My Love/Hate Relationship with Black Friday.

Every year I say I'm not going to go. Then I get the papers on Thanksgiving and see that one item I JUST HAVE TO HAVE and it's usually something for Mr. Bean. And of course the only time I can get it is at sleep o'clock in the morning - or as we all know - the hour when even the mummies and zombies are asleep.

But I find the one thing - and off I go. And sometimes I'm happy and sometimes I'm torqued off.

One year, I was on the news for my stupidity of getting up so early.

Another year, I was out of town, but that didn't even stop me. I got a darth vader mask which talked (don't ask) and a video camera for Mr. Bean. And don't forget the two Dora dolls that danced and sang "I did it! I did it!" (No, that wasn't for Mr. Bean, although he and his coworkers got a kick out of it - one to a friend's kid and the other to the Toys-for-Tots). Then my car got broken into but thankfully they didn't find that stuff.

Last year, I was bound and determined not to go - but Target showed a Game Boy system which included games, travel accessories, etc. for less than $100. So I got up so early I was NUMBER 1 IN LINE. I know, you can either applaud me or call me an ass. Needless to say there were HUNDREDS of people behind me.

So doors open, we run - and yes, everyone was running which is insane and immature if you ask me. So off I go to electronics and the electronics guy shows me what it is - and he showed me and others the wrong thing. So those behind us got all of the games and I was SOL. Boy were we pissed! After a ton of arguing, etc., we got a discount on all of the stuff together - but it still cost more than the system did.

So this year, I said enough is enough. No more black friday. I decided I was so certain I was not going to go that I was literally leaving the country.

But if someone knows there's a "Black Friday" in France, please don't tell me. I don't want to be tempted.