The Not-So-Magic Touch

We had a great Thanksgiving! Lots of relaxing, cuddling with kitties, watching parades, a fantastic dinner, pumpkin pie ... sigh. It was worth every second of anticipation. I got the stuffing just exactly the way I like it, The Tim tried a recipe for mashed potato casserole, which has the advantage of being something you can make the day before, and he and Seb had baked pumpkin pies on Tuesday.

Channeling Martha Stewart - it was a good thing!

Except. I decided that since I had finished Fetching mitt #1 last week, I'd at least get the second one started while I was watching the parades. Then I did a bit more during the dog show, and during the original "Miracle on 34th Street." Stopped to have dinner, and clean up, and then worked on them more while we were watching some television shows we had taped last week. All of a sudden I realized I had only about four rows left, and weaving in the ends, and mitt #2 would be finished! Then tragedy struck. I ran out of yarn!!! I bought the yarn at the store near where I work, and no way was I going to walk over there this weekend, so I'll get another ball at lunchtime on Monday. But honestly ...

On Friday, we ventured out late in the morning to do some shopping. Yes, I know it was International Don't Shop Day, and I should only be buying hand made items, or making them myself, but as much as I agree in theory, it doesn't work in practice for a lot of the gifts I am giving. So I do what I can and live with it.

Besides, we were walking to the area of town where the shops are, and since it's so hard to park in the city, and you have to be OUTSIDE, there are never that many shoppers. Because, well, people would have to be OUTSIDE, and apparently that is just too shocking for most people to consider ...

So anyway, we had two stops we wanted to make, and when we got to our first stop, we found the things we were hoping to find, and they were on sale, plus an additional 25% off. Great. We got in line to pay, and when it was our turn, this is what happened.

The clerk would pick up something that The Tim had carried, and zip! it would scan immediately. Then the clerk would pick up something that I had carried, and try to scan. Then try to scan again. Usually on the third or fourth try, it would finally work. Needless to say, this did not make the disinterested young person working at the register very happy. And to be honest, between this and the whole running out of yarn thing, I was beginning to get a complex! Fortunately, our next stop was not in any way problematic, so I felt vindicated ...

Because it is all about me, you know.

In any event, I've been getting ideas of what to get for those on my gift list, which is always fun, and I think I have things well in hand. There probably won't be many - if any at all - handknit items, since I got behind when I had hand surgery. But since I hadn't promised anyone anything, I don't feel too bad about it.

I did want to ask all of you, though - do you think The Tim might like this? I'm pretty sure that no one else is getting one for him ... and it's such a bargain ...

Tomorrow afternoon we are taking Karen and Seb to lunch, and then all of us are heading to a local theater in the area to see "Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge," a musical by Christopher Durang. I cannot wait, as I know it will be 1) ridiculous, 2) wrong, and 3) festive! (Another good Christmas comedy is "Inspecting Carol," though I can't remember the name of the playwright.) The ad says it is "not recommended for children under 13," so Seb is excited to be going. And since I will not have touched the tickets, we should be fine ...