BARRY COURTER: Lisa, so I guess it's fair to assume you've been in training, working on your Soddy karate. You know, doing some aerobics and working the heavy bag with your elbows and pointy shoes. 'Tis the season without reason and all that.

LISA DENTON: Correct. But it's the yearlong training that makes the difference. I may shop till I drop, but I won't be KO'd by an opposing shopper on Black Friday. This year, shoppers can even start on Thanksgiving. Apparently, Thursday is the new Friday.

BARRY: Full-contact shopping is not for the timid or weak, so it's good you train. It reminds me of Barney explaining to Andy why he was practicing his gun-drawing: "... 10 minutes every day. If I ever have to use this baby, I want to teach it to come to papa in a hurry."

LISA: Speaking of Mayberry, I ran across a quote from Aunt Bee the other day that reminds me of feasting on Thanksgiving.

She asks Andy, "Did you like the white beans you had for supper?"

He says, "Uh huh."

She says, "Well, you didn't say anything."

He says, "Well, I ate four bowls. If that ain't a tribute to white beans, I don't know what is."

I'm planning to do my own tribute to white beans Thursday ... and to turkey ... and dressing ... and, well, you name it, I'll eat it. I need to keep my strength up for shopping.

Of course, there's more than eating and shopping to entertain us this week. There are a couple of theater productions opening. Chattanooga Theatre Centre has two companion comedies by David Sedaris: "Season's Greetings" and the hysterical "SantaLand Diaries," about his stint working as an elf at Macy's one Christmas.

Continued here:
Get Off the Couch: Time to eat, shop, kick off holidays