Dear So and So

[Blueberry]

Dear Local Branch of a Chain Grocery Store:

I'm really glad you had the jars I needed. But do you have to have the Easter Candy out **before Christmas**

Signed,

Ready for people to enjoy the moment and stop hurrying to the next thing

[indysteel]

Dear Local Branch of a Chain Grocery Store:

I'm really glad you had the jars I needed. But do you have to have the Easter Candy out **before Christmas**

Signed,

Ready for people to enjoy the moment and stop hurrying to the next thing

Seriously? That's ridiculous.

[indysteel]

Hang in there, Crankin!

[Reesha]

Dear Local Branch of a Chain Grocery Store:

I'm really glad you had the jars I needed. But do you have to have the Easter Candy out **before Christmas**

Signed,

Ready for people to enjoy the moment and stop hurrying to the next thing

Plus they're totally skipping over Valentine's which is probably an even greater cash cow.

[Crankin]

I love Valentines Day. Even though we go out all of the time, we always go out for a nice dinner or make something really special at home. Last year we spent an awesome day x country skiing and then came home, showered and ate soup and salads at the bar of a fancier type restaurant.
My dad always bought my mom and I a huge thing of candy and often gave my mom a piece of jewelry on Valentine's Day. I still have the little handkerchief with hearts he gave me one year, when I was maybe 4.

[Veronica]

My dad always bought my mom and I a huge thing of candy and often gave my mom a piece of jewelry on Valentine's Day. I still have the little handkerchief with hearts he gave me one year, when I was maybe 4.

That's a really cool memory.

Veronica

[Crankin]

Yea, I guess that's why such a Hallmark holiday means a lot to me. It wasn't such a commercial thing in the 50's/60's, and it was more meaningful. Funny, both of my kids do the same special stuff for their wives .
Indy, thanks for the vote of confidence. I am not going to let it bother me this time. Last time, I got bronchitis I was so stressed with all of the re-autorizations.

[azfiddle]

Reesha, just saw your post about making the soft hats - that is a kind and generous gesture of friendship.

Your friend will really need and appreciate the hats. A good friend went through chemo for ovarian cancer, and her head was very sensitive, but she needed scarves and hats for warmth.

[Reesha]

Reesha, just saw your post about making the soft hats - that is a kind and generous gesture of friendship.

Your friend will really need and appreciate the hats. A good friend went through chemo for ovarian cancer, and her head was very sensitive, but she needed scarves and hats for warmth.

Thank you My friend only asked for one, but I have a week to myself and some idle fingers. It will keep me busy and give her SIL some options. Plus I can make it through at least two seasons of Bones!

[indysteel]

That is a very sweet memory. I still have the copy of Grease that my dad got me one Valentine's Day. It was my first album. I was so excited.

[emily_in_nc]

I'm really glad you had the jars I needed. But do you have to have the Easter Candy out **before Christmas**

Wha?????????????

I simply can't imagine!

Five million thumbs down!

[Crankin]

Well, there's people who buy that stuff months ahead, I guess.
I was surprised a few years ago, when my students started reporting that were getting gifts for Easter! I may not be Christian, but I thought I knew the traditions surrounding this holiday, and this didn't seem right. But, it seems like parents feel the need to overindulge their kids a little more. I've had several families I am working with now tell me they wish they never started the tradition of "spoiling their kids" with an overabundance of gifts at X Mas when they were little, because now they can't afford it, but the kids expect it. One of the women I work with described how she stood in a line for 3 hours on Monday, in the cold, to get some toys from Toys for Tots. There were several fights, the police had to be called, and some people had already been there. There were no Marines in sight .
I just don't get any of this.

[limewave]

Well, there's people who buy that stuff months ahead, I guess.
I was surprised a few years ago, when my students started reporting that were getting gifts for Easter! I may not be Christian, but I thought I knew the traditions surrounding this holiday, and this didn't seem right. But, it seems like parents feel the need to overindulge their kids a little more. I've had several families I am working with now tell me they wish they never started the tradition of "spoiling their kids" with an overabundance of gifts at X Mas when they were little, because now they can't afford it, but the kids expect it. One of the women I work with described how she stood in a line for 3 hours on Monday, in the cold, to get some toys from Toys for Tots. There were several fights, the police had to be called, and some people had already been there. There were no Marines in sight .
I just don't get any of this.

Yikes. I am amazed at how much people spend on their kids at Christmas time. I was talking to a parent at daycare who bought each of their kids their own tablet (for about $200/ea). I mentioned I bought DD an iPod Touch . . . come to find out the next day that he went out and bought each of his kids an iPod Touch as well! I guess he couldn't be outdone. I feel a bit bad for DD as the Touch is the only gift she's getting other than some necessities (like snow pants and gloves). And then I think about the kids that aren't getting anything. And the parents that don't even care enough to go to Toys for Tots and completely neglect their kids . . .

We do Easter presents at our house too. But the gift is a new Easter Dress for church and some candy in the colored eggs for the egg hunt

Dear Limewave,
Stop obsessing over single speeds. There is no money in the pot right now for one and you JUST got a new mountain bike! I have no doubt you'll get your own single speed in due time. But drooling over pictures and trolling the internet has turned from innocent browsing into a form of self-torture.
~Me

[Biciclista]

Dear Limewave
just leave your road bike in a single gear, don't shift.

ps you can always give your daughter little tiny things like a can of her favorite juice or a (insert snack food of your choice) so she has stuff to open.

[Biciclista]

Dear "nutrition solutions company"
We are REALLY tired of dinking around with your stupid pump to hours way past our bedtime. I cannot believe your tech drove all the way to our house and decided there was nothing wrong with our pump so he left us with the one that was being stinky... and ... so therefore, first thing this morning when we added more food it jammed up again.
we would really like a solution... that works??