Off to Chi-town Monday. All gifts wrapped and shipped ahead. Unfortunately I have to put in a all weekend push I'll have 2 1/2 days before I head back.
I bought my last gift yesterday (tickets to see "Spamalot" in March in Tampa).
I'm indebted to the person who came-up with the idea of the Secret Santa. If it wasn't for them I would probably still be in the process of bankrupting my self by buying presents for everyone in my family. So my hats off to that unknown savior of my bank account.
I just make several batches of this and give it away. 2 stops, the liquor
store and the market.
Homemade Irish Cream
Into a blender add:
1 can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
(Use the can as a measure)
1 can 1/2 and 1/2
1 can Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey (or other Irish Whiskey if you can't find Tully. Give every man his Dew!)
1 heaping tablespoon Cafe Vienna instant coffee mix
1 tablespoon chocolate syrup
1 teaspoon butter flavoring
1 teaspoon vanilla
Blend until smooth
Taste
Taste again
If there is any left, refrigerate
Waiting on gifts to be delivered from the US. Working in customer service for the Canadian Financial Services industry on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day (26th). Had seen the family already in October on the other side of the country and am visiting in June as well. They've informed it is ok to not be there this year.
So if you're calling your bank to bitch about your banking or pay your bills on Christmas of all days (I realize that we're a multi-cultural country...but it still rules the roost) - thank people like me for being open on a day that just about everything else in Western Nations is closed - including the Tube in London.
I had to call in for work at the grocery store for three days last week because I strained a lower back muscle while pushing carts out in the parking lot. I really should limit myself to twelve, but in the past year, I do sixteen at a time a lot of the time. The real strain is making all those carts do a 90-degree turn so that I can get them into the door.
Funny thing was that the injury didn't really become a problem until a day and a half after I last did that, when I got up out of bed before work. My day off was the previous day, and because that strained muscle took a while to become functionally impaired, I was able to complete my Xmas shopping that previous day.
And yes, I do indeed realize my days of doing sixteen carts at a time must come to an end. Perhaps Santa will get me a real job for Xmas this year? With the way the economy is going, I would't count on it.
Bill:
Without Secret Santa, you would probably do what most Americans do and charge up all the gifts you bought on your credit card. Without the almighty credit card, holiday retail sales in recent decades would have been meager indeed.
"in recent years this decade", I meant to say.
Did an all nighter last night for a work project and now I have to begin the shopping...... I have done nothing.
".... and a Coke"..... cracked me up! Sounded good as I was just gnawing on a dry Special K toaster waffle. :-D
Have fun shopping everybody!
http://rawstory.com/news/2007/
Fl...g_for_1221.html
Edited By Siteowner
Finished this morning. Tomorrow I'm on my own at the shop since my daughter is heading to her in-laws. I'm hoping for a busy day since we need the cash, but am already looking forward to that cold vodka in the freezer that I will be tapping into around 7:00 pm.
we are abuseign my wifes mac book this year.
see every year we are teh family that dosnt' get our cards out...this year we sent out a christams dvd with teh boys singing carols.
we also send out a basket of backed goods (breads, candy, ect)
No more shopping.
All the online-bought gifts have been delivered.
Mom has asked that I hold off on her Jack Stack Barbecue till April when she has room in her freezer.
The Sony Bravia has been delivered and there are 147 pieces of a TV stand waiting for the assembly instructions to be figured out.
The only problem is that Twins India Palace in Orangeburg, NY is closed on Mondays, which means no traditional Christmas Eve Indian dinner.
I guess we'll just have to go Turkish instead.
This reminds me -- I have to go find cards for people who sent *me* cards. I told friends and family years ago that I don't want to exchange holiday cards or gifts, but I usually get a couple of cards anyway, and the two that I got this year, I think I should reciprocate.
I'm looking to get a PDA. Anyone have any advice or preferences?
I have version of the "hippster pda" (http://www.promopeddler.com/Detail/48520/
B2355SR2
which works pretty well and I like alot, though the pinning notes on my outfit reminder bit is ruining the clothing. Can't get a smartphone either as there's no support for paygo (no bills) customers and I don't use it enough to matter.
I always buy the cards early, then send them last minute or not at all. I like your dvd card idea! That's nice 
I don't know why that link came out as a smiley. I try again...
http://www.promopeddler.com/Deta...48520/
B2355SR28
Haven't bought a thing. Can't afford it until our accounts receivable comes in, so I'll shop the sales and family will get two Christmases. No, I don't own a credit card.
