It’s been a while now since I’ve discovered the joy of Internet shopping.

The true shopping experience — the kind where you get in the car, get out at the mall, walk from store to store, try on things, etc. — really is above me. I lack the three key components to a successful shopping experience — time, effort and energy.

The time thing is a no-brainer. I’m either here at The Star-News or at home with my girls. I think my boss would frown sharply if I took off to Penney’s just because I got a whim for some new shoes. And if anyone has ever tried to take three small children to Wal-Mart … well, we have all seen how that turns out. It’s a scary-looking mom admonishing at least one very small, extremely loud child in the middle of the produce section. Been there, done that. Don’t want to make a public spectacle of it.

As for the “effort,” most of the time I have every intention of making it to the store to purchase the desired product. I have every intention of it. I promise. Most of the time, I don’t make it, generally because it’s 10 o’clock at night and I realize that I needed whatever it was at the store.

Energy?

Didn’t you just read that I spend all my time at the newspaper office or with my girls? I don’t have any remaining energy. Period.

So here enters my love of Internet shopping.

Do you know when EBay is closed?

Never!

Do you know when www.oldnavy.com is closed?

Never!

Not even at 11:36 p.m., so I think you see my pattern.

I love it.

I can buy virtually anything at anytime I want. From a shopping perspective, the Internet is one of the world’s most beautiful inventions in my book. I can buy perfume from Italy (which I have) or shoes from New York (which I’m thinking about).

My latest shopping mission is Christmas gifts. I know what you’re thinking. It’s only June. Let’s just say, I like to do things early.

I am on a quest for a Nintendo DS Lite. Well, really three of them, which is why I’m starting in June. I thought if I bought one every month or so, it wouldn’t hit so hard in December. However, on the flip side, my luck would be they have them for $49.99 or some nonsense like that the day after Christmas at Target.

I need a pink one, a lime green one and another ice blue, I think. Each one needs to be a different color so there is no confusion as to whose is whose.

My girls are each at the age where if you do for one, you have to do for the others. So, there is no getting around not getting each of them one. I thought long and hard about it. I even did a poll in my office … the single guys said just buy one. All the moms said buy one each. You can see which way I went.

I’m starting with the pink one. I found one last night on EBay and I’m working hard on it. So if you’ll excuse me, I need to up my bid. It’s a matter of family harmony and mommy sanity.