With Thanksgiving now behind us, it's time to look forward to the most wonderful time of the year: Christmas. And, like always, the action officially began this morning, circa 4am. Black Friday kicked off with sales at many stores across the country, and many internet sites are taking part as well (although technically when Cyber Monday takes place in a few days, there will be many more sales, I'm sure!).
I've been taking part in this economic-boosting tradition for over ten years now, and have always been able to find a good deal or two. I've been in several cities (Jensen Beach, Tallahassee, Fort Myers, and Melbourne being the major ones) for this event, but I must say that the traffic in Melbourne was pretty minimal, provided that you take back roads to get from one store to the next.
Last year was the first time that I utilized anything other than the flyers that come in the newspapers and mail the week before. With the internet being so readily available these days, and the fact that people leak out information in advance, the opportunity to plan becomes ever-so-much easier. With a simple spreadsheet, one is able to check out all the stores offering the same item, in order to not only compare prices, but to compare store opening times as well. Thanks to the insane amount of work that was put into that, after shuffling through the flyers to get some general ideas, you can easily check to see if you missed something you've been on the lookout for (you can sort by categories!).
I would love to hear about how your own shopping experiences went (where you found deals, what stores were crowded, how long the checkout lines were, what kind of coffee you picked up to stay awake, etc.). I'll recap my own morning below.
So there were three of us in the car this year, and it was the first Black Friday for one of my friends. We got a late start (having spent the night out-of-town last night), so we arrived at our first stop, Staples, at around 7am. We quickly grabbed both items we wanted, and waltzed through to a cashier in no time. Next stop, Kmart (which I always forget still exists until I see a sale flyer from them, LoL). Because they had already been open for quite a while, we missed out on the big-ticket item we were shooting for (gift for my brother), but picked up a couple other things. There were only a couple of people in front of us in line, so it was pretty fast too. Then it was over to Ace Hardware, which had been open for all of forty minutes when we walked through the door. Unfortunately for them, it seemed like there were only a few people who had been in there. The three open registers had no customers, and on our way to pick up the tools on the list, we passed four workers waiting to help somebody.
At this point we had a slight divergence, where I went to the mall, and the others headed to Circuit City. They went 3 for 4 at Circuit City (where there were long lines), and I made out with a beast of a deal at JCPenney. I cruised the rest of the mall while they checked out, but there was nothing too great on sale. We converged for a quick breakfast at the Chick-Fil-A in the food court, then headed on to Sears. We went 2 for 3 at Sears (and at this point I should mention that the missing item is the same thing we were after at Kmart and Circuit City), which was amazing, considering we got the last of one of those items (my sister's gift). It was almost 10am as we drove back to the house, and the guys chose to nap and watch a movie while I headed out for the final stop: Walgreens.
Walgreens is the store on my list that I always get to last. Every single year I try to make it there, but since the items are not as "big-ticket," I often don't make it there until after the sales end (around noon). This time, however, I was one of the few people in the store, and was able to take my time as I perused the Christmas card selections, carefully chose rolls of wrapping paper, and picked up gift tags, tape, and bows. As I headed back to the house, I felt an extreme sense of accomplishment, knowing that even though there are still presents to buy, we are 100% ready for the formalities of wrapping and sending gifts.
Oh, and to round out the tradition, we had Young's Chinese Buffet for lunch, then made a last minute purchase on Amazon, picking up gifts for my mom and brother (whose gift was almost 50% off there, so that was good enough).
Luckily, we steered clear of Wal*Mart (as per my husband's request), since an employee died after being trampled by customers in New York!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Remember the Big Red Boat?
So I'm a Cruise Addict. I took my first one in May 2007, my second in May 2008, and am planning to go on a third next month. I find them to be absolutely fabulous vacations, especially since they enable you to see all sorts of different places and experience many different activities for a very reasonable price. My current experiences have all been with Carnival, and I'm a big fan. I do plan on trying out other lines in the future, as I've heard great things about Disney, Royal Caribbean, and Holland America.
When I was beginning to research to book next month's cruise, I was considering a few different cruise lines. At one point, the commercials for the Big Red Boat began running through my mind, and I took the time to look up the company, since it had been years since I last saw an advertisement from them. Turns out they shut down in 2000, which intrigues me, since they were so well known for so long.
The cruiseline known for Big Red Boats was Premier Cruise Line, which operated from 1983-2000. They were first affiliated with Disney, but when Disney began its own line of ships and ended their relationship, Big Red went with the Looney Tunes (which is how I remember them). The also were partnered with Universal Studios at some point.
