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FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. Karen Seeley didnt exactly wait until the last minute to do her Christmas shopping.
But the Norwalk mom and pediatric nurse cut it about as close as she could, finishing up at Toys R Us in Norwalk with just a few hours to spare before the stores would be closing on Christmas Eve.
Wheeling a shopping cart filled with building blocks and games for the children she cares for and family members, Seeley said she also stopped off at Kohls, GameStop, P.C. Richard and several stores she couldnt even remember.
Every year I say this year is going to be different, this year Im getting to the stores before Christmas and not going through so much pressure the day before Christmas, said Seeley, adding that it took her about six hours Saturday to finish her Santa marathon.
Ive been working every day, and Ill even be working on Christmas, so today was it, it was a Christmas Eve shopping spree or bust, she said.
Inside the store, plenty of desperate parents jammed the aisles as late as 3 p.m., throwing toys and games into shopping carts, almost randomly.
Not everyone was happy.
I would rather be anywhere else other than here on this incredible quest of toy gluttony, said 33-year-old Mark Rossetti of Stamford, pushing a shopping cart overflowing with toys, games and stuffed animals for his 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter.
We thought we had enough gifts, but when we started wrapping them there was panic in the air, we needed more, said Rossetti. This was the best place we could think of. But Im done if I can make it through the checkout line.
Nearby, at the Sports Authority in Norwalk, 26-year-old Katherine Avgerinos, who grew up in New Canaan and had just arrived for a 10-day vacation stay with her parents after moving to Switzerland three months ago, said she had no choice but to do her shopping Christmas Eve.
If people think things are costly here, they should try shopping in Switzerland, everything is about twice as expensive, she said. Its good to be back at this time of year.
But not everyone filled his or hey day by battling the last-minute Christmas rush.
Many football fans spent the afternoon at sports bars watching the big showdown between the New York Giants and New York Jets.
I know I should be shopping for Christmas stocking stuffers, but I cant miss this game, said 26-year-old William Weeks, a Giants fan from Fairfield dressed in the No. 10 jersey of quarterback Eli Manning, watching the game at the Horseshoe Cafe on Pequot Avenue in the Southport section of Fairfield.
Looking downcast when the Jets led 7-3 just before the end of the games first half, Weeks and the heavily partisan Giants crowd erupted when Manning connected with Giants receiver Victor Cruz for a 99-yard touchdown, as shown on the massive flat screen television. It was the longest pass play in the teams history, putting the Giants ahead in a game they would later win, 29-14.
Thats it, were going to definitely win the game now, and its going to be a great Christmas, said Weeks. After the game, I might even have enough time to finish my Christmas shopping.
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