The day after Thanksgiving is commonly known as Black Friday. It is called this because it's supposed to be the day retailers are "out of the red" and "into the black."
As someone who worked retail for 20+ years all I can say is I hate Black Friday! I refuse to fall prey to it. No amount of sales can possibly lure me into participating in it's craziness. It's actually 100% worse than it was back in the days I was worked it. There's all kinds of stories in the news about crazy people camping outside stores for days leading up to BF. One year a worker was trampled to death as people stormed into a store he has just opened. Women get into fights over ridiculous items. This year the big story is out of California where a woman pepper sprayed people just so she could beat them to a pallet of xBox gaming systems.
Not everyone is maliciously mean, they just hit the stores at some ridiculously early time and literally shop 'til they drop twelve to twenty four hours later. Back when I was working retail it was just becoming common for stores to open up early on Black Friday, early as in 6:00 am. Nowadays that's late. Some stores around here opened at midnight and some, like Walmart, never even closed.
Craziness, I tell ya, craziness!
Whatever,
I refuse to participate
but for all of you that did .... I hope it was worth it and you scored some awesome deals. As for me, I enjoyed my day at home ... me and the guys - pizza, football, and the internet. It was awesome!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
24 Turkey Day
We had a most excellent Thanksgiving. We traveled north to where Dale's mom is now living and most of the local family joined us there. There was food ... lots and lots of food. I was completely happy because I was able to eat my favorite turkey day foods - turkey and dressing/stuffing. To be honest I would be content if that was all there was, but there was so much more to choose from. Let's just say we all went away, stuffed like pigs. One food got left out though. After we were all done and just sitting around talking we discovered that the roasted asparagus never made it to the table. Not one to let an opportunity escape me I went ahead and grabbed a spear ... even cold it was yummy!
A special thank you goes out to my sweet sister-in-law who surprised me with her special stuffing. Mmmmm, that stuff is sooooooooooooo good!
SIL Pat with her grandson Jonathan - checking out the iPhone (that boy loves the iPhones!) and there's my hubby enjoying some tall tale someone is relaying.
I'm so very thankful we were able to spend our day with family, adopted family, and friends. It was a delicious day of food, fun, and fellowship.
Gobble, gobble!!
A special thank you goes out to my sweet sister-in-law who surprised me with her special stuffing. Mmmmm, that stuff is sooooooooooooo good!
SIL Pat with her grandson Jonathan - checking out the iPhone (that boy loves the iPhones!) and there's my hubby enjoying some tall tale someone is relaying.
I'm so very thankful we were able to spend our day with family, adopted family, and friends. It was a delicious day of food, fun, and fellowship.
Gobble, gobble!!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
23 Still Thankful
Today is Thanksgiving Eve and I'm trying to remain thankful. Remember this weekend when I posted about car repairs and thankfully having the money to cover their costs? Well, guess who's car is BACK in the shop?
Yep, the "bandaid" the mechanic used on one of the "things" needing to be fixed didn't hold. Not only did it not hold, it came off with a vengeance. He really tried to keep from having to do a major repair and I'm thankful for him trying it. But it sure stinks out loud that we're are looking at yet another $700 repair job. I guess this is the price one has to pay for having older cars.
While we've been hit with major repairs this month, it's still cheaper in the long run than paying monthly car payments. It's just a shame that it's coming all at once. Once again, I'm really thankful I have the funds to pay for them but I really hope this is the end of repairs because the well is just about dry. Keep your fingers crossed for us please!
Yep, the "bandaid" the mechanic used on one of the "things" needing to be fixed didn't hold. Not only did it not hold, it came off with a vengeance. He really tried to keep from having to do a major repair and I'm thankful for him trying it. But it sure stinks out loud that we're are looking at yet another $700 repair job. I guess this is the price one has to pay for having older cars.
