I feel like shit today. You ever have one of those days? You know, one of those days, when it just seems like everything sucks so bad you just can't take it anymore? That's my day today. I don't like feeling like this. I like to think I'm a pretty positive person usually, more than willing to see the silver lining even on the blackest of clouds.

Not today.

So you know what I'm going to do about it?

Read.

That's right, I am going to pick up a book and just lose myself in the story, and forget about all my stupid problems, for a little while at least. But that's generally all it takes. Give me a little escapism every day and I won't end up being a headline that reads "Woman Freaks Out, Several Injured"

So I'm off on my trip *winks* for my vacation lies between the lines.

Black Friday is really earning its name today. At least three people have died today, and there have been God knows how many fistfights.

What the Fuck, people?!?

A man was trampled to death at a Wal-Mart (did I call it or what - see last post) because people couldn't wait five more minutes to buy things they don't need and can't afford. Bravo. Oh, and when store officials tried to close the store because a person died the idiots had the audacity to get angry about it! Awesome. (And if you can't feel the sarcasm in that awesome, you would probably trample somebody for a bargain too asshole).

So this is my official condemnation of Black Friday. I vow not to even leave my house on Black Friday, and I promise to not even shop online. Because it's not worth it. You see that, don't you? Fifty percent off is not worth a person's life. I will repeat that. There is no bargain out there, ever, worth a person's life.

I am completely disgusted right now, and so frustrated! What about that man's family? How's their Christmas going be now, without their son, brother, husband, father, friend? Well? Think about that for a minute. And for what?

Not even I have the words to really express the depth of my feeling, my conviction on this one.

And so on to the challange. I challange each and every one of us to find ways to show how much we care about the people in our lives that don't involve Wal-Mart, or any other store. Instead of buying Grandma another pair of slippers this year why not make some picture ornaments? I know my family loved them - and they mean more than anything I could buy. I've heard those homemade coupon books go over great, too. I would rather get a homemade coupon from my husband for, say, doing the dishes than jewelry. Isn't that what Christmas is supposed to be about, anyway? And if you're not a crafty-type person than I say head over to your local Dollar store, or consigment shop to do your shopping instead of the big chain stores.

So when you're done here go google "Christmas crafts" or "free Christmas." See what's out there that you can do - I think you'll be surprised.

I challange you to really make Christmas mean something to you and your loved ones this year. And maybe, just maybe, this could be the last Black Friday that people lose their lives to the Consumer Gods.

I read an article today that proclaimed Black Friday as The new, best, American holiday. I shook my head in disbelief and disappointment. Black Friday? Really?

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, what with this being the land of the freebie and the home of the bargain hunter.

I went out for Black Friday last year for the first time. That's right. I too wanted six dollar DVD's, and fifteen dollar seasons. I couldn't believe my eyes as we (cause you know I wasn't going by my little ole self!) drove through the main shopping drag. There were cars and lines and people everywhere. I swear I saw one line that had to be over a quarter-mile long! Quite frankly, I'm amazed I escaped.

But I digress.

How did this happen? When did this happen?

How have we become so obsessed with consumerism, with materialism, that Black Friday is the new American holiday? When did we become convinced that the road to happiness lay through Wal-Mart?

Honestly, I make a lot of homemade gifts for people for Christmas, and I have to tell you, no store-bought gift has ever garnered the emotional reaction that my homemade gifts have. So why the rush to buy, buy, buy?

I just don't understand it.

What is so great about reading, about books?
First, let me put forward my theory on the difference between 'Readers,' people who read because they like it, and 'Nonreaders,' people who don't read because they don't like it. Readers, like myself, and Nonreaders alike may have eyes that take in words on a page, and brains to interpret them, but Readers don't see words on a page.
If you're like me, when you read it's like a movie playing in the mind's eye. Unless there's a particularly witty saying or turn of phrase, I don't even remember books in words. I remember in images what I've read. I enjoy reading stories that really pull me in, that excite me, that I can immerse myself in. And I read the stories for the stories sake.
However, I can't say that's all books offer; witty sayings and pretty images. If nothing else, being an English major in school has taught me another way of reading my favorite books.
It's true, some books contain no more - and no less - than the story contained within its pages. But there are even more books that contain so much more than that.

Sometimes only a lie, a fiction, can tell the truth.