Black Friday

[derekl_1963]

Quite the adventure - I was supposed to meet Eric (fugazi2112 ) at Target at 6AM... But I didn't get up until 5.35, just enough time to shower and get out the door. Here's a frightening image for you - me, driving from the house to Silverdale, sans caffeine.

I pulled into the parking lot at precisely 6 and almost immediately entered Bedlam - the parking was an absolute zoo. Counting myself lucky to escape unscathed, I parked over behind the carpet place across the street, called Eric and let him know he was in for a hike. Surprisingly he was at the car by just ten after with his purchases in hand and by twenty after we were seated in Shari's. I looked at the server and enunciated as clearly as I possibly could, "Coffee". Then things got complicated as she tried to ask me questions!  Questions before coffee?  Might as well question the wind - "blargh blabba roast gidda french asaha vanilla?".  I repeated myself: "COFFEE" - which seemed to have the desired effect as shortly after a cup of that most vital of substances appeared before me.

After coffee and breakfast we headed over to Lowes, which was surprisingly empty - and I scored a Christmas gift high on Brenda's list for nearly half off.  From there we bopped over to almost equally Home Despot, Circuit City, Office Depot, and Staples - mostly because we were bored and waiting for Morte (hrmortcia ) and Zii to emerge from the bowels of JoAnnes.  Once we all met up, we made a brief stop at Micheals (Morte and Zii shopped, Eric and I hung out and made cracks about Martha Stewart wannabees), and then to Starbucks for MORE COFFEE and a bit of breakfast.  Then off to Costco where Eric and I pondered books and electronics while Morte and Zii did whatever it was they were doing.  Afterwards we split up - they home to clean, me to run errands and then home to clean.