Reports from on the start of the holiday shopping season appear to be mixed. While most reported a better-than-anticipated Black Friday, things quickly cooled off as steep discounts were rolled back and or sale items were sold out.

I spent Black Friday at the office, successfully avoiding the chaos and insanity. It’s all I can do make myself go in Wal-Mart, or any big box retailer, during normal hours, let alone when there are mobs who are willing trample you to death as soon as look at you.

My wife, who feels the same as I (she’s so averse to crowds and shopping that she refuses to buy anything in grocery stores that is located in aisles beyond the end cap displays) wasn’t so lucky. Her parents visited us for the holiday and Mom was armed and ready for battle Friday morning. They got out of bed at 3:30 to get to the north Suffolk Wal-Mart by 5 a.m., when the sale prices kicked in.

Like apparently every third person in the country, she had her eye on the HP notebook computer that was going for about $400.

They slept too late. The line for the 30 computers the store had in stock started forming before midnight, they were told. The last lady to get one told them she had been in line since 1 a.m.

Out of luck at Wal-Mart, they went to various other stores to get discounted stuff nobody needs. They staggered home about 8:30 a.m., a little bruised and bloodied, but for the most part little damaged.

Thanksgiving has always been among my favorite holidays, the huge table packed with great tasting food; being around family, friends and not working…it’s tough to beat.

Yet, I’m losing my enthusiasm for it. It’s the food. While it was all delicious, there were few things on our table that didn’t have half-a-dozen eggs, a pound of butter and a quart of cream in them. I just can’t handle that rich food anymore.

And you have to eat it, or you wind up offending people. Some of my fondest memories are from holiday meals and I don’t want to end up associating those memories with two days of raging heartburn.

I’m drawing the line starting with Christmas dinner. I’m just going to tell people up front that I’m not going to eat dressings, casseroles, mashed potatoes and desserts unless they are prepared in a less pain-inducing and ultimately lethal manner.

Even once or twice a year is too high a price to pay.

Many people say the food we eat is killing us. The top selling non-sex associated prescription drugs n which battle indigestion, cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes n would likely not be necessary if we didn’t eat the way we do.

Do yourself a big favor this holiday season, spend and eat more responsibly. I guarantee you’ll feel better on Dec. 26. Remember the reason for the season n it’s not to mire yourself in debt and blow apart your insides.

Andy Prutsok is publisher of the News-Herald. He can be reached at 934-9611 or at andy.Prutsok@suffolknewsherald.com.