AM~Erica Experiences a Dangerous Combo

So anyway...

Not sure if you've heard yet, but the midwest was HIT WITH A MAJOR SNOW STORM a few days ago. I know! It was a shock! Imagine how surprised I was when they had called off school for a flurry...that built up to be about 8-10 inches of fast-falling-flurrying.
(Obviously brought to you by the letter 'F')

After the crazy amounts of snow & plowed mounds that are already dangerous to try to get around...we are preparing for yet another round! And it's another round of a whole lot!! Like...probably more than the last round! YIKES!!

Look at what's coming, people! LOOK AT THIS!!!

This is the prediction for our area. Hunker Down, folks...A storm's a-comin'!!

I do know that many of you in Colorado & Kansas have already been hit with it or are getting it right now. It's a slow-moving sucker that just keeps dumping on our parades!

It's Insanity, People!!

So, as we prep for another hunkerin', the stores hardly had time to restock anything.

Hubby & I missed our usual Friday shopping due to the last blast of winter, so we had to try to work it into our crazy weekend...you know...when everyone else was trying get out of their own walls, too. Partially to prep for the next hunkerin' down.

The only way I can describe what we experienced is this...
Survivor: Walmart.

Holy Cannoli!
The shear numbers of people? Insane.
The number of carts crammed into any given aisle? Insane.
The shocking amount of bare shelves due to hoarding? Insane.

Kinda getting the idea?

I was blessed to get one gallon of milk, a big jug of OJ, any sour cream, the last bag of shredded carrots, the last bagged celery stalks...it was frightening!
If you wanted shredded lettuce or salad mix, sliced bread, eggs, almost any shredded cheese...well, you were out of luck! It was so insane.

And the level of characters out at one time beat out a normal hectic run to Wally World. I think one of my "favorites" (term used very loosely) was the short, heavy, colored lady who about ran me over...
She had no cart. I did. So did a lot of people in front of me who ended up in a big cart jam in a main way. This gal got on her tiptoes & yelled in my ear (I think to "clear the jam"), "BEEP, BEEP!!!"
Seriously, lady? Seriously? *face palm*

The whole trip was stressful. Hubby & I were out of breath trying to work thru the mess of the freak-out shoppers. I think folks are confusing this next Snowpacolypse with the actual Apocalypse. You know...like 5 days ago.

Even worse? Based on the big, scary mounds I talked about...it screwed up parking spaces in majorly busy parking lots! People...we saw an entire row of parking spaces gone because that's where the plows stopped...and shoppers used those areas for parallel parking. Ca-Ray-Zay!!

OK...so if all this insanity isn't messing with everyone...I noticed something: THE FULL MOON!

Oh great! If snow doesn't mess with people's heads enough...now we gotta add the stupidity levels...
*face palm*

So...a second major snow storm (this one has delightfully been referred to as "The Blizzard of OZ"...Love It! The name...not the storm...) on top of a full moon. No wonder people are losing it!

I want a medal for surviving Walmart during that! Where Is My Medal???

Winter's procrastination amazes me. We got maybe an inch in the last winter season...total. We've had a snowfall here already that didn't amount to a whole lot...but more than all of last winter put together...but now we have 5 winters worth of snow that Jack Frost keeping stockpiled in the closet & forgot to bestow on us out of laziness...I'm guessing. And just when Jack found all that stockpile, he unveiled the other stockpile that he stockpiled on top of. So, now he's gifting us with what he's been saving up...
...at the last part of winter...
Way to wait there, Jack!

Oh...and here's your warning:
My brainy-brain has been on warp speed...and since snowy days seem to be a PRIME TIME FOR MOMMY BLOGGERS...and it appears we will be cooped up "lovingly" with each other for a couple of days again...be ready for an onslaught of blog product from my brain factory.

You're welcome...

Stay warm & safe, y'all!

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Thinks You Should Just Say NO

So anyway...

It's that time of year again.

