Killing a family tradition...

Every year, on the normally dreaded Black Friday, I would wake up before dawn, slam down the strongest coffee I could make and head out, sisters in tow, to get as many freebies and deals possible before 8am. We'd stand in the shivering crowds outside of stores, waiting for the terrified clerk to open the doors and let us all teem inside.  There was method to our madness.

The night before, Thanksgiving night, we would tear through the local ads to see which stores had what deals and at what time. We would plot our course to get there on time to get the best deals. We'd argue over the route we'd take between Kenosha and Racine. Every minute counted. In the morning, we were ready! Santa hats on, reindeer antlers on, red noses on! Away! We were the warriors of Black Friday who, along with the hoards of other warriors, were out to get a bargain. And I can honestly say, we had a blast! We never encountered those screaming, swearing, tear your hair out brawls they always depicted on the local news. We encountered people who were out to have a good time, just like us. They'd break into Christmas carols when we did in an effort to stay warm while waiting outside. They'd swap tips with us for getting in and out of the store in record time. They were kindred souls!

Now, however, we are grounded. Black Friday has ceased to be what it used to be. There is no "start time" now. No planning to be done. The retailers are killing Black Friday. They're insisting it start earlier and earlier. This year it's starting on Thanksgiving which, when you think of it, shows little respect for their employees and less regard for those of us who used to love lining up outside their doors. Oh, I'm sure they'll have plenty of folks still shopping but it will never, ever be the same without this crew!

Nope, we don't go out for Black Friday anymore. In fact, I'm holding out until Small Business Saturday and I've decided that as much of my Christmas shopping as I possibly can do will be done downtown at the great little stores in Kenosha! I know there will be one or two things gotten at a larger chain store but most of it will be small, personal and putting money back into my community. So, retailers - you blew it! And the winner is - small town businesses everywhere!!

One Last Thing...

(I'm taking a cue from the latest PEOPLE magazine. On the last page, they have a feature called CHATTER and there is a bit on a celebrity where they ask her questions about the "last" thing. Since I finished the 30 Letters thing I thought I'd give this a try!)

LAST MEAL I PREPARED:
Easy peasy! I cook dinner almost every night. Tonight I made a stuffed pork roast with new fingerling potatoes in a mushroom cream sauce. And, yes, it was as good as it sounds. My siblings don't think I know how to cook. My husband begs to differ!

LAST DATE NIGHT I HAD:
A couple of nights ago, Alex and I went out for some coffee after dinner. We went to McDonald's, the drive through. But then we drove to Harbor Park and sat talking by the harbor while the lights from the docks and the moon shimmered on the water. It was quite beautiful and nice to get away for a bit. Last week, we went to a movie. We get out two or three nights per week - even if it's just for coffee and talking.

LAST BIG TRIP I TOOK:
We spent a few days in Chicago a couple of weeks ago but the last big trip was last October when we travelled abroad. I love traveling! I want to do more of it!

LAST ITEM I BOUGHT:
I just ordered a new duvet cover and pillow cases from Amazon. I would have gotten it at IKEA but they don't sell them on line! Now that's just wrong! Of course, a trip to IKEA sounds good to me. Since it's pretty far away I'll have to plan ahead but I can get all sorts of Swedish goodies there. Hmm, must make note of this...

LAST DESSERT I ATE:
I had an Edy's Tangerine Fruit Bar for dessert tonight but that doesn't really count. The last really great dessert I had was the Irish Chocolate Pudding at Ashling on the Lough here in Kenosha. OMG! This is not Bill Cosby Jello Pudding I'm talking here! This is a deep, creamy, dense, chocolaty pot of rich heavenly goodness topped with real whipped cream. GO! GO NOW! You must try this stuff!

The wonder of IKEA...

So, I have long heard of the wonder of IKEA. You know, that Swedish based store where you can get stylish, serviceable furniture that you put together yourself. But I had yet to actually set foot in the place. I'm a member of a web community called The Community of Sweden. We're people from all over the world who have an affinity for Sweden, Swedish style, Swedish food, and, well, sometimes Swedes. The sub-group I hang with from that site is called the "fikaganget". Fika is the Swedish equivalent to a coffee break. Ganget is a made term for gang. We have never met but we know all about each other's lives, where we are in the world, what we do for a living. We send each other warm greetings, laugh at each other's jokes, cry when one of us is ailing or experiencing something bad in life. We just get along and all came together because of our love of Sweden.

But I digress...the reason I brought the fikaganget into this blog is because every last one of them, but me, had already had the IKEA experience. So, last Saturday, Alex and I made the 90 minute drive to Schaumberg, IL to what I can only describe as the second happiest place on earth. IKEA loomed over the highway like a giant blue and yellow monolith. Swarms of eager shoppers, people searching for just the right lamp, or dresser, or end table were teeming in from all ends of the LARGE parking lot. We entered the glass front doors and were immediately swept up the escalator by the throng. Actually, going up at the entry way was the only choice we were given. What laid before us as we ascended was amazing! I mean, we were literally in furniture Valhalla.

