Archive through December 10, 2002
TV ClubHouse: Archives: Shopping Days Left till Christmas.......:
Archive through December 10, 2002
Sia | Wednesday, December 04, 2002 - 10:59 pm     Dahli, your scheme with your sister and the Christmas gifts is brilliant!! So how did you two arrive at this? I'm really forced to walk on eggshells with my sister on the subject of Christmas gifts. How would I suggest this to her? I would love to do this!! I think you ARE geniuses, you and your sis! LOL! |
Jkm | Thursday, December 05, 2002 - 09:58 am     19 days left folks and the checkbook is bear! Or as our Wal-mart puts it 3 Saturdays until Christmas. |
Wargod | Thursday, December 05, 2002 - 10:01 am     OMG Jkm!!!! Lets just leave it at 19 days left! |
Sia | Thursday, December 05, 2002 - 02:14 pm     I wrapped ONE gift and put it under the tree. My son bawled until he was allowed to open it. He is six years old, for cryin' out loud. It was a $1 Power Rangers Wild Force puzzle for him from his four-year-old sister. She's as bad. I have chased them from my bedroom numerous times today. SNOW DAY TODAY; NO SCHOOL!!! Yay!! |
Wargod | Thursday, December 05, 2002 - 04:40 pm     Hey Sia,if you just feel the need to stick something under the tree now, just wrap up empty boxes, LOL. Leave the presents hidden....it'll save you tears, temper tantrums,and lots of yelling!!!! I bought these Mickey Mouse sticker books for the kids for stocking stuffers....paid like a buck for them. I'm thinking that I'll give them to the kids next week for our hour and a half drive to Disneyland to keep them occupied. As of right now, they know we're going somewhere special, but they don't know where we're going and I'd like to keep it that way til we pull into the parking lot. Makes life simpler that way, LOL. |
Calamity | Friday, December 06, 2002 - 11:39 am     Some wonderful holiday specials are on this weekend. Tonight at 9 o'clock EST on the WB network is 'Olive, the Other Reindeer'. I love the music in this show. Sunday at 8PM EST on ABC is the all-time classic, 'A Charlie Brown Christmas'. I love the music in this, too! The never-before-seen 'Charlie Brown Christmas Tales' will follow. |
Weenerlobo | Friday, December 06, 2002 - 11:54 am     Calamity - thanks for the heads up - I don't think I've ever seen Olive, but a year without a Charlie Brown Christmas, well, that's just wrong! |
Wargod | Friday, December 06, 2002 - 03:47 pm     19 days left, and I hit a huge snag. I still need at least one video game for Caleb, plus his small items (socks and undies, toothbrush, bath set.) And I still need Dakota's big gift (which quite frankly I'm wishy washy on.) Plus her smaller items (same as Caleb's, but also to keep them even I need to pick her up another barbie or something or two.) So, the kids went to my sis' today. I went shopping. First I went to Kmart...spent 45 minutes wandering around. The 9.95 video games I have a rain check on haven't come in, and I couldn't find squat for Dakota. So, I headed to Wal-Mart. Checked out the video games...cheapest one they have was 29.95 and I know damned well I can do better than that! I searched for something that Dakota would fall in love with...and found nothing. The bikes they have are too big for her. They don't have any tents, and the only roller skates to fit her feet are those stupid plastic ones you stick over their shoes. (Just an aside. My sis and I roller skated for years, and we never used those stupid plastic ones! We'd get a new pair every year from the skating rink, and I know when we were older they were costing some bucks...but it was something we both loved. I just can't bring myself to buy the stupid plastic ones for my kid!) Anyways, I walked out of Wal-Mart with one barbie doll, two hair brushes, and some carpet sprinkle stuff...I completely failed. I came home and literally broke into tears. Ok, today is the two year anniversary of my step-dads death, and Monday will be the three year anniversary of my best friends husband, so this probably ain't the right time for me to be stressing to begin with. Anyways, I called hubby at work, and we talked for awhile. I've been so busy stressing over the holidays, and buying presents, and family coming, and getting the house ready and Disneyland that I've spent no time enjoying what I should be enjoying. Darren and I have decided that todays paycheck and next weeks will be directed towards all our bills for December. We may go to Disneyland on the 18th, but if not thats ok...we'll give the tickets to my littlest "brother" and take the kids in February. Then, on the 20th (last payday before Christmas) I will withdraw a bit of money and that Saturday, hubby and I will go out shopping til we get everything we need to finish. I don't want to worry anymore about, "Dakota doesn't have this, Caleb doesn't have that!" I want to spend time with my family and not stress over the stuff that really doesn't matter. So, tonight I'll bake cookies with the kids and plan tomorrow as a family night and we'll watch our collection of Christmas movies and just enjoy it. I'm done with shopping until right before Christmas. |
