My family's Black Friday philosophy is this: board your windows, lock your doors, don't emerge until Saturday.

We've never done Black Friday shopping because people are, to quote the popular vernacular, cray cray. I don't want to fight you for a TV. I don't want to get karate chopped because we both reached for, I don't know, the last set of ( Read more... )

I've noticed, moreso this year than any other, that people are getting ready for Christmas early. Like, I have seen at least four houses in and around our neighborhood that had their outdoor lights operational waaay before Thanksgiving. Why? I'm not sure. Maybe it's how their schedule worked out, or maybe it's because T-Day was late this year. ( Read more... )

For those of you betting on whether I could finish the Troll's Christmas present by December 25th, take note: you owe me money.


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This year was definitely the Best Birthday Ever.

What makes it the BBE? I'd say it's the little things, like... seeing the Troll several times this week.

And... having someone cook for me.

And... Mom giving me a bag of wrapped gifts. Yes, with paper and tape! (We haven't wrapped presents in years. Usually they stay in the store bags; the bags ( Read more... )

The Troll called this morning and said my Christmas present had arrived. About a week ago he'd asked me what I wanted; to spare him the holiday hooplah, I sent him a DIRECT LINK to a Faber-Castell gelato set. Fairly affordable, something I would definitely use, available online or locally. Could. Not. Go. Wrong ( Read more... )

On Saturday evening, I wrapped presents in front of our plug-in fireplace. It wasn't exactly a chestnut-roasting experience, but you make do with what you have, and sometimes what you have is a 60 watt bulb and plastic logs ( Read more... )

Today was the Christmas luncheon at our old building! I brought a homemade cake, Jessica concocted a cobbler, Jenny made hashbrown casserole, Todd's wife threw together a dish of baked macaroni, and Frank... donated the plastic cups. Because there's always that one guy who's like, "I'll bring the cups and napkins, suckers ( Read more... )

The season's third (and last) Christmas tree was decorated today ( Read more... )

On Tuesday I hung the lights and ornaments on our much beloved office tree! The team seems to love it, too, so bonuses all around.


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Below is a photo of a $35.00 loveseat Mom saw at a thrift store, wanted, and asked Dad and I to procure. So off we went in Old Blue (a '91 Nissan complete with camper shell), never once considering whether a semi-large piece of furniture would fit in a small truck bed. Dad measured the seat, the bed, the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow, ( Read more... )