Gift Wrapping Envy

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I have to wrap gifts today. At least START to wrap gifts today. At least TRY to wrap gifts today.

I love to buy gifts for people. I love to have "a theme" to my gift buying. Most of the time my family and friends enjoy my gifts. Really.That is because I put thought into what I'm giving people....and they know it.

It's the wrapping that I'm not the best at....I don't make perfect corners. The corners are almost always uneven. I probably use way too much tape. My seams are crooked. And I have been known to cut the gift wrap too short and have to "patch" the area that the gift wrap didn't cover. Don't judge me.

Hey, it's the thought that counts, people! Not my (lack of) gift wrapping skill!

The weather is  yucky and cold. I may as well make good use of my time, being stuck inside. I think I will barricade myself in my bedroom with wrap, scissors, tape, bows, and tags. I won't come out until the deed is done. AND if one person makes a crack about my wrapping resembling something a kindergartner would do, well let's just say "Santa" might not be visiting them this year. To be honest, my kids wouldn't say a word--they care nothing about the wrapping. Once given a gift, the wrap is only on the gift for .0002 seconds. In a flash it is a crumpled mass on the floor. In light of that, why should I worry about making neat corners?

 

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Old Man Winter

Image via Wikipedia

Old Man Winter

didn't knock at my door.

He pounded and slammed,

left mud and snow on my floor.

He was bitter and cold

dressed all in white,

icy blue eyes

and breath with a bite.

I asked him how long

he planned to stay?

March? April?

Not longer, I pray!

"I love freezing rain,

sleet and snow.

I spread ice

wherever I go!"

I grabbed my mittens

got ready to play

If you can't beat him, join him

and have a SNOW DAY!

By: Dawn Gibson

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Up To My Armpits In Mud

Our yard is a muddy, mucky mess. This water line to the barn has become the bane of our existence. I'm working up my energy to go back out there again. I guess I need to go, since we are getting a storm (first rain/ then snow) tonight and deathly cold temps (16 degrees) with 40 mph gusting wind. Doesn't that sound fun? So....on that note....I guess I should go back outside and help my (very muddy) husband.
Oh, by the way, I'm loving the ideas for my blog title. Some people have left comments on my blog, others, where I post on Facebook. Fun! Fun! Fun!

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Need Help

To all my wonderful readers...

I need your help! I have been blogging for 4 years. I am now tired of my blog title. (Dawn's Blog) That is a little boring. Yeah, it's got my name and it is a blog....but, yawn. I need to spice it up a little. Would you help me? I know I have such intelligent, funny, and creative readers that could come up with something better than that lame title. I promise, if I use your idea, I will give credit where credit is due. I am also not above bribery. I am giving a (nice!) gift to the one whose title I choose to use, to show my undying love and appreciation.

Leave any title entries in the comments section.

Lights! Camera! Freezing!

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The plan was to dazzle the night with our pretty icicle lights. This past Monday evening my husband said to me, "I've got some time...let's go out and start hanging the Christmas lights on the porch." (You know, before it's actually Christmas!)
1. In a snap I threw on my coat, scarf, ear flap hat with a tassel on top, and my gloves. Oh yeah, and my boots. Baby, I was ready for action.

2. Scott and I had untangled the lights as best we could.

3. Scott got on the ladder to hang the icicle lights around the bottom of the roof on our front porch. He is the man!

4. I was the "helper".

5. If he needed anything up there.

6. Um...he did most of the work and I was his moral support.

7. In this lighting endeavor.

8. It was freezing cold. Literally.

9. The wind was blowing.

10. And it was dark.

11. And we were outside in it.

12. The cold had numbed our brain cells.

13. Merry Christmas.

14. As I was losing feeling in my fingers, and Scott had no ears left.....

15. I stuck my head in the front door.

16. And yelled for my son to run and get my camera.

17. It's important to take pictures of these type of family events. For posterity's sake. Really.

18. I jumped off the porch, telling my hubby to just keep working, even as I took video footage.

19. I had to walk down the yard, to get the full effect.

20. The snow was blowing.

21. If I slipped, I might possibly not be found until the Spring thaw.

22. Found with a video camera frozen to my hand.

23. Footage of my man hanging lights.

24. How pretty they look!

25. Wow. That was hard work. I'm tired.

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Weather Geek In Action

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I have told people on more than one occasion that I am a die hard weather geek. I have to check out the NOAA page several times a day. One never knows when the weather might change. I have to be prepared after all.

1. I checked the NOAA page this morning per my normal routine.

2. I saw, in bright red letters, HAZARDOUS STORM WARNING.

3. Oh, the excitement.

4. There could possibly, maybe, sorta, kinda be a storm that might push into Ohio this weekend.

5. It's always "possibly" because we all know weather is an exact science.

6. There is no doubt the temps will plummet to HIGHS in the teens.

7. With wind. That is the killer.

8. Just don't know how much snow is on the way......

9. Our first snow of the season was on December 1.

10. It has flurried and been freezing cold, every day since.

11. Omen for the rest of the winter?

12. A possible storm on the way.

13. You know what this means, don't you?

14. A trip to the grocery store.

15. I have to lay up provisions. In case we are stuck in the house until the Spring thaw.

16. We at least need hot chocolate and plenty of ingredients for cookie making.

17. With that, we could pull through until the Spring.

18. Or at least until a snow plow comes down our road.

19. After all my family has priorities.

20. If I was trapped in the house all winter with my family without hot chocolate and cookies, it would be bad.

***I would end up like the Jack Nicholson character in The Shining. We all know THAT didn't end well.***

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Wanting To Go Postal At Walmart

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I am now calm enough to blog about my Walmart fiasco. I nearly had a melt down.

1. I went in last Monday to drop off my son's prescription. (La la la....a nice day:)

2. It is a common medicine.

3. I've done it a million times before.(at least it seems that way, because I'm the one who has to visit the pharmacy all the time)

4. I went in Tuesday morning to pick it up.( big smile. lovely day.)

5. Sorry, we're out of the meds is what the pharmacy tech told me.

6. Why didn't I get a call? This is a wasted trip. (still smiling. still calm.)

7. Sorry mam. Computers don't make phone calls.(says the young chick at the counter who flipped her hair around while she spoke AT me)

8. PEOPLE DO! IT'S CALLED COURTESY, IF YOU ARE OUT OF MEDS. LUCKY FOR YOU NO ONE IS DYING. (was my kind reply)

9. The medicine will be in by 5pm TOMORROW.(she snarks at me)

10. Fine!

11. I couldn't go on Wednesday evening.

12. So I went with my son Thursday morning. Before his class. (We left early)

13. I waited in the line at the pharmacy behind an elderly couple who had at least 10 meds between them.(bless their hearts)

14. I was trying to be patient, but I only had a few minutes until I had to have my son to his class.

15. Tick. Tock.

16. S-L-O-W

17. I am about to scream. (At least in my head)

18. I finally got to the cashier at the counter.

19. This was a different pharm. tech.

20. An older lady.

21. Sorry we are out of those meds.

22. WHAT???!!!!

23. After I um....show my irritation......the pharmacist overheard me.

24. Mam. I am so sorry. That first tech should not have told you that the meds would be in.

25. That does nothing for me now. We are totally out of meds. I've been here THREE times. Still nothing. I mean do I need to schedule an appointment to get the medication? I thought Walmart was all about customer service.

26. THAT is a huge let down. Ugh.

27. The pharmacist called Krogers (grocery) next door. They had the meds.

28. My son and I drove over to the next shopping center.

29. I went in. I dropped off the prescription. (which Wmart had given back)