While we've been hit with major repairs this month, it's still cheaper in the long run than paying monthly car payments. It's just a shame that it's coming all at once. Once again, I'm really thankful I have the funds to pay for them but I really hope this is the end of repairs because the well is just about dry. Keep your fingers crossed for us please!
22 Shopping
I am not like so many other women. I do NOT like shopping. Part of it has to do with the fact that shopping while carefully watching your pennies just seems to suck the fun right out of the process. Other things such as hating being in crowds, not knowing what exactly to purchase, and having bad feet just make shopping an overall pain, both literally and figuratively. Sometimes however, I have to cave and venture out. Today was one of the days.
Yesterday was Ian's birthday and we went all out this year. It really came as a shock to him and his brother because usually birthday gifts around here are small token gifts. This year was an exception. For his B'day Ian got a coupon redeemable for an iPhone 4s and Andrew got a belated gift (since he had already purchased his own iPhone 4s he got a comparable amount in credit).
In hindsight I should have gone ahead and bought the phone earlier and given it to him rather than letting him shop for himself. Do you know how hard it is to find an iPhone 4s three days before Black Friday??? After checking at the Apple store, and several other retailers we came to the unhappy conclusion that he was going to have to just order it online. Saying he was not a happy camper is putting it mildly.
I on the other hand came away quite content. I was able to score a new pair of Crocs that I desperately needed. Have I mentioned before that I have terrible foot (feet?) problems? So far the only shoes that I've found that I can wear for long periods of time without foot pain are the dreaded, ugly Crocs. Go ahead, hate on 'em, I don't care. As long as they keep me up and mobile, I will continue wearing them.
I will admit that some of the styles they carry are pretty ugly, but they have really branched out over the years and expanded the styles they have available. This pair I bought yesterday doesn't even look like a Croc.
It's really cute and oh so comfortable. My feet can now do the happy dance!
And Ian .... he's doing the happy dance too. We finally scored a phone at a small, off the beaten path, AT&T store. I really hope he likes his phone 'cause all he's getting for Christmas is a couple of candy canes in his stocking!
Yesterday was Ian's birthday and we went all out this year. It really came as a shock to him and his brother because usually birthday gifts around here are small token gifts. This year was an exception. For his B'day Ian got a coupon redeemable for an iPhone 4s and Andrew got a belated gift (since he had already purchased his own iPhone 4s he got a comparable amount in credit).
In hindsight I should have gone ahead and bought the phone earlier and given it to him rather than letting him shop for himself. Do you know how hard it is to find an iPhone 4s three days before Black Friday??? After checking at the Apple store, and several other retailers we came to the unhappy conclusion that he was going to have to just order it online. Saying he was not a happy camper is putting it mildly.
I on the other hand came away quite content. I was able to score a new pair of Crocs that I desperately needed. Have I mentioned before that I have terrible foot (feet?) problems? So far the only shoes that I've found that I can wear for long periods of time without foot pain are the dreaded, ugly Crocs. Go ahead, hate on 'em, I don't care. As long as they keep me up and mobile, I will continue wearing them.
I will admit that some of the styles they carry are pretty ugly, but they have really branched out over the years and expanded the styles they have available. This pair I bought yesterday doesn't even look like a Croc.
It's really cute and oh so comfortable. My feet can now do the happy dance!
And Ian .... he's doing the happy dance too. We finally scored a phone at a small, off the beaten path, AT&T store. I really hope he likes his phone 'cause all he's getting for Christmas is a couple of candy canes in his stocking!
21 Birthday Wishes
Today was Ian's birthday. My boy turned twenty-two. According to my cousin he's too old to call boy but I disagree. As Mom I reserve the right to call him "my boy" for the rest of his life.
We took him to Genghis Grill for his birthday dinner. He is the one who initially introduced us to this restaurant and we all love it. Our little hole in the wall Chinese restaurant is still our favorite for Asian cuisine but this one is a close second. One thing we really like about GG is you get to pick everything that goes into your dish and can pile your bowl as high (or low) as you want ... and if it doesn't come out tasting good, you only have yourself to blame!
