Yesterday was the one day a year you will never find me out shopping. In fact, I refuse to drive anywhere because of all the lunatics out on the roads.

Black Friday, the once a year trample everyone, rip things out of their hands, gimme that, greediest day of the year. Shame on retailers for perpetuating this. Shame on people for going along with it.

Why not dedicate the day after Thanksgiving to giving to the less fortunate? Instead of going hog-wild greedy in retail stores go donate food to a food bank, make this the day you take all those old clothes to the local men and women’s shelters.

In what I hope will be our new yearly tradition, I spent the day going through our clothes and loading bags to take to the local shelters next week.

If you don’t have old clothes or spare money, donate your time and go read to kids in the hospitals. Help out in a soup kitchen. There are tons of things you can do instead of dancing the greedy dance at the malls.

Tell the retailers to stick it and do something good with your time and money. Teach your kids that there is more to life than gimme. Have them sort through their old toys for some to donate to women’s shelters, homeless shelters, and those with less than they have.

You all claim that you are good people but what have you really done for your fellow-man lately? Sometimes it’s as simple as making sure someone less fortunate has a warm coat, gloves, or a hat for the winter.

You all have a good one.

Even little Lucy has a hoodie to keep her warm.

I spent the entire afternoon yesterday clearing the last of the leaves from the yard. Exhaustion doesn’t cover it. Had to be done since rain is in the forecast. I’d rather move light, dry, and fluffy leaves than have to mess with wet ones.

After I rolled up the cord for the leaf blower and put everything away. I went inside, grabbed a tall bottle of lavender mint water, downed that in a few seconds, took the dogs out, fed them, and then served our dinner. Yes, that was one sentence, just to let you know how it felt.

Not much cooking. I had a lovely beef roast, carrots, and potatoes in the crock pot. All I had to do was make the gravy.

I love my crock pot.

You all have a good one!

Yeah, it’s that time. A chocolate martini for me tonight.

Lots of running around yesterday. Damned tiring.

G and I stopped at one mall, then ran to Target, then the farmers market. At least, through the use of a recently found on my desk amongst the piles of crap Starbucks gift card, we got to enjoy large salted caramel mocha cappuccinos on our travels.

I think I’ll spend the weekend at home. There are many things I need to get caught up with.

You all have a good one. I think I’ll join Lucy on the couch.

My sanity is slipping away.

“This is why we can’t have nice things. Not the dogs, not me, YOU, you are the reason.”

This I said after The Curmudgeon managed to ruin one of our fairly new rugs. No, not the smaller of the two either. Death rays poured from my eyes and I came so very, very close to losing it permanently.