Christmas Shopping, Funny Little Dogs, & Blog Designing

I just wanted to tell you that we went to Wal-Mart yesterday evening and got all our Christmas gifts bought within a couple of hours, and I managed not to have an anxiety attack or give out. Thank the Lord.

Mama called yesterday morning to tell me that she and a friend were going shopping in Savannah. J had just gotten up and we didn't know if we were going anywhere or not yet. When he got awake we decided to go to Savannah also. It was after noon when we left, and we were hungry, so we went to Taco Bell (I know, really healthy) and ate that new fully loaded nachos dish that they have right now. It was delicious!

We did most of our shopping at Wal-Mart. We hit it at a good time, between the dinner crowd and people getting off work, so it wasn't too crowded. We had to pick up one gift at Radio Shack, as Wal-Mart had sold out, then J wanted to go to the Dollar Tree to get his little gag gifts. I looked for a few minutes and didn't see anything I needed, so I went to the car to sit and watch the people. I love to do that, but rarely ever get the chance anymore.

The people that parked next to me left a beautiful little blonde Pomeranian dog in the car. It was very entertaining to watch it scare people who happened to be walking by the passenger side window. It would lay in the seat until it saw someone walking by the window, then it would jump up barking this shrill little bark right beside them. More than one person jumped and ran sideways, grabbing their chest, then laughing. One talked ugly, then she saw me laughing. I don't think she appreciated it much. :)

We got home about 5:30 p.m. and we were tired, so the car is still unloaded. Mama called up here about 9:00 p.m. to make sure we'd gotten home ok, as she couldn't see our lights on. I left the porch light on for a while when I fed the dog and cats, but she said she was napping and didn't see it, so she was getting worried. She wanted to know we were ok before she went to bed.

She said that she and her friend had a real good day, but she was exhausted (she's 76). She usually goes with us, but I reckon she wanted an earlier start to the day than we did. She is a morning person and J and I are not morning people.

Anyway, for those of you that read my post yesterday, I now have my gift shopping done, I didn't have a meltdown, and Mama, J, and I all had a good day. Christmas is back on track. :)

J is gone back to Savannah this morning for cattle feed and me a present. I tried to get him to agree to get a flat screened tv instead of gifts for each other. We both enjoy tv and I would love one of those, but J's right, the one we have is still working fine so we don't need another.

He will be back soon, so I better get off and go unload the SUV. We have presents to wrap!

Incidentally, I'm playing with the designs on both my blogs, trying to get something I'm happy with, so if you go to them and think you're at the wrong place, you're not. OK? :)

Have a great weekend everybody, and if I don't post again until after Christmas, I hope Santa is really good to all of you.

Holiday Jitters

I can't believe that Christmas is less than a week away, and I haven't started shopping yet. Can you?

I have anxiety attacks in crowded stores, and I know this, yet I have procrastinated until the last minute when the stores will not only be crowded, they will be PACKED, making it a potential health hazard for me. Mama loves this. She likes running into people she knows and visiting.

I have no idea what to get anyone, and mama and J will be with me, making it hard to get them anything for a surprise. J wants to get everything in one trip. To make it even more fun, the weather is supposed to be bad with storms, rain, possibly snow all weekend.

I am so not prepared for Christmas, AT ALL, mentally or physically. It is unreal to me that it's already rolled around again. I even forgot about putting up a Christmas tree until a couple of days ago. Still haven't, but nobody ever sees it anyway, so I probably won't now. I did get cards fixed up and mailed out, which is a plus. The ones we've received are displayed on the piano, so it's a little Christmasy.

One of my best friends, who comes and drinks coffee with me about once a week, brought me a gift bag the other day. It had a jar of coffee and a bottle of coffee mate in it. We had a good laugh about it, because she's always teasing me about bumming coffee off me. I never considered it bumming. We always have a nice visit, and she brought a little Christmas spirit with her when she shared photos of her tree and snowman table decorations.

I love the true meaning of Christmas. I really do. And I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I just don't enjoy the hustle and bustle anymore and I tend to get depressed through the holiday season. I guess I'm just getting old...or lazy. :)

Hope I didn't bring anyone down. I didn't mean to. Just having a little nervous jitter party. It will be ok and I will "git er done." LOL Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and Christmas! I plan to! :)

I'm Still Here & Happy Holidays

Just to say hello and let you know that I'm still working on getting this blog started. I'm going to have to start keeping a notebook in my hand to jot down what I want to say. I have these ideas and thoughts when I'm busy doing other things, then when I get time to write the ideas have sprouted wings and flown away.

Plus, I've gotten myself involved in a few weekly art challenges, which is great fun, it keeps me motivated, and I've met some wonderful artists. It also takes a lot of time to participate, visit blogs, and document everything with photos. I love it, but it does take time.

I have just signed up for the Creative Every Day 2009 challenge for both blogs, so that should really be a challenge. We don't have to post every day, and I already do something creative everyday, so maybe I can keep up. :)

Things are also busy, otherwise, with the animals, house chores, etc. I have let the housework pile up, and J is due home Thursday until after Christmas. I haven't started Christmas shopping yet either, well, I do have a couple of things bought. So I have a lot to do and a short time to do it, as does everyone else at this time of year. I do want to update you all on Sammidog, but I don't have time right now. Maybe later this week.

Take care. Thanks for stopping by, and check back soon. I have some illustrated flash fiction coming after Christmas, if the "Good Lord's willing and the cricks don't rise". :)

Four Things About Me

I found this little meme on Pattie's blog, and since she left an open invitation at the end to play along, I thought I'd share a little more about me. I hope I can make it, at least, a little interesting.
"Krisket's Rose"

Four Things I Did Today

1. A loose pen & ink sketch of a woman on TV, which looked nothing like her, by the way

2. Rode the ATV to the mailbox and then down in the fields to check the cattle and make sure they have enough to eat-They do.

3. Wormed a kitten and got a flea collar on the dog that adopted us, then played with them. I've been trying to teach the dog to bring his rawhide bone back to me when I throw it. Every time I throw it the dog and all the cats run to it-Very funny, but nobody brings it back to me.

4. Mailed one of my best friends a BD card, visited with another on the phone, and spent time with my mom--That's more than 4 isn't it? But that's ok!



Four Things On My To Do List

1. Address Christmas cards and do my Christmas shopping

2. Finish the last assignment in my novel writing course--The biggest thing I learned is that I don't have the patience to write a novel-I'll stick with short stories, thank you. :)

3. Finish the myriad art and craft projects that I have in progress

4. Catch up my ironing and de-clutter the house


Four Of My Guilty Pleasures

1. I love art museums. I just feel in awe every time I go in one.

2. Books and rock/blues music--I often wish I'd get locked in a bookstore for the night-

3. Painting and Writing--I always think I should be cleaning or something

4. ICE CREAM/YOGURT and TV--and my body shows it



Four Random Facts About Me

1. I loved to play teacher to my dolls & stuffed animals when I was little. I wish I had the courage to do it for real now. I would love to share what little I know about writing & art.

2. I had polio and was totally paralyzed for a few days when I was two years old. I was left with a permanant limp, but I was still lucky. I could always do anything that I wanted to.

3. I've always been a tomboy. Sometimes I like girly-girl things, like makeup and jewelry, but jeans and shirts are my outfits of choice, at least they were until I got so fluffy...

4. I went to college for the first time at age 47, and I lack about 6 credits having a BS degree. It's now 12 years later and I'm still thinking about finishing it.

Enough about me. You're welcome to share four things about you. Please let me know if you play. I'd love to read it. :)