Here's Ian opening his Pokemon birthday card
Yes, that's all he got - a card, and a juvenile one at that. Hey, Pokemon was one of his favorites growing up so it was very appropriate!
Well, there was a little something inside the card.
Seriously Mom? This is for real?
Andrew got a card too. He got a belated birthday card with Chris Farley on the cover - guy humor.
Thank you Mommy and Dad, this is the best present ever!
You're welcome son. Just don't expect much for Christmas!
I'm happy and this couldn't have come at a better time!
I guess I forgot to mention there were homemade gift cards inside the birthday cards.
So, can we go to the Apple store right after dinner?
Here's proof that I was actually there
as usual, looking like the life of the party.
We took him to Genghis Grill for his birthday dinner. He is the one who initially introduced us to this restaurant and we all love it. Our little hole in the wall Chinese restaurant is still our favorite for Asian cuisine but this one is a close second. One thing we really like about GG is you get to pick everything that goes into your dish and can pile your bowl as high (or low) as you want ... and if it doesn't come out tasting good, you only have yourself to blame!
Here's Ian opening his Pokemon birthday card
Yes, that's all he got - a card, and a juvenile one at that. Hey, Pokemon was one of his favorites growing up so it was very appropriate!
Well, there was a little something inside the card.
Seriously Mom? This is for real?
Andrew got a card too. He got a belated birthday card with Chris Farley on the cover - guy humor.
Thank you Mommy and Dad, this is the best present ever!
You're welcome son. Just don't expect much for Christmas!
I'm happy and this couldn't have come at a better time!
I guess I forgot to mention there were homemade gift cards inside the birthday cards.
So, can we go to the Apple store right after dinner?
Here's proof that I was actually there
as usual, looking like the life of the party.
NOT!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
20 Thanksgiving dinner
Our church holds a Thanksgiving dinner the Sunday night before Thanksgiving every year. Turkey, dressing, and all the trimmings. I'm so thankful we do this because I love eating turkey and dressing and this gives me the opportunity to eat it twice in one week. Yee ha!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
19 Being Thankful
Today I am thankful for unexpected blessings. Without getting too personal (I have been accused of over-sharing here before), I'll say that we received some money recently that was totally out of the blue. And, it came at exactly the right time.
This weekend is the third in a row that we've had to take an automobile in for repairs. Some of the work we knew needed to be done but we kept putting it off because we didn't have the funds to pay for it. Some of the work was an unpleasant surprise. But, because of our totally unexpected blessing we were able to take care of our needs and not go into debt to do so.
Also due to our unexpected blessing we are able to take care of a few other things that have been sitting on the back burner. That back burner is actually overflowing with "things," I'm sure many of you can relate. It seems like something is always broken and needs to be fixed or replaced. Some people are in a position to immediately take care of those kinds of things, others are not. Guess which category we fall into?
Right now, I am just incredibly grateful that God has seen fit to bless us with the means to knock a few things off that back burner. I also pray He will continue to guide us in our journey and that we may be good stewards with anything He may choose to bless us with in the future.
This weekend is the third in a row that we've had to take an automobile in for repairs. Some of the work we knew needed to be done but we kept putting it off because we didn't have the funds to pay for it. Some of the work was an unpleasant surprise. But, because of our totally unexpected blessing we were able to take care of our needs and not go into debt to do so.
Also due to our unexpected blessing we are able to take care of a few other things that have been sitting on the back burner. That back burner is actually overflowing with "things," I'm sure many of you can relate. It seems like something is always broken and needs to be fixed or replaced. Some people are in a position to immediately take care of those kinds of things, others are not. Guess which category we fall into?
Right now, I am just incredibly grateful that God has seen fit to bless us with the means to knock a few things off that back burner. I also pray He will continue to guide us in our journey and that we may be good stewards with anything He may choose to bless us with in the future.
