My love for Black Friday shopping sprees is well-documented on this site. While I dislike shopping in general, there’s a pageantry and tradition to Black Friday that I enjoy. I’m not looking for big ticket items like televisions and laptops, but the underappreciated Black Friday sales—blankets, sheets, and cookware.
I once got the Dutch oven of my dreams for half off on Black Friday.
Covid kept me from Black Friday in 2020 but I was back at Macy’s at five in the morning in 2021.
But this year I skipped Black Friday.
Partially it’s because I have a lot of creative work to do—I’m finishing up the last few entries for the Movies I’m Thankful For series, wrapping up my writing on director Dorothy Arzner, and preparing for next week’s library talk on The Dueling De Havilland Sisters at the Penn Hills Library. (Interested in attending? Register here!).
I could’ve squeezed some shopping in, of course, but hitting the books was more appealing.
But even more so, there’s nothing I want this year, not even a new blanket or skillet.
I feel especially grateful for this past year—a new day job, record views on my blog, the opportunity to speak at the Plum Library last April that’s spiraled into a genuine side gig. My rowing club hired a wonderful new coach who’s going to do her best to get us in shape this winter. Friends I hadn’t seen since the pre-Covid days drove down to watch me row and have a wonderful three hour bagel breakfast at Panera.
And how could I possibly want for more after scoring Taylor Swift tickets?
I’m lucky—the things I want most are the things I already have.
I can wait until next year to get another blanket.
I’m going to take a gamble on duelling rather than dueling, although apparetly it’s an English vs US thing. But I’m pretty sure I’ve indicated before that ‘Dutch ovens’ are something different to what you imagine, and ‘I once got the Dutch oven of my dreams’ is a sentence that raises eyebrows. No wonder you’re getting record views with this kind of racy content…
Yes, after our last conversation I have never been able to look at Dutch ovens the same, but that’s what we call them over here! Stoneware casserole dish of my dreams just doesn’t have the same ring.
I’ve consulted Webster to confirm that we use “dueling” over here. That’s a relief, as the flyers have already been printed!
It hardly ‘racy’ to trap someone under the duvet and fart on them!
Agreed. Not anyone’s dream either.
There’s probably sick puppies who like it somewhere. Politicians maybe.
Tractor fans.
Hahah had me going there for a mo thinking of engine fans and wondering what you’re on about. I get it now.
Right on the edge of comprehension !
I feel that way most of the time.
Is the correct answer. ‘I was only trying to look at pictures of tractors’ is an excuse that sticks in the mind. It raises more questions than it answers.
I hope you know you’ve both ruined Elton John’s “I Guess That’s Why the Call It the Blues” for me with all your talk of your Dutch ovens.
Gives a whole new meaning to “Rolling like thunder under the covers…”
Hahaha exactly what he meant!
It’s good to reach your needed limits, more cash for wine!
We go out on Black Friday just to maintain the tradition of it all, but we’re really not looking for anything to buy. Just grabbing coffee, breakfast, and browsing in some of the stores we like to frequent. Of course, a trip to the Christmas Tree Shop usually results in a few trinkets making their way home…but after all…Christmas time is here!
That’s right! It is a fun day if you stay away from the Walmarts and Targets at the frenzied hour….