Genealogy posts will be a little slow for the next week or so as I’m attempting to get caught up on items that need to be done by Christmas – the shopping for gifts, the buying of gifts, the constant asking for lists, the buying of ingredients for baking some gifts, the actual baking, the sorry-we-can’t-attend-the-party RSVPs, the buying of wrapping paper, the wrapping of gifts, the wondering if I’m going to get any laundry done due to washer backing up, the annual watching of “It’s A Wonderful Life”, the normal cooking and cleaning, the finishing of Christmas cards, the paying of bills, the hoping shipped packages will arrive on Wednesday, and the “why am I always in the wrong lane” at stores or on the road!
That said – what I have accomplished so far:
- Received lists from all but ONE of my children (hint, hint!)
- Almost done with Christmas shopping
- Halfway through sending Christmas cards
- Done with buying ingredients for baking
- Two-thirds done with baking
- Three-fourths done with buying wrapping paper
- Sent regrets to 2 party requests and possibly a third
- All but ten minutes done on watching “It’s A Wonderful Life”
I don’t know if I can do laundry until later today. Bills will be paid on Monday. UPS tracking of shipped packages will be done on Monday. The rest of the baking of gifts will be done later today (after I purchase containers). Christmas cards may be finished later today or tomorrow. Wrapping will commence tomorrow (so if you are at my house on Sunday, I will probably not be much company!). Buying more wrapping paper will be done on Monday or Tuesday – after I see if I really do need more!
Now being in the wrong lane on the road – we’ve had an overabundance of fog at the end of the week. Then we had sleet and freezing rain early in the week. Most of the roads I travel on were bone dry – however in North Texas if something – anything – falls from the sky, people are stupefied. Do I drive like a maniac? Do I drive like the little old lady from Pasadena? They have no clue in the world. I end up behind people who are so scared to drive that they brake every five seconds and drive almost 20 mph. Oh my goodness! If you are so scared to drive on bone dry pavement, what in the world are you doing on the road to begin with?
Wrong lane at the stores: Last night I was in a local department store that I frequent often. Of course some of the cashiers are new – they have been hired as “seasonal” employees. No problem if they are doing their best with the limited amount of training they’ve received. The cashier is very polite and lets me know that her register needs to be cleared and it would be a couple minutes. She’s very sweet – and probably about my age. So I get in another lane behind a lady with ten different articles of clothing. That cashier is very fast. Then I watch them both stand and wait. What are they waiting on? Oh, the customer didn’t bring her purse into the store! Someone had to go retrieve it for her! Now, if you’re Christmas shopping (or shopping in general) – wouldn’t it be prudent to bring your money with you? Not only that but there are dozens of signs all through the city that say “Lock (your vehicle), Take (your keys), Hide (your gifts)” due to the increased number of thefts from cars. Why would you leave your money in a car at this time of year? Then while I’m waiting, the first cashier lets me know she can help me. She was so polite and told me that the next time I come in, she’ll probably be a little faster. I told her it wasn’t the cashiers – it was the customers.
And why do people allow their just-walking babies to walk? They dart out in front of carts, always manage to walk right in front of where I’m walking, or start pulling everything off the bottom shelf? And then there are the “I’m taking 4 year old Johnny with me to see what he wants for Christmas. Then I’m going to put it in the cart but not let him have it so he can scream at the top of his lungs for the next 30 minutes.” UGH! Please leave your wonderful, sweet, cooperative children at home. And if they can fit in the seat of the basket – put them there! There are enough people in the aisles – a toddler should not be put in harm’s way like that. I’m sorry if I offended anyone but at any other time of year (besides the school shopping tax free weekend!) – there is generally no problem. Your child is going to get hurt. People can’t get through the aisles that have all sorts of stuff pulled off the shelves. And we don’t really want to hear a screaming kid all evening.
I’ve changed my meal plan for this year – so here’s hoping it goes over well! I’ve changed my gift-giving to others this year due to the economy and the fact that I’m always at a loss to get some of our good friends.
May your family have a blessed holiday – whether you are celebrating Christmas, Kwaanza or Hannukah.
All My Branches Genealogy 