God is good,
all the time.
All the time,
God is good.
Friday, November 18, 2011
18 Why?
Eddie and I were sitting in the van the other day, waiting for his piano lesson to start. I had one of these with me.
I had brought it along with me to use while I was waiting for his lesson to end. Eddie spotted it and wanted to know what it was and why I had it with me. He associates these notebooks with school and the dreaded journals he has to keep for math and reading and just couldn't fathom what I needed it for. I explained to him that it was a notebook of stuff that I want to write down and remember. "What kind of stuff?" he asked. "Stuff that is none of your business young man." I got an eye roll for that remark.
A few minutes latter he asked, "Do you journal in your notebook?" "Nope, I just write stuff in it. And I'm still not telling you what kind of stuff."
A few minutes later he commented, "You don't write in a journal because you blog, right? What do you write about in your blog?"
"Well, I blog about all kinds of different things."
"What did you blog about today?"
"Today I blogged about a pecan."
"That's weird. Who wants to read about a pecan?"
"Exactly. Now go inside to your lesson, you're bugging me." Sigh. Sometimes our conversations exhaust me.
But this one did get me to thinking. There are people (a few anyway) who read my blog. Am I writing for me or for them? I guess the answer would be both. I like to write. I will sometimes write about things that are interesting to me but mostly I try to write about what I think will be interesting to others. I also write with the future in mind, that is the future of my kids who will hopefully one day be appreciative of the fact that Mom has documented so much of their past and our family life.
Sometimes when I'm writing for "me" I find myself being careful of what I say. I don't want to include anything that will be hurtful to others. I also don't want to put too much of "myself" out there and risk over sharing or saying something that could come back later to bite me in the butt. To be honest sometimes this self-censorship is so restrictive it makes me want to scream. Which is silly because isn't blogging supposed to be fulfilling?
And then it hit me.
I can have a second blog, one that is more like a journal. A blog that no one but me has to see. Doh! Why didn't I think of this before?
I guess it seems sort of silly that I am publicly blogging that I am going to start a private blog. There really was no reason I needed to share this tidbit of information other than I needed something to post today.
Oh oh , I do have something to share.
Look who got an early Christmas present! I'm so excited, aren't you?
I had brought it along with me to use while I was waiting for his lesson to end. Eddie spotted it and wanted to know what it was and why I had it with me. He associates these notebooks with school and the dreaded journals he has to keep for math and reading and just couldn't fathom what I needed it for. I explained to him that it was a notebook of stuff that I want to write down and remember. "What kind of stuff?" he asked. "Stuff that is none of your business young man." I got an eye roll for that remark.
A few minutes latter he asked, "Do you journal in your notebook?" "Nope, I just write stuff in it. And I'm still not telling you what kind of stuff."
A few minutes later he commented, "You don't write in a journal because you blog, right? What do you write about in your blog?"
"Well, I blog about all kinds of different things."
"What did you blog about today?"
"Today I blogged about a pecan."
"That's weird. Who wants to read about a pecan?"
"Exactly. Now go inside to your lesson, you're bugging me." Sigh. Sometimes our conversations exhaust me.
But this one did get me to thinking. There are people (a few anyway) who read my blog. Am I writing for me or for them? I guess the answer would be both. I like to write. I will sometimes write about things that are interesting to me but mostly I try to write about what I think will be interesting to others. I also write with the future in mind, that is the future of my kids who will hopefully one day be appreciative of the fact that Mom has documented so much of their past and our family life.
Sometimes when I'm writing for "me" I find myself being careful of what I say. I don't want to include anything that will be hurtful to others. I also don't want to put too much of "myself" out there and risk over sharing or saying something that could come back later to bite me in the butt. To be honest sometimes this self-censorship is so restrictive it makes me want to scream. Which is silly because isn't blogging supposed to be fulfilling?
And then it hit me.
