Clump #270: Christmas shopping and paper purging; day twenty-eight of National Blog Posting Month.

There was no rest for the weary today.  My niece and I continued our tradition of Black Friday shopping early this morning … after sunrise, that is.

Since the year we trooped out in the middle of the night to track down a large-screen t.v. for my dad, which was pretty scary, we’ve taken it easy both in time of day (7:00 a.m.) and number of stores (one).  The memory still lingers of the huge man vying for large electronics wearing a sweatshirt that said, “There Are Two Types Of People: Gun Owners And Victims.”  I let him go right ahead of me.  “After you.”  Actually, his was a pretty good Black Friday strategy.

My niece was looking like someone you wouldn’t want to mess with.

But it was all for show.  (No foam swords were harmed by us for the photo).

Later, we visited Longwood Gardens.  In the children’s garden maze, she punnily said, “This is a-maze-ing!”

We weren’t the only ones getting into the holiday spirit … or with a penchant for silly hats (see yesterday).

I was so thoroughly tired out that I fell fast asleep in my chair tonight.

My sister said I should be able to count just getting out of the chair as the clump for today, but I moved my clump of aching muscles and another pile of paper.

I was rewarded with a lovely handmade Thanksgiving card sent from my sister-in-law.

We also received our first Christmas card!  I’m going to have to reevaluate whether I can still be friends with them.