Curiouscat | Saturday, December 07, 2002 - 05:49 am     It was the night before Christmas, I hurried to go to the supermarket to buy the remaining gifts I didn't manage to buy earlier. When I saw all the people there, I started to complain to myself: "It is going to take forever here and I still have so many other places to go...Christmas really is getting more and more annoying every year. How I wish I could just lie down, go to sleep and only wake up after it...." Nonetheless, I made my way to the toy section, and there I started to curse the prices, wondering if the kids really play with such expensive toys. While looking in the toy section, I noticed a small boy of about 5 years old, pressing a doll against his chest. He kept on touching the hair of the doll and looked so sad. I wondered who this doll was for. Then the little boy turned to the old woman next to him: "Granny, are you sure I don't have enough money?" The old lady replied: "You know that you don't have enough money to buy this doll, my dear." Then she asked him to stay here for 5 minutes while she went to look around. She left quickly. The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand. Finally, I started to walk toward him and I asked him who he wanted to give this doll to. "It is the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much for this Christmas. She was so sure that Santa Claus would bring it to her." I replied to him that maybe Santa Claus will bring it to her, after all, and not to worry. But he replied to me sadly. "No, Santa Claus can not bring it to her where she is now. I have to give the doll to my mother so that she can give it to her when she goes there." His eyes were so sad while saying this. "My sister has gone to be with God. Daddy says that Mommy will also go to see God very soon, so I thought that she could bring the doll with her to give it to my sister." My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said: "I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I asked him to wait until I come back from the supermarket." Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing. He then told me: "I also want mommy to take this photo with her so that she will not forget me. I love my mommy and I wish she doesn't have to leave me but daddy says that she has to go to be with my sister." Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly. I quickly reached for my wallet and took a few notes and said to the boy. "What if we checked again, just in case you have enough money?" "Ok" he said. "I hope that I have enough." I added some of my money to his without him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll, and even some spare money. The little boy said: "Thank you God for giving me enough money." Then he looked at me and added: "I asked yesterday before I slept for God to make sure I have enough money to buy this doll so that mommy can give it to my sister. He heard me. I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didnt dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and the white rose. You know, my mommy loves white roses." A few minutes later, the old lady came again and I left. I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started. I couldnt get the little boy out of my mind. Then I remembered a local newspaper article 2 days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck who hit a car where there was one young lady and a little girl. The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-assisting machine, because the young lady would not be able to come out of the coma. Was this the family of the little boy? Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the newspaper that the young lady had passed away. I couldnt stop myself and went to buy a bunch of white roses and I went to the mortuary where the body of the young woman was for people to see and make a last wish before burial. She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest. I left the place crying, feeling that my life had been changed forever. The love that this little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a drunken driver had taken all this away from him. Now you have 2 choices: 1) Send this message to everybody that you know. 2) Or delete it and do as if it never touched your heart. If you send this message, maybe you will help prevent someone drunk to go driving. |
