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| Blogs > MissAnnThrope > Misanthropic Ramblings |
Sale Day... A Survival Story
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Sale Day... A Survival Story As you can see, I survived. I'm sitting here writing this with a nice, warm grilled cheese sandwich and a bag of chips. You know, one of those tiny I shouldn't be eating these bags of chips. I wish I had thought to buy a can of tomato soup on the way home. I wish I was sitting here with homemade cookies and cocoa too. It's just that kind of day. I was going to get there an hour before opening, as the women who work there told me that it's insane on half price day. But because of the weather, I waited to get there. Rain, freezing rain, as I was waiting for the bus, hail was bouncing into my coffee cup. Yep. It's just that kind of day. The bus dropped me off at about 8:50. Just enough time to find my place on the line and have a cigarette before they opened. Then I did a second glance. The parking lot was more than half full, but only about a dozen people were at the door. All standing under the overhang. I took my place in line, away from the overhang, as I was smoking. That's when the bitches started getting out of their cars and pushing their way under the overhang. The group was friendly, but the air was thick with tension. I commented to them that I was expecting a line halfway around the building. The veterans of this sale told me that today was nothing, the weather was keeping them away. That normally the line IS halfway around the building at opening. That wasn't a major disappointment for me. It meant I got a shopping cart when I got inside. But just barely. THAT is when the vicious scene started. There was no way anyone wasn't getting a cart at that point, including the people who were waiting in their cars until the doors opened. But tell that to those women. I almost got trampled and one little bitch practically broke my arm as I was getting my cart, cutting me off. I said, "excuse me," in the snidest voice possible, she got a sheepish look and gave me the cart and took her own. Oh yes, the mob mentality was starting. I fully expected women to just be grabbing as much as they could off of racks and heading right to the dressing room. But once past the mad rush for carts, it became civilized. Shoppers were actually courteous of each other. The royal bitches the staff had warned me about the day before were nowhere to be found. From there on, I went looking for things in my size that weren't matronly or dreadful. I chatted with employees and customers. I heard the same thing over and over. "Normally there are at least three times this many people for this sale. I guess the weather kept them away." Well, to the women who stayed away who are my size, I want to give you my most heartfelt thanks. I scored some lovely things. I went in looking for sweaters, as in spite of 70 degree days all over this winter and the feeling of spring, winter has returned. But while I only found a few of those that weren't dreadful or the wrong color or the wrong size, there were a few big scores. I got a pair of Ralph Lauren black chinos that don't even have to be shortened. A White House Black Market lacy shirt that's just adorable and perfect for the increasingly rare occasions where I turn on the cam. A pair of Liz Claiborne sueded jeans, which do need to be shortened, but which were actually short waisted enough for me. The most expensive thing I got was $3 and I managed to go $10 over budget by spending $40. Oh well. It isn't like I'm going to need the chocolate money for the rest of the month. The fitting rooms were a nightmare. My first trip was fine, no line. Then as most of what I had picked out ended up in the discard pile, I looked around some more. Which is when I started to find really cool stuff, which had been discarded by people who had hit the fitting room before me. On my second trip to the fitting room, I was handed a number. I was 39 and the person with 30 was just going in. So, it was outside for a cigarette, more browsing and after I don't know how long, my number was called. They were letting everyone take the carts into the fitting rooms. That made for cramped changing. Finally, I made my final choices, discarded most once again and hit the check out line. As I was on line to check out, people started hitting me up for my cart. An old lady ended up being the winner, as she was the only one still in the area when I was done. Then it was out into the pouring rain to catch the bus home. It was 11:45 at this point. I can't believe I spent nearly three hours in there. I got outside just in time to see the bus going in the direction I wanted to go pass. Ten minutes early. Which wouldn't be a problem in a city with a REAL transit system. But in this town, it means contingency plan, or wait an hour for the next one. I decided to take the bus going in the other direction and hope I could catch either the same route going the other way, or the other bus that