Halloween is almost upon us and then Christmas and as usual it hits us by surprise. Why does it happen you ask, well blame it on the pilgrims why couldn't they pick a better time for Thanksgiving. Were they wanting to spring Christmas a month earlier, if so then was it a desperate attempt to befriend the local natives before the first snowfall. We all heard the stories of the first Thanksgiving, but has it fallen away into a distant fog of those grammar school days. After Thanksgiving comes 'Black Friday' a family activity with our loves one's the Christmas pre-sale, the moment that people either head to the stores in droves, or go buy a Tree or decorations to set the festive mood in motion.
Well I just can't wait for the festivities to begin, I need some holiday cheer after morning my cousins death for about 15 years. Yes, I know it seems and awfly long time to be morning someone, but then we were like brothers growing up together, which explains little or nothing, you see my cousin was the type that found laughter and joy in everything being the times good or bad, nothing really got him down, he always laughed...
Xmas around the corner and it will come fast and ferious since the economy will start to pick up again, people will be entering new jobs, getting acclimated to the new environment. Exhaustion from trying so hard the first 90days on the job, and catching up with the bills, and wondering if anyone will give you a break.
Well I decided that maybe that break needs to come sooner than later. Sooner since it will put everything back into motion again, by your purchase your giving someone beside myself, a job, something to do this holiday. In fact sales figures for halloween have pretty much flatlined, sales were non-existant for the most part and no one is buying. In fact the two companies that made great sales in my area were giving away bags of selling gold and Lord & Taylor, which fired half its workers, reduced the hours of the other half, took away thier benifits, and then did a family day with the staff they had left. And this season when you shop your going to experience the same thing, never-ending lines, people fitting over merchandise in the stores, dark parking lots, less than adequate security, lots of cars broken into since some people will do anything to survive, and exhausted sales associates that won't go any faster at the checkout counter, because after so many hours, only rest would really help.
My solution would be to shop at you own pace, don't worry that the news is not reporting local crimes, just buy the Sunday paper and take a look, you might see something weird, dis-information. Then visit you local court house and find thier schedule full, yes cases are now beyond the six month waiting list, to process a loan re-negotiation it is now taking Wells Fargo and Union Trust over a year before a court date. Wells Fargo and Union Trust are giving customers 3 days from mailing to receive documentation of hardship, big business is doing everything to make the President look bad. And the lists of things going wrong just gets longer, but thats because our previous President never cared about us and let things go to congress. The reason for "CSPAN" broadcasting congressman passing new laws, but the congressman saying, "You don't have to read the articles of the bill", when did Americans lose the right to know about new laws passed in congress, and congressmen will continue to do this for the next two years, until the president finds out, but they kept him busy on other issues, the big smoke screen.
And then my solution would be to be cautious and look at what is waiting, what is happenning and realize, you can shop in the comfort and safety of your home day or night, begin your holiday shopping early, do it in stages and on a budget, so you don't have to rush, first your holiday decorations, then your xmas wish list, then the unexpected visitor wish list. This will keep your costs down, your stress level low, and hopefully you can avoid from being a victum of the your local mall.
