The mall was packed today.

TJs was nutty today. However, I'm glad I went today, because tomorrow is going to be even worse.

Personally I am avoiding all shopping (except for food which I stupidly have to do tomorrow) until at least January.

All online for me. I've been doing that since before online was widely accepted for commerce (i.e., I bought stuff from catalogs). It makes the Christmas season actually enjoyable.

$40 for a USB cable (I'm assuming that's what it must be)? That's criminal.

Can you wait a couple of days?

I love your links! I can certainly wait a couple of days. That's bonkers.

TJ's wasn't bad near me. I forgot I pass two on that route home. I actually have a surfeit of TJ's. The two I passed aren't of the three that come up in their store locator for my zip code. My zip code likes WeHo.

Jesse - were you looking at cables at like a BestBuy? I feel like their cables are always like "gold-plated" or "80-ft long with nuclear bomb resistant coating" and a minimum of $45 each.

Yeah, apparently. Next time, I'll just ask Gud what to buy the first time.

I'm using a gold-plated 50-foot-long Ethernet cable right now, AIFG.

Congrats, msbelle! I'm glad that official stuff is all taken care of!

Does anyone know the "perks" of a Visa Black card? I just got a pre-approved application and am wondering what the BFD is about this thing--besides the ridiculously high annual membership fee.

So sorry for your loss, smonster.

msbelle, yay for completed paperwork!

You people and your kids. You amaze me every day, and give me hope for the human species. I couldn't do it, and I'm glad there are people like you all who can.

ita and Allyson, insent to both of you.

Target often has decent priced USB cables, though if you can wait, internet is better. (Every now and then Target or Office Depot will have one on sale for 4 bucks and then I'll pick one up, so I have it if I need it.)