Gifts of...

This is the time of year when it hits me with tsumnai force that I have a long list of people to purchase for, a small budget to do it with and no clue what I need to shop for! There are so many ways to find the perfect gift, many new avenues to help. There is a commercial for some internet site where they will help you choose something by having you describe the person you are trying to buy for. How helpful. The fact of the matter is the only perfect gifts aren't things that can get wrapped with a fancy bow. The gift of life, the gift of love and the gift of health. Happiness might make that list, but that is really more of a personal choice. Love is something very giveable, but not really package-able. Life is giveable as long as you are will to be responsible for the results for many years to come. Twice is good for me! Health may be givable if I was a doctor, which I am not, and it is certainly not a guarenteed product or something one might wrap. So that leaves me to the rat race of shopping with the hoards of Buffalonians trying to find the items that no one really needs, but it might put a smile on the face of their loved one, while not putting them in debt up to their eyeballs. Good luck shoppers!

Problem or Inconvience?

I had a wonderful conversation with my great good friend Lisa yesterday in which she shared a new perspective on life. Is it a problem or an inconvience? She told me a story of a woman eating in a restaurant with a woman behind her complaining so much about her mashed potatoes that they got sent back to the kitchen 3 times. The first woman had across the room from her a third woman, older, and with numbers tatooed on her arm. That woman was telling a story of being the only member of her family to survive the holocust. Problem or inconvience. Later yesterday evening, I received a phone call from my sister-in-law telling me her younger brother Bob had been given the news that he had a cancerous tumor on his kidney. I , in turn, made some phone calls to my husband in California(who wasn't there), the lady in charge of the prayer chain at our church, and another of Joe's brothers - who would be getting the prayer chain call and probably shouldn't get the news from there. I then had to call the wife of the brother-in-law who was home alone with a 22 month and 2 month old on her husbands first day back to work after a 2 months of being laid off. She said it seemed like this was not her life. Surreal and scarey. However, hopeful with promising outlooks from the doctors. I was then able to reach my husband and share the news. While on the phone with Joe, there was hysterical screaming and crying coming from Andrew in the shower. I was informed loudly, thru tears and shower walls that Lucas was a mean, mean liar who had stolen Andrew's favorite pair of stripped underwear out of is drawer, bragged he had them on and claimed they were in his drawer. I tried to appease with the pair that were actually in Lucas' drawer, but it didn't seem to help. Joe is snorting with laugther miles away from the drama! Once the dust settled and apologizes were made, we agreed Mommy would be responible for dolling out the underwear and lying would cease.("Telling the truth is hard!"-sob cry pout). Problem or inconvience. So, I ask for prayers for my brother-in-law and his whole family and that if you find Hanes boxer briefs size S(6-8) with stripes, purchase them and mail them to me and I'll pay you double!

Yuck!

I got my first unwanted comment today. Another internet advertisement. As if the pop-ups and ads on every web page weren't enough. Now they have invaded my poor little blog! Nothing will make me as mad as when I got spywared! I was just too premenstral to handle it politely. Thank heaven my brother knows me well enough and calmed me down and helped me fix those evil doers! However, the past month I have received 3 phone calls a day from various people (Laura Bush, Jim Kelly, political morons) trying to get my vote - this of course only made me not vote for them. I got a call on the Fri the 13th when we had the big storm that took out power to everyone in WNY. I flipped on the poor woman. She says "This is so and so calling for Jack Davis.." I replied (in a very nasty tone). "You have got to be kidding me! We have no power and you want to talk about politics! GET A LIFE!!" and slammed down the phone. My husbands says "Who was that dear?" (in a pleasant tone). I fummed about how f***ing stupid politicians are. Unfortunately they didn't get the point. I did get a live person taking a survey on ads and phone calls, who was looking for commentary - boy did she get some! Sigh. If people didn't purchase from this irrating ads they wouldn't have any reason to continue them! Stop the madness!! (he he)

Don't make 'em like they used to

I have my grandmother's Black & Decker toaster oven, that must be a good 15 years old. It has been a very nice little toaster oven. It has the occasional bad day and forgets to stop toasting, but it still gets a 41/2 out of 5 stars. Sadly, this mightly little appliance is on it's last leg. If I didn't use it constantly, it would already be in the garbage. It's really almost frightening to use. However, it's not just the sentimental value and the necessity factors that have me hanging on to the poor old thing. It's the fact that finding a replacement is proving to be FAR more difficult than I could have imagined. I am well aware that things aren't made to last the way they used to be. Just ask my sister-in-law Karen about the evilness of fridge life! But I figured that a toaster oven could be found at a reasonable price that was well made. I looked at the ones in Walmart and was not impressed. I decided to do more research on-line. Boy, some of the reviews are scathing! And most seem to say that the oven feature is good, but the toasting feature is not. If they could make good ones that lasted 20 years ago, why can't they do that any more? If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Argh! Any suggestions?

Will wonders never cease

Last night upon going to bed, I turned on my bedside table lamp, which revealed a note written on a tissure (readily available on the bedside table). The note said: I heart u. I knew who had written it, but not when. My lovely 6 year old son (yes male) Lucas had left it for me. He likes to leave little notes. Even before he could actually write words he would scrible lines on a paper and tuck it in my purse or my husband's shoe. This same child took my husband's wallet without asking and put it under his pillow for the toothfairy. After the panic and the stern discussion on why this was not a good thing to do, the thought did occur that this was yet another sweet jesture. My mother says she frequently finds trains, trucks and other little toys tucked in cupboards and closets after Lucas has been there. Andrew's precious stuffed dog Dudley has been secreted away as well. It is frequently vexing, but more often very enduring. I shall really regret the day he out grows this. I honestly hope he never does and should make a point of encouraging it.