to join me at my company Chirstmas, let me correct, Holiday Party so we both wanted to get something to wear. We were greeted by someone and repeatedly asked if we needed any help finding anything. Which we DID NOT! We finished there and I had a coupon at Victoria's Secret, which was a mad house, but I got in and out rather unscathed.

While walking back to the Sears end we saw a kiosk that sold Christmas ornaments. I had Tammie help me pick one out for Dylan for his first Christmas that his Auntie wanted to get him, here's what it looks like.

So I finished up and headed back to the parking lot which wasn't too bad. So I headed home to unload my car. I dragged the large bag from Toys R Us into the house. As I went through the bag I found that the one thing my friend wanted me to pick up hadn't made it into the bag. After looking at my receipt the checker hadn't even rang it up. GRRRRRRRRRRR. I called my friend who said that it wasn't a big deal and to not worry about it. So that was my day of shopping, which I will never do again.

Girl's Night #2

Well, this week is my week for Girl's nights. Tonight I got to go visit my friend Tammie and her adorable little one Dylan. We even managed to pull off a picture. Once her husband came home it was time to go crazy. Which for us is Red Lobster followed by an hour or so of shopping at Old Navy. During dinner we discussed the fact that we are both way to old to "go out" to a club. We'ld get bored after an hour and want to go home. Needless to say I had a great time just catching up.

Girl's Night #1

My friend Lindsey is about 22 weeks pregnant so she gets tired pretty easily. Tonight we did a girls hang out night at her place. We pick up a pizza and watched a couple of movies. It was great to just hang out and relax. It was a change from working. Right is Lindsey, I wouldn't want to mess with her.

Everything There is a Season

Well, yesterday we laid to rest my maternal grandmother.

October 25 my grandma's fight finally ended and she died with many of us (her family) around her. For anyone I talk to regularly you are aware she was diagnosed with a brain tumor in late March, went throught radiation and since her health has gone down hill. In september she was put on Hospice, which was the best thing for her. She was able to get the daily care she needed from our wonderful cousin Lorraine. Things beyond her skill level were done by many wonderful nurses from Hopice.

My grandma was the best. No matter what I need or wanted she would have done anything to get it for me. Which included things my parents already told me I didn't need. Her many stories, no matter how many times I heard them, were always entertaining and educational. Most of my cousins probably would consider my brother and I spoiled because we got so much from my grandmother, mostly her time. Most of that was because of our parents' work sceduales. I really don't care what they say, I got the best years of her life and memories that none of them will ever have. Weither it was our many tirps to The Dalles and Wasco to yet another trip to the mall where I would again get my picture taken. My grandma was the best grandma I could have ever asked for. I will miss her!