Day 86- It's just a fleshwound!

Right now I am attempting to purchase a new vacuum cleaner off of Sears.com, where I can get free shipping and ten dollars off the already sale price, but the site is not behaving very well. It keeps saying it's too busy and taking forever to load anything. The ten dollars off is only good until noon, so this is particularly annoying. I'm beginning to think they're purposefully messing with us to prevent us from getting the good deals they've advertised. -sigh- Shopping sucks.

My husband went out this morning for the early Black Friday shopping experience. He goes every year. It is a tradition for him to go to the Sears tool department first thing in the morning for their special tool deals. He doesn't really need any tools, mind you, nor does he actually buy very much, but the experience is what really matters. I am quite convinced that this is why most of the crazy people out there get up super early to shop on this day. After perusing the ads, I have to say that the deals just don't look that great to me. But still, thousands and thousands of people show up super early in the morning to wait in line outside of stores, in all kinds of weather, for the opportunity to spend their hard-earned cash. It is the thrill of battle, coupled with the highs of successfully getting the thing that everyone else wanted (which may or may not be true, but you certainly think they all did) but you actually got. And for a great deal!! (or so you tell yourself) It is modern warfare for the middle-classed set. What are you willing to sacrifice to win it all? A few hours sleep? Pishaw, easy! Being frozen solid? Hey, no pain no gain! Being jostled and rudely treated by a hundred other shoppers (not to mention the over-wrought salespeople)? Water off a duck's back, baby!

There was once a time that I myself was young and reckless enough to view this all as an exciting and enjoyable adventure. I must admit, though, that the past few years I have greeted my husband's rolling out of bed at 4:30 AM with a sigh of relief that A. I could beg off since somebody has to stay with the children and B. I get to have the whole bed to myself for a few hours. Then he shows up at 9 or so bearing gifts of donuts. Yeah, I guess I do like this morning after all.

Of course, this whole waiting for the Sears website thing is definitely marring the day for me. I am seriously considering giving up. I guess saving ten dollars isn't such a good deal if you have to replace a $400 computer after furiously tossing it out the window. Of course, then they would have won. And that, my friend, must not be allowed. I will vanquish my foes! I will survive, and, yes, I will emerge victorious! (raising sword in challenge, I shout the battle cry of true deal finders) RRRREEEEEEEEDMOOOOOOOOND!!!!!!!!