Random Observations

The Weather: I like it right now. Cold enough to make you think it's winter, gray enough to make you want to snuggle up and watch a movie, not so nasty as to keep you from running outside. Perfect!

Shopping Sick: Not a big fan.  I know at some point in your illness you need to get out of the house and get some food, however would it be possible that you not do it at peak grocery shopping time (10am on Monday) in your pajamas and slippers?  And I know you think that it is all good because you are covering your coughing and sneezing with the front of your oversized flannel shirt, which you continue to parade around the store like a germ infested flag.  Thanks for sharing your micro organisms with us when we have less than a week of break left.

Good Deeds: My 15 year old son managed to gather 4 friends at 8am on a Monday of Christmas break to go to the food bank and pack boxes and do inventory for the Sunshine Division.  Of course they were lured with Sesame Donuts and Pizza for lunch, but still.

Mid-Week Holidays: All at once it seemed like it took forever for Christmas to get here because it was on a Wednesday and I was working, but by the same token I was all ready for the kids to make lunches and head off to school this morning.  Its very strange.

Desserts: I think I might actually be done with them.  Not forever of course, but probably for a month or so.

The Fridge: Something smells in there and I cannot figure it out!  I have gotten rid of every suspicious left over, vegetable and piece of fruit.  The milk, eggs and cheese are new.  Help!

Aluminum Foil: Also known as tin foil is only $1.00 more at 7-11 on Christmas Day at 5pm than it is any other regular day at Safeway.  Not bad really.

Coffee: I'm a little scared to admit that I am beginning to like my homemade coffees better than the ones I buy. Which introduces a dilemma.  Am I really going to Starbucks, Coffee Rush, Ava, for the coffee, or the 'experience'? Granted when it is a coffee gathering it is the conversation and the company, but we could have that in one of our kitchens right? Maybe that's a thought for the new year.

Decaf: I'm thinking about it for the new year.  Why?  Why not?

Self Check Out: My kids like Dragon Fruit, know what it looks like, are always on the lookout for it.  How come the 9 year old can identify it, but the self check out machine at Safeway has no record of it and the person that is supposed to help you with these sort of things has to be told what it is as well?

Target: Is everyone going to use cash, checks and gift cards there now?

The Van: Since my husband was ferrying the do-gooders around today he took the van.  Since my vehicle is the 'van of requirement' -Harry Potter reference borrowed from my good friend- I was without all my shopping bags. But even more enlightening when I pulled up to drop my son for basketball practice, waving at my friends as they also dropped their boys no one recognized me!  Apparently the truck possesses an invisibility cloak for the driver. (more Harry Potter, sorry)

Alcohol: I think we may officially be old.  We have reached the point where we are receiving bottles of  alcohol for Christmas.  Rum for my husband, Tequila for me.  Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!

One More Week!

Recent observations:

Best Cookie Ever?  Salted caramel chocolate chip cookie from Great Harvest!  Love it!  Especially warmed up a little so the caramel is gooey.

Yellow School Buses.  There is a reason why only kids ride in these things, because they are totally oblivious to their surroundings and the eminent danger they are in.  As we rumbled along returning from a high school field trip the kids were chatting amongst themselves, texting, playing on their iPhone, etc. I was looking around at this gigantic vehicle, no seat belts of course, making its way through downtown traffic during the holiday season and the lunch rush...........Help! I'm happy to report that no lives were lost while returning to school.

If your children are behaving like they had meth in their breakfast it may be the week before Christmas.
We have school all week and Christmas isn't until Wednesday! If I do not go officially insane before Friday, we still need to get through a weekend before the big day.  To add insult to injury, according to my kids anyway, since I work on Christmas, they get to open their stockings in the morning and then have to wait until after dinner for the rest of the presents.  Much whining and complaining on this subject, but we are standing firm.  This has always been our practice.  The kids however seem to think this is up for discussion, each and every year.  Unfortunately they are operating under false hopes yet again.  So sorry!

I am composing the shopping list for the liquor store as we speak.

Shop the madness!

So this may be a little untimely, but I do have to comment on the shopping situation so far this season.
For the most part, I keep my eyes and ears open all year and purchase presents along the way.  Then closer to Christmas there is a small frenzy of last minute stocking stuffers and odds and ends.

Of course the official shopping season begins on Black Friday.  I do draw the line with getting up in the wee hours for Black Friday.  I will not go out on Thursday night.  I don't need anything that badly.  I also draw the line at going out at midnight.  I've done all the all nighters I care to do in this lifetime.

I didn't grow up doing Black Friday, I have only recently started going.  The first early morning experience was accidental. I was working the day after Thanksgiving and had to be there at 7.  This meant dropping my son at day care at 630, because my husband was working nights at the time.  So since I was 7 months pregnant and the 10 month old and I were up anyway at the crack of dawn we just headed out and did a little pre-work shopping.

It was sort of hit and miss after that depending on whether or not I was working.  Now that my daughter is old enough to want to go, I have to say I do enjoy having this little tradition with her.  Last year I was supposed to work, and they cancelled me, but I was on call.  We hurried up and got dressed.  We made it to Target before they called me in again!  Dang! That was disappointing.  This year I took it as a vacation day.

We actually did some planning this year.  We got the paper, decided what we needed and where, checked out their hours, we had a plan.  We left the house at 0330 first stop Starbucks, of course!  It really wasn't bad and we got everything we needed/wanted.  We were home by 1200. I know!  What the heck took so long?  I still don't know, but the memories are made right?  I did underestimate the resolve of the Downton Abbey fans and so did not make it into the first 100 customers at World Market for the souvenir teacup.  Lesson learned there!

As our shopping trip was evolving in the days leading up to the big event my oldest son was making noises about an XBox game he needed from Game Stop.  I assured him that by the time we would get to Game Stop, the 'deal' they were offering would be long gone since it opened at midnight.  I sent him in the general direction of his father, who while he puts on a big show is usually a bit of a pushover for stuff like this and agreed to head out with the 15 year old and his gamer friends at 1130 that night.
Here was his synopsis of the situation. "Every geek in the city had seen the Bat Signal for that sale". Enough said.

Now with a mere 8 days until the big event people are getting cranky out there, so I am more than happy to know I am done.  In fact I had a little wrapping get together with a friend last Friday.  That may be another new tradition.  Tea and present wrapping while watching White Christmas, does it get any better than that?

No comments from the audience please.  I can hear you all loud and clear and I don't think I exactaly like your tone.  We all deal with this holiday frenzy in our own weird way and mine is to just Get It Done!  It is my usual M.O. in all things.  If it seems daunting at all the best thing to do is just put your head down and plow through.  Hopefully everyone comes out alive in the end.