The mall was pleasant?

It sounds amazing, but I did brave the mall over Thanksgiving weekend, and found it to be.... pleasant?

Yes. The stores were not crowded; I guess everyone was staying away because they thought it would be too crowded. People were relaxed. Panic has not set in yet, so there was even a festive air. And best of all-- the salespeople were happy and helpful. I would guess that many were hired for the holiday season, and that weekend was their first time on the job.

So overall, it was great. I got a lot done, and didn't feel frustrated or frazzled.

And then I came home and happened to look up a couple items online. You know what? The Internet price was higher than I had just paid in the store. Companies have finally figured out that most people prefer to stay home and shop online, so why not charge an extra $5? The profit made on these items supports the maintenance of their bricks-and-mortar store.

By not ordering a game for my nephew online, I saved $3 on the price and $7 on the shipping. That's a good deal considering that the Toys R Us is only 3 miles away and wasn't crowded.