Wargod | Saturday, December 07, 2002 - 11:47 am     Can I get a box of kleenex in here? |
Jkm | Monday, December 09, 2002 - 07:23 am     I cry everytime I read that one. My dh wanted to go the mall Saturday. I about fell over! Go to the big mall -- on a Satuday -- during Christmas season??? So off we went, we actually got a front row spot our first time down a row -- He says it must be a sign! We go into Sears -- he has a gift certificate from last year to use -- he can't find anything he wants... We go out into the mall -- Auntie Anne's pretzels is right out side of Sears -- he says no - not until we're ready to go. My youngest and I just look at him (this is breaking OUR shopping rituals). He only lets us drag him into one store. We end up only getting an Aaron Carter calender for the oldest (she's babysitting for an aunt). We leave -- go over to Best Buy in another terribly crowded shopping center - again luck into an excellent parking place. He ends up getting a software program and a game and some cd labels. Turns out -- dh thought he needed something -- we weren't shopping for anyone but him. I laughed, but was agrivated at him. Told him he was unwrapping the empty boxes on Christmas because he just cut into my Christmas funds. You don't buy stuff this close to Chritmas just because your bored and think you need something to do!!!! Ugh!! We spent $100!!! He just doesn't get it. So he says ok I won't go shopping for you until next week then instead of taking the girls tommorrow to shop. Gee, thanks dear. |
Calamity | Monday, December 09, 2002 - 09:58 am     Here's a few of this week's Holiday specials that I particularly like ...mark your calendars! December 10th, Tuesday 'Annabelle's Wish' - ABC Family, 6PM EST December 11th, Wednesday 'The Snowman' - ABC Family, 6PM EST 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' - ABC Family 6:30PM EST 'Santa Claus is Comin' to Town' - ABC Family 9PM EST December 12th, Thursday 'Rudolph's Shiny New Year' - ABC Family 9PM EST December 13th, Friday 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' - The WB 8PM EST 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' - CBS 8PM EST 'Robbie the Reindeer in Hooves of Fire' - CBS 9PM EST 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' - ABC 9PM EST 'Charlie Brown Christmas Tales' - ABC 9:30PM EST 'Robbie the Reindeer and the Legend of the Lost Tribe' - CBS 9:30PM EST December 14th, Saturday 'Frosty the Snowman' - CBS 8PM EST 'Frosty Returns' - CBS 8:30PM EST Note-The Family Channel ran the original Robbie the Reindeer special a couple of years ago but CBS has seen fit to redub it with American voices. I hope that didn't mess it up. |
Jkm | Monday, December 09, 2002 - 11:53 am     Thanks Calamity!! :>) 15 SHOPPING DAYS -- TIME TO START PANICING!!! (2 Saturdays) Wargod - I admire your plan!! way to stay grounded! |
Squaredsc | Monday, December 09, 2002 - 12:03 pm     thanks calamity, i love the grinch and charlie brown xmas. i finally started shopping yesterday with d.h. we went to walmart. it was a madhouse. and they have stopped layway till next year. so got the d.s.' a few things and got them an x-box. now i have to sell my right arm to buy some games for it. |
Jkm | Monday, December 09, 2002 - 12:43 pm     Square - we have an xbox - dh won it from taco bell last year (we were amazed - we never win anything!) Rent games before you buy - xbox doesn't have the best selection to chose from. My girls love Fusion Frenzy - and Tony Hawk skateboarding - dh likes the role playing games. Also, at our mall we found a place called electronic boutique that sells used games - had some as cheap as $15 - most were $25. Our rental places have several to chose from to rent, so maybe a gift certificate for rentals would be better at first than the $50 for each new game. |
Fanny | Monday, December 09, 2002 - 01:11 pm     Square no need to sell your right arm. I, oops I mean we, have an extra arm that used to belong to ER's Dr. Romano. Go ahead and use it. |
Wargod | Monday, December 09, 2002 - 01:27 pm     I just knew you were dying to offer Romano's arm, Fanny!!!! Poor arm has been beat up and abused, Square....its also been making the rounds for what? about two and a half months now? LOL. |
Fanny | Monday, December 09, 2002 - 01:45 pm     War. I could tell stories about that arm but it would gross everyone out so I won't, lol. |
