On blogging

I read Julie & Julia on the plane ride to and from NYC the past few days and enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. Especially this passage:

Today, when we blog about our weight-loss problems and our knitting and our opinion of the president's IQ level, we do it on the blithe assumption that someone gives a shit -- even though there's a guy stuck in Baghdad who blogs, and a Washington DC staff assistant who gets paid by Republican appointees for sex who blogs, and our own jottings must all be dreadfully dull by comparison. Nowadays anyone with a crap laptop and Internet access can sound their barbaric yawp, whatever it may be. But the surprise is that for every person who's got something to say, it seems there are at least a few people who are interested. Some of them aren't even related.

Oh, I've got loads to say and share about my trip to NYC and my boys' stay at home amidst fevers and screaming and hand-wringing, but for now I wanted to share the above. If I don't say it enough, thanks for reading, especially if you aren't related to me. Or perhaps especially if you are, as I know my craziness reflects on you, at least in part.

Sometimes it's just nice to know there's someone out there, so will you do me this favor: leave a comment below to remind me you are.

You can even do little more than answer this: do you plan to do any Black Friday shopping? I never do, but I'm in the mood for a great bargain this year. I might make an exception. What about you?

Comments

[Shelly]

Hi! I'm a lurker and usually don't comment, but I read you almost daily.

I usually don't shop on Black Friday, but one of my co-workers gets some really awesome deals, so if there are any big-ticket items that we're looking for this year, I'll be looking for deals on them on BF.

[Keri]

I only shop on black friday if I see something in the ads that I planned on buying and its a good deal.

[Leigh]

I'm a lurker, usually. But I love your balance of a sense of humor and seriousness.

Shopping only if it's in walking distance.

[natalie]

I read you often and really need to be better about commenting. And I fear Black Friday with every fiber of my being.

[Michelle]

I only went to the mall on Black Friday a couple of times. Both times it was for work, it was before dawn and I thought all those people were crazy.

[Deanna]

Oh how funny...I am reading Julie/Julia and I just read that very passage on Saturday night. I'm finding it a little slow going- I pick it up every few days instead of every free moment I get (which, with 7-month old twins isn't much, to be honest!), but it is getting better.

Black Friday? I doubt it, unless I spot something in the sale papers that I can't do without. The Alabama/Auburn football game is a big deal around here, and it will be played on Friday afternoon this year. I'm interested to see if it affects the shoppers.

[Sharon]

I'm in Canada, but as I live right on the border, and have family in Seattle, I come down for Thanksgiving most years. This year it isn't going to work, unfortunately.

We always go out on Black Friday, but never to shop. We go downtown and have a nice brunch at a swanky restaurant, and walk around looking at the pretty decorations and watch the parade. Sometimes we'll go into a store or two, but normally we just like to have a fun day out with just the women. I have many wonderful memories of those Fridays.

[Jerilynn]

I'm delurking just because you asked me to.

I've never been shopping on BF but I think I might this year, a friend told me about some good bargains so I think I might have to hit a store or two before work.

[cindy w]

Hi! I'm here. And reading.

[elizabeth]

Heck freaking no! I don't love putting myself in anxiety-inducing situations, and Black Friday shopping+tons of people+long lines+hot stores=ANXIETY for me :)

[Amy --- Just A Titch]

I stalk you, erm, read regularly. And no, there will be no Black Friday shopping. I'm allergic to people so that doesn't happen.

[Sabrina]

I fear Black Friday. The crowds and early morning? So not for me. The only year I went left me in tears. But I will virtually elbow someone for a good online buy. From the safety of my couch.

[Jen]

I'm here! Whenever a new SLP post pops up in Google Reader, no matter what I'm doing, I stop to read it. I'm a big fan. :)

To answer your question -- I've never participated in Black Friday shopping, but with my mom in town this year and a baby who adores the early morning hours, I just may venture out for a deal.

[K]

Funny I was going to commenet before you even requested. I enjoy reading blogs. I've learned so much from so many different life perspectives. It really is an awesome community.

I almost always go Black Friday shopping but my folks live about an hour away from good shopping venues. Sometimes I'll get up early to hit the mall if I have something in mind, but usually we hit the road around 9:30 or so to head out of town. We don't always get the bargains but we just enjoy getting out.

