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10:20 a.m. It looks like any of the Black Friday shoppers that are still out there are hitting the larger shopping areas. As of 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., a drive through three of Mason, Maineville and Lebanon showed that the streets were just about empty and a number of the stores were still closed - either due to later opening schedule or an extended holiday observance. Traditionally, these downtown areas are more for weekend visitors, mainly families and groups of friends who travel for shopping, dining and other holiday events.

Official sale numbers won't be out for at least another day or so, but anecdotal evidence points to a slow start for the 2008 holiday shopping season. The most common complaint heard either directly from the people I interviewed or from what I heard while roaming the stores was the lack of aggressive pricing by the major retailers. A few items were marked down considerably, but many shoppers said beyond those items, not much was out there. As quickly as electronic items were leaving the stores, the bottom line is that big screen televisions and computers are not the only thing people are looking for and the customers around the store were frustrated that the selection wasn't better. None of the staff members at any of the stores I visited today were willing to comment on the issue, citing home office policies regarding direct media inquiries.

Could retailers be holding back on major sale prices until later in the shopping season? With grim sales projections from most economic analysts, it's possible that stores aren't willing to take in as much inventory this year and not be as aggressive with their annual sales. Maybe after the first weekend sale numbers come in, the major retailers will have a better sense of the consumer mood and adjust accordingly. Of course, this is all speculation. One thing is certain: with the economy being as bad as it is right now everyone, from retailers to consumers, are having to take a different approach to the traditional holiday shopping experience.

For all of you who ventured out early this morning, I hope you found all of the items on your shopping list. To the rest of us who are waiting to get started, there are only 26 shopping days until Christmas!

8:45 a.m. Next stop on my Warren County Black Friday shopping review will be some of the downtown areas: Mason, Lebanon, Maineville. Many of the shops here don't open until later, another indication that they are different than the big box store mentality.

I've been a Black Friday shopper for years (courtesy of my mom). There are a number of things I've noticed about Black Friday 2008 compared to previous years. Typically, parking lots are full at the start of most of the big sales (ranging from 4:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.) When I pulled into my first store today at 4:30 a.m., I got a parking spot near the front doors. Unheard of in previous years.

The number and mood of the crowds seem much more subdued. Although I'm not doing any of my major shopping today because I'm on the job, I can honestly say that after looking through all of the sale circulars, I found only one item that was a must-have. I ordered it online Thanksgiving night; it was cheaper. It's unlikely, though, that I would have hit the stores early this year for only one thing. It's one holiday tradition that I sadly sacrificed. I used to look forward to the challenge and the sport of it. Now, with the lack of deals and even the lack of holiday spirit, the idea of shopping by laptop doesn't seem so bad.

Just about all of the people I've talked to so far today mentioned that they would be doing at least part of their shopping. Many of the stores are offering special deals for online purchases, including reduced prices and free shipping.

Still, there's something about hitting the stores, hearing the holiday music, seeing the crowds, etc. Maybe the downtown areas will better capture that atmosphere.

Off to check it out.

6:30 a.m.

"Where's the car?" asked a woman from Mason as she and her mom maneuvered two shopping carts, each with a large flat screen TV through the Wal-Mart parking lot today, Nov. 28.

"I think you parked in the next lane," replied the mom, who asked not to be identified to avoid ruining any holiday gift surprises.

It seemed the second biggest challenge on Black Friday, after finding that perfect gift, was remembering where the car was parked.

What does it take to convince someone to wake up at 4 a.m. to hit the stores?

"My daughter talked me into it," said the mom. "I've never done this before. I'm not used to getting up this early. But, when we saw the sale, she convinced me to go."

Mom and daughter took advantage of the sales starting at 5 a.m. Their first Black Friday shopping experience was a pleasant surprise.

"There were a few people shoving through," said the daughter. "But there was one man who grabbed two of the televisions. When he saw I was looking for one, he gave me one of his. He even helped me put it in the cart."

"Everyone was very nice," mom said.

The large televisions were one of the hottest items on shoppers' lists — so much so that both women reported that there were one or two people who waited by the electronic's department since 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 27.

"That's a little crazy," said the mom.

After both televisions were loaded into the van, the pair were headed back inside to do more shopping.

"We wanted to make sure we got these first," said mom. "Now, we'll go back in and get the other stuff."

Need to stop for nourishment

At the IHOP restaurant near Deerfield Towne Center, the rush of people started around 6:30 a.m. today, Nov. 28. The first wave of early shoppers decided to make a pit stop to get something to eat and gauge their progress.

"We did really well," said Betty of Lebanon. "We hit Kohl's at 4 a.m. I would say there were about 200 people lined up outside. We got what we were looking for, so we're really happy with that. The staff there did a great job moving people through and keeping shelves stocked."

Old Navy and Dick's were the next two shopping stops.

"Dick's had some great deals on putters and drivers," Betty said.

Overall, the crowds seemed tamer this year.

"I've been to crazier Black Fridays," Betty said. "There weren't as many people this year, as far as I could see."

She thought that the stores weren't offering as many good deals this year. "We had a stack of ads about an inch thick yesterday. After going through them, we only had three that we were interested in."

After a quick breakfast, though, Betty and her shopping partner from Columbus were back out on the road to redeem some of the coupons they found in the Thanksgiving papers.