Tales of Retail Serendipity
So, it turns out I can just go home after work today, which is cool, because it's all windy and snowy and YUCK outside.
Here's what happened.
November 17-ish. Birthday shopping for the nephew. Nephew has recently been introduced to How to Train Your Dragon, which of course I love, and he liked it too, so I decide to get him the movie and maybe a stuffed animal of Toothless for his upcoming birthday. Go to Wal-Mart. Find a whole end-cap of HttYD plushes for $10 a pop. Very cute. Buy Toothless.
November 21st. Nephew LOVES the stuffed Toothless (he takes it to bed every night) and he is eyeballing the other three "species" sold on the back of the box. Sister reports that he keeps talking enthusiastically about the two-headed dragon (a Zippelback, which I know off the top of my head because I am a professional geek).
End of November-ish. Laura tells me my goddaughter has been asking for Toothless for Christmas. I say, "Yay, I'll get her one!"
Post -Black Friday. I CAN'T FIND ANY OF THE BLOODY DRAGONS ANYWHERE EXCEPT FOR $30-$50 ONLINE. (Stupid me, I thought that since it was easy the first time, it would be easy again. Hahaha.)
Anyway. Today I was going to check one more Wal-Mart and Toys R US, and if I didn't find them, readjust my gift plans. Since it was snowstorming, I decided to make phone calls on my lunch break. First I called Toys R Us, who helpfully inform me that Wal-Mart has the exclusive on HttYD toys. Great. Called my nearest Wal-Mart, asked for the toy dept. Waited on hold for two minutes. Cell phone goes off. I decide to answer. It's Laura. At that exact moment, the guy on the line at Wal-mart picks up. He doesn't have any in stock. Okay, call Laura back. She is at her Wal-Mart in Columbus and they have all the dragons in stock except Toothless. So she got me a Zippelback for Nolan, a Nadder for Anakin, and a Monstrous Nightmare for Arwen (I will find Toothless for her birthday, after the madness).
Oy.
(The timing of the two phone calls is really the point of this whole story, because I thought it was kind of funny. And also sort of panicky, at the time).
Here's what happened.
November 17-ish. Birthday shopping for the nephew. Nephew has recently been introduced to How to Train Your Dragon, which of course I love, and he liked it too, so I decide to get him the movie and maybe a stuffed animal of Toothless for his upcoming birthday. Go to Wal-Mart. Find a whole end-cap of HttYD plushes for $10 a pop. Very cute. Buy Toothless.
November 21st. Nephew LOVES the stuffed Toothless (he takes it to bed every night) and he is eyeballing the other three "species" sold on the back of the box. Sister reports that he keeps talking enthusiastically about the two-headed dragon (a Zippelback, which I know off the top of my head because I am a professional geek).
End of November-ish. Laura tells me my goddaughter has been asking for Toothless for Christmas. I say, "Yay, I'll get her one!"
Post -Black Friday. I CAN'T FIND ANY OF THE BLOODY DRAGONS ANYWHERE EXCEPT FOR $30-$50 ONLINE. (Stupid me, I thought that since it was easy the first time, it would be easy again. Hahaha.)
Anyway. Today I was going to check one more Wal-Mart and Toys R US, and if I didn't find them, readjust my gift plans. Since it was snowstorming, I decided to make phone calls on my lunch break. First I called Toys R Us, who helpfully inform me that Wal-Mart has the exclusive on HttYD toys. Great. Called my nearest Wal-Mart, asked for the toy dept. Waited on hold for two minutes. Cell phone goes off. I decide to answer. It's Laura. At that exact moment, the guy on the line at Wal-mart picks up. He doesn't have any in stock. Okay, call Laura back. She is at her Wal-Mart in Columbus and they have all the dragons in stock except Toothless. So she got me a Zippelback for Nolan, a Nadder for Anakin, and a Monstrous Nightmare for Arwen (I will find Toothless for her birthday, after the madness).
Oy.
(The timing of the two phone calls is really the point of this whole story, because I thought it was kind of funny. And also sort of panicky, at the time).