[Jess]

I love this quote. As far as Black Friday is concerned, I don't get into the whole sale shopping thing, but we may go to a furniture store in NC that day, not to get bargains but because it's our only free day to do it.

[LA]

I'm usually a lurker here, but I love your posts!

I have not done any Black Friday shopping in many years and don't plan to this year either. But, as soon as grad school is over this semester, I'm heading straight for the nearest mall. I haven't been shopping all semester, and I'm going through serious withdrawals!

[CJ]

I'm also normally a lurker. But I've been reading you for about a year and love your writing style. I also recently found out I'm pregnant, so all you've gone through with your pregnancy and new little one are even more interesting to me now.

I usually go shopping on BF, but not I'm up for it this year (due to previously mentioned pregnancy!)

[Swistle]

Hello! I don't like Black Friday. I'll do online "Black Friday sales," such as they are, if they're good, but won't do the "up at 4:00 in the morning with my physical self standing outside a store with shovey customers."

[Tessie]

Totally with Swistle on Black Friday/Monday. I'll do it online, but otherwise: no.

[stephanie]

I am definitely NOT shopping on Black Friday. In high school, I used to love to go to the mall then because it was so crazy busy. Now, I'm hoping I can do almost all of my shopping online.

There are outlets near my parents' house that open at midnight on Thanksgiving. It's on the intersection of three major roadways and the lines stretch out for MILES. (We got caught in it last year on the way home from my aunt's house.)

[Abby]

I definitely read your blog regularly and as far as I know we aren't related :)
As for Black Friday, I prefer to think of at Buy Nothing Day, and therefore spend most of my day with family recovering from the big turkey meals of Thursday.

[pickles & dimes]

I do not do any Black Friday shopping. My mom does though, and I feel so bad for my dad, who has to come with her.

[Lori]

I'm a lurker, but I read you all the time. I actually found you from the Bodies In Motivation blog. Love, love, love you.

And, no Black Friday shopping for me. I have already finished all of my shopping except for the hardest person: my 9 year old daughter.

:)

[Heather]

I have too much Christmas spirit to let it get ruined by waking up way earlier than God ever intended me to and battling crowds that would just as soon claw my eyeballs out if I stand between them and their flat screen T.V., and, quite simply, there is not enough coffee in the world!!!!! It's not worth the savings to me.

And, as long as you allow me, I will always read you and I will even comment (obviously). Love ya!

[ellbee]

I do enjoy reading your thoughts, especially about Kyle, as my brain has been increasingly absorbed by the thought of children (which, shhh, because as far as my family knows the topic is verboten with us--I just can't DEAL with all the well-meaning assvice heaped on a couple who's "trying".)

As far as Black Friday, I (reluctantly) work in retail. And if I wasn't being PAID, you could not drag me out shopping even with the threat of a thousand bitey hell-hounds intent on eating my spleen--I loathe it that much. :)

[HollyLynne]

I've done Black Friday in the past . . . this is going to be my first married Black Friday so we'll see if I can convince the husband to get up at 5am for deal hunting :)

[Blythe]

I'd sort of forgotten about BLACK FRIDAY and was thinking of it as a weekday off work. Maybe I should do some errands, I thought naively.

Thank you for reminding me to wear my body armor to the mall.

[C @ Kid Things]

I've never done Black Friday. We seem to be those people you see out on Christmas Eve, hunting down the last of what's on the shelves.

[Julie]

I'm out here, too. It is nice to know when someone who does not share some of your DNA takes the time to read the words you've strung together. I'm happy to say that I read yours, every time.

I'm watching the Black Friday ads as they roll out to determine if there is any deal big enough to make me so crazy as to venture out before dawn. Hopefully, the online offerings will be sufficient. Last year, I headed over to the big box electronics store before 5 AM, in the rain, only to find a line of people wrapped around the building (and this was a ginormous store), so I didn't even bother looking for a parking place. I just drove home and went back to bed.

My dad swears that he won't go to Walmart, but somehow he does, every year. Have fun, Dad!

[Megan]

Ooh, no way on the Black Friday shopping. I once had to WORK on Black Friday, and that poisoned me on the whole thing. (And I wasn't even working in a retail store, technically! It's a long, boring story.) Cyber Monday, however? I'm SO in.