I'm glad I'm not in that credit card trap. When I wanted one they said I had to meet their conditions and I pretty much said "no thank-you"! Now that I have desent credit they send me all sorts of cards....to which I say no thank-you and then I trash them. It makes certain things...like renting a car alot harder....but I guess I can live with it if it means I have financial peace of mind.
Did most shopping online; but, we have a new tradition in our family that we make charitable contributions in everybody's names instead of sending lots of gifts. The exceptions are for the two in our family who are in dire straits and need some help.
Did go out to a mall earlier in the week and witnesses the most hellish scenes of hatred as people jockeyed for parking places. That's the spirit of christmas, all right...
Myrte June:
The Palm TX is still the best PDA ever. Sadly Palm hasn't come out with any new designs since then, quite annoying. I did just get a Nokia N800 for $180, seriously neat although still not as versatile or polished as the TX.
If you do get a TX do install TCPMP for video playback and get a cheap ($30-40) bluetooth GPS and navigation software
When I wanted one they said I had to meet their conditions and I pretty much said "no thank-you"!
That must have been quite a while ago. These days, they'll give a credit card to anything that breathes, pretty much.
Not finished. Worse, I'm not sure who I still need to get a present for. My parents, I think. Do the grandchildren count? Well, I'm gracing their house with my presence, that'll have to do.
That was the mid to early 90's. Now a rep form the credit card industry is in the delivery room giving them to newborn's right as they come out of the womb.
Well, I finished my shopping today. Which is nice. I got some of my gifts from a local jeweler in town - I'd rather the money go to a local business than a chain.
By the way, (and I know this it OT, but I'm very curious as to where you stand) what do you think about ThinkSecret getting sued into oblivion?
Uh-oh. Every year my older brother and I go to the hometown to spend Xmas with our mother, but it looks like it won't be a very Merry Christmas this year. My mother's cat of 18 years (92 in cat years) is dying of liver failure. The poor creature will either not make through the coming weekend or have to be put down on Monday, which is Christmas Eve.
Loveandlight.... sorry to hear that. Not very Merry at all with the kitty. :-( She'll have you there though so I'm sure it will be of some comfort for her.
SteveK - Thanks for that info. That Nokia looks waaay too zooomy for me, nice though. I did see the TX at a couple of places tonight, looks perfect so glad to have your positive take on that. Thanks
I am doing my shopping in christmas markets in Bavaria. Highly recommended.
The hot mulled wine is a big help to the shopping process.
Slurp.
Chasing down the UPS woman in six-foot snow drifts...
This has nothing to do with the holidays, you understand. It's just a primal lesbian fantasy and one of our six Uniting Myths, along with Girl Scout camp counselors, menstrual huts, and carrying Melissa Etheridge's babies. (The other two myths are secret, they'll revoke my card if I tell.)
The only problem is that Twins India Palace in Orangeburg, NY is closed on Mondays, which means no traditional Christmas Eve Indian dinner.
....
Jill | Homepage | 12.21.07 - 1:02 pm | #
Jill-
Would they be related to the late, lamented Twins India Palace in Nanuet? (They used to have the *best* buffet!)
OTOH, if you're in Rockland and don't mind making the pilgrimage, you can go to Teaneck, and Veggie Heaven for AWESOME veggie Chinese! 
SEITEN! Good to see ya.
About to run out the door for a made-for-TV 24-hour "reality show" style series called "Jen Deals with her Brother, Dad, and Extremely Nuts Wicked Stepmother for 24 Hours." Prizes are frequently not things that I would choose, nor are they exchangeable, but them's the breaks. Basically I just have to take lots of Xanax, drink a lot, and deal with being woken up at 5 AM (after being up till 2 or 3) for "Xmas Breakfast" and gift opening--in our jammies. Literally. I'm turning 40 this Spring. My bro just turned 30. And she gets upset if we dare to suggest showering and dressing before breakfast. Go figure...
More later.
And Littelist Gator,
THAT DOES IT. You are SO MEAN reminding me that you have access to German Xmas fairs and I DON'T. Also, my best friend just got transferred to Munich.
I will forgive you if you have those clever Germans TELEPORT me a hot mug of Gluhwein RIGHT NOW THIS VERY SECOND. :D
Hi, Jen! [waving wildly]
Good luck with your family holiday extravaganza/trial by ordeal - sounds to me like the *perfect* Festivus holiday: The Feats of Strength, followed by the Airing of Grievances!
Jen,
On the upside, I'm too sick to travel to visit the family and can't afford it anyway. On the downside, I'm sick and broke.
Melanie,
I'm sorry to hear RE the downside. I truly hope that the next year is better for you and everyone else on this board who needs cash/energy/health. Be well; try to find some stillness and rest.
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