7 Things to Do Instead of Shopping on Black Friday

Traveling this weekend?

Thanksgiving Weekend is probably one of the most nightmarish times to have to travel.  You really don't have a lot of time to get where you have to go and throngs of people are all seemingly trying to get to the same place that you are (at the same time).

Then, once you get there, you may or may not find yourself with some significant downtime.  Plus, the last thing that I want to do on Black Friday is brave more crowds to buy more crap.  So, here are 7 things to do instead of shopping on Black Friday...

#7 - Play Basketball

• Your dad is desperate to get a game in with all the brothers and brothers-in-law.  When you show up try not be intimidated by the fact that, at 6'3" tall, you are the shortest person on the court.  Make sure to get your sister's 6'8", 270 pound, ex-college basketball player boyfriend on your team--it's really going to improve your chances of winning.  When you score on a nice move to the hole, be sure to throw that same sister a bone and point to her since she's the only one cheering and you want to stay on her good side!  Be glad that, even though you are nearly the oldest person on the court, you can still run up and down the court (and make a shot or three)!

#6 - Read

• Pull out that novel you bought at Costco six months ago.  Notice for the first time that this book wasn't written by "Dan" Brown (author of The Da Vinci Code)--it was written by "Dale" Brown.  Realize that though you really don't get the premise of the novel, you need to do something to keep your mind occupied.  Plow through its 400+ crappy pages in a single day and pray you can find a recycling bin somewhere once you're done since you're fairly certain that no one you know is going to want to read that book.  Regret that you didn't get someone you know to give you a recommendation for a decent book for this trip.  Accept that you are likely going to end up breaking your Black Friday resolution (see below...)

#5 - Wander Around Walmart

• You came here to get a prescription filled, but first the pharmacist is "out to lunch" and then--once they get back--they have trouble tracking down the correct DEA control number for your doctor.  Too bad your doctor is on a plane and won't be around for 3 hours or so.  Pass the time by wandering the aisles and making fun of everyone shopping Walmart for "door-buster" deals.  Feel very proud of your resolution to NOT spend any money on Black Friday, until you look down and see yourself holding a book in your hand that you suddenly NEED to buy (because the one you finished earlier was that bad!).  Rationalize your purchase by telling yourself that at least it's not a gift for someone else!  Because, under the fine print of your resolution, it's okay to shop for yourself, just not for anyone else...yeah, somehow that doesn't sound right.  :-/

Blown Away...apparently there's not enough wind in Oklahoma.

#4 - Listen to the Radio

• You don't know a single station, but the radio is randomly set to a country station.  Marvel at why you've never heard some of these songs back home.  They're really pretty good.  Remind yourself to look into getting XM radio when you get back home.

#3 - Sleep

• You are on vacation, so this is probably a good time to catch up on your ZZZZs.  It makes no sense to try and rush out in the middle of the night as well to get trampled by your fellow looters deal seekers. 
• But, I digress...back to the sleeping arrangements.  Too bad your sister just moved into her beautiful new house, so no extra guest beds.  Be glad you had the foresight to bring a camping pad, a pillow, and plenty of blankets.  At least there's lots of space on the floor in the guest bedroom to spread out!

#2 - Be of Service

• When you walk in the door and your sister asks where you've been because she needed you to pick something up from her house, offer to run and pick it up anyway.  You don't have anything else really going on anyway.  Pray that you can find the right Tupperware container of caramel in her fridge.  You're not really sure what it is or what she's using it for, but based on her performance in cooking dishes for Thanksgiving dinner yesterday, you know she's on a roll.  You do not want to derail that train.
• UPDATE:  Turns out that caramel was for some pumpkin cheesecake that your sister made while trying out a new recipe.  It tastes as good as it looks!  Thanks Ray Ray!  :-)

#1 - Be Grateful

• It is Thanksgiving Weekend after all and you didn't have to go out shopping all day with your mom, your wife, and/or your sister on Black Friday.  They will be fighting the crowds all day and when they roll in and show you what they bought, you still won't be sure what it is or why they (or you) need it.  

Dia De Accion de Gracias

Norman Rockwell's Thanksgiving Dinner

Today is Thanksgiving.  I think that expressing our gratitude helps us realize how many blessings we really have.  Here are a few of the things that I have been grateful for today (in no particular order):

• My sisters for their hospitality and opening up their homes to us so that we could gather as a family.
• My mom and everyone else who helped prepare our Thankgiving Dinner
• Whoever made the candied yams for dinner
• Being able to go running today--despite the nearly freezing temperatures
• My dad for taking care of us--I will miss him while he's on his mission
• My brothers for traveling to be able to
• My job--there's a lot of people that would love to have one
• My family

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Our family celebrated Thanksgiving Day this morning by participating in the 34th Annual Dana Point Turkey Trot.  Thanksgiving morning runs have become a tradition in our country.  It seems like most communities have at least one.  We had a lot of fun today, so I thought I'd give you five tips for ensuring a fun, traditional Thanksgiving morning Turkey Trot.

I know, most of us are still in a tryptophan-induced haze following dinner at this point.  But don't worry, this is not the type of blog that actually gives real advice or tries to tell you what to do.  Nor will I give you any boring, "tried and true" tips like: "warm up and cool down properly"; "eat a good breakfast"; "run at a good comfortable pace without overdoing it"; "make sure to stretch out"; or "get a good training schedule."  The truth is, I don't do any of that, so why would I advocate that anyone else do so.

