OT today's Silly Question

Good question! As my DBIL tells his DW, "Rita doesn't shop; she buys." I hate shopping and try to minimize any instance of it, holiday or not. List making is key, and going alone, early in the day, is preferred.

Rita L.

Polly Esther wrote:

YUCK!!!!! This year, for the first time EVER, I have all my shopping done except for 2 of my granddarlings. I'll get that done this week.... early in the week. Then I'm done! YAY!!! I won't even listen to the radio in my truck after Thanksgiving- all the stations are the same- oldies plays Christmas music, country plays Christmas music, etc.

Leslie (hates having someone else's choice in music forced on her in stores), Missy & The Furbabies in MO.

And here I was thinking I had crossed some invisible line between being youthfully oblivious and a bah-humbug curmudgeon. What is passing as Christmas shopping music these days prompts me to run in and rush out, humming something more pleasant under my breath all the while. I console myself that it will be good for the bottom line...less browsing and impulse buying. The selection is bad enough, but the volume really clinches it. Do we really need reheated "Run, Run Rudolph" and "...OH WHYYYY CAN'T EVERYDAYYYYY BE LIKE CHRISTMAS......." (um, because if I had to hear this much longer I'd go postal???), mixed with holiday rap?

(you shouldn't have gotten me started...it's time for an ipod, I guess) chipper (and I actually love "Christmas music")

And doing it in June/July/August!! . In message , Rita in MA writes

Avoid whenever possible.

Karen, Queen of Squishies

I love it! I guess I am an oddball. I love to walk and look at everything and I don't notice the music unless it is something I like. Then my ears perk up and I enjoy singing along in my head.

DS WILL ask them to "turn it down or he will leave and he has a LOT of shopping to do". So far he had only run into ONE store that wouldn't as they said :"It's in a locked room and we are not allowed to go in there". He thanked them and left. I find it especially painful in grocery stores.....I will push my 'quite full' cart up to the person and say "Please....Either --OR"

-- and they are not about to return the goodies to the proper shelves.

I 'buy' the usual ornaments when they first come out--(family tradition) as both kidlets collect the Star Wars ones. the most fun time we had was when we (4 of us)did it all on Christmas Eve Day with lunch in the middle. I can't 'answer' proper as I just pop into ONE store..get what I'm after an have to go. this year will be different as I can last at least TWO stores.

I mainly do my shopping in: Hardware, Book, and grocery stores (stocking fillers). My 'guys' have had to do everything else. Yes, they do complain of the music so I'm kind and do not play it at home when they are here. I love playing it when I'm working on a Christmas present (even in August) and when we are wrapping Christmas presents.

HTH Butterfly (tell her to try asking them to lower the volume whilst she is there. She may even be thanked by the other shoppers..we have been)

Well I like music, but I don't like it loud when I can't control it. And. I don't like the Christmas "stuff" starting before Halloween! I also don't like the instrumental parts being so loud that I can't hear the vocals, I believe that "they" started that trend when Elvis's voice was failing. And another thing, what's with the TV shows and the screaming fans/audiences, for the example the morning shows (Today, GMA, etc)? They are doing weather and all those people are so loud that the weather person/or host has to try and yell over noise. I don't like it. And I just got back from "Quilt Camp" in the woods of Pennsylvania. No TV, no radio, no kids, no cooking, just the humming of sewing machines, freedom and being able to ask the opinions of fellow quilters and little demonstrations. We worked on our own projects and much good was accomplished. We even had excursions to local fabric stores! I completed two quilt tops, one lap quilt, five pot holder/hot pads, and a tote bag made out of a charm pack. We made a deposit for next year, we also decided that four days was enough, because we were up and sewing before breakfast, and lat into the night (if we wanted to), I will take my own chair next year.

Bonnie, in Middletown, VA

I am a lousy shopper. I am not fun to shop with. I can take the music if the volume isn't high though. Best buy is about the worst around here but they don't much sell anything I can't get somewhere else. I buy as much as I can at Costco because it is no-nonsense, good prices and the folks that work there are great. I am lucky to have nice folks at my Joann's also. I don't much buy for the extended family for holidays anymore. I give my dad things through out the year and all the grands usually get something I make. This year little sweat shirts with Santa on the front.

I am in a 'don't buy from China' mode. That makes shopping kind of tough. When you see all the container ships in the harbor waiting to come in you see how much cr*p from there we buy. It is mostly disposable and mostly junk. What is the sense of changing out your light bulbs to energy savers and then buying stupid, unneccessary trash that has been shipped halfway across the world?

I always get kind of gloomy around the holiday time. It is too much all at once. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's along with both mine and DH's birthday in the mix. Having a bd at Christmas time is pretty much a bad deal.

I guess I could have just said I d> DDIL #1 was howling to me about the loud music in the stores. She said she

Since we have a vast range of ages here, I was wondering if there were some who looked forward to the music (?) and it caused them to linger in the stores and spend more. What about it, retailers? Polly

I enjoy it more since I have retired. I don't go to the stores on weekends, only during the week. I enjoy going to the mall and seeing all the decorations, and watching the little ones with Santa. I don't mind the music most of the time. In fact, sometimes I find myself singing along, or singing it after I get home. I have to confess that last week I listened to one of my Christmas CD's while I was browsing the net trying to find the Polly Pocket House that my granddaughter. Of course, that was last week, and she has probably changed her mind by now, lol.

