Black Friday Virgin

So there's this big hoopla over Black Friday, the major shopping day right after Thanksgiving. In all my years and as one who loves shopping, you might find it hard to believe that I have never been before. I may have gone shopping on that particular day but not with fortitude. I certainly wasn't waking up to be anywhere at 5 a.m. (There's not really much that would make me get up at 5 a.m.)

So this year, I am losing my Black Friday virginity all for a three dollar toaster. Word on the street is that a certain store (think bullseye) has advertised a few kitchen appliances for three bucks. And since that million dollar toaster in my kitchen now only toasts one side of the bread, the time has arrived. Really, my girlfriend has begged me to go. At first I told her she was crazier than a crack whore on 3rd Street if she thought I was gonna be getting up at that ungodly hour. But after much thought and realizing that I had cancelled my weekend trip and I didn't really have anything to do at 5 a.m on the Friday after Thanksgiving anyway, I conceded. I told her I would go. There's like 4 of us going now. There is promise of coffee. I figured with all those factors, there would be good times. I'm all about good times.

The barista at that certain red bullseye store (I figure if I don't mention the name, I will not be tempted to go there right now) told me yesterday that people camp out after Thanksgiving dinner! What? Are they crazy? The last thing I am doing after a good meal is sleeping in a cold parking lot. Does that really get you in earlier? This isn't 1988 and these aren't New Kids on the Block tickets, after all. Oh, and there was mention of women fighting over Barbie Dolls. Really? I really don't envision myself coming to blows over a plastic dinosaur for my son. Grown people really do this? I lived through the Cabbage Patch Doll shortage crisis and yet still find thing unfathomable. I'm pretty sure I would just tell my son that he could wait for New Year's Panda to bring the toy.

Oh, and New Year's Panda? When I was pregnant, the Hubby got a Daddy Book and it advised of this mythical creature. New Year's Panda hits all the after Christmas clearance sales and brings gifts to children all over the world... Bet you didn't know that did ya? New Year's Panda is a much loved creature at our house!

Anyway, I have like one week to bail on this outing. I probably won't though, 'cause I'll do anything once. I will probably be a raging bitch by two o'clock that day but the participating parties have been warned.

So, do you partake in this event? Do you have any words of advice? Am I crazy for agreeing to this?