I just finished the easiest Christmas shopping trip of my life.

Last weekend we completed most of the shopping, so all that was left was a little bit of stocking stuffers for the pretty one.

This morning I found myself wide awake at 3:00. Not one of those “Hmm… it is early… I should go back to sleep” awakes but the “There is no way I am going to be able to fall asleep” awakes.

So I got up, showered and left the house at 3:45. The only place in the valley that has any life at 3:45 is Wal-mart.

I had the store to myself, if you don’t include the pallet movers, floor buffers and the guy in electronics who spent the entire time playing Nintendo.

After a half-hour of visiting every aisle, I checked out and got into work by 5am.

I can now stand tall and proclaim that, at 4:18 am on December 21, 2004, I FINISHED MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING!