Man this is getting big...
People all over the world are getting into it...go check out the video at Anndi's.
TIME TO DONATE SOME RICE TODAY!
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How was your Thanksgiving holiday? We had a great 4 days. We were invited to a family gathering in Mississippi. Everyone was incredibly friendly, the food was great and if we couldn't be with Matt or our family, this was excellent.
Well the holiday season has begun full force....every other commercial on the television is geared toward the Christmas buying season...it wasn't always this way, was it?
Why do we remember a time when the Christmas barrage did not begin for another week at the least...
This is not a bah humbug rant, Christmas RANKS up there in my two favorite holidays. (You should know the other from your time here on THE COUCH.)
But the commercialization has just gotten to us and it takes some of the joy out...now we have worked in advertising our whole life in one way or another, and many of those years in direct response - much of it acquisition mail -
yeah, the stuff you hate to get - but where else can you fail 95% of the time and be a success! bwahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
- anyway, so we understand the imperative need for companies to begin the onslaught as soon as possible to get their piece of the pie - you dollars - whether it be the latest toy craze, the newest video entertainment system, the new cool computer, or that diamond that means forever - you only have so many of those dollars and there is the need to make sure their product is first on your mind.
BUT can we at least get past Thanksgiving? We know, we know...Black Friday...the day after Thanksgiving...also known as Blitz Day...the stores open at 4:30 - 5:00 am and people are lined up to get in and start shopping.
Yes, Black Friday...named because it is when most retailers finally get into the black each year...it RANKS as the single day retailers wait for and in that single day 5% of all holiday shopping is done.
ShopperTrak, the American customer traffic counter, estimated that sales on Friday were 8.3 per cent higher than for the same day last year. That preliminary figure exceeded forecasts by the National Retail Federation, which had penciled in a rise of about 3.5 per cent – an increase that would have represented the worst rise in sales for five years.
But we don't have to like it....do we?
OK, sorry...go on and RANK on me if you must...send me your Boo's and jeers...
We just want to have a little less buy me and a little more reach out and share...
LITTLE FEAT
"Fat Man In The Bathtub"
Composer: Lowell George
Album: Dixie Chicken
1973
* Paul Barrère - guitar, vocals (first album with group)
* Sam Clayton - congas (first album with group)
* Lowell George - vocals, guitar, cowbell
* Kenny Gradney - bass (first album with group)
* Richard Hayward - drums, backing vocals
* Bill Payne - keyboards, synthesizer, vocals
Additional personnel
* Bonnie Bramlett - backing vocals
* Malcolm Cecil - synthesizer
* Tret Fure - backing vocals
* Danny Hutton - backing vocals
* Milt Holland - tabla
* Gloria Jones - backing vocals
* Debbie Lindsey - backing vocals
* Bonnie Raitt - backing vocals
* Stephanie Spruill - backing vocals (typo on the cover: Stephanie Spurville)
* Fred Tackett - guitar (joined band 1988)
Glad you had a good Thanksgiving that RANK'ed right up lol "fat man in the bath tub" they made a song about me! Hey Vin theres a Christmas ornament for you in Idaho Daily Photo.
nah...it's okay...I NEVER shop the day after Thanksgiving...although I have picked up a couple things that have caught my eye over the past couple months.
Lol call me strange, but I kinda miss not being there for black friday.
Just to let you know, I haven't jumped ship. I've moved.
http://susanmirandajourney.blogspot.com/
First of all... it gets boring here when you don't post every week day.
Second, while I was cleaning I vacuumed under The Couch (dude... you need to be careful about what you hide under there) with my meez luggage that works like a Hoover instead of Louis Vuitton.
Glad you had a good time dear friend (you did say you had a good time right?)
Just put on a little "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" and that'll put you in a good mood... just ask Mimi!
Oh.. and Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!
Dixie Chicken!!
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaa!
So glad to hear you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. If you couldn't be with your own family, at least you were with A family.