[maggie]

I know, right? I'm still surprised anyone besides my mother checks my stupid blog.

As for Black Friday - are you kidding? People DIE on Black Friday! Gah! I can't deal with the pushy lady trying to infringe on my section of the Banana Republic clearance wall, let alone HORDES of them on a Famous Shopping Day. SHUDDER.

[Jen L.]

I'd shop on Black Friday if I had more money. :) Will probably do my shopping online this year.

[Erin]

I don't know that I'll ever be courageous enough to venture out on Black Friday.

[Heather]

Your blog was one of the first that I ever followed religiously. I love your style and honesty and love of shoes :)

I do not attempt to go out on Black Friday. I would much rather sleep in, although sometimes I do some internet shopping.

[Carmen]

Living in Toronto now prevents me from shopping on Black Friday, but, ohhh, how I miss the land of affodableness!

[Carmen]

Um, of course, I meant "affordableness" (see above). Ahem. :-)

[K]

I found your blog through a friend of a friend of a friend, but I really appreciate your writing. Sometimes the writing is just plain GOOD, but the posts I really love are when your good writing combines with your thoughts on parenting. I even copied and saved one of your posts - about how, during your pregnancy, you would repeat "I'm not having you for me, I'm having you for the world" - and saved it in a folder titled "Read when I'm pregnant." :) Your perspective on motherhood is very inspiring and refreshing to someone who hopes to be a still-somewhat-independent mother someday too :)

shopping? what's that? We're currently saving for a crazy sailing trip and trying to get rid of just about everything, so I might invite friends to come shopping at MY HOUSE!

[rebecca]

black friday shopping is my favourite part of the holidays. There is nothing i like more than getting a deal, then counting up all the money i saved. See also: Claire's redline sales.

And I love reading you. Your honesty, your humour, your quirks. It is like having coffee with an awesome friend.

[nicolien]

Present! And nowhere near the US, so I have no idea what Black Friday is... but from the name of it, it can't be good!

[Dots]

hi!! (and black friday scares the bejeezus out of me.)

[Tess]

Hi! I read! I am scared of Black Friday. I am hoping to go a more Pacific NW style of gift giving this year - locally made...we'll see how it works out for me!

[Shauna]

Hi, I read your blog! I started reading when you were pregnant with Kyle and you have fast become one of my favorite bloggers, you are such a talented writer!
Hmm, black Friday. I will be going to Target IF I'm not working the next morning at 5am, I woke in a bakery so it is very likely! Target has some awesome looking deals, I need a new sandwhich maker/cheap coffee pot/whatever other $3 appliances they have!

[susan]

Looks like you figured out a way to get all of us lurkers to come out of hiding.

No black Friday shopping for me...well, not in the morning anyway.

[Sara]

Hoo boy! No black Friday shopping for me. I can't hardly stand the normal weekend crowds at the mall, let alone crazed shoppers trying to get the next best deal. I prefer the online shopping.

[Kate]

I'm here and reading!

I have gone out on Black Friday the last few years but I don't know about this year. I will have guests leftover from Thanksgiving and then I have to work at 3pm on BF so I'm not sure getting up to shop at 4am will work this year. But we'll see.

[Melody]

Hi there! I enjoy your blog.

I like going out in the afternoon on Black Friday. Much of the morning insanity has subsided. The funny thing is that I never really go out shopping looking for bargains--I go out because I really enjoy being among the mass of humanity. I like being a part of the larger community!

[Miranda]

I like to stay home and stuff myself with leftovers on Black Friday. I can't deal with the crowds- so the only shopping I'll do that day might be online. I try to avoid crowds so much that I'm actually already done with my Christmas shopping. Yeah.

[A'Dell]

Oh Lord no. I can't stand the crowds. There's something about a deal that makes people think they can behave badly and get away with it.

Welcome home!

[Julie]

i never comment, but i'm still always reading :)

[Christina]

You know I'm here!

I only started the black Friday thing a few years ago when Mike and I started spending T-day with my dad and step mom who LOVES black Friday. Our first year was in Houston but now they are in Tampa. Sadly, I have to go to a Scrapbook store for HOURS before we can get to the mall- but, it does help w/ the crowds a bit. Not sure if we will make it this year though I want too.