I’ve enjoyed sharing my thoughts, concerns and quandaries with all of you so much, I’ve decided to integrate my blogging with my personal website.

All of the archives from this blog(g) and all future posts can be found at:

RJpooch.com

Hope to see you there

172.5

1 down this week, 42.5 down overall, 2.5 to go . . .

One’s better than none!

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173.5

4.5 down this week, 41.5 down overall, 3.5 to go . . .

Not getting my hopes up, but I’m almost there! I do however have tickets to the Thursday night Browns vs. Steelers game, there may be a few empty calories there.

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178

1.5 up this week, 37 down overall, 8 to go . . .

Damn you Thanksgiving! Damn you and your awesome turkey, taters and pies! Focus, ok I’m better.

Oh, and here’s the best thing that ever happened on Thanksgiving:

Get your own RickRoll in the “Be Social” tab in the Blogged sidebar —>

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One way to keep our holiday shopping under control is to keep track of what we’re shopping for. This may sound simple, but how many times do you find yourself wandering around the mall not at all sure of what presents are in which bag, or who any of it is for? The kids and spouses are easy, but did you remember your “Secret Santa” gift? Do you have something for the party you know you’ll be invited to at the last minute?

Like Santa Clause, we need a list. We will also need a budget and a quick look online for the best deals or coupons.

Lists

Adam's Christmas was ruined because no one made a list

If you’re out and about, things can get out-of-hand quickly. A list can keep you organized and on budget. The ol’ handwritten list is one of the easiest things in the world, but I know I forget to make one most of the time and either spend more than I intended to, or forget to get the one thing that I actually left the house for.

All you need are names, dollar amounts next to them and a pen to cross them off as you shop. Simple enough, but take a look the next time you’re out, the couple carrying a ton of bags yelling at each other as they schlep through the parking lot — no list.

Budget

Set one, just take my word for it, it will make your life easier. Even if you have an unlimited flow of gold deblunes, setting an amount that you will spend on each person on your list is a must. There is no worrying about spending more on one person over the other, it cuts down on impulse buying and it makes for more creative gifts. I find that it takes much more thought to find a nice $15-$20 gift than a random $50 one.

Shopping Online

Shopping online is one of the best timesavers there is. You don’t get the whole “Christmas shopping experience,” but you can save a ton of cash. Yesterday was Cyber Monday, the online equivilant of Black Friday, and there were deals galore. Most of the large online stores (i.e., Amazon, Walmart, Target, Toys R Us) will continue to have great deals and reduced shipping until Christmas.

One of the coolest things for online shopping I’ve found is a Firefox browser addon named “Invisible Hand.” What it does is find the best price for what you are shopping for in real-time, shows you the lower price and gives you the link to the cheaper online store all in your toolbar. Here’s a great link explaining the whole thing http://mashable.com/2009/11/30/invisiblehand/.

Fed Up?

If you have no desire — whatsoever — to shop at the mall, online or otherwise, you can always go the Gift Card route. Go to the grocery store, find the giant wall of gift cards to the stores you refuse to go to yourself, and stock up.

Do me a favor though, don’t blow smoke up my ass and put the gift card in one of those gift card cards, just give it to me (or wrap the gift card itself, you just saved a bunch of time by making me buy my own present).

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That’s it, the gloves are coming off. I’ve tried to be nice to you people, but not any more.

Waiting with my blinker on, you take my spot.

As I hold the door for you, not even a nod.

At the register with exact change, you show up with an expired coupon and two credit cards to split the bill with.

• • • Enough • • •

It’s Thunderdome time!

I’m trading in my Hyundai for a 1983 Ford Bronco, replacing the bumpers with 2×6′s, and adding a fog horn. Every spot is my spot now, and I fully intend on parking directly in front of the door, putting on my hazards and going about my day.

“But it would be far too costly to drive that gas-guzzlling beast around for too long.”

Ha! Gift cards, gift cards from Giant Eagle that earn me fuel perks. I will pay for everything with prepaid gift cards from Giant Eagle! Gas is free now clowns, here I come.

Fair Warning

If you aren’t one of the people that desperately need the wakeup call I’m bringing, I apologize, but this has to be done.

As for you — the culprits — the reason everyone loathes the crowded mall, here is a heads-up. If you see a bald disgruntled man lugging a large sack of nickels to pay for a cartload of things in the 10 items or less lane, walk away.

— seasons greetings, buttholes

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(click on the strip to see it at full size)

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I am so proud of you, and it whatever small way I was able to help you avoid Premature Decoration, it was an honor.

Now that Turkey Day is done you are free to fulfill your wildest Griswoldian fantasy, now is the time, the season is upon us. Deck the halls, trim the tree, find a Yule Log (whatever that is) and live it up.

Now to start the season off properly:

Reminder: All outside decorations, along with any interior decorations visible from the street need to be removed, put away or hidden from view no later than January 9th 2010. That gives you an entire week to recover from any New Year’s debauchery you find yourself enjoying.

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176.5

2 down this week, 38.5 down overall, 6.5 to go . . .

Alright, that’s more like it. I am dreading the holiday weekend, so much good food, so few calories to go around. How much does a mincemeat pie weigh anyway? Maybe if I follow my own advice and use these recipes, I’ll have better luck.

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