I highly recommend shopping at 6:30 in the morning....

I set the alarm for 4:45 a.m. thinking that would give me enough time to make it to Meijer's in Louisville by 6:00 a.m. to beat out the other shopper's.  Clearly there was sleep deprivation involved when deciding on that time.  Unfortunately it is most likely my ability to not really think my plans through when deciding that an hour and 15minutes would be enough time for me to get up, get ready, force my dog out for a walk and then drive for 45minutes!!  Sad part of that plan is that I thought it was all good until I was in the car and I looked at the clock realizing that is was 6:30!  A good half hour after the sale started.  I even considered for a brief moment that the clock was wrong because I forgot to change it when we fell back an hour a few weeks ago.  I am seriously starting to get concerned about myself.....

Fortunately for me, there was hardly anybody in the store when I arrived!  Not going to lie that I felt a little foolish running in at that time of the morning in search of a vacuum. I was greeted by a very lovely man with absolutely the most nose hairs hanging out of his nose that I have ever seen.  I mean, I throw up in my mouth each time I think about it.....like just now.....HOW WOULD THAT NOT DRIVE YOU CRAZY?  I mean there were so many..and they were sooo long!!!!....sick, just threw up again....the horror!  Despite the fur protruding from his nasal cavities, he was very helpful and pointed me in the direction of the prize I was in search of.  I felt very hopeful with the lack of customers that I was going to be walking out with a vacuum.  I nearly cried when I find the aisle and couldn't find the Dyson I wanted.  They had all the other ones....but not mine!  I pulled boxes out....I paced the aisle....I searched for someone I could ask if they had more in the back!!  I mean how could I have missed out by less than an hour?  Did they only have one vacuum to sell? Was I scooped by an employee? Thankfully I had my IPhone with me and I started searching for other Meijer's to see if I could still get lucky.  As the phone was in search mode, I walked out of the aisle and turned towards the grocery aisle and that is when I saw it.  A whole pallet full of the DC 28 Dyson Pet Vacuums!!!!  I almost cried with relief.  I couldn't hardly wait to scoop one up and place it in my cart. 

With my objective of the day accomplished, I was free to wander the store shopping stress free.  I was there for a good two hours. Meijer's is really a huge place. Even when I was ready to leave there were hardly any shoppers and certainly no line ups to deal with.  Out of the store before 9:00 and with another hour to wait before the next store on my "To Do" list was open I went in search of a Starbucks! A reward for a job well done!!

Lighting of the Christmas Tree.

Bubba and I were out for a walk this evening and we were lucky to stumble across Bardstown's first annual "Lighting of the Christmas Tree".  It was held at the square in front of the Visitor Center. I guess the town decided after all the renovations they did over the past year to improve the square, that they should dress it up right for the Christmas season.  Bubba was not happy with the detour that took him closer to the crowd of people, but I forced him to indulge me a little.  They had singers from The Stephen Foster Play House decked out in full garb serenading us with Christmas tunes. During their singing a police siren pierced the air as the car headed towards the center square.  I thought that was pretty rude until it pulled up in front of the center and I realised it was just dropping off Santa to the festivities. After a few speeches and a couple of songs they finally got to the lighting.  As we counted down to the lighting, they asked us to also cross our fingers to ensure the lights would all come on!

Before

After!

The pictures were taken with the IPhone, so they are not so hot.  I would have tried to get closer if I didn't think Bubba would throw himself in front of an incoming car trying to stop me. Watching the festivities made me realize how much I am going to miss this place.  I love the feeling here.

Well, it is early to bed for me tonight.  I have to be up and at Meijer's for 6:00 am to get my new vacuum!!  I'm excited......and that saddens me a little. woohoo...a cleaning appliance!

Uh...New Plan!

As I was doing more investigating on my vacuum I found out that I could wait to shop at Meijer's and get another $20.00 off the already $170.00 off.  SO I decided that it made more sense to wait another day instead of getting in line at mid-night and risk bodily harm or random pepper spraying! (people are crazy)  I did however head out early this morning to E-Town to see how the sales were.  I swung by Best Buy just to see if there were any left....just in case.  Low and behold there were a couple!  Shocked as I was that they were not snapped up, I looked for the price tag to verify the sale price ONLY to learn that the sale price was for ONLINE purchases!!  How stupid would I have felt if I had stood in line with all the other fools at mid-night, only to find out that the vacuum I wanted was the only one not on sale in the store?  Seriously when will I learn to read the fine print!!  Thank goodness my brother's cheapness...I mean frugal ways,  has rubbed off and I waited to save another $20.00. :)

So I wondered through Barnes and Noble, Michael's, Bed Bath and Beyond. Then I walked through TJ Maxx, Old Navy and The Gap to no success. The stores were crowded, but not crazy.  I have seen more shopping madness the days before Christmas. Before I left E-Town I hit Target and picked up a few things there. It is hard not to shop like crazy, but the thought of having to bring everything home helps to keep me in check.

I have pondered a trip to Zappo's. They are offering 20% off your entire purchase.  I think it is just for today.  I was there a couple of weeks ago, so I probably don't need to go again for a while.... but it is still early.

The Plan.