We knew exactly what we wanted. We had staked out our plan via the IKEA website before we even left Kenosha. But the yards of bedroom sets put before us was unbelievable. Ironically, the bed we wanted was the first one right off the escalator. We got the specs and the numbers and off we went. As we headed toward the self serve aisles. (Oh, IKEA is all self serve, did you know? I mean totally self serve...even for large items like the pillow top mattress we purchased.) Anyway...as we headed toward the self serve aisles, we filled our cart with pillows (like heaven!), a comforter (like heaven!), new bedding, (heaven again!), new waste baskets, lamps, garbage can, end tables....until our cart was almost toppling over. Then we got two flat carts and loaded it with the bed frame, beams, slatted matt, and queen size mattress! We shuffled all of that to the check out line. Paid up, hauled it all across the store to the Home Delivery line (no way could we get all that home in my Dodge Neon!) and then...we loaded up the car, moved it across the lot, nearer to the door, and went back inside the store to load up a cart chock full of Swedish food! We got meatballs, gravy, potatoes, chocolate, Bilar (chewy marshmallow cars, yum!), cookies, coffees, cereal, hard bread and, yes, the best thing to ever come in a tube, Kalles Caviar. A mere four hours later, we were done. But I tell you, I would go there again in a heart beat. For all that we bought, we paid blessed little. And now, tonight, at last, I will be sleeping on a brand new queen size pillow top Swedish bed with new bedding and new pillows.

Leave it to the Swedes to come up with an idea that reaches the inner recesses of the American consumer. It has it all - style, low price, convenience and food. What's not to love!!?

A good day...

Today was busy but good and I had a lot of fun too. I started out by going to pick up my groceries from the AngelFood place. If you haven't yet heard about AngelFood by all means, do yourself a BIG favor and google it. It's a food co-op open to anyone and for just $30 each month you can get about $80 of groceries. You don't get to choose what you get but there is a set "menu" each month so you do know what you're signing up for. For an additional fee you can also get "specials" like a Fruit and Veg box or extra meat. It's all restaurant quality food and always worth way more than the measly $30. And it's not dependant on your income. Anyone can do this and, for heaven's sake, with the price of food these days, why wouldn't you? This month's $30 box was filled with New York strip steaks, chicken, baby back ribs, potatoes, veggies, eggs, milk, and a dessert. I paid an additional $20 or so and got a huge box of apples, oranges, grapefruit, carrots, onions, celery, more potatoes and sweet potatoes. For my $50 I have enough food to last me a month!

Anywho, after that I did a little Christmas shopping. I'm putting together some little gift bags for my staff so I bought some trinkets and candy and bags to get it started. Later I met my sister Verda and my niece Kathy for dinner. Had an excellent pomegranate margarita...YUM...and then off to do some more shopping. I'm one of those weirdos who actually likes the crowds and the glitz and the whatnot the holiday season brings. I get all sentimental and sing along to the carols on the radio and in the store (much to the dismay of my fellow shoppers...). I just can't help myself. I am a holiday girl. I got some new Christmas stockings to hang "in the hopes that St. Nick soon will be here". I'm looking for the perfect gift for Alex. I still haven't decided exactly what to get him. It's not that he's hard to shop for but I'm picky and want it to be really great. I'm pretty far ahead of the shopping game at this point. I already got my sister's some slippers (that make monkey noises haha!) and I got my brother a book about the Civil War. He's a Civil War buff. I also got my mom a really nice set of bath towels which is what she wanted even though I think it's a damn boring gift!

So, anyway...ho, ho, ho and all that! I say BRING ON THE HOLIDAYS!

Me and my sister...

I have four sisters and one brother. For a family of this size we are uncharacteristically close. In face, most people, when I tell them about all the time we spend together are pretty amazed that we do. I guess most families are more "separate" than we are. I chalk our closeness up to my mother who spent her life instilling a sense of fmaily closeness and responsibility for each other in us. That can be a doule edged sword but that's a topic for another blog, another time.

Today I spent the morning with my oldest sister, Verda. She is about 20 years older than me. Actually, I have no memories whatsoever of ever living in the same house with her. I'm told that I did but she was grown and married when I was a toddler so I just don't remember it. Verda is a character unto herself. She is extremely opinionated and very set in her ways. She loves shopping at little stores and going to "specialty" places that sell things like home made wine and craft supplies. Today we decided to go to the local Farmer's Market and then to Harbor Market. Do other cities have these? I don't know. We have a traveling Farmer's Market that goes to different city parks on different days. Local farmers bring in their produce and set it up for sale from 9am to noon. It's nice to go and get freshly grown, organic food. I got some tomatoes, lettuce, mushrooms and new potatoes.

Harbor Market is different. It also has some produce available but it also has some real specialty items. It takes place each Saturday down by Kenosha's Harbor Park. We wandered through to see what people were selling and then made our way back through to make our purchases. I ended up getting some home made portabella mushroom salsa, fresh eggs, blueberry muffins and cookies from the Wild Flour Bakery, fresh lamb chops, and some home made soap.

