So when a retailer says we have o open early to get that customer dollar - I think not.

I went to Michaels yesterday to drop off my brother's Christmas present for framing, although I don't think I'll go back there for the rest of my framing after Christmas--the woman there really did a hard sell on me to use glass, claiming that glass was the only thing that would keep mattes in place. I call bullshit on that, because if the mattes start to warp and/or split like she claimed, that means they're poorly made.

Anyway, I found some ribbon for my tree (both for the tree-topper bows and for garland), and while paying for it, I was chatting with the older woman who was ringing me up. Turns out that they're open from 4-10 tonight, Thanksgiving! Ugh. I used to work there back in the early '90s, and I would have hated to work Thanksgiving night (it was bad enough when I had to do that while working at Blockbuster).

Is it zooiphilia if the animal is the one with the fetish?

It's the best sort, because then it's obviously consensual.

Last night I made a pumpkin pie and pumpkin muffins and rice krispy treats. today will be mashed potatoes, dressing, gravy, green bean casserole. mom will do the cornish game hens, a pumpkin mousse, cranberry salad, and some sweet potatoes

I would rather brave the mall on the 26th for the sales than on Black Friday.

Maria,

that is going TOO far. Just too far.

I think the only way I am lining up at 4am at a retail store is if my life or my family's lives depended on it. You know, like an impending zombie apocalypse. I cannot see any other reason *I* would attempt that madness.

I made bone-in ham, soaked in cider, cinnamon and cloves for 8 hours, with a mustard-cider glaze, and brown sugar and pepper on top for carmelization, a vat of mash and gravy, a Cornish game hen for my sister, the ham-hater, a chocolate stout bundt cake, green bean casserole, and crescent rolls.

The fam is bringing cherry junk (cherry pie filling, mized with crushed pineapple, Cool Whip and sweetened condensed milk, homemade mac and cheese, a pumpkin custard pie, whipped cream and olives.

They have to leave to 1:30 to get Suzy back to work at 3 pm, so no wine -- iced tea and water.

It is thanksgiving day and I have not started dinner.

Not even one aspect.

My mother would not be amused.

is if my life or my family's lives depended on it.

I keep thinking about being really broke and needing a fridge or a washer/dryer or something, but even then I'd like to think I could work out an alternative. From what I've been reading (I have been investigating your curious customs) it is often a ripoff, since only the first 20 or so get the impressive deals, and the rest of you just get...into the store. Also, apparently the completely made up Cyber Monday is starting to become real, and decent bargains are to be found there that don't involve urban camping.

I can get behind Cyber Monday. Black Friday is a nightmare. It's like Shopocalypse.

Tomorrow I'm taking Ben for a sports physical at the urgent care place that only charges $30 (he wants to do winter basketball) and my mom and I are taking the two littlest family members to the new Muppet movie. S. has to work, sadly. And he has to go right through the King of Prussia Mall traffic to get there. He's not happy.

I'll be making Cornish hen, dressing, Waldorf salad, and gravy for Thanksgiving dinner. Assuming the cat ever deserts my lap. The pumpkin pie's already in the fridge.