OK!  This is the plan thus far.  I think Best Buy is my best buy....har har...pun TOTALLY intended.  After considerable research, I have discovered that I can get my vacuum from Best Buy at mid-night for the lowest price.  I really need a vacuum...my cheap one from Wal-mart died a couple of weeks ago.  HOWEVER....if for some reason I am beat out by some hilly billy and do not get one from Best Buy, Meijer's has them on sale for the same price on Saturday and only Saturday.  IF that doesn't work out, there is always Cyber Monday!!  I would just order it online and never leave my apartment to shop at such a ridiculous hour IF I didn't really need to vacuum my apartment. Plus I am going to treat shopping on this day, at that hour, as pure amusement.  Hopefully it doesn't spark any suppressed rage I carry around.

Then I might hit Target or Kohl's since they are some of the other stores open at that hour and in close proximity to Best Buy in E-town. I am really trying to control my urge to purchase a TV.  Getting it home with all my other stuff will be difficult. (fur babies included)

I am patiently waiting for the Zappo's email to see if it will be worth my effort. If so, it has normal hours so I will have plenty of time to rest up.  Then after that, I am not sure where the day will take me. 

Other than the planning, I have spent my day being a couch potato.  Watched the Macy's Thanksgiving parade this morning and then the Purina Dog Show that followed. Took the beast for a big walk after that and also because the sun finally came out. It has turned into a beautiful day here.  No turkey for me today. Instead some california rolls from Kroger's!  I should probably think about some more protein to keep my strength up for tonight.....and maybe more coffee.

Ah......Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day here in the States! I am so happy to have the next two days off. I almost don't know what to do with myself! HA....that is a lie!  I am going to brave Black Friday for the first time EVER!!!  Stores are opening up as early as 10:00pm Thanksgiving night! The options  for where to shop are endless, but my big goal is to score a Dyson Pet Vacuum. They are $170.00 off! So right now I am in the planning stage. What is the best store to buy it from? Location in relation to other stores I might want to hit? Will Louisville be better than E-town for crowds? Or vice versa? How early do I want to start?  Decisions! I haven't even taken in the consideration what kind of Black Friday sales Zappo's might have. I won't even get the email for their sales until tomorrow night.  So that might change everything.  I am hoping I get to witness a fight or something.  As long as someone doesn't try to pick one with me.  I might get trampled when I drop and turtle in the face of confrontation.

Getting Ready for Black Friday!

So I was excited to get the paper today and look through all the fliers for the big Black Friday specials!  I was a little disappointed that it wasn't advertised as much as I thought it would. I did find a few specials you won't find advertised in Canada...ever!

Here at Keene's Depot in Bardstown, not only can you get your Premium ham for Thanksgiving dinner, but also a Full Size or Compact 9mm hand gun for that special someone in your life.

Now at Shooter's Supply in Louisville, they are trying to tell you that nothing goes better with two adorable golden retriever puppies than a Glock Model 17 or a 1911 Sig Sauer!! Guess what these puppies will be retrieving in their future!

Yesterday I discovered a very cool store called Hobby Lobby!  It was if Michael's exploded.  It was huge!!  A crafter's heaven!  All the decorations were out for Christmas and on sale for 50% off. They had everything. I had to control myself something fierce.  I did purchase some Christmas stockings for TC and Bubba.  I am not sure they will appreciate them as much as I do!

I'm Back.

Sorry it has been a while, it has been a busy couple of weeks.  I am back in Bardstown after spending a week at home.  My presence was requested at work.....yeh, I will get to that later.  Right now I am enjoying a cup of coffee with Bubba and TC, watching T.V. on this beautiful sunny day.  It is supposed to be around 63 today.  I am happy about that.  TC stayed in Bardstown while Bubba and I had to hike it to Canada.  We drove back yesterday after putting a couple of hours in at work.  Despite a little traffic in Cincinnati and taking a detour through Lexington because of more traffic going to Louisville, it was a good trip.  I stopped for lunch in Ohio at Tim Horton's.  There has been lots of changes with Tim's since I was home last. Espresso shots and lattes now!  I am OK with that.  I tried the latte when I was home and it was decent.  At this Tim's in Ohio they had even more.  Not only can you get soup and chili, but a bowl of macaroni! They had the new coffee drinks and you could buy Tim Horton chocolate truffles!  Now you can have the breakfast sandwiches until noon and in Ohio they had panini's!  I enjoyed the three cheese panini.  So basically a really good grilled cheese sandwich.  I will probably be constipated until Christmas, but it was delicious!! I also got an ex-large coffee to go for the drive.  Their ex-large looks like it is on steroids compared to our ex-large!  Don't worry...I took pictures.

This is the weather on the trip home.  Kinda suits my mood about the reason I have to go home.

I think the smudge on the window is compliments of Bubba.

American ex-large.

Ta-da!  Panini!

Three cheese on a Multi-grain bread. Very filling!

Just a picture of a big house from my drive through Lexington. 

This is a place you can have weddings at. You don't really expect a castle looking building in Lexington.

Joke of the Day.

My sister-in-law Joanne sent this to me today and I had to share. She understands my humour so!

Well, it was a beautiful day here today and I spent it in bed nursing a wicked sinus headache. It started yesterday and has yet to leave me alone.  Me thinks, I will visiting the clinic tomorrow.... ugh! I am hoping Sunday will be pain free at least.