Shopping? Shopping? Did somebody say it’s time to go shopping?
Well, I’m all for frugality, and these days most of my splurges occur at thrift stores or garage sales. But I do love me some online shopping via eBay or Amazon.com.
I get the impression from the comments section that a lot of you are in the same mode. Going to shop at Amazon.com this season? If you’ll use one of these links: Living Free or ClaireWolfe … you’ll be doing me a favor while not costing yourself one dime extra. Either link is good.
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Did anybody else watch E.T. yesterday? It’s a Thanksgiving tradition in these parts, but I’m not sure how that came to be or whether it’s widespread. Anyhow, I watched. Blubbered like a baby when those five bikes lifted into the air. As I do every year.
Claire,
Shopping is my all time _least_ favorite activity. I go to great lengths to avoid it. Not bloody likely I’d ever venture out on Black Friday! Hermits don’t do shopping. 🙂
Fred,
I hear ya. While I like some types of shopping more than I care to admit (Amazon, eBay, and the local hardware store among them), I wouldn’t be caught dead in the Black Friday mobs. Or in any mall at any time, for that matter.
I just think it’s funny (kinda sad funny, but still funny) that the media decrees that we’re all supposed to be out shopping today. I even heard on NPR that some institutions with a vested interest in shop-a-holism have hired space on satellites today to take photos of store parking lots. Egads. Is that creepy, or what?
“I just think it’s funny (kinda sad funny, but still funny) that the media decrees that we’re all supposed to be out shopping today. I even heard on NPR that some institutions with a vested interest in shop-a-holism have hired space on satellites today to take photos of store parking lots. Egads. Is that creepy, or what?”
Judging from a bunch of people I know, It must work pretty well. I.e. “Oh I didn’t get to go last year, I REALLY NEED to get out and shop this year!” As if it were some sort of essential thing like a doctors visit.
Unsuprisingly…not exactly freedomista types.
Too bad I already got my gifts shopping done. The last of it last week. Including somethings for my brother’s dogs. Otherwise I’d throw a few cents your way via your links. Then again I did only about half my shopping via online this year.
Malls, at this time of year? Ick!
Purveyors of overpriced junk, IMHO.
S.
Too bad I already got my gifts shopping done. The last of it last week. Including somethings for my brother’s dogs. Otherwise I’d throw a few cents your way via your links. Then again I did only about half my shopping via online this year.
Malls, at this time of year? Ick!
Purveyors of overpriced junk, IMHO.
I love to go to malls at this time of year and see the cheesy, sentimental Christmas decorations. And girl watch. I am not “shopping”, so I can usually avoid getting caught in a crush of people.
I do service work and my first call was 145 m from home. At 430, Walmart’s lot was full. By the time I went through Pittsburgh, rush hour traffic at 6am… 30 m to my next call at a grocery store, lot was 25%full….next call took me through prime shopping area..20 min. To go 1 mile. From there to a hotel in Pittsburgh next to an ongoing hockey game. There also was a football game going on at the same time. Something was wrong, I hit less traffic and people than at the malls. They don’t need pics from space. Ask the people. Claire’s right, thrift stores, amazon, barter for handmade gifts works fine for me. I don’t have money or time to waste or to support big Ltd’s. Maybe some of Claire’s books for the stocking?
I haven’t been in a mall for at least 5 years. If I can’t find something online or local mom & pop/thrift, it just isn’t going to happen. Early last week my BF and I were thrift shopping and found her dream-of-a-lifetime Christmas present for a whopping $30. Do friends get any better than that? Got DH a brand new or like new Pendelton wool shirt(his favorite) for $5 at Goodwill. Last year his daughter sent him one that cost over $100. Got a thing or two on eBay and a couple things on Amazon(always used the link for you of course). The grandbabies are 2000 miles away, so that’s all taken care of online with specifically provided wishlists(kids want the damndest things). My next trip to our little local mountain town I’ll look for a few trinkets from around here to wrap and send. I just can’t work up a whole lot of Christmas spirit over the greed and consumerism so prevelant during the season. Pretty much leave me alone with my tree and cookies and a few thoughtful bargains to unwrap. Good thing we’re hermits who live in the woods ’cause we sure don’t fit in “out there”.
BTW, which version of ET was that? The original, where the government agents chase the little kids with guns, or the revised edition with the kindly, your-best-interests, for-the-children agents whose weapons were CGI-morphed into radios and other inocuous items?
Carl,
Um … what? This time around I watched the 20th anniversary director’s cut, but swear-to-god if guns morphed into radios I never even noticed. I also have the original theatrical release. So I can compare — and will. You’re talking about the bike-chase scene near the end?
It’s 90 miles to the nearest “mall,” but I hate them any time of year. The only time I’ve been to a mall in the last 5 years was to a gun show!
I like buying gifts on line so I can have things shipped direct to the recipient – since I absolutely hate to go into the post office!
Take a look at this movie trailer. I got to play a nice part in it. 🙂 http://www.gunsandweed.com/
The full movie should be out by spring.
When, where, and how much, Mama Liberty? *PLEASE* keep us posted!
Claire, I never saw the whole revised version, just some clips. But I think it was the chase scene. From what I recall, it was pretty easy to overlook: just handguns morphed into walkie-talkies and such.
Believe it or not, ET never was a big favorite of mine. I only knew about the revisions from some RKBA articles.
Like last year, all mys shopping will be done online.
Last Christmas, I gave all my friends Caspian 1911 multitools; they were a huge hit. 🙂
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When, where, and how much, Mama Liberty? *PLEASE* keep us posted!
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Will do!
Also watch for announcements at The Price of Liberty.
http://www.thepriceofliberty.org
I’ve noticed the walkie talkie thing in ET, though it’s been a long time since I’ve seen that movie. Removing un-PC items from film rereleases is pretty common nowadays. I’ve heard of cigarettes being removed from old movies that way. (I mean I know it’s bad for ya, but when did we get to start pretending that smoking isn’t awesome?)
I wish I’d stayed up on the blog better to see your amazon link earlier… they had a pretty decent deal on a complete 60 watt solar panel kit with the charge controller, rack, 200 watt inverter, etc. for $250 in their cyber Monday deal that I bought. Between it, toys, movies, and books, I think my debit card is wearing out.
I bookmarked your link for the future.
Ragnar — sounds like a very cool purchase! (How come there’s never anything that interesting when I check their Cyber Monday specials? Definitely would have been nice to get a little commission on that one. But I’ll take what I can get in the future — after your debit card has a chance to recover. 🙂
I’m not a fan of malls….there isn’t one near here, and I don’t miss it either….
There’s something about Black Friday Shopping that brings out the worst attitude in people, entitlement mentality at it’s height of obnoxiousness, and the older I get the less patience I have with those kinds of people….
I usually make all the presents I give….and that means my idea of shopping is going to the hardware/lumber yard or local craft store – so I contribute to the retail holiday money-panic in a different way…..