Yesterday was Hell Day.

Hell Day is what we call the day every year when we go last-minute Christmas shopping at the Hell Mall (aka the Coral Ridge Mall, Coralville IA) to spend hours trying to find parking places and rubbing elbows with a million zoned-out Coneheads and getting testy with each other. Snort!

Mr. Brett was already in overwhelmed-and-grumpy mode before we’d even found a parking place, because I’d wanted to eat first and the parking lot at Olive Garden was full to overflowing, and then he’d driven us to Mondo’s which had parking places but a half-hour wait. We’d already started to bicker before we even got out of the truck, and I’d suggested that he go sit in Bennigan’s while I hit the three stores I needed to go to. He capitulated and had almost decided, I think, to slog through the shopping with me. He’d even made me repeat three times what my list contained and what stores I wanted to go to!

Less than five minutes after entering Target, we ran into Misty! Halleluia! She said Steve was at the bar, that she was going there soon, and that we should meet them. Brett went off to see Steve immediately (since I’d basically called him a name for being so uptight about shopping) and I bought some things and went over to meet them. I had a cocktail on an empty stomach and it really took that shopping edge off!

We all agreed to meet at 4:00 and have an early dinner at Olive Garden. Misty called to make a reservation, but they weren’t taking any. Misty took a picture of Brett and me with her trick new cell phone and I had her email it to me – so that’s us at Bennigan’s.

After that lovely cocktail, we split up and finished our shopping. I hit two more stores, and Brett hit two more stores, and then he called me and drove the truck over to the front of the store I’d ended up in. We called Misty and told her we’d go and get a table, and went to Olive Garden.

We ordered drinks and an appetizer, and then our dates showed up and we proceeded to have a wonderful fun meal! (We never go out to dinner in IC with friends. Never. It was freaking awesome.) I had so much fun! We brought home leftovers that we ate at about one in the morning. Yum!

Brett told me he’d gotten me a Christmas present, and after I’d asked him about six times what it was he said he’d bought me a tiny ladies’ handgun at Sheel’s. Argh! HE’S SO TERRIBLE! I wanted an iPod or a new digital camera, but I didn’t think he had enough money for either so I didn’t know what to expect!

When we got home he finally gave in and gave me my present, a blue iPod mini, which is making me so very happy and which is so very fun and wonderful. (No, I didn’t get him anything because, well, he bought himself a new truck a few weeks ago. Which is back from the body shop, by the way, and looks fantastic!)

All in all, a not so bad Hell Day! And now I’m off to get my baby to take me to town for a latte. Ciao, lovies!