There were several Big Red Boats, and a few others to sail under this cruiseline as well. All have been scrapped at this point, with the exception of 3: one sank off the coast of Virginia in 2000, one was purchased by the city of Rotterdam in The Netherlands to be preserved as a historical landmark, and the final one (Big Red Boat I, now Oceanic) is still sailing, as part of the Pullmantur fleet in Spain.
So, what happened to make Big Red go out of business? Well, the ships were older... built before a lot of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) regulations were put into place. So, in 1997, ADA sued them for their lack of ability to accommodate the disabled. They eventually went bankrupt in 2000. :(
When I was beginning to research to book next month's cruise, I was considering a few different cruise lines. At one point, the commercials for the Big Red Boat began running through my mind, and I took the time to look up the company, since it had been years since I last saw an advertisement from them. Turns out they shut down in 2000, which intrigues me, since they were so well known for so long.
The cruiseline known for Big Red Boats was Premier Cruise Line, which operated from 1983-2000. They were first affiliated with Disney, but when Disney began its own line of ships and ended their relationship, Big Red went with the Looney Tunes (which is how I remember them). The also were partnered with Universal Studios at some point.
There were several Big Red Boats, and a few others to sail under this cruiseline as well. All have been scrapped at this point, with the exception of 3: one sank off the coast of Virginia in 2000, one was purchased by the city of Rotterdam in The Netherlands to be preserved as a historical landmark, and the final one (Big Red Boat I, now Oceanic) is still sailing, as part of the Pullmantur fleet in Spain.
So, what happened to make Big Red go out of business? Well, the ships were older... built before a lot of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) regulations were put into place. So, in 1997, ADA sued them for their lack of ability to accommodate the disabled. They eventually went bankrupt in 2000. :(
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Parking
Parking is one of those things that can be an extreme hassle from time to time.
-When you first learn to drive, parking can be a challenge. Especially parallel parking, which I know many people can't do even after years of trying.
-If you attended a larger University, daily parking was probably a crisis.
-When you go to the airport (or on a cruise for that matter), you are faced with either a LARGE fee, or a lot that is so far removed from your destination that it takes an extra hour to get there via waiting for and then taking a shuttle.
-Those who work downtown must master the art of the parking garage.
-Staying at a hotel in a big city means paying a valet charge (or, parallel parking a few blocks away, for those of us confident we will find our cars and that they'll be safe).
-Heading to the mall during November and December can yield in a stealth hunt for a vacant space.
-There's probably some jerk who parked over the line so much that the adjacent parking space becomes useless.
-And let's not forget that when a parking lot/garage is at full capacity, there is that inevitable other driver who will steal the spot that you were calmly waiting for with a blinking signal.
These things happen. And they're annoying. But life goes on, it's no big deal. However, I do have a particular parking pet peeve that I bet others share...
But today, I laughed out loud when I pulled into my local Wal*Mart parking lot. Some people I'll just never understand. As you may already know, Sunday afternoons at Wal*Mart are notorious for being obnoxiously full of a ton of people. The disabled parking spots are illegally used, you see more "sick kid/expecting mother" senior citizens than ever, and every aisle moves as slow as molasses because families allow their children to roam rampantly toward the store. As you pull into an aisle, you may consider a variety of things... distance from the entrance, shade, proximity to other cars, location of the "return cart" corral, availability of street lights, etc. But for some reason, an exorbitant number of people care only about that first concern. Today, as often happens, there were a few cars trolling along at an infant's pace, watching the shoppers leaving the store, in hopes of a close spot. I passed a couple as I drove down the row, and parked 25 cars or so from the entrance. As I walked toward Wal*Mart, I watched those same cars (who had held up traffic in my reaching my spot, by the way), still crawling along. At what point do they decide that it's a waste of time to stalk for a spot 100 feet closer, when the lot isn't full in the back? I just don't get it.
Now, maybe I'm a little partial because I've parked a full mile from my destination on occasion. For 4 months I regularly parked a quarter mile from my building, because I knew there was always going to be a cost-free available spot because so few people bother to parallel park and then walk (particularly in Florida where it has a tendency to rain at the drop of a hat). So if I'm at the mall, or the store, or the beach, I don't really comprehend the big fuss about getting a "good spot." I waste less time, use less gas, and get more exercise by just finding an available space and moving on. Sure, when "rockstar parking" is available, I use it. But the way I figure, that's just karma paying me back for not being a pain-in-the-@$$ when it comes to parking.
Stop being so foolish and lazy, people!
-When you first learn to drive, parking can be a challenge. Especially parallel parking, which I know many people can't do even after years of trying.
