Procrastinators UNITE!

I made the mistake of going out to get "a couple things" tonight. Not. Smart.

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I started off at Walmart to get some construction paper for Kaylin and a gift idea that Mike suggested for himself last week. The art supply aisle was completely picked over! The only construction paper they had was HUGE - 24x14 inches. I bought it anyway (why not for only $1.84???) and will just cut each piece a little smaller as she needs it.

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I headed over to the food section to pick up some staples that are running low. Again, every aisle was picked over and not restocked. Butter? None. Not a single box. And the margarine was almost completely gone, too. People who needed to bake must have gotten desperate because cookies just don't taste the same if you don't use butter. Canned artichokes? Gone. I wanted them for a new dip recipe I tasted recently, but apparently the rest of the Phoenix area makes artichoke dip for Christmas, too. And I nabbed one of the last containers of cinnamon. Everything I needed was GONE! Very, very odd. After 25 minutes in the 20 items or less lane, I was very ready to leave.
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From there, I peeked inside a nearby toy store and realized my $5 gift certificate isn't valid until 1/1/10, so I left. I grabbed some gas before heading home to feed Jason, then I hopped back into the car again.
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The next place I hit was the $1 store; I had to return the stocking stuffers that Ryan saw on the kitchen table a couple weeks ago. I exchanged them for much needed wrapping paper.
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Next stop was Big Lots. Picked. Over. I was hoping to find a cheap Barbie for my mom to give Kaylin, but they didn't have a single Barbie. I got out of there as quickly as possible...it was packed.
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I ran into Trader Joe's to get raisins, eggs and a few other things. The lovely woman ringing up my groceries recharged my energy and mood for my next destination.
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Toys R Us.
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I was devastated when I realized that the kid umbrellas I've purchased have been from Toys R Us. Who goes there three days before Christmas? Well, a lot of people, actually. The place was packed with people but the shelves were baron. The Barbie section at the front of the store was very bare, so I headed back to the girlie area hoping to find a better selection.
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All that was left was Mid-Drift Barbie, Street Walker Barbie, Tattoo-Up-the-Thigh Barbie (thinking back, it might have been fishnets), Scanky Bathing Suit Barbie and the beautiful, yet over-priced, Bridal Barbie. Okay, so I'm not sure of all of their real names, but honestly. Have the people at Mattel lost their minds? Do they take pride in their lack of principles? Are they working that hard to compete with The Bratz dolls? (which will never enter my house, BTW) I found a Fashionista Barbie with an actual dress on, but it was so short that it barely covered her bum. The only dolls who were properly clothed were Sponge Bob Lover Barbie and Race Car Driver Barbie. And I'm sorry, but NO.
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I called my mom and told her that Kaylin's not allowed to play with Barbie anymore.
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I found the umbrellas and was bummed that the only non-princess, non-pink umbrella was Thomas the Train. Ryan's not that into Thomas anymore, but he turned his Spiderman umbrella inside out like Mary Poppins a few months back and has come home from the bus stop soaked to the bone one too many times. So I'm blaming the character on Santa's lack of knowledge that he's moved on to older, more violent characters. (*sigh*)
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I took my umbrella and made my way through the crowds to the front. On my way, I saw couples that looked like they were holding hands for the sheer purpose of not being separated by the masses.
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Once I was finally at the front of the store, there were only two registers open and I couldn't find the end of the line for either of them. As I stood there confused, a new lane opened up. I am very ashamed to admit that I didn't allow the kind people in the longer lines to check out ahead of me. I clutched my single item to purchase and made a beeline for the unsuspecting checker. Seriously guys, you would have too. You should have seen the overflowing items in the carts of the families standing in line around me! Probably people with no where to hide gifts over the past weeks. Or people who are just now able to get out of the house without their kids in tow to buy them presents. Or people who wait until the last minute desperation deals that the stores promote to try to get everyone to overbuy hours before the big day. Or people who work 60 hours a week to try to keep from losing their homes.
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Whatever the case, these people had hundreds upon hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise in their carts. And they will probably be up wrapping into the wee hours of Christmas Eve only to watch their hard work get ripped to bits the next morning.
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Ugh - the mere thought of procrastinating stresses me out. And I've pledged not to leave the house for the next 48 hours. It's crazy out there!!! I'm warning you now...stay home!