Shopping before the Second Great Depression
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hat is Black Friday? It sounds scary. “The Urban Dictionary” says it’s: “The day after Thanksgiving, when stores decide to open at the ‘asscrack’ of dawn to start Christmas sales. Most people fall for this ploy and wake up at 4 a.m. to fight other mothers for cheap presents.”

I’m not in Aspen at the moment, so that phrase has a little more meaning to me. One would think its meaning would be more ominous. More like, “the day we all shopped for the last time before the Second Great Depression.” Alas, the black must only allude to shopping at midnight, because I certainly enjoyed myself.

I didn’t start shopping at midnight, but I did set my sights early. While Aspenites made their first turns of the year, I rested on the couch, after spending the early part of my day shopping Black Friday deals.

Open stoves and oxygen

I went home for Thanksgiving since my mom recently spent time in the hospital. All is well now. She simply needs an oxygen machine for the time being. We couldn’t let her near the stove during Thanksgiving. Apparently open flames and oxygen don’t mix. 

Why is it that I often see those with oxygen tanks smoking cigarettes then? Sorry, digressing again.

Since the economy is in the toilet, most of the media had reported on Christmas being a little skinny this year. However, that didn’t stop them from reporting on the great sales Black Friday would bring.

Somewhere, subconsciously, I was given information that this was the year to buy a flat-screen TV the day after Thanksgiving. It’s amazing what we’re fed and subsequently how we digest. If Friday’s the day to buy a flat screen then I must do it, right? I’d have shopped for one too, if I wasn’t taking a plane home.

Since my trip was unexpected I figured I’d capitalize on the holiday sales despite the ailing economy. I could save myself some money in the long run and buy gifts for my family that wouldn’t have to be shipped to them.

Ever since J. Crew came to Aspen I’ve been excited to do some holiday shopping. I was duped though. Since I’ve spent so many hours at the J. Crew Outlet, I thought I was welcoming a store I could frequent. Not so much. Aspen’s J. Crew, although beautiful and friendly, is full of champagne wishes and caviar dreams.

We should all be cutting back, but I keep running into more and more people who figure they’ll consume until they get a pink slip. I concur. That line of thinking can’t necessarily be bad for the economy either. I’d like to think of myself as Red Cross volunteer so long as I’m employed.

Does anyone else have the problem of buying for themselves when trying to buy gifts for others?

Up by 3 in presents

So far Presents for Beth are up by three against Presents for Others. Darn. What? I couldn’t focus. My hometown happens to have one of the best outlet malls around. I don’t know if retailers are making any money this year, but they’re certainly giving away the goods at prices I just can’t say no to.

I’ve spoken of shopping before, so you know that I’m a bargain hunter, but even I felt unprepared and short of breath. I almost bought an automatic tire pressure gauge while in line at Eddie Bauer because I felt it might be a nice stocking stuffer. Once I came to, I put the gadget down.

Since living in Aspen I haven’t shopped the day after Thanksgiving in at least seven years. I wouldn’t call myself an obnoxious sale shopper. I don’t buy crap simply because it’s on sale. Yet knowing that I might not be close to quality clothing at low, low prices for a long time is enough to make me put on running shoes, take minimal food breaks and forget my water bottle in the car. 

I’m thankful that my mom was out of the hospital for Thanksgiving this year, and for health (yada yada) but I’d be lying to you if I told you I wasn’t giddy over my Black Friday deals.

I actually plan on going back to the outlet mall before coming back to Aspen. Maybe the next time I’ll be more focused on Presents for Others.

When I called my boyfriend to share with him my tales of 50 percent off markdowns on top of the lowest marked price, he wasn’t that excited. He did try to sound genuinely happy for me though. Then he let me go because they were opening another run on Ajax. C’est la vie.

Before I go, does anyone need anything? Socks are 3 for $15 and there’s an amazing sweater sale at Banana Republic.