Black Friday Sparkly Saturday

"I am not going to Black Friday, I don't want to accumulate any more 'stuff'," I said convincingly.  I even believed it.  And so while the lineups started at 4am for cellphones, and the 3 laptops on sale at the electronics store in Bermuda, I peacefully slept, snug as a bug under and electric blanket.  And when I woke up, I leisurely sipped my coffee and avoided going anywhere near town for as long as I could.  After seeing a reassuring post from Anna on facebook that there was nothing to see in town, I ventured out around 1pm to get some stamps, some Easter seals, and do a handful of errands.  There is simply nothing that I need.  Past years one would be shopping for the fabulous Christmas party that the hospital would throw for its employees in the ballroom of the Southampton Princess...but since they cancelled that reservation and moved the venue to the parking lot of the hospital, one needs an outfit suited more to tailgating at an NFL game more than a shiny glittery princess dress.  I believe that I have mentioned in the past how I like things that are shiny and glittery.

So in lieu of an elegant Christmas party, it seemed like a good time to finally go to the Caledonia Ball...or St. Andrew's Day Ball as it is actually called, hosted by the Caledonia Society.  The Caledonia Society of Bermuda was founded in 1936 and its mission is to promote all things Scottish on the Rock.  So 24 hours after Thanksgivukkah, we now turn the celebratory focus to the Scots.  St. Andrew is the patron Saint of Scotland, and St. Andrew's Day, November 30th, is Scotland's national day.  It is celebrated with traditional food, traditional dancing, and excessive merriment (i base this assumption on the abundant merriment my Scottish friends have when it's just a regular day).  The black tie event will have a live pipe band, ceilidh dancing (prounounced kay-lee and they say it is easy to pick up as it was designed for a bunch of drunken scottish dancers -- their words not mine), and a four course meal including wine.  The menu lists Haggis, Neeps, and Taters, Cullen Skink, Roasted Quail stuffed with black pudding, followed up by a Tipsy Laird.  Sounds like an adventure indeed! Ticket bought, a closet full of dresses, I decided to throw on one of the old Christmas party dresses and go to the ball Saturday night at the Hamilton Princess.  Call it a sign, but right before heading to town, I witnessed this phenomenon.

"Are you KIDDING me?  There must be something in here we can wear."

They say pets take after their owners, and while still being cute, it's true that both Aiden and I probably have a little more booty this Christmas than than Christmas.  And while an old dress might just look fine, a new dress just feels like a little bit of a treat.

"Oh for the love of...this is ridiculous.  I am not making you a dress like those mice in that cartoon.  Pass me the credit card."

And so it was that I that I came home with a new sparkly dress from the Black Friday sales...guaranteeing that tomorrow will be another fabulously sparkly Saturday.  Unfortunately I couldn't find any glass slippers.  If I see Prince Charming I will have to improvise and knock him out with a champagne glass instead (I believe Helen and Shibby will be doing the same thing!)