Breath of fresh air.

Just drove from Secaucus to Clifton along Route 3 to see if there are any deals to be had at the big box stores. Traffic in both directions is fine. Come one, come all.

Stopped at River Front Center on Route 3 West. Game Stop has a decent line of people buying games and movies. There aren't many sales going on, but the store does have the elusive Wii gaming system and stacks upon stacks of the Guitar Hero and Rock Band games.

Bed, Bath and Beyond opened at 6 a.m. with a storewide 20 percent off sale, but the parking lot's half empty and not many people are inside. (Unlike at the Wal-Mart, your correspondent was able to navigate without fear of taking out small children with her laptop bag. A definite plus.)

Manager Chris Kowal says the store usually stays slow until later in the morning and afternoon, when shoppers who fought for electronics in the wee hours start to straggle in.

"They go to electronics stores first," Kowal said. "Last year it was the same thing...We don't have doorbusters that people line up and trample you for."

Headed across the street to Target - reportedly very busy this morning - and maybe Sports Authority.