Christmas Lists

Unless you play World of Warcraft, these might be a) mildly amusing or b) mildly disturbing. These are Murky, on the left, and Lurky, on the right, and they are plush representations of the denizens in the game people love to hate, murlocs. For those who don't play WOW, these creatures populate every location in the old world. The make a sound like a drowning man gargling which is enough, when you have a kill a lot of them, to make you turn off the game sounds. Occasionally, when you reduce the life of one to zero, it will die in a very "B" movie actor fashion. That's the reason I like to kill them, to get the "Oh my god, I'm dying" animation.

These belong to Jon. He ordered them off the WOW store web site and had them shipped to the office because he knew I would get a kick out of them. They reminded me that, in my family, we need to decide if we are drawing names for Christmas and, if so, lists have to be exchanged.

This has been a tradition my entire life. I never could understand the not having a list from which to work. In 22 years of birthday and Christmas gifting, my late-mother-in-law never asked what I wanted for Christmas. Maybe she asked my ex, but she never asked me. I got one gift in all those years that I actually remember being useful. There might have been others but I just remember the pair of navy blue sweat pants the exact size. I wore those for several years before the waistband gave out.

So, I've asked Carole and Chad for lists and have some ideas on what to get them. Actually, Carole is done for her November birthday and I'm working on Christmas. I have to write my mother and ask her feelings on Christmas as my brother is out of work and supposedly, my sister is moving, although this hasn't been verified. (Long story) Christmas is bound to be lean for everyone.

Would I want Murky and/or Lurky? Well, won't put them on my list but I wouldn't turn them away. I need new oven mitts. I would like a new robe and new slippers. I would certainly use gift certificates to Penney's so I could get long-sleeved shirts. I have a lot of turtle necks, but I would like something less clingy. Chocolate is always good and I have to get rid of my Iowa Hawkeye socks as I've worn the bottoms out.

It's interesting that, as I've aged, I've gone from wanting "stuff" to wanting "things". I don't want (or lack for) the accouterments that make my space lovely. But I am less about wanting those things and more about wanting things to replace items I have worn out. Hence, while Murky and Lurky would be welcome and I'd certainly find a place in my home office where they could watch whilst I "off" members of their race, I don't want them and my life wouldn't be tragic without them. If I don't get oven mitts this Christmas however, I am going to have to get some. Removing the potato skins from the oven over the weekend reminded me that I need to get new mitts.

71 shopping days left. What's on your list?

Beverage: Blackberry Sage tea (Ooooh I need more of this! Add to the list)

Deb

This vexes me - #3

I'm all for breast cancer awareness and the opportunity to raise funds to fight the disease.

BUT...

You've gone and put my Cheerios in plastic wrap to "give" me a window cling because I've bought this box.

I don't want a window cling. I want my box of Cheerios without them being hermetically sealed.

I remember when toys came in the bottom of the box. That was the hook into buying the cereal. "Look for the free race car in every specially marked box of Sugar Smacks!" You had to dig to the bottom of the box and I can remember getting big mixing bowls from the cupboard and pouring the cereal out of the box to get to whatever was in the bottom. I remember when they weren't in plastic bags, too. It was just a toy in the bottom of the box, covered in cereal crumbs.

I can't remember the last time I saw "Free race car inside" on a box of cereal. The cost is probably now too prohibitive to do something like that. Even Cracker Jack, the king of inside the box gifts, has gone with very cheap paper items because it's too expensive to put "real" toys in their product.

And, to answer the question you've probably had swirling about in your head, the non-plastic boxes were 50 cents more. I came home, removed the plastic and the window cling, put the cling in the "give away" pile and have my Cheerios available for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Today, I had Cheerios without bananas. Maybe I'll nip over to the grocery at noon and get a bunch. It's THE way to start my day.

Beverage: Huckleberry tea

Deb

IOWA 30 MICHIGAN 28

That makes us 6-0 for the best start in over a decade!

Am I excited?

This is NOT Dr. Pepper I'm drinking.

Beverage: Asti Spumanti

Deb

Moar Braver...er...

I'm working slowly, almost a glacial pace, through a variety of things that have to be done or that I want done. Jon got the digital receiver hooked up to my TV and, wow, look at the picture. But, it won't get channel 7, ABC, and Iowa plays Michigan tonight on nationwide TV. Simple fix. Go to Radio Shack and get a coax cable and put the rabbit ears in the east window. Attach the signal booster to one end of the coax and attach the other end to the digital box. Hit "Search" and the ABC signal should be found by the box. Well, that sounds simple enough that I can do it.

So, I went to Radio Shack and bought a coax cable. I get home and screw the one end into the digital box. I go to attach the signal booster and discovered the ends are the same, both male. The coax cable has two male ends. I need a male and a female end. That means another trip to Radio Shack to either exchange the cable for one with the right ends or get an adapter. I don't want to go out again.

I'm working my way through things. I have swept behind the TV and dusted everything. I'm getting rid of my old DDR pads so I've started a pile at the end of the hall of "give aways". I found a nice box for stuff to ship to Carole. I am cleaning the bathroom. I spray cleaner on something and then leave so I don't start coughing. Right now, I'm working on the tub. It takes all afternoon to clean the bathroom this way, but my allergies don't act up. I went to make tea and have sorted the stuff I pulled off the top shelf of the cupboard. I removed the rest of the top shelf to see if I really do need to save all this stuff and Pilchard decided to use the step stool to explore. She came down the basement stairs 3 stairs today and didn't want to go back up as I was headed up with a basket of clean laundry.

Yes, I will be washing off the stove and any counters on which she walked. The point is that a month and a half of living with me and they have settled in and are getting braver about exploring places. They seem to recognize my footfalls on the front steps and on the deck. They still tend to run when I'm walking about the house, but I guess that's okay. I've kicked too many cats in my day when they go between or in front of my legs. They ran when Jon came by but came out for the rest of the evening about 5 minutes after he left.

As much as I miss the other 5, I love these two. Now if we can just get over the hissing.

Beverage: Lady Grey tea

Deb