Sorry to start this off on a grumpy rant (yeah, I know, what’s new?), but what the fuck is going on with all of the “Early” Black Friday sales? Seriously, it’s bad enough that we start with the Christmas commercials two weeks into Halloween…

More on this below.

I apologize for being in an extremely grumpy mood. We’re still in a holding pattern regarding the recent home repairs and it’s starting to really piss me off. I can’t stand it when things don’t work properly, especially things I’ve spent money on. Add to that contractors who won’t return my calls and you’ve got a recipe for a really pissy person.

On the plus side, Tesla had her labs drawn last week and while some are still elevated, they are at around the same levels they were six months ago and some have gotten better.

Long time readers will know that as we approach the end of the year, I will get progressively more paranoid regarding Tesla. Both Kai-Long and Dervish passed in the month of December and Titus in January so I will be a big ass ball of anxiety for the next couple of months when it comes to canine health.

On the plus side, it’s almost Wolfenoot, so there is roasted meat and cake in the near future.

I’m not going to go off on a full on political rant here, but it appears that self-preservation may have won over slavish devotion. Just remember, if Temu Nero wanted the Epstein Files released, he could do order it done. The bill they are voting on is to force him to do so. Regardless, if you are still on that Trump train and are looking for a chance to get off, this may be your last stop. You’ve already said OK to racism, sexism, homophobia, being anti-trans, anti-science, higher prices and the grocery store, healthcare that’s more expensive AND crappier than any other first world country, having the White House demolished, higher taxes on the poor to give tax breaks to the wealthy…

The weather here has been pretty typical for Michigan, by which I mean it is warm one day and snowing the next. I’m not sure what it is like out right now, but I am sitting in front of the fireplace.

Listening To: I’ve been slacking on my chores, so I am still listening to Never Flinch. I’m gearing up for the big pre-company-coming-over cleaning push so I expect to finish it in the next few days.

Currently Reading: I’m trying to figure out if I have exhausted the current research into 42nd street. I finished Sleazoid Express yesterday, but haven’t decided if I want to continue with non-fiction (my TBR stack has Suburban Grindhouse, a book on the history of Luchador v Monster movies, and a history of the Goth aesthetic on it) or slip back into fiction (the new Joe Hill is waiting patiently for me on another stack).

Current Obsession: I think I have managed to unstick my lingonberry mead. When I first started it I don’t think I accounted for the extra sugar in the syrup that the berries were in (I tried to wash it off but must not have gotten enough of it). I think all the extra sugar stressed out the yeast and caused it to go dormant (or “stuck”). After a lot of fiddling, I finally divided the gallon into two containers, diluted each, and added a new strain of yeast. Looks like I’m finally getting some airlock activity. I’m not sure if this one is going to be ready by Christmas as I had originally planned.

We had a great time at the Sloan Museum last week. Thank you to all of the readers who came out!

Continuing with the whole “no rest for the wicked” theme, we have added another show to our 2025 calendar. Friday, 12 Dec from 6pm - 9pm we will be in Saline, MI at the Triple B (that’s Books, Bourbon, and BBQ). The show is 21+. The dinner is $15/plate. Entrance is a book voucher which can be redeemed for a book. Click here for ticket information.

We are continuing to build next year’s calendar. We are pleased to announce that we have been accepted as a vendor for Akronomicon, 7 February 2026. We will provide more information as we get closer to the event.

Speaking of planning for next year, we will be announcing our next submission period here before the general public, so keep your eyes peeled!

Reminder: this is coming from someone who spent half of his life in retail (and I’m in my 50s).

When did Black Friday become more than just one day? As I mentioned in the opening (in the area that my template refers to as What’s Going On), I’ve been seeing commercials for Black Friday sales for the better part of a month. Putting aside my usual diatribe about how every holiday gets ONE month and Christmas isn’t until DECEMBER (get your red pants wearing ass off my Halloween fat man), when did the sales start well, starting so damn early?

The whole concept of Black Friday is pretty damn horrible anyway, getting up at 2 am to sit outside a store only to crowd in and fight people for the best deals on the best items — of which there are only 3 in the store anyway. Let’s not mention the fact that this takes place immediately after the day we are all (at least those of us in the States) supposed to be sitting down and reflecting on how grateful we are for what we have. Oops! Enough of that! Forget the leftovers, we’ve got to get down to Toys R Us/Best Buy/Whateverthefuck.

The creep started with the “Early Bird” specials—opening super early on Black Friday for the “Door Buster Deals.” Just think about that phrase for a moment. These are the deals for people who are literally waiting outside until they can bust down the doors like Romeo busting forth from the Banished (a little joke for my Renaissance Festival folk).

Being the person that has to unlock those doors is the WORST. You are honestly taking your life into your hands.

Then the sales started to move over onto Thanksgiving itself. People were leaving their celebrations to get discounts on crap that they had been convinced that they needed.

So what? I hear you asking. If they want to go out and grab their kids a Fellate-Me-Elmo, that’s up to them. Maybe they needed an excuse to get away from their crappy families.

Yeah, but what about the lowly retail worker who might have wanted to spend time with their family? For every 6am Door Buster there is someone who had to get there at 4am to get the store ready. For every 5pm Special, there is a “Sorry Grandma, I’ll take my pie to go because I have to go to work.”

Well maybe the answer is what I’ve been seeing—Black Friday sales that have nothing to do with Black Friday because they start weeks or even months before the actual day in question. If the deals start super early, maybe there won't be any need for the kind of horror that I’ve seen time and again on Black Friday.

I wish that this was the case, but I can almost guarantee that this extension of the holiday season will not prevent the crushing crowds on the day after Thanksgiving. These extended events are just lengthening the amount of time that people are feeling like they need to make their purchases NOW NOW NOW!

Phew.

So, I’ve said all of that so I can go on to say this—take it easy while you are out shopping. Remember that the front line Customer Service Representatives and Sales Associates have nothing to do with the ordering or advertising. If a particular store doesn’t have the size/shape/color/whatever that you are looking for, they will be happy to help you find it elsewhere or order it. Yes, gift cards ARE a legitimate option. Don’t take out your anger and/or frustration on them. They are just doing their jobs.

Oh, as an aside, yelling that you “will never shop here again” is not the threat you think it is. Really, we’d all kind of love it if you didn’t come back.

Also, remember that a well thought out gift is always more appreciated then something that someone at an advertising agency told you that you needed. Where you can, shop small, shop local. Those of us who run small businesses really appreciate it.

Before you ask, yes there will be a discount code for Black Friday/Small Business Saturday/Cyber Monday/etc. Yes it is already programmed into the website. No, I won’t be announcing it until next week.

Because I can only be so much of a hypocrite before I want to punch myself in the junk.

Now, here’s an ad for car insurance.

Sigh.

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