-If you attended a larger University, daily parking was probably a crisis.
-When you go to the airport (or on a cruise for that matter), you are faced with either a LARGE fee, or a lot that is so far removed from your destination that it takes an extra hour to get there via waiting for and then taking a shuttle.
-Those who work downtown must master the art of the parking garage.
-Staying at a hotel in a big city means paying a valet charge (or, parallel parking a few blocks away, for those of us confident we will find our cars and that they'll be safe).
-Heading to the mall during November and December can yield in a stealth hunt for a vacant space.
-There's probably some jerk who parked over the line so much that the adjacent parking space becomes useless.
-And let's not forget that when a parking lot/garage is at full capacity, there is that inevitable other driver who will steal the spot that you were calmly waiting for with a blinking signal.
These things happen. And they're annoying. But life goes on, it's no big deal. However, I do have a particular parking pet peeve that I bet others share...
But today, I laughed out loud when I pulled into my local Wal*Mart parking lot. Some people I'll just never understand. As you may already know, Sunday afternoons at Wal*Mart are notorious for being obnoxiously full of a ton of people. The disabled parking spots are illegally used, you see more "sick kid/expecting mother" senior citizens than ever, and every aisle moves as slow as molasses because families allow their children to roam rampantly toward the store. As you pull into an aisle, you may consider a variety of things... distance from the entrance, shade, proximity to other cars, location of the "return cart" corral, availability of street lights, etc. But for some reason, an exorbitant number of people care only about that first concern. Today, as often happens, there were a few cars trolling along at an infant's pace, watching the shoppers leaving the store, in hopes of a close spot. I passed a couple as I drove down the row, and parked 25 cars or so from the entrance. As I walked toward Wal*Mart, I watched those same cars (who had held up traffic in my reaching my spot, by the way), still crawling along. At what point do they decide that it's a waste of time to stalk for a spot 100 feet closer, when the lot isn't full in the back? I just don't get it.
Now, maybe I'm a little partial because I've parked a full mile from my destination on occasion. For 4 months I regularly parked a quarter mile from my building, because I knew there was always going to be a cost-free available spot because so few people bother to parallel park and then walk (particularly in Florida where it has a tendency to rain at the drop of a hat). So if I'm at the mall, or the store, or the beach, I don't really comprehend the big fuss about getting a "good spot." I waste less time, use less gas, and get more exercise by just finding an available space and moving on. Sure, when "rockstar parking" is available, I use it. But the way I figure, that's just karma paying me back for not being a pain-in-the-@$$ when it comes to parking.
Stop being so foolish and lazy, people!
Friday, November 14, 2008
... For the Next Ten Minutes
On Tuesday night, I went to Vero Beach's Riverside Theatre to see Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years. A fairly recent show, it had its off-Broadway premiere in 2002, it is a unique musical in many ways. First, it defies the long-held stereotype of musical theatre being big and splashy. Instead, this show features very little dancing, and with a cast of only two can hardly be considered "big and splashy." The show is not the typical chronological plot, nor is it a series of flashbacks. Rather, the story covers a relationship across five years, with Jamie's songs progressing from the first date, while Cathy's work backward from their separation. Jamie, a Jewish novelist, and Cathy, a smalltown girl trying to make it as an actress, appear on-stage together throughout the show, but only recognize one another's presence during their engagement and wedding ("The Next Ten Minutes").
The music in the show is amazing, and both Jason Robert Brown (book, music, and lyrics) and Kim Douglas Steiner (musical director/pianist) are to credit. I am normally a big fan, and Steiner's talent just made the music all the more enjoyable. From the opening "Still Hurting"to Jamie's biographic "Moving too Fast" to Cathy's epiphanizing "I Can Do Better Than That," the piano part is never simple. And while the symphonic sound of the multi-instrument orchestra (the score can be done with two cellos, a violin, a guitar, a bass, and a piano) can never be topped, the performance on piano heard that night was elegantly beautiful.
Norbert Leo Butz (Roger from Rent) was the Off-Broadway Jamie, whose talent far surpassed that of Vero's actor, Kevin Reed. I tried hard to like Reed (as I love Jamie's character), but it just wasn't going to happen. First, it's clear in the musical that Jamie is in his twenties, but Reed looked to be approaching 40. When there's a minimal stage, and your eyes are kind of drawn to the only character on-stage, it helps when an audience member can look at the actor's face and not be creeped out. Reed not only has a vein that tends to bulge in his forehead, his irises are small for his eyes, leaving you staring at the whites... very unattractive. Now, the worst part was his lack of vocal range. He could not hit the high notes of Jamie's songs, so sometimes he was harmonic with the piano, and other times he was down an octave. Regardless, for those familiar with the soundtrack and/or score (which was few in Tuesday's audience), he was deplorable.
