Saturday, November 28, 2009

Weekend Adventures

I’m trying out Windows Live Writer to post this (at least to my Blogger blog—you might be reading this elsewhere).  WLW is on my new laptop.

What? My new laptop?! How on earth did that happen? I mean, over at GabWagon last Monday, I was saying how I wanted but didn’t need a new laptop.

It all boils down to insanity and frugality. I wanted to get the Best Buy Sony Vaio deal, so I went over at 10:00 p.m. on Thursday and got in line. Five hours later, in the rain, after chatting with some nice people, watching Patriots.com video and the “Serenity” episode of Firefly, and listening to podcasts, we all stood and gathered our stuff and consolidated the line.  At 3:41 a.m., they started handing out tickets. I got the last ticket for the Sony Vaio without the Geek Squad stuff (you know, they charge $40 to install the antivirus software that you can install yourself in 10 minutes).  By the time I got my ticket, it was after 4:00.  They said they’d open the doors early to stage the lines to pick up the merchandise, so I decided to hang around.  At 4:41 they opened up.  I went to the restroom (I eschewed the Port-a-Potty all night) and got in line.

Finally, just around 8:00, I reached the head of the line, after verbally assaulting a couple of forons (check out my GabWagon post on Monday for details).  I was home a little after 8:00 a.m., with my new baby, upon which I am now typing!

I got home a little dehydrated and with a horrible headache that didn’t go away with liquid and breakfast, so after doing some setup work on this lightning-fast puppy, I let my wonderful husband talk me into sleeping for two hours.  Then I got up and we started to paint!

Yes, after my all-nighter, I spent Black Friday painting half my living room.  Today we finished the living room and hallway painting, and we’re really pleased with the result (as long as no one looks too closely).  Tomorrow we have to get the new switchplates installed, sweep and mop the floor, rub away all the paint drips and footprints (Number One earned the new moniker Paint-on-Foot), reinstall the vertical blinds, and move all the furniture back in—all before the inlaws come over for football.

To top it off, Monday we need to rake the last of the leaves.  Which will probably ice me physically for a week.  I mean, five hours standing in line (the five before that were spent sitting), then uncounted hours crouching, bending, reaching, and climbing over two days, followed by an hour of raking…that’s an oy.

So, how did you spend your [holiday] weekend?

14 comments:

MJFredrick said...

You. Are. Insane! You stayed up all night? Went by yourself?? I thought about going for the HP for $200, but now am thinking of the ASUS Netbook (the dh said he'd use it) for $225.

Natalie J. Damschroder said...

It's only slightly insane, Mary! :) I've stayed up all night before--it's common for me to be up until 3 during the summer. It's FAR harder for me to get up early! :) And the woman next to me did express admiration that I did it myself, which I didn't see as a big deal, because I do lots of stuff myself. But I did seem to be in the minority.

Those are excellent prices! I hope you get what you want!

MJFredrick said...

The dh decided we didn't need one, but of course in the midst of me trying to reply here, my danged laptop froze up AGAIN. I said let's go get it, but he's being stubborn. Heck, there was a Toshiba for $350. ARGH.

MJFredrick said...

Oh, I was going to say, in the post that FROZE UP, that I wouldn't be scared, and I'm easily entertained, but I'd be anxious about needing to go to the bathroom and losing my spot!

Natalie J. Damschroder said...

Oh, Mary! So frustrating! *hugs*

*whispers* Maybe he wants to get you one for Christmas?

Natalie J. Damschroder said...

LOL! Oh, yeah, that WAS a concern. I didn't drink, so I avoided it. But I'm sure the people on both sides of me would have been okay with me walking away for a few minutes. At least at the early part of the wait. I live in a fairly civilized town. :)

MJFredrick said...

Hmmm.....maybe! That would be lovely.

I live in a big city, but the dh said when he did Black Friday a few times, the people were understanding.

Natalie J. Damschroder said...

Well, it's a unique city. :)

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

My holiday weekend was much less adventuresome than yours. The only place I went on Friday was to AC Moore in the afternoon to get some crafty stuff for making Christmas gifts. Saturday I watched Angels and Demons on demand and today I watched GI Joe. Did a lot of baking and put up the Christmas decorations outside. Very relaxing.

Natalie J. Damschroder said...

That sounds heavenly to me, Sue! :)

Ava Quinn said...

Wow. Just. Wow. I would have totally had to succumb to the port-a-potty in all that time. You are hard core!
M3

Natalie J. Damschroder said...

I thought about it, Ava. A LOT. LOL But I could just imagine how good the guys' aim was in the dark...

So I sacrificed probably a LOT of spots in line to do it in the store's restroom when I got in there. :)

Cindy Procter-King said...

You are one crazy chick! Wow, you got a lot done. I think I'll go take a nap.

Natalie J. Damschroder said...

LOL! I could use one of those myself, already!