The boys have also been accommodating and adapted well to my research methodology requirements.  I don't believe that I reported an incident in which I almost entered ToysRus -- the store -- with the two boys.  One Saturday morning, we went out to Drumlin Farm in Lincoln.  Afterwards, the boys were a little tired and cranky and I was going to take them out to lunch.  On the way to lunch, they made it clear that they wanted to go to ToysRus (i.e., they were crying their heads off -- believe me though, they are good guys).  With reservations, I headed for the store; I took, however, the long way in hopes that they would fall asleep.  Thank goodness they did.  I was saved by the bell.  Nevertheless, I still think about this and other instances in which I have diverted their attention and direction in order to avoid taking them into a store (definitely weird and wild stuff, ha ha ha -- if you don't know who Ed McMahon is, then you will not get this, sorry).

So how can I extend the data collection period and get my family to go along with this?  I have a few ideas up my sleeve.  I might be willing to retain Streamline as Amy appears to like their service (at least that's one of us -- there is a good marketing lesson in this with respect to family decision making).  Perhaps, I can make arrangements with local vendors to provide me with a special website (I'd even create it for them) and extra fast delivery service (I'd pay for it).  Or, maybe Kozmo.com would consider expanding their product line to include items like milk, butter, and sugar.  (If they would do this, I would gladly offer my professional services for free in exchange -- hi Kozmo, i.e., heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp.)

[After writing this, I went to Kozmo.com to make my last purchase of the millennium and noticed that Kozmo.com has added a "minimart" to their inventory, e.g., items like diapers, baby formula, razors, soap, shampoo -- YES, this is looking good babyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.]

Enough of the researchy academic tone, my apologies.  Today, PlanetRx.com sent me an email informing me that my Polo cologne and dental floss have shipped and are on their way.  Maybe ordering items "out of stock" or "back-ordered" isn't such a terrible thing after all.  Streamline came by with our Ben & Jerry's ice cream.  In addition, the three copies of the Yellow Submarine George Harrison figure arrived this morning (good going Amazon.com on the free upgrade to USPS Priority shipping).  I opened two of them, one for Ben and one for Sam.  They enjoy the George Harrison figure and the Yellow Submarine that comes with it.  Later in the day, we listened and danced to the Yellow Submarine compact disc.  Hey, the boys liked the Yellow Submarine music.

My last order of the millennium?  The Yellow Submarine video from Kozmo.com.  I have it on good authority from Shin, the Kozmo.com delivery person, that my order was their last one of this millennium.  I'll try and be the first to place an order with them in the next millennium; that would be cool, not to mention a good PR opportunity for them.  (There is some history that has motivated me to do this; I'll be brief.  I went to the last Boston Celtics basketball game played in the "old" Boston Garden, and I went to the first Boston Celtics game played in the "new" Fleet Center.  I thought that was a cool experience and this reminds me of it.) 

Getting academic again for a moment, if I were a dot-com, I would make a big hullabaloo over the first customer of the new millennium.  The marketing of Y2K, the millennium and Year 2000 is all going to die down really fast.  I would milk the marketing of the millennium concept while it still has some life.  If a great unexpected prize were offered to the first customer of the new millennium, I believe the press would pick up on this and cover the presentation of the prize.  Consider this another free marketing tip that could make someone or some firm a few million dollars.

This just in.  The boys are staying up late tonight.  I popped in the Yellow Submarine video for them.  After watching it for a few minutes, Ben got up from the couch and came over to my inner sanctum to let me know that the Yellow Submarine is for "grown ups."  Sam was also muttering "grown ups."  Oh well, they still like the George Harrison action figure (they don't like the Yellow Submarine, the Yellow Submarine, the Yellow Submarine, movie).

My favorite thing to buy online is anything from eBay, OutPost, or Kozmo.com because they deliver incredible value and a thrilling online shopping sensation. In the near future, I can sense that I will feel the same way about Amazon.com as they are growing on me quickly.  So that no one says I copped out in not selecting something specific, my favorite thing to buy online was the Batman's Rogues Gallery (in fact, I bought two of them; one for the boys and one for me).  This item came with eight different arch enemies of Batman, including the coveted Mask of the Phantasm figure (which is still Ben's favorite Batman toy).

Happy New Year 2000 and may all of your online shopping excursions be pleasant and satisfying experiences.

Added special thanks for incredible support of this research to all members of my family, Jonathan Hibbard (Happy Birthday my friend), my research assistant, Maria Ballesteros, and all readers and visitors.

Please check back in a couple of days and we shall see what we shall see.