Sherry Starr

I try to get the shopping done before November, but there isn't much to buy-----just DH & me. Son has moved way off so he will just get something that isn't heavy to mail. I always used to shop early in the day when there aren't many people in the store. But no, I don't like to shop in the real world. Barbara in FL

I guess I have to be a bit "difficult". It depends on how I am feeling in general. At times I love wandering, or just sitting somewhere in, the mall. Love holiday music, and haven't noticed it being overly loud most places in the past. But that may just be me and my ability to ignore what I want to ignore. In the last several years I don't do much shopping. For several years I was a Tupperware dealer and everyone loved getting TW for gifts. Otherwise I usually make gifts for everyone, and have since college days. (Broke college students find ways to give inexpensive gifts, especially when there is more time than cash around.) Fortunately the people to whom we give gifts also appreciate the thought and the gifts that are made for them. And they use/wear them with that appreciation. So most of my holiday shopping is/has been in fabric or grocery stores.

Of course, since working retail for almost 7 years, I avoid shopping of any kind the couple of days after Thanksgiving. The first year I didn't have to open the store the day after TG I took a quilting class. This year I am teaching one, again. Love to do that. (It is "Quick Quilted Gifts", about a 12 page handout, including a couple of patterns. Not a lot of actual sewing, but lots of ideas for everyone that use fabric, often remnants from other projects, and go very quickly. Usually a fun class that leaves everyone energized.)

Pati, > DDIL #1 was howling to me about the loud music in the stores. She said she

Howdy!

Dear Oddball, I'm with you! Let's go shopping! I'll sing, too (on key, even!).

R/Sandy -- a little picky about where I shop, so maybe the I'm not hearing the worst of the "holiday" tunes...

THAT depends entirely on where I am...

Mall shopping/departments stores and their tacky MUZAK: Help! get me outta here! Stuff like that drives me go on-line and play Jethro Tull Christmas music and drink hot chocolate spiced with cinnamon...

International Christmas Fayre in the Dane John gardens in Canterbury, with the sally Army silver band playing old fashioned *proper* Christmas Carols: love it! Can you stay open all night please? (hm... It loses some of the magic in daylight! And it really needs to be freezing cold but dry and bright!)

Quilt shops playing classical Christmas specials: I'll stay a while and chat and spend... :D

Apparently, I am not a "woman" - I HATE shoppin' with a capital "H-A-T-E."

And I am the only female in my entire family who hates shoppin' ... if I have to buy something (even gifts) I research it on the 'net, make a list, run in and buy, and run right back out. The only exceptions are, of course, fabric shops, quilt shops, and book stores. Those, I could live in!! :)

A few years shy, my cousin-in-law came to visit and wanted to go to our local mall - ostensibly because Victoria's Secret was havin' a sale (and apparently, only VS undies will adequately pamper and cover her unmentionable parts). So park AT VS, and we go in and she immediately heads to the left (VS was immediately on the right). I stop her and tell her that she's missin' the store and she tells me that we have 150 other stores to go to before goin' to the store we came for. SIX hours later, we arrive at VS. I am, by that time, tired, cranky, and DONE. Needless to say, whenever she comes for a visit, I tell her our mall burned down with no stores survivin'! I'm scared to tell her that we have a Target!! That's how much that gal loves to shop!!

I love Christmas music ... but not so loud that I can't think or speak to those unfortunate enough to go with me (I am NOT a fun person to shop with - unless, again, its fabric, quilty supplies or books - on quiltin' of course!). Hubby LOVES to shop - and it's a wonder that we've stayed married all these years! :)

What I hate, though, 'bout shoppin' at Christmas is the obvious pressure on everyone to "out-do" those you're shoppin' for. If I see yet another "buy her a 50 carat diamond for Christmas or she won't think you love her" commercial, I will go postal and picket my local jewelry shops!! Grrrrrr ....

The continual smell of cinnamon and nutmeg in shops makes me looney, too. I don't REALLY think they're in the back of the store bakin' cookies!! :)

Hugs! Connie :)

Polly: Actually I do like the sights and sounds of holiday decorations. I like to see the people giggleing about a gift item, to see the tots wide eyed at the glitter, and so on. If the music is too loud, I just lower the hearing aid volume. ;)

When I shop I generally have specific items to buy. I pretty much go to just a few stores. IOW, I try not to wander around searching for inspiration. I avoid the hectic times. I travel light; I wear comfortable shoes, and leave my heavy jacket and purse in the car. I take a break in a pleasant coffee bar. I generally have water, fruit, and a snack bar in the car; I avoid food courts!!

What I do not like is trying to think up some really nice gifts for my family. I don't mean expensive items, I just mean suitable items that will give pleasure and will be used. I surely hate to give something that is just ignored and sent to the Charity Shop in a few months. This is a challenge for me. Of course, if my family members would take up quilting, it would be very easy! (Sigh)

PAT > DDIL #1 was howling to me about the loud music in the stores. She said she

I also like to see all of what you describe, Pat -- but the music can get a bit loud at times. I just try to keep the "spirit" of the season, if possible.

You and I have a similar philosophy, it seems. I also don't just wander and hope, though I do take my purse with me. Generally, I don't need a coat in this climate, so that problem doesn't exist. I *only* go to food courts in a dire emergency, and never during the holidays. I also live close enough to shopping these days that I can usually get home for lunch and don't need to carry a snack in the car.

Well, gosh, Pat! Just adopt me into your family -- I'm quilter, and I'm easy to shop for!