Random Black Friday Thoughts:

I’ll admit it, I went Black Friday-ing. YES I did it. I woke up at 4:45 (with my cursed internal alarm mind you!), puttered around until 6:00 and then went to Office Depot, Circuit City, Lowe’s and EVEN picked up something for my wife at Walmart. Walmart was tame in comparison to the other stores which were NUTS! I mean lines from the back of the store to the front. Parking lots full. Wallets empty. Police directing traffic. Traffic in the store. Road rage. Range of rogue stuff. We’re sick people, I mean sick!

I’ll call “Pat”, was almost at the checkout (glory land). “Pat” told me that he/she couldn’t sleep the night before because he/she was so excited. Funny guy … err friend. I noticed as he, my friend, left the store, he/she had a big blanket and other frigid weather gear (indicating that he’d been there a bit before six). He had a smile on his face as he left. I am not sure if he was just rubbing it in or if his new purchase brought him that much joy.

Forgive me Thomas Watson as I am a sinner though feeling exceedingly joyful about about my future sin. It’s something I have been thinking about for awhile and just haven’t had the courage to do it. I am having some feelings of betrayal after years of being an IBM kind of guy. Soon I am going to take a big bite of a …. Mac (Apple Computer) - I hope by years end. I am thinking I will feel like Paul on the road to Damascus. For any NOT familiar with the story, in Bible times, Paul persecuted Christians fervently and had a conversion after hearing God’s voice. He was blind for three days and became one of the staunch supporters of Christianity. He wrote a lot of the New Testament.

I think I am going blind and may wake up one day soon an Apple convert. As I told my friend and fellow professional speaker Bruce Turkel, I need a disciple, a messiah, someone who has traveled the road to heal my affliction, or tell me if the life after will be just as good with an Apple as with an IBM! What shall I do? What shall I buy? Will I burn in hell for turning my back on my long time friend? WWJD – What Would (Steve) Jobs Do?

They really should call it Gray Friday as I am sure many turn prematurely gray fighting over their purchases. Or maybe Black Eye Friday since some people get rather passionate about their purchases and fights have broken out. Or perhaps Red Friday because they are people who say they hate to shop (me) and then get up ridiculously early, fight crowds, and buy things they don’t need. The best name might be Blue Friday because today they are worrying about how they are going to pay off their credit cards and pondering how much they really “saved” knowing they are paying 18% interest.

Did you know, there’s actually a web site for Black Friday shoppers now? Perhaps there needs to be a support group. Hi, my name is Tim (everyone “Hi Tim”). I have a problem…