Wargod | Monday, December 09, 2002 - 02:06 pm     Hehe, Fanny. I still think that was the most shocking scene I've ever seen on TV, LOL. Even though I knew what was happening...truly shocking! I went and visited my old people today. First off, they're begging me to come back, which in an odd way feels kinda good, but it's not going to happen, LOL. They are having their Christmas party this Friday and want me to bring the kids. During the past 12 years, I've missed the party once (huge party...the residents invite family, friends, the employees bring their families....theres usually about 600 people there!) So, I'm debating on if I'm going or not. Darren has to work, so it'd just be me and the kids going...and I really don't like to take both of them to places where theres a huge amount of people by myself. So, I have to decide fairly quickly if I am going...I can't imagine Chistmas without this party, and even though I don't work there anymore, I still care a great deal about my old folks so I'm going in circles, LOL. |
Jmm | Monday, December 09, 2002 - 10:11 pm     War, If I may butt in, if you really want to - go and take the kids. You know good and well they will be very entertained and watched by your "old people". Find a couple of the oldsters who don't have any family there (and who are still fairly with it) and let them entertain the kids (and the kids will entertain them). You can still keep an eye on the kids, but you know good and well they would never let anything happen to your babies and I'm sure it would make their holidays to have children around. JMO but think about it. |
Jkm | Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 05:40 am     14 days left -- two weeks from today is Christmas Eve!!! I'm getting excited, stressed, and many others!! We haven't even driven around to look at lights much this year -- hopefully girls won't have too much homework and we can fix that tonight. |
Twinkie | Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 07:00 am     War, honey, I have to go along with JMM on this. You know it will bring much joy to those oldies to see you and your children and will probably also be very good for your heart and soul, not to mention your babies. And of course they would not let anything happen to your babies. My heart so goes out to the elderly who have nobody to visit with them. I'm cooking a turkey this year to take to the nursing home near my house. I wish I could do more. |
Jkm | Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 07:14 am     The kids in the troop aren't real happy about it -- but at our meeting this week, we're having a christmas party - signing cards doing an exchange and then going to the nursing home down the road to deliver the cards. |
Squaredsc | Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 08:15 am     fanny/square, roflmao. does he have a spare right foot too? jkm, actually my d.s.' wanted a game cube, and when d.h. and i were in the store he talked to a nice gentlemanly kid who was playing on the xbox game display and he said it was better than game cube, it had better graphics and better selection of games, so naturally d.h. said we were getting the xbox, it comes with 2 games(don't know which ones) and 1 controller. so now i also have to get another controller. i have been to electronic boutique before(bought their gameboy games and sega dreamcast games, etc.) thanks for reminding me about it 'cause i didn't even think of it. |
Wargod | Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - 09:15 am     Jkm, how old are the kids? We used to have a young girl scout troop come in to visit the people once a month. They adopted a grandparent and would come in to do crafts with them, and talk to them. The old folks loved it! We also had another group who went out to Edwards Air Force Base. The point behind that was that children with parents in the military didn't usually have their grandparents around so it was fun for them to have an elderly person take an active interest in them. My kids have grown up in this home. When I was pregnant they babied me, which occassionally drove me crazy, but I kept in mind that most of them weren't able to be with their own grandkids when they went through pregnancies and had young babies so I was a surrogate. And while half the people who live their now weren't there back them, I still take at least one of the kids over there once a week to visit. I feel that the elderly are one of those "forgotten" groups of people, since its so easy to stick them in a home, or just plain not go visit them and not worry about it, so I try to instill a little respect in my kids about them. The thought of taking the kids to this huge party was a little overwhelming. But you guys are right. I have enough people there to help the keep the kids occupied, and they would miss not getting to go. My old folks would miss them. LOL, I'd probably have half of them yell at me if I didn't take the kids! |
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