ramblings on shopping

I enjoy shopping. I can easily kill an hour in Target looking around at stuff and not have any specific purpose for going there. I can spend lots of time at a mall, if given the chance. However, I really don't like shopping during the holiday season -- too many people, long check out lines, items I want are out of stock, parking lot is always full, bell ringers block the entrances, and the store aisles are so squished with people that you can't push a cart or stroller through without knocking over merchandise or leaving wheel marks on people or small children. I try to avoid going to the store unless necessary between Thanksgiving and Christmas and NEVER on a Saturday. The thing I find interesting is that the grocery stores are also busier during this season -- why? We all eat year round, not just during the holidays! Last week I had to make a return at Roberts -- I had 3 kids with me and we nearly grew old and died waiting in line for service and then waiting for their lousy computer system to do its thing and refund my money!Despite my not liking to shop during the holidays, I have to admit I had a fun shopping day about a week after Thanksgiving when I hit the Smith's store with my Christmas list and Eric's discount card in hand. I have always wanted to fill a cart one time and then be done with the Christmas shopping -- that day my dream came true. I filled a cart, checked out, and was finished. Well, almost -- I missed 1 thing that was, of course, out of stock, which sent me to another store, another full parking lot, more squished aisles, another bell ringer to avoid, another long check out line, and too many people, but this time it wasn't out of stock! Now I'm just hoping that everything works right so I don't have to survive the return lines the day after Christmas!!