1. Why are there still not enough check-outs open? Stores are built to handle the peak and if Christmas shopping isn't it, then I don't know when is! Hey, guys, this is it --- this is the BIG ONE!!! We shoppers don't want to wait in line.

2. I hate the dreaded BACKORDER! They don't tell you that when you order, but when the partial order comes, there's an item or two on "backorder" --- which means it could arrive any time between now and Valentine's Day!

3. Sick people who are out there spreading their disease around, make me sick! I had a sore throat this morning because I did some volunteer work with someone who was SICK. Stay home, people, and get well. Trust me, life can be put on hold for a couple of days while you blow your snotty nose at home.

4. Today while I was looking at something, two women came up and pushed me out of the way to pick out something they wanted! That's just rude, people! Why is their shopping more important than my shopping, I ask you? Yes, I said something to them, but it just pissed me off!

5. Sorry, it's gone! Picking out something from those tons of sales fliers stuffed in the newspapers is a waste of time. You go to the store, and it's "We don't have any more of those." Sometimes I wonder if they ever had any --- maybe it's a marketing ploy to find out what we'd buy if the "whatzit" was really available!

Coming to a blog near you next Friday: Bugaboos Two! Fresh from the hostile mind of that famous holiday shopper ~~~ Rita B.

Last year I moaned about the bushel of catalogs I received before Christmas (see Catalog Multiplication). Well, they're still coming at a rate of ten per day, but this year I'm happy to see those shiny booklets stuffed into my mailbox like the tribbles on Star Trek!

In an effort to save my sore foot, my waning energy, my sweet disposition, and my gasoline moolah --- I'm shopping online using those pesky catalogs.  Even my fax machine has been pressed into service.  So far, it's been fun with only a few out-of-stocks and a couple of delays. Of course, not a thing has arrived yet either!  I am hoping everything comes in time and no one steals my payment info or the box off my front steps.

There's more to be ordered, so I'm still thumbing through the slick pages. Just between you and me --- there are lots of insulting tee-shirts and some unbelievable tacky stuff out there! Thought you'd want to know that "If it weren't for you I'd be a different person. Maybe even happy." does fit on a tee-shirt.

Anyway, I AM happy because a bonus of this adventure is that I'm throwing out any catalog I'm not ordering from --- thereby cleaning out the clutter before Christmas and making room for all that Santa brings.  Fa la la.......... and a partridge in a pear tree!