My first stop was the local Walmart. Since it was also the furthest away I figured they'd have more than ample stock. I also figured that since the Wii wasn't getting as much press as the PS3 there'd be tons still available.

I walked into the store at about 10 AM, about an hour after opening, and strolled to the electronics department. I walked over to where the consoles were but no Wii's - only 360's.

"That's odd" I thought, since hardly anyone knows what a Wii is (seriously, I've been talking to quite a few people and when I say "Wii" they say "huh?"). So perhaps Walmart only had a few.

So I then went to a local electronics retailer. There was a short line up because they hadn't opened yet and a sign on their door said they had received 83 Wiis.

"Great" I thought "I'm sure to get one now."

I stood in line and watched as the store let in one or 2 people but made everyone else line up. "Playing it safe," I thought, "they don't want a stampede - good call."

I was only 6 or 8 back from the door so I figured no problem - even if I have to wait, or race, I'll get one. But as I got closer to the door I heard one of the employees at the door say "there goes the last one - we have no more left" as he let a little girl in with her father.

No more left? How could that be? The sign on the window says 83.

Well it turns out that most were pre-orders and the people who were getting let in one at a time were those pre-orders.

Damn! what was I going to do? So I called my wife and got her on the phone to call a few other stores, while I did some calling as well.

Within 10 minutes I heard the chilling news - everyone is sold out.

How could that be? I was out on launch day in a town that has no idea what a Wii is (and barely any idea what a Nintendo is) yet there is not a Wii to be had?

So I called a friend of mine who works in one of the larger retailers. He said that the store manager had told him that they had sold out within a few minutes of opening their doors.

A few minutes! How was that possible??

As I sat in my car - feeling depressed and dejected, I got a call back from my friend who talked to the store manager again.

He told me that, while they are sold out now, they are getting another shipment "soon."

What is soon? I don't know but I told him as soon as he finds out, to let me know and I'll be the first in line

Hmm. Who would have thought getting a Wii would have been so hard? I mean, I knew getting a PS3 was going to be next to impossible, but I didn't want one of those anyways. But a Wii which no one here has heard of?

Wow. Life continues to amaze me.