Thank Grog It’s Firday!!
And Thank God It’s NOT Black Friday Or Cyber Monday!
I’m writing this early, because I am actually going to be on the road on Friday (today…but not really today). I am still reveling in the reality of escaping Black Friday and Cyber Monday almost completely unscathed.
I had an “insider’s view” of how this all works, as my daughter Ali, who lives in San Francisco, and is in management with Gap Inc. (the online division), was actually working remotely on her Thanksgiving visit. It was amazing to watch…as she checked sales, comparative numbers, and then calmly stated “it’s looking like a record year for sales, and my business (women’s knits and action wear) are up almost 75% over last year.”
Yikes. Now THAT is a turnaround. Gap Inc. also has a ton of other well-known brands, including Old Navy…and there was a huge turnaround in Brick and Mortar stores this past Holiday Shopping Frenzy…with online sales also breaking records on Cyber Monday. Amazing. How “up” can you keep going?
Meanwhile…in our games…Black Friday and Cyber Monday were mostly like shopping at a casino…hoping to get the payout you wanted, when you dropped a few donuts.
I mostly skipped both incarnations… Did I feel Un-American or like a CrankyOldTSTOGuy? Nope. I felt relaxed…
I have been Donut Farming for a couple of weeks in prep. I had (and still have) around 500 donuts, and growing. But, the fact is…I am just not the kind of guy who takes a chance on MAYBE getting what I want…even if it is a “great deal.”
I did buy two of the “Future Monuments” because there was a huge rebate, and they only ended up costing me 30 donuts for 1.5% total multiplier…which is pretty good for a large phallic symbol that pretty much looks out of place, no matter where you put it. But, that was it. I just didn’t care.
Same goes for Christmas shopping this year…gift cards…gift certificates…and Uncle Patty’s Caramel Corn will have to do. I’ve lost that spending feeling…
But, that doesn’t mean I am against bargains…or deals…or specials…for other people. From what I was seeing on the road (while driving to the golf course on Friday), there was LOTS of activity around the shopping malls and big box stores.
Me? I just did my best to ignore it, with a round of golf with my Son In Law and Grandsons…
…While trying to work off some of the huge Turkey Dinner we consumed the day before.
22 lbs of golden brown goodness!
Below…what I call the perfect “brown and red” meal. Turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing…all smothered in fresh cranberry sauce and topped with gravy! Why ruin perfections with vegetables?
For those who will ask…my drink of choice this Thanksgiving? Deep Eddie Cranberry Infused Vodka…with soda water. Mmmmmm….
But, I KNOW there are some of you who really bought like crazy…
TELL US ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE DEALS…TSTO and CHRISTMAS RELATED. Tell us about your meal! Tells us what rocked your Thanksgiving weekend!
Did you stand in line? Did you do most of your shopping on the internet? Did you do like Sandra, and fill her town to bursting with “great deals” after weeks of stockpiling donuts? Let us know!
I’m ready for the FULL Christmas Update… rEAlly ready!! Bring it on. Make us smile! Give us the kind of content that is worthy of our hard earned donuts! Make this Christmas “less magical” than Halloween…and full of the real Christmas spirit (even if it looks like the Aliens might invade it)! Can I get an “Amen?” Can I get a Quesildorf? (Alien for “Amen”). Can I get you to turn on all of your house lights? Let’s hear from all of you!