I can have a second blog, one that is more like a journal. A blog that no one but me has to see. Doh! Why didn't I think of this before?
I guess it seems sort of silly that I am publicly blogging that I am going to start a private blog. There really was no reason I needed to share this tidbit of information other than I needed something to post today.
Oh oh , I do have something to share.
Look who got an early Christmas present! I'm so excited, aren't you?
Thursday, November 17, 2011
17 Get this thing off my face!
This morning Spunky wandered into the room looking like this
I took it as a hint that some housework was in order.
If you can't tell what it is, it's a twig covered in cobwebs.
I had the hardest time getting it off her face. I don't know if she couldn't see it, or was just insisting on making a statement with it. I had to chase her all over the house before finally cornering her in the bathroom and cleaning her face. I got the hint though and spent the afternoon cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming, and mopping floors.
I was gonna do all that work anyway 'cause my boys are coming home this weekend and everyone knows how guys expect to come home to a sparkling clean home. Ok, well maybe not. They did live here for the first eighteen years of their lives and should know what to expect! Anyway, it's all about being home with Mom and Dad and not so much what the house looks like, right?
They won't actually be here until Saturday evening. Today they are driving to Atlanta but are going right on by their regular exit as they travel to the south side of town.
Here they are on the ride home (I stole this photo off Andrew's Facebook page, the guy in the middle is a friend of Andrew's who snagged a ride to ATL). They are planning on attending the National Missionary Convention which is an annual convention that is held in a different city each year. Ian is on year four and Andrew year three for attending this event. They are always getting home late for the Thanksgiving break due to attending this convention. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining because this is such a great thing for them to be doing. I'm just happy this year the convention is here in Atlanta and they are close by. For the first time in four years Ian will actually be home for his birthday. Yay! Meanwhile, they will be spending the next two nights with my Mother who lives close to where the convention is being held. How convenient is that? It's a win-win for all involved. She gets to entertain her favorite grandsons and they get free room and board for two days.
And me, I'm just happy that the Thanksgiving break is right around the corner and we get to spend some good family time together.
I took it as a hint that some housework was in order.
If you can't tell what it is, it's a twig covered in cobwebs.
I had the hardest time getting it off her face. I don't know if she couldn't see it, or was just insisting on making a statement with it. I had to chase her all over the house before finally cornering her in the bathroom and cleaning her face. I got the hint though and spent the afternoon cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming, and mopping floors.
I was gonna do all that work anyway 'cause my boys are coming home this weekend and everyone knows how guys expect to come home to a sparkling clean home. Ok, well maybe not. They did live here for the first eighteen years of their lives and should know what to expect! Anyway, it's all about being home with Mom and Dad and not so much what the house looks like, right?
They won't actually be here until Saturday evening. Today they are driving to Atlanta but are going right on by their regular exit as they travel to the south side of town.
Here they are on the ride home (I stole this photo off Andrew's Facebook page, the guy in the middle is a friend of Andrew's who snagged a ride to ATL). They are planning on attending the National Missionary Convention which is an annual convention that is held in a different city each year. Ian is on year four and Andrew year three for attending this event. They are always getting home late for the Thanksgiving break due to attending this convention. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining because this is such a great thing for them to be doing. I'm just happy this year the convention is here in Atlanta and they are close by. For the first time in four years Ian will actually be home for his birthday. Yay! Meanwhile, they will be spending the next two nights with my Mother who lives close to where the convention is being held. How convenient is that? It's a win-win for all involved. She gets to entertain her favorite grandsons and they get free room and board for two days.
And me, I'm just happy that the Thanksgiving break is right around the corner and we get to spend some good family time together.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
16 It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Well, I'm all decorated, how about you?
Just kidding. This house is down the block from me. They start putting stuff out right after Halloween and every year the display gets bigger and bigger. I keep waiting for them to add music that is synchronized with the lights.
Next time we go by I'm going to have Dale come to a complete stop so the photos aren't so blurry.
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