That's right! We are gearing up for day that appears to be losing its meaning in the midst of the craziness of society. You know what I'm talking about, right? That's right! I'm talking about Black Friday.

*SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEECH*
WAIT, Wait, wait! Say What???

Folks...I'm not kidding. I just read an interesting article this morning lamenting the fact that Black Friday is losing it's meaning. Seriously.

(READ ARTICLE HERE)

*face palm*

I've already talked about how NOVEMBER TENDS TO BE OVERLOOKED. Halloween ends & then December begins. Doesn't it? There has already been true lamenting as to whatever happened to Thanksgiving...but we still give into the society timing pressures.

That poor turkey. Forced into Witness Protection for the sake of society & commercialism.

I actually put initial blame on KMart. Since their business has not exactly done so well the last several years, their ploy was to open on Thanksgiving. It apparently drew enough crowds that the competition grew. So others began their "Black Friday" stuff earlier & earlier.

What used to be about toy shopping for the kids at Toys-R-Us at the "crazy shopping hour" of 6:00 AM, has now become a greedy, angry mess of "electronics just for me at any cost" type day.

My hubby & his mom started doing the Black Friday thing years ago. It was probably the 2nd year. And it was at Toys-R-Us. He & MIL made a tradition of shopping for the kids, grabbing breakfast, and then showing up at home to brag on their purchases. Then the competition started...
All of a sudden, Best Buy, Walmart & many other retailers jumped on the bandwagon and started offering the electronics. My hubby will attest that things went into an ugly, downward spiral at that point.

What used to be about getting some shopping done for family became something very greedy. And, to make matters worse, stores will advertise big deals on major electronics...and then have 10 sent to the store. So comes the trampling, fist fights, shootings, bruises, injuries & pure insanity just to get a camera, a TV, a computer, the latest Elmo toy, etc.

Last year is when it was really awful. Retailers picked up on KMart's ploy. It took several years, but the stores were weaning themselves & employees that direction. People missing time with family just to make sure to have that iPad is really sad.

People camp out at Best Buy a week before now...hoping family will bring them food so they can get hold of the TV. That's not right.

I know everyone wants good deals. I'm a sucker for a killer bargain! And I love shopping...but not under conditions like that. And I can't imagine not recognizing that THANKSGIVING IS A HOLIDAY!!! And I would never get up THAT early just to have to fight my way thru crowds just to HOPE they have I was wanting to get. Hubby asked me for years to join them...and I always turned them down...who's the smart one, now?

The article points out the Black Friday phenomenon being a diluted "holiday"...what about the disappearing of Thanksgiving? Just a time to enjoy our bountiful blessing with family.

I do not begrudge the Target & Walmart employees striking the working on Thanksgiving issue. They want time with their families.

Last year, it was finally at such a horrible breaking point, my hubby walked into the doors of Walmart...looked around at the insane, and increasingly growing angry crowd...and gave up. He didn't participate for the first time in over a decade. He is not planning on doing it this year either...I don't think...

What it has become is sad. If Thanksgiving wasn't being shoved off enough...the "diluted holiday" of Black Friday has already been overtaking this time.

All in the name of the all mighty dollar.

I pray that everyone within reading distance of this post has a beautiful & peaceful Thanksgiving. May you truly celebrate the blessings you have. SIT DOWN and enjoy the dysfunction of your family, the food you're blessed with, the roof over your head, the relationships, the transportation, your talents, your health, you know...anything & everything you have. The things you have NOW! Not what you are willing to give up family time for to beat up a stranger to get hold of something you may not even get.

You want to do something out & about with your time on Thursday? How about helping those less fortunate & seeing what your blessings are truly about. You want to pick something up on Thanksgiving? How about perspective.

*deep breath in - deep breath out*

May you have a truly blessed Thanksgiving with your family & friends. Enjoy every moment of that time with them.

Can I get an Amen?

HAVE A HAPPY & BLESSED THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica