Busy Day...

'Today was the 1st serious cold snap day for us.  It's been chilly, but there hadn't been ice in the outdoor cat water bowl until today.  We'll probably hit 60 F, but this morning was a wee bit nippy.

It's been a bit of a busy day.  I got my exercise done .  Then my roomie's appointment got cancelled, so we opted to drive over to Fort Smith.  It was a fairly successful trip, no major traffic issues.   We managed to get most, if not all, the holiday shopping.  Now, there's just wrapping & cards to send.  I still have to get a couple of last minute things for Thanksgiving & then my holiday spending will be done.  Woohoo.

I have a policy for buying gifts for people I'm not that involved with on a day to day basis.  Most people have way to much stuff in their homes & don't really want anymore junk taking up space. So, I tend to buy temporary things.  I buy seasonal candies, project toys, bath items or specialty food stuffs.  All things that are useful (or at least delicious) & soon to be gone.

Don't think you're being cheap if you buy these things.  Most people won't buy themselves the specialty goods they enjoy, so it's something you're fairly certain they won't have on hand.  Even if they do, who doesn't want more candy?   If they really hate it, they can always regift it.  I especially like project toys/crafts & cheap dollar toys for kids.  They'll probably get a bunch of bigger stuff, but these cheap things let them just play & if it breaks, so what?  It was only a buck or so.

I've got other stuff to get done, so I'll write more tomorrow.

Cya...

Little Thing, Again

This is the third time I've talked about this, but here we go again...  I feel so Gleeified McCartney...




Valentine's Day is Monday & so many people will looking forward to it either in great hopes or utter desperation.  We let this holiday get to us in ways not even Christmas does.  This is a holiday of self assessment & downright judgement. Am I worthy?  What did I do right or wrong?  Will the little red headed girl be my valentine?

I've never been all that into VD.  Even as a gift giver I find this celebration a bit trite. Three things come to mind when I think of this holiday; St. Valentine's Day Massacre, Hallmark & sobbing people.  Only one of those things has any one coming out on top.  Cards, candy & flowers are the game, if you're in those games you're going to make a mint.  Otherwise February 14th is not such a great day.

If you must give a gift, you can go with the typical & for some that is all they will want or understand.  But just as any other gift giving it matters most what is personal & will make memories.  Now candy & cards are fine, but why not look at this as a time to make a new tradition, keep an old tradition going or just have a genuine moment between you & your valentine?

Try one of these...

Get pictures made
Actually cook a romantic meal
Go to a concert
Try something new for both of you
Zoos are great during the winter, the animals are all fluffy
Take a weekend trip to anywhere

Just keep in mind, it's about the memories not the roses, the chocolate or the cards.  So, keep singing your silly love songs & running to the mail box in search of that desperately awaited valentine's day card.

For those of you those of you out there not into this holiday or for some reason feeling left out, look to your other friends in the same situation.  Try starting your own solo Valentine's Day tradition with them.  Eat all the chocolate yourself, treat yourself to a great dinner, or buy yourself something special, but meaningful.

Little things may just be what you need to make it through a day like VD.  String out a lot of little things through out the day, make it something that only you could do or give.  The devil may be in the details, but the little things are where you know someone actually thought about you & cares.

Have a Happy Valentine's Day...