Friday I took the day off to go Christmas shopping. I do not do well when the malls get all crowded and noisy around Christmas, so I usually take a weekday off in December and try to take care of my in-person shopping in one big swoop. Unfortunately, this year, taking the day “off” meant I had a conference call from 9 to 9:30, ate breakfast, took a shower, logged back in around 10:30, and worked until 12:30. Obviously my definition of not working isn’t quite what it should be.
So I drove down to the mall hours later than I meant to, and shopped. But it was frustrating, because I just wasn’t finding anything I wanted to give to people, and I started feeling grinchy. So I left and went to Barnes & Noble, where I ran into my mom, which made it difficult for me to buy her a present! But I had a nice time with her, picking out books for my friends’ kids. And by getting up early both yesterday and today, I managed to get most of the presents I needed to buy. I just have to get something for my dad, my boss, and my brother. And one more thing for John, which I tried to buy today with no luck. Attention independent store owners: opening before noon on the Sunday before Christmas is a good idea, if, for example, you want to make money.
In other Christmas related news, did you know that if you wait until a week before Christmas to buy your Christmas tree, you will be able to get a really nice one for only $15? And a bunch of lights and ornaments at a discount as well. John and I never got a tree in our apartment because there wasn’t a good place to put one up, but I was determined to get one for our house. So we got one today and I spent a very pleasant afternoon decorating it. Well, first I put the lights on too early and had to redo them after the branches settled down, but other than that, it went very well, and the tree looks lovely. And John finally got a chance to hang up his treasured AC/DC ornament (in a place of honor, of course).
So, I just have to finish shopping, wrap presents bake about 800 cookies, one cake and one Christmas Eve dinner for my dad, and I’ll be ready for Christmas. And get through two video shoots, fit in a whole week of work and get a bunch of stuff done early in preparation for being on vacation the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Sure, I can do that. At least I’m feeling more in the holiday mood.
AC/DC ornament. Oh, picture please. I'm intrigued.
Everyone should know that Bad Penguin makes the BEST oatmeal chocolate chip cookies EVER. So freakin' yummy.
I am all about the cheap -- um, I mean discount -- tree. I love a good bargain.