'Tis the season of paradoxes. The passing of Thanksgiving Day means it's time for Christmas carols, those old tunes that give warm and fuzzies at first, but in three weeks will make you want to scream. It means the season of holiday cheer, glad tidings and warm wishes for all. Except when two stressed-out shoppers are locked in a shouting match and nearly come to fisticuffs over a parking space at Toys R Us. Most of all, the holidays are a time for charitable sharing and personal reflection for people of many faiths. Yet at the same time, it's a period with an overwhelming display of shameless commercialism and overly materialistic values. Those worlds collide most violently today, with the day-after-Thanksgiving shopping tradition, which kicks off the holiday shopping season. A time for thinking about loved ones and the gifts they would like can lose its joy when you're focusing on elbowing your way to the front of the checkout line. "It's such a stressful time, but it should be fun," said professional personal shopper Sally Gunderman. "Spending money to make other people happy is a great thing, and I think sometimes we forget about that." But finding - and buying - the perfect gift for everyone on your list doesn't have to be a hassle. Not with all of the resources available to today's smart shopper. It's easier than ever before to shop 'til you drop - without ever leaving the house. And when you do head out on gift-buying ventures - even if you head out today - there are many ways to save time and reduce the stress of shopping. Read on. Online

 

The proliferation of the Internet has affected many areas of our society, for good and ill. But for those who eschew - or have always wished they could - shopping malls and big-box stores for these busiest shopping weeks of the year, the Web boom is a godsend. There are few things that you can't find, purchase and ship online. From books, music and movies to toys, clothes and food to . . . well, we could go on all day. "More and more consumers are tending to use the Internet for shopping. If you look at the numbers, it's growing every year," said Mark Mason, network administrator at Southwest Strings. The local supplier of stringed instruments and supplies started in 1993 with virtually all of its sales coming through catalog orders. Mason said that sales are now split about 50-50 between its catalog and Web site - www.swstrings.com - but he doesn't expect that balance to hold for long. "I see in the future more and more of the sales going to the Internet," Mason said. "Because you have 24-hour convenience that way." So whether your giftee's interests tend toward violin strings or buffalo wings, there's a site where you'll find them. Do some surfing and you may be surprised at the seemingly infinite variety of what's available. Here are just a few of the thousands of great Web sites out there for shopping: ● www.amazon.com ● www.ebay.com ● www.froogle.com ● www.target.com ● To read more about online shopping, check out this week's Caliente story on the topic at tiny.azstarnet.com/1037 online. Catalogs

 

Don't forget about the old stalwart, where people turned for "distance buying" long before the 'Net. You can still get that old fashioned, nostalgic excitement from turning the pages rather than clicking a mouse. From clothing favorites such as J. Crew and L.L. Bean to - ahem - unmentionables like Victoria's Secret, apparel is a popular catalog-shopping choice. There's also no shortage of specialty booklets: Chocolate-maker Hershey's and outdoor outfitter REI both publish their own catalogs, as do fun and educational outlets like The Discovery Channel Store. And remember: There's no better hinting mechanism than to browse through your favorite catalog, casually dog-ear a few pages and circle some hoped-for items, and then "accidentally" leave it lying around. You may already get all the catalogs in the mail that you can handle, but if you want to get on one of these mailing lists, call the number or go to the Web site. ● The Discovery Channel Catalog 1-800-889-9950 http://shopping.discovery.com ● Hershey's Gift Catalog 1-800-454-7737 http://www.hersheygifts.com ● J. Crew 1-800-562-0258 http://www.jcrew.com ● L.L. Bean 1-800-441-5713 http://www.llbean.com ● REI Holiday Catalog 1-800-426-4840 http://www.rei.com ● Sear's Catalogs 1-800-366-3125 http://www.sears.com ● Victoria's Secret 1-800-411-5116 http://www.victoriassecret.com

 

TV Shopping

 

If you think 24-hour shopping channels like QVC and the Home Shopping Network are solely the domain of insomniacs with nothing else to watch at 3 a.m., you're probably a home-shopping virgin. Those who regularly order from such networks praise the quality of the merchandise and say you can find some pretty smokin' deals. The TV interface also gives a better view of the goods than what you get on the page or on your computer screen. Seeing items in context - the way a sweater fits, whether a bracelet looks too gaudy on an actual wrist - can make a big difference. Home-shopping devotees even laud the programming for its entertainment value. Segments that deal with specialty items - e.g. homemade quilts or turquoise jewelry - can be fascinating to those interested in the topic, and the playful banter of certain hawkers can reach comedic levels. And last but not least, it's a passive method of shopping that can be combined with other tasks and household chores. We'd like to see someone decorate or cook for a holiday gathering while surfing the 'Net. Here are the all-shopping, all-the-time channels that local cable subscribers receive: ● QVC (Quality Value Channel) Cox channel 13, Comcast 12 ● Home Shopping Network Cox channel 68, Comcast 16 ● ShopNBC Cox channel 64