I usually do this on Tuesday, but I’m a little behind this week.
Ah, glorious Thursday. One day away from Friday, which puts me thismuchcloser to the weekend.
**********
I am so behind on my Christmas shopping this year. I’ve tried to do a lot of it online, but the bigger issue is that I’m stumped for ideas. My mom, for instance, is THE hardest person in the world to shop for. Yes, it’s really that difficult. It’s hard to shop for someone in her late ’70s who pretty much has whatever she wants. And the fact that her birthday is next week doesn’t make it any easier. She is the 9th out of 10 kids, so she had a childhood full of combined gifts, so really, I need to come up with two ideas.
My brother asked her straight out what she wants—no sense being subtle with her—and she told him she wanted a Roomba. You know those robot vacuums that you turn loose on your floor? I guess Target had a Buy One Get One deal and she wanted both—one for one end of the house and one for the other. He called her back and told her he found them, thought they were cool and decided to give the second one to his mother-in-law. Needless to say my mom was sort of annoyed at that one.
Roomba by iRobot
So now the question is, should I go out and get a second one for her? Oy. I hate this time of the year.
**********
I finally got my tree out of storage this weekend and put it up. At 7:00 p.m. Sunday night I got an energy boost and decided to tackle it then. Big mistake. By the time I got the tree set up and all the ornaments unwrapped and ready to put up, I was done. I’ve been decorating here and there during the week, and last night I decided I was done—until I looked at the tree and realized there weren’t any ornaments on the top half. I thought about leaving it that way—after all, I’m only 4’11” and the tree is 7′ tall, but I knew Bill would notice, so I added some more and called it a night.
*********
It’s no secret around here that I bought a purebred dog. I struggle with that sometimes because I totally believe in rescuing animals from shelters. Gracie’s predecessor was a shelter dog, and she was the most awesome dog ever. The irony of that is, of course, that finding a Samoyed in a shelter was not going to happen again and I wanted another. In purchasing Gracie I got sucked into the world of dog shows, and I pretty much embraced that (it’s an odd world, but that’s part of the fun).
But there’s a big downside—getting an AKC registered dog from a breeder ties you to people you might not normally associate with otherwise. It’s like having in-laws: you have to tolerate them because they’re family, but you don’t necessarily like them (Sue, if you’re reading this, I don’t mean you!).
Today I got a panicked phone call from Gracie’s breeder. She’s breeding Gracie’s mother again to a different father (hussy!) and she needs to show proof that the puppies from Gracie’s litter are healthy. And by healthy, they mean certified to not have hip or eye problems, not just regular health issues. This requires X-Rays and a few other tests. Personally, I think Gracie needs glasses the way she walks into walls and doors, but I think they’re more concerned with bone density and hip dysplasia.
Gracie's stamp of approval
She was panicking because she never told me she needed this done in a certain time frame. It was always, “If you decide to breed her, you need to do this first.” And frankly, I haven’t decided yet.
And because I can’t just drop everything and run our during the day to do this, and because, let’s face it, this isn’t really MY problem, she’s going to pick Gracie up at my office and take her to a vet to get all of this done.
Bill doesn’t trust that she’ll bring Gracie back to me. I don’t think she’s that devious or shady, but Internet, you are my witness. Gracie will be picked up at 9:45 a.m. tomorrow and if she isn’t returned to me by noon, I’m going to hunt her down. Who’s coming with me?!
How much for the Roomba? I got a mother of a mother too Mo!
And, even though it was past my bedtime I could’ve decorated the top 1/3 of your tree if given a Lychee Martini!
Well, the ornaments are crooked so if you want to come over and straighten them I’ll pay you in Lychee martinis!
I’ll be at VWC to hear Ann sing around 8…come and topple my tree!
I’m with you! Just give me a call, the drive will put Baby A to sleep.
I also have a mother whose birthday is close to Christmas–exactly a week before. I feel your pain. Since she lives in a retirement community, could you give her the top-shelf fixings for her favorite cocktail? They do love to drink in those places.
.-= Carey´s last blog ..It’s Coat Weather =-.
Boy, they DO love to drink in those places. It’s so funny—any event is an occasion. Friends going on a cruise? Let’s have a Bon Voyage party! Card games are just a vehicle for getting people together to drink. Same with golf! Not a bad life if you can do it, I guess!
My mother’s birthday is Deceber 25th! What’s the deal with all the Christmas birthday mothers? Eerie. Anyway, my mum has insisted on gift cards for years. She doesn’t trust any of us to buy her anything useful. This year, instead of having to troll the old people store for a gift card, I’m giving her one of those pre-paid credit cards. Then she can go anywhere and buy herself anything, including a Roomba. Who wouldn’t want a pre-paid credit card?
.-= XUP´s last blog ..Hunkering Down =-.
A few years ago I stopped trying to be creative and started giving her gift cards to her favorite stores. She loves to call me up and tell me what she bought. But I always feel like it’s the lazy way out. I obviously should just get her an Amex or Visa gift card and let her buy groceries if that’s what she wants.
Don’t get her the Roomba. Then again, I have no idea what you should get her…so, hmm. Am no help.
On the dog, I’d come hunt her down with you. But I’m sure she’ll bring her back.
Our dog is an Aussie. Purebred. Parents from different states, to not over breed. Mix of a blue and red murle. Papers. Show-able. But? I think I offended the people who gave her to us when I said, heck no, I’m not doing that. She was a gift, for helping with their wedding. But they never told me until we’d had her for 9 months that they wanted me to show her. Shit dude, I had a toddler and was pregnant when they said that. I think my death glare may have killed them. Ha.
.-= Issa´s last blog ..The, hi it’s almost Christmas and I have no brain left meme. =-.
I didn’t mind the IDEA of showing her, but it was never as easy as I was told it would be. Or as inexpensive. She just did a 4-day show and entry fees alone were $140. We actually signed a contract agreeing to do this, and we’re almost done. As soon as she gets that last point, she’s just going to be Gracie, not Champion Couture’s Grace Under Fire (don’t ask).
I LOVE Aussies. Gracie has a couple of Aussie boyfriends in our ‘hood and it’s great—they run her ragged and then all collapse in a big heap, totally exhausted.
I will totally come with you to hunt her down if Gracie doesn’t come back right on time. And if you do breed her, please oh please save me a puppy! I want a Samoyed too, and even though I always like to do rescues, I may have to make an exception for a doggie as gorgeous as Gracie! Merry Christmas!
We’ve had two Samoyeds. One, my husband got in LA after an earthquake and a co-worker could no longer keep the puppy. The co-worker had gotten him from a breeder when he was just a puppy, so he was still all cute and fluffy. The second Samoyed we got from the Samoyed rescue in Illinois. He was so sweet and while he did have some issues, like most rescue dogs, once he felt comfortable with us he was great. If you’re looking for a Samoyed, they are a great place to check out because you’re saving these cute, loving dogs and, best of all, there are no contracts about showing them.
There are Samoyed rescues all over the country but here’s the national website: http://www.samoyedrescue.org/.