years, many stores ordered less inventory this year, leaving slim pickings and frustrated shoppers. >> to find a good pair of jeans is kind of tough. >> reporter: the east coast will have to dig out before the shoppers come back, but for retailers, seeing their best season in years, the skies are already clearing. clayton sandell, abc news, los angeles. overseas now, at least eight americans were killed in egypt today when their bus, a tour bus, smashed into a truck parked on the side of a road in the desert. 21 other people were hurt in this crash. tour bus crashes are not uncommon in egypt. eight foreign tourists were killed in an accident last month. and now to afghanistan, and one of the unseen battles in this war. it is the fight to maintain a crucial lifeline for the troops, one that allows them to stay in touch with their families back home. which is incredibly important at this time of year. mike boettcher is in kandahar. >> reporter: ten decembers in afghanistan. ten christmases at war. and still the mail pours in.