As much as the commercialization of Christmas bothers me, I try very hard to just "get passed it" and live my life the way I would normally. Perhaps it's easier for my family because we still attend church, and being part of organized religion helps us maintain the focus on the non-commercial aspect of Christmas. Regardless of one's beliefs, however, I think if a person holds the true meaning of the season (whatever that means for them) in their heart (e.g., family time, new beginnings, etc.), then perhaps there is hope after all.
Of course, I could just be spouting a bunch of schlock since it's only 5:23 am for me, and I'm not fully awake.
Great Manic Monday post! I'm not sure if my post lived up to par or not... hmmm. Please come by and visit my blog, tell me what you think! RANK IT! LOL
I think that song was inspired by William Howard Taft. Cheers!!
Well, when I'm at the grocery getting some holiday CAKE I always get a couple extra canned goods and toss them in the collection box at the door.
And when I'm out shopping for gifts I always get some toys and drop them in the local Toys for Tots bucket.
And every year I see those bins are full to the brim.
So maybe it's not all about gimme gimme. Or maybe it is, but that's ok with me.
But that's just my 2 cents adjusted for inflation.
So glad that you had a good Thanksgiving.
Yes, I was up and out of the house by 2:30 am on Black Friday. Hit JC Penny's at 4:00 am, Wal-Mart by 5:00 am, back to the mall by 6:00 am and home by 9:00 am... needless to say I was exhausted.
hello - black friday sounds horrendous. glad you had fun.
I'm glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed your extended weekend.
It sounds like you could have used a little Christmas music though to have changed your mood. There's always next year to experince how much fun Black Friday can be with a friend.
I'm glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed your extended weekend.
It sounds like you could have used a little Christmas music though to have changed your mood. There's always next year to experince how much fun Black Friday can be with a friend.
Glad your Turkey was a good one, oh Halloween lovin' friend of mine ;)
Kidlet and I saw What Would Jesus Buy and guess what? We are opting out of the commercial side of Christmas this year. She is going to make oil painting murals for her friends and family and we both told my parents to skip the presents this year. We are taking the money I would spend on her and she would get her Grandmother to spend on me and we are donating it to Nothing But Nets. AND my parents are donating a complete surgery cost to Smile Train, the charity that does cleft palate repair in South America.
This year, Christmas will be about the real message and not the purchased one =)
ROGER: Thanks for the ornaments...
KATHERINE: You already got my present, that is what you are saying..right? right?
MIRANDA: Well it takes all kinds heheh...relinked you and CONGRATS
ANNDI: ah shucks ma'am very kind of you to say...but remember, I am not the only one that hides things under The Couch...
Had a great time thanks...
SONGBIRD: You have a great way of dealing with it...and it can be done...spout anytime you want - you always makes sense..
DEB: Thanks and your post RANKED up there also
MATT-MAN: Him or Marlon Brando...
TRAVIS: Those are great examples of how people can do both...thanks for sharing...
DIXIE: You are one crazy chick ..ya know that?
TOPCHAMP: I believe it is..but obviously some do not
OBLADYBUG: It could not have been better...thank YOU...LOL...not really a Scrooge, I just play one on TV and I am not sure I could ever enjoy waking at 4 AM to go shopping....
STARRLIGHT: hehehe you know me well...give me HALLOWEEN twice a year!
WOW WOW WOW ... You guys are incredible...what a wonderful thing you, kidlet and your parents are doing and personally, since we have had it on The Couch for over a year, we LOVE you are doing Nothing But Nets
Black Friday is dumb as hell, though it did make my work day alot easier and quieter.
I really wish folks would get back to meaningful things--like spending time with family and friends--gifts are just tokens.
Glad you had a great time--so happy for you sugar
Smooch
Hey they look good there :D
Great ramble there Mr. Vinny! We always did the black Friday routine..until this time. I slept and he went! Bwahahhaa!!
I would LOVE to hit black Friday one year, but the hubby keeps looking at me like I'm insane.
Yes, it's commercialized, but Xmas is my favourite holiday!! I've been listening to Xmas tunes since November 1st. :D
SMOOCHES hon.
Glad you had a happy Thanksgiving darlin'!
We saw Little Feat too. :D