Verda, of course, was in high gear at this place. She lives for these kinds of outtings and she spent a goodly amount of money! I bought a lot but she spent twice as much as I did and had so many packages at the end of the day! She bought us lunch there - Thai food - spring roll and vegetable stuffed chicken wings. YUM...btw. And, on the way home, she asked me to stop at the candy store (Sandy's Poppers, Kenosha, WI) so she could get some home made caremel corn and malted milk balls.

I have to admit, it was a fun way to spend some time with my oldest sister. I came home, ate a cookies and a few malted milk balls, called my other sister, Terry, who lives downstairs and then gave away all the muffins, cookies, and candy I just bought! Haha! I know myself too well. I would have sat here and eaten all of it and, frankly, my big ass just doesn't need that right now! So, in the end, it was a win-win day for everyone. Verda, who got to do what she loves best. Terry, who benefitted from my shopping spree. And me, who had a pretty nice day, walking around at the Harbor, spending time with my sister.

Adventures in shopping...

I have to admit that in some areas I am a very slow learner. It happens like this...

I realize on a Wednesday that I am due for a trip to the grocery store. I make the mental list of things I'm running out of and, sometimes, even make a real list. I think to myself that I will run to the store after work on Thursday. Then, Thursday comes, I get through the work day and all I can think of is going home. So, I resign myself that I will have to go on Saturday. Friday's are out because of a standing dinner appointment each week. Now I KNOW that I hate grocery shopping on Saturdays. Actually, I hate it on any day but particularly on Saturdays because the store is always full of 85 year old's wandering the aisles S L O W L Y and it takes me forever to get it done. There are always maybe two check out lanes open and each one has at least 25 people waiting. I KNOW THIS!! And I do it every time.

I went today and waited for 20 minutes until the two little old ladies at the ground beef section made up their minds. It's GROUND BEEF...all of it... nothing else...what's the decision here?

I should be more patient I guess. No, what I should really be is smarter but I know that next time I will do the exact same thing. Duh!

Anyone want some left over turkey?

Seriously, anyone? Please?

I once did a song in which I sang "Save me from myself" over and over again in the chorus. For some reason, as I was out amongst the hoards of Black Friday and whatever they call it Saturday shoppers, that one line kept running through my head. I think that means something. Yes, "Hello, my name is Mary and I am a Black Friday shopper." There has to be a 12 step program for that. I don't know what it is that makes me want to get out there with a bajillion other crazed people all hoping to be the one of the first 150 people in line to get the free one inch Winnie the Pooh snow globe. It's frightening. One year they made everyone go to the second floor of the mall for the free thingy and the weight of a thousand people all on the escalator at the same time nearly caused a panic as it stopped and started and lurched all the way up.

Surprisingly, people are not as surly and cold blooded for bargains as the nightly news would have you think. In fact, they are quite cheerful and helpful. There was a crowd that camped outside of the local Best Buy and they were grilling ham and passing out blankets and having a sing-a-long all night. Weird. Must be that holiday spirit I've heard so much about. Whatever it is, I did get some good deals and am now deeply proud to say that I am almost finished with my holiday shopping. If only I was as eager a wrapper as I am a shopper. Papercuts, anyone?

So, about that left over turkey. Seriously...someone, please. Or at least send me some good left over turkey recipes. And if they could include what to do with three day old oyster stuffing, I'd appreciate it. I'd be more than happy to pay the postage to mail this crap to you. I'll even ship internationally.

The Power of Positive...oh, shut up!!!

Today being Tuesday it felt like Monday and dragged longer than a gorilla's knuckles. I took some time to revise my list of things to do before December. I realize there are only a few weeks left until December and though I have done blessed little on the list, the list itself is quite a neatly organized wonder. I'll take that as a victory. I have much to do before December.

December is when Alex will be coming here from Sweden for the holidays. Cleaning this hell hole of an apartment is Job ONE on the list. I have a whole plan for that and I go over it nightly in my head before I fall asleep. One of these days I'll actually put this grand plan into play!

There is also the shopping. I was thinking since he'll be here for the holidays and away from his own traditions I would try to find some of the traditional foods he's used to to incorporate them into our festivities. I know I can get herring here and something close to the type of cheese he's had there. I did find a site where I could order some caviar cream cheese called Kalles that I thought would be fun to surprised him with. I also found ready to drink Glogg - a spiced wine concoction mulled with raisins and almonds. I placed the order (grand total = $11.00 USD) but when I checked the shipping and handling I was floored! They were going to charge me $48.00 US for shipping! And it wasn't even being shipped from outside the US. Pffft! We can make do with Kraft cheese and Door County Red!

Speaking of shopping, I have to start thinking about what to get my mother for Christmas. She's 90 years old and every year insists that she doesn't want anything at all. This, of course, is a lie because if any of us showed up with nothing we'd never hear the end of it. She is impossible to shop for too. Very picky and very practical. No knick knacks, doo- dads, clothes or cash. I'm thinking lottery tickets may be the way to go.

As for me, I'd like to be all sweet and kind and giving and say I just want peace on earth and whatnot. But I am really hoping for a new digital camera! hahaha!