goes into my area at the Memorial Street Station. As I was standing there, I must have looked like an orphan of the storm. An SUV pulled up and the woman on the passenger side rolled down the window and asked if I'd like an umbrella and gloves. It was like they were out looking for people who needed an umbrella and gloves. I had the umbrella under my arm, I wasn't using it. But I gladly accepted the gloves, as I've been looking for a pair all winter in the wrong stores. All anyone seems to have are mittens. What adult wears mittens? But to that nice lady in the SUV, thank you very much for the gloves. They were appreciated. The bus finally came and when we got to the station, the other route I wanted was sitting there waiting. Waiting as in the driver was on a bathroom break. So, I got that bus home. Well, that 8/10 of a mile from home. By this point, I was well aware of my left ankle swelling and the calf tightening. I really do need acupuncture in the worst way. The RLS is kicking in as I write this and I'm not even trying to sleep. Yeah, tonight is going to be fun. To top things off, for the past week, my right ankle has been doing the tendonitis thing and I've been limping in such a way it's pissing me off. So, as the supermarket was right there and I had to stop off for eggs, conditioner and Diet Coke, I did what any woman with a handy house boy, er, I mean roommate's teenage sitting home would do. I called and asked him to come help me carry. OK, I didn't so much ask as tell him to get down there. There'd have been no way the eggs would have survived if I was carrying all of that. By the time I got home, I was soaked from the thighs down. I do wonder if the Rockports I was wearing will ever be the same. I do have to say they kept my feet dry, but they're out of that moleskin type leather. So I will see what they're like when they're dried out. So, was it worth the trip? I got some very nice things at a deep discount, so yes, that was worth it. I was disappointed that the weather kept so many way. I really did want to observe mob mentality. I should have thought to ask them if they have a mailing list. I'd love to see that half price sale in full insanity. BTW, beadchick you really should have come with me. You would have had fun. |
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Your body isn't the only thing that gets twisted, is it? 
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2/17/2008 1:52 am |
Glad you survived! I've done similar things before, and yes, they were totally crazy. None in this tiny town, though. AND THE WINNER IS ~~~~ [post 2692868]
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2/17/2008 4:20 am |
Whoot! You survived! I'm feeling the no sleep thing at the moment too....16 hr shift at the gas station.  I'm leaving the site end of March. To those who want to keep in touch, see blog for details.
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i'm hanging there myself..popmuse reminded me today will be my 15th day w/out day off..these 10-14 hr. days are killing me! *frown* i'm jealous u got to go shopping(been awhile) but i hate the crowds and fighting people! lol! (((hugs))) ..just join me on my blog bustybettyboop and still looking for some hot,sexy,creative contestants for my next contest...come join us! need a blog mentor or want to be one? 
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2/20/2008 4:56 am |
Next time I will, (but that takes all the bus parts out of your story!)maybe we'll go hit a few just for some practice.
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There are thrift stores all over this town. The other one I've been in was overpriced and didn't have half the quality items that Goodwill does. The only thing that bugged me about Goodwill is, they arrange the racks by color, not by size, making it really hard to hunt things down.
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Your body isn't the only thing that gets twisted, is it?
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How does a purse try to undress someone? Or had she shoplifted that much cardstock?
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Glad you survived! I've done similar things before, and yes, they were totally crazy. None in this tiny town, though.
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Whoot! You survived! I'm feeling the no sleep thing at the moment too....16 hr shift at the gas station.
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i'm hanging there myself..popmuse reminded me today will be my 15th day w/out day off..these 10-14 hr. days are killing me! *frown* i'm jealous u got to go shopping(been awhile) but i hate the crowds and fighting people! lol! (((hugs)))
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Next time I will, (but that takes all the bus parts out of your story!)maybe we'll go hit a few just for some practice.
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No, drugs don't seem to help. It sucks.
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