And all of that is really just common sense anyway.  So don't worry about taking any notes or remembering anything from this post.  This post is mostly just an excuse to throw up some cute pics of the kids.  :)

#1 - Early Bird Registration is Key

Team Dyer

Usually you can save a few bucks if you pre-register.  Plus it will save you some time on race day when you don't have to track down your timing chip, race bib, and cheap t-shirt that you'll probably promptly donate to Goodwill.

I saw the line this morning of people trying to do same day registration and I wouldn't want to wait in that.  If you miss the online registration like I did, it's much better to go sign up about a minute or two before the race officials shut down the packet pick-up.  If they give you a hard time like they did to me, look at your watch and let them know that it's still not closing time and tell them that you had a long drive to make it there.  I only had to wait for about 5 minutes, rather than 45 if I'd had to come back this morning to do it.

#2 - Nupe It!



Years ago, there used to be all sorts of commercials for this little yellow pill called Nuprin.  I have no idea what happened to Nuprin.  While Nuprin may be gone, we still have ibuprofen which is the generic version of Nuprin.

I woke up Tuesday morning and couldn't get out of bed because I was having some intense back spasms.  I was pretty sure that I was not going to be able to run in the race.  That was before i started on ibuprofen.  Thanks to what was probably illegal amounts of ibuprofen and a very therapeutic session at Massage Heights, I showed dramatic improvement and was able to run this morning.

In my opinion, ibuprofen is a wonder drug.  Every home should have it as a staple of its medicine cabinet.

#3 - Don't try to Break In a New Pair of Shoes on Race Day

As you may know, I did the St. George Marathon about two months ago.  I decided to get some new shoes before the race.  Then I was smart enough not to wear them.

My last race before today was the Pumpkinman Triathlon about six weeks ago.  I've been running exactly once since then.  I thought that since I had had my "new" shoes for two months, they'd be broken in enough to wear today.  Bad move.

For some reason, I signed up for both the 10k Race and the 5k Race.  Then I ran the Kids 1 Mile Fun Run with R. and S.  Total mileage on the day: 10.3 miles.

The 10k "Team" From the SC 6th Ward!

The 10k Race was first.  By the time I hit the finish line, I had developed a hot spot on my foot.  It was a full on blister by the time I started the 5k Race 45 minutes later.  Let's just say that every step of the 5k was...unpleasant.

The boys were excited for the Fun Run!

Then the Fun Run may have been the worst, even though it was only 1 mile.  I could hardly keep up with the boys!

Let's just say that the boys were way more excited to start the fun run
than I was.  Check out S.'s "high knees" on the right!

Anyway, I learned my lesson and will have my shoes well broken in before my next race!


#4 - Avoid the Crowds When the Gun Goes Off


Last year when the gun went off, I was still walking to the finish line.  I spent the first mile dodging strollers and walkers en route to a pretty miserable time.  (No, I won't share it...I do have a small amount of pride remaining!)

This year, I tried to make my way much closer to the start line.  Overall, I was better off, but I was still shocked with the amount of people that will go to these races, push their way up to the start line, and proceed to run slowly while pushing a jog stroller or actually walk in the first half mile of the race!

People, please!  If you are going to be walking at the start of the race, please do us all a favor and let the runners go in front of you and then try to stay out of the middle of the course!

#5 - Find Something to Keep the Kids Occupied

This is crucial!  Last year we staked out a spot by Mile 6 that allows clear views of three parts of the course.  it also has lots of grass for the kids to run on:

Trees for the kids to climb in:

Hours of entertainment...

It's also great to bring some friends or buddies along.  In this case, we brought their cousin J. from Tucson.  He literally is a miracle baby.  His mom ran in the race and my brother did a great job of cheering her on.  They also have a really cool blog:

The "Real" Team Jacob

It was so cute to see E. playing with her cousin Jacob.

Team Jacob?

I know I'm biased, but I think that this Jacob...

...is way cuter than this Jacob:

Odds 'N Ends:


Anyway, it was a really fun morning.  I was pretty happy with my run times, especially considering that I really had not prepared like I should have for the race.  The official results aren't in, but my watch unofficially had me in the following times:

• 10k - 49:11 (7:56 pace)
• 5k - 24:37 (also a 7:56 pace--a big improvement over last year, but I definitely was feeling the effects of the 10k earlier that morning)

R. and S. did great too.  Last year, S. did the Fun Run and I forgot to set my watch, but it was probably about 10 minutes for him.  This year, S. (who is 2 years younger) did the 1 mile in 9:11 and R. did it in 9:13.  What was amazing was that their mile pace was only about a minute slower than mine!

They both had a good time and I think they'll do it again next year.  R. stopped for water at the half mile mark and couldn't bring himself to throw his cup on the ground because he didn't want to litter!  It was fun to run with him and show him how to chuck his cup on the ground and that it was okay to do that just during the race!

Also, the race had a couple of celebrities.  We passed female athlete and amputee Sarah Reinertsen during the Fun Run.  She was on the Amazing Race and is an accomplished triathlete and marathoner.  She was the first female amputee to complete the Kona Ironman.  (Someday, I hope to do that!)  Sarah was very gracious during the run and I told her that I loved her on the Amazing Race!

Sarah Reinertsen

I also saw one of the cast members from the Real Housewives of Orange County.  I'm actually ashamed to admit that I recognized her, because I never watch that show.  But she did happen to be on the one episode that I guess I watched.  Anyway, I refuse to name who she is.   I want to preserve what little shreds of dignity that I may have remaining to me!  ;)



We'll be back next year!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!