Why did you come to the mall!?

[Buglady]

I guess this is what happens when you put off your Christmas shopping until the very last minute. You're forced to go out shopping in bad weather or else tell your family why there's no presents this year.

We had 3 weeks of very cold weather - consistently in the -20C range, -30 to -35C with windchill factored in - and two major snowfalls. The roads were in pretty bad shape. A lot of people fairly sensibly stayed in waiting for the weather to break - we cna usually count on a Chinook to thaw us out before too long - but by Monday they realized that wasn't going to happen, so everyone went out at once. It was crazy... but people were pretty philosophical about it. Mostly.

The Boy went out on Tuesday but I think he only went to 2 stores (bookstore and a German deli that has yummy treats). That worked; books and food top my Christmas wish list every year! I'm still glad I did all my own shopping at stores I could walk to, and made most of my big gifts (I sewed tote bags and pillows for the girls, crazy Hawaiian shirts for the guys. I had fun and everyone liked their presents).

[LadyAndreca]

I have to admit I went out grocery shopping Christmas Eve this year. But that's because my husband and I decided to be adventurous and attempt to cook a rabbit (I'd spotted them there the day before). But, knowing what things would be like, I was fine with parking at the end of the lot, brought my own cart in from the parking lot--even if I did give it to a lady with two kids who looked frazzled enough to cry when she saw no carts inside--kept my purchases to a minimum, and hopped in the long but fast-moving express line.

Normally I stay in Black Friday, Christmas Eve, and the day after Christmas. There's not often something I want worth the hassle.

The rabbit turned out yummy.

[karma_gypsy]

What really gets me is that people come in about 4-5 p.m. ... when it gets DARK OUT! We're the busiest when it gets dark! The roads are slush out there, slush, ice and snow ... So yeah ... lets wait until everything gets much colder and darker and then lets go out and do our shopping ....