Thread Drift

Morning TD. I got off the gift exchange merry-go-round about 8 years ago and haven't looked back. I used lack of money for an excuse but the stress of finding gifts for people was the bigger reason. Now I only buy for my son who's 9, I give my daughters cash because they are in their 20's and need it (I sometimes buy for thee if there's something they really want), and I give my mom a homemade GC for dinner out once a month with DH and I. This year, I'm also going to buy her flowers at least 4 times during the year for no reason. I do not exchange with my siblings, friends, or any other extended family members. I give my 2 nephews a video or a game or something. Kids - that's all. It's a good thing.

It is snowing this morning. Lovely. Except that I have to get out on the highway thru the mountains in an hour or so. The highwaycams look ok. Hope there are still ok later.

http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/bchighwaycam...rk=False&cam=1

Hugs to all of you who find Xmas stressful/depressing. That sucks. I will be spending it with my own somewhat disfunctional family. I will try to look for the good things if I can, and ignore the weird stuff. Merry Christmas. :)

I would like either a bulb forcing kit _or_ a hummingbird feeder. Both are nice! For a minute I thought you meant _son_ in law, and I'm like, huh??? But then I figured it out.

I love the garden store, too. Some of my best jobs have been at garden stores. My cousin works at a big conservatory.

Nanci

KG, it's 66 and sunny here, with a predicted high of 78F. I hope to do some outdoor photography of my kids today.

Here's something I posted on the snake forum- I am not sure if it will work here, but I will try: (It's not snakes)

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o...enSwamp032.jpg

Yay, it worked! Those are baby alligators I saw on a bike ride in the Green Swamp last summer.

Nanci

looks like chocolate cake with the white icing scraped off. I don't see any reptiles

Salsa, i am sorry to hear about your contractor, the guys working on the house across the street are amazing. They just showed up (Saturday 8am) they
really took great pains to protect their work during the storms..
I am experiencing this great vaccillation between jealousy and relief (that it's not my house, not my mortgage) as I watch their 2nd floor addition go up with its windows that view mountains and lake washington.

I hope yours looks as cool as theirs does.

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Originally Posted by knottedYet

Just did some desperation xmas shopping. I am soooooooo heartily SICK of the commercial-consumeristic-Christmas thing. Next year I think I'll boycott xmas. I'll celebrate New Year instead. I want Christmas to feel more like Thanksgiving. I'll give presents on New Year's, presents to start the new year with. Just do family-and-friends stuff at xmas. And tree and decorations. No Christmas presents.

Knot-Grumpy-Scrooge

PS: Last year I hand-made a lot of the presents I gave out. This year I tried to buy things. Bleh. Did I mention how much I dislike what has happened to Christmas?

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Originally Posted by salsabike

We sent out a pathetic little email message to family and friends about two weeks ago, saying that given what's happening with my mother, and work trips, and the house, and all, that we just would not be able to manage Christmas present activities this year, so please save whatever you all may have gotten for us until next year, and we love you, etc. I really wanted to donate to wildly liberal charities in everyone's name and have little cards sent to them, but just barely restrained myself.

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I can really relate - I had a terrible time getting into the holiday spirit this year, due to lost wallets and overwork, etc. but I finally "got the spirit" Thursday when I did what I have wanted to do for many years instead of the holiday crazy shopping thing (because I feel like we all just have so much "stuff".) So this year I donated to Heifer International in the names of all my family and friends - I bought water buffalos, goats, llamas, bunnies, chicks - it was great! Eight families will get some livestick to help them and their communites become more self-sufficient, and feedback from my friends and family members has been great! (Of course, I do get gifts for the little kids in my life!) I really recommend it! The whole process put me in a great mood, that has stuck with me ever since.

exDPITA sent a lovey-dovey xmas package, which I only just now had the guts to finally open.

I'm gonna cry or maybe I'll puke. I don't understand this. The last time we had any communication is was vicious and evil beyond belief (but I stayed calm).

What do I do? Do I send a thank you? A christmas card? Ignore it?

OOOOOOOOOh, I *HATE* CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Knot, ignore her and enjoy the gift. She's way too hot and cold. dangerous. Like
a spider pretending to be a flower!

if it makes you feel better, give the gift away.

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

looks like chocolate cake with the white icing scraped off. I don't see any reptiles

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Click on the picture mimi - it's a video!

Baby 'gators are cute!

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Originally Posted by Nanci

Yay, it worked! Those are baby alligators I saw on a bike ride in the Green Swamp last summer.

Nanci

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IS THAT YOUR VOICE? Wow, how cool! thanks for someone tellng me it was a movie, i never would have noticed.

Cool gators!!!

Nanci I totally agree with your philospohy of telling the patient right away about scan results. Crazy how long they make you wait!!! And I will probably ride a little next week.

Nice cookie girl Knot. Funny.


Hang in there, you guys, it's almost over. Christmas that is. I made the mistake of trying to shop yesterday. Oy! Today we go to the Nutcracker and a nice brunch beforehand, so that should help my holiday spirits.

Hey BMo3 - Tandem!! Yeah that's a great idea!! We have one. I am sure you could ride it with me captaining. Find a tri out here and I'll help you do the bike portion. Seriously!!

Dang, we've got a new spammer this morning. They keep interrupting my reading of TD!

bikerz - I do a similar thing with some family members - donations to Second Harvest in their names. I think next year I will expand it to all family members. Heifer International sounds interesting, I must check it out.

knott - send it back!

The only thing I'm stressing about now is my bright idea to cook Prime Rib and a turkey breast for dinner tomorrow night. One oven, two hunks 'o meat. I may cook the turkey tonight to "not quite done", then finish it in the microwave tomorrow.

My best friend is coming up today, not sure what we're going to do. Maybe a movie, maybe go to one of the local shopping centers and laugh at the last minute shoppers. Then dinner at Jalisco's - a little dive mexican place. We grew up eating there, it's a great childhood memory.

Salsa - hang in there. You sound like you need a hug. So there it is, you just got one.

Snap - thanks for the "click on the picture" help. I didn't know it was a video either. I just figured I was lookin' at baby gators and not seeing them...:rolleyes: