tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6582134.post-78415796641652728272006-12-19T11:46:00.001Z2006-12-19T11:47:42.721ZThe Power of Online Shopping<p><img style="margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px" height="240" src="http://oliphantparts.org/photos/emmett_scream.jpg" width="161" align="left"> From around the age of 18 till today - I have never liked to shop. This isn't terribly unique - few men do, but I loath the idea except when I occasionally wish to buy a new piece of electronics. </p> <p>Don't get me wrong, it's not about the money. I like to buy presents; hell, I like to buy expensive presents for Alissa and my family. Even a friend or two if the moment is right. </p> <p>What I dislike are the crowds, the out-of-stock heavily advertised products, the ignorant salespeople, the bright-chipper sales people, almost everything that revolves around this process. Interestingly, I like to grocery shop because it's a chance to find new foods, new things and it's normally around an hour process, as opposed to numerous hours of looking for the right present. Plus I get a buggy as a weapon during the grocery process - 5 extra points for the crying kid ...</p> <p>My family and friends all up-gifted (similar word camp as up-skilled, but not similar to up-yours) when I got married. A promise of a beer the next time we're out, a coffee mug from the last open gas station, and bags stapled as wrapping paper were replaced by thoughtful, well-wrapped presents that actually had bows and Christmas cards.</p> <p>Hell, even my presents got better. My normal present to myself was a bottle of wine that I used to 'ply myself with alcohol' as encouragement to wrap what few presents I did buy. AC-DC's Christmas album on the box and four glasses of wine later and they were done (so was I). Now, I get thoughtful presents that leave less of a headache the next morning.</p> <p>I guess with marriage (my loving and patient wife Alissa) one would say that my world was almost complete. Loving wife and presents for most people taken care of and wrapped. This took care of almost every part of the Christmas experience. But, there are a few presents that she just can't buy - like her own and I've made a specialty of finding clever gifts for Christian. </p> <p>Today, I was going to go downtown to look for presents, but a flash of brilliance took me to Amazon and a few other sites - to just look. But the prices were in dollars, and almost all my credit cards are working. </p> <p>Online shopping - oh yes. An hour later and all my shopping needs were sorted and shipped. A few presents were wrapped for me but others I left to my own devices. Alissa deserves the very best. :) No staples but plenty of tape.</p> <p>My world is now complete. Happy Day. Wife, presents for others, and good presents for her without fighting snotty nosed adults, kids and salespeople. May have to go get me a glass of wine to celebrate.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6582134-7841579664165272827?l=www.abigpond.com/blogger.html' alt='' /></div>Al Martinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11431931961778606625noreply@blogger.com1