Julie Tolivar, who played Cathy in this production, was adorable. With her various costume changes throughout the show, she epitomized how I envision Cathy every time I play the soundtrack on my Zune. She had a lovely voice, but was over-amplified. There was no need for her to be miced in a auditorium that only had nine rows of seating.
But perhaps what was the most impressive aspect of the production was the lighting/scenery. I combine them in praise because of the inextricable way they are linked in this particular version. Using screens, each scene is set via projection. Various background are created upon both solid and pieced screens, allowing for disjointed environments when called for. The result, while very minimalist, gives the audience a complete feel of change, ambition, and hope. And that's what one needs to not only enjoy this production, but to enjoy life.
The music in the show is amazing, and both Jason Robert Brown (book, music, and lyrics) and Kim Douglas Steiner (musical director/pianist) are to credit. I am normally a big fan, and Steiner's talent just made the music all the more enjoyable. From the opening "Still Hurting"to Jamie's biographic "Moving too Fast" to Cathy's epiphanizing "I Can Do Better Than That," the piano part is never simple. And while the symphonic sound of the multi-instrument orchestra (the score can be done with two cellos, a violin, a guitar, a bass, and a piano) can never be topped, the performance on piano heard that night was elegantly beautiful.
Norbert Leo Butz (Roger from Rent) was the Off-Broadway Jamie, whose talent far surpassed that of Vero's actor, Kevin Reed. I tried hard to like Reed (as I love Jamie's character), but it just wasn't going to happen. First, it's clear in the musical that Jamie is in his twenties, but Reed looked to be approaching 40. When there's a minimal stage, and your eyes are kind of drawn to the only character on-stage, it helps when an audience member can look at the actor's face and not be creeped out. Reed not only has a vein that tends to bulge in his forehead, his irises are small for his eyes, leaving you staring at the whites... very unattractive. Now, the worst part was his lack of vocal range. He could not hit the high notes of Jamie's songs, so sometimes he was harmonic with the piano, and other times he was down an octave. Regardless, for those familiar with the soundtrack and/or score (which was few in Tuesday's audience), he was deplorable.
Julie Tolivar, who played Cathy in this production, was adorable. With her various costume changes throughout the show, she epitomized how I envision Cathy every time I play the soundtrack on my Zune. She had a lovely voice, but was over-amplified. There was no need for her to be miced in a auditorium that only had nine rows of seating.
But perhaps what was the most impressive aspect of the production was the lighting/scenery. I combine them in praise because of the inextricable way they are linked in this particular version. Using screens, each scene is set via projection. Various background are created upon both solid and pieced screens, allowing for disjointed environments when called for. The result, while very minimalist, gives the audience a complete feel of change, ambition, and hope. And that's what one needs to not only enjoy this production, but to enjoy life.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Mommies and Daddies
Rather than discuss the election that just took place (I had strong feelings for many candidates and amendments which did not go as hoped), I figured I would do a post on a somewhat similar topic: political books. But not just any political books, specifically Children's Books.
Why Mommy is a Democrat is a book written in 2006 which got a lot of press, especially in Talk Radio. Cute squirrels demonstrate why Mommy Squirrel is a Democrat... things like sharing toys, the importance of education, and making safety #1. In 2007, a second book, Why Daddy is a Democrat was published, outlining why a Daddy Bear teaches his cubs Democratic values.
However, in between these two, a response was written for the more Conservative crowd. Why Daddy is a Republican uses a family of Eagles to illustrate terrorism, taxes, and abortion, among other issues.
While all the cartoons are cute, and some of the statements in all three books make sense, it's amusing nonetheless that these (and so many other) political books have been aimed at the youngest of crowds. Hmmm...
Why Mommy is a Democrat is a book written in 2006 which got a lot of press, especially in Talk Radio. Cute squirrels demonstrate why Mommy Squirrel is a Democrat... things like sharing toys, the importance of education, and making safety #1. In 2007, a second book, Why Daddy is a Democrat was published, outlining why a Daddy Bear teaches his cubs Democratic values.
However, in between these two, a response was written for the more Conservative crowd. Why Daddy is a Republican uses a family of Eagles to illustrate terrorism, taxes, and abortion, among other issues.
While all the cartoons are cute, and some of the statements in all three books make sense, it's amusing nonetheless that these (and so many other) political books have been aimed at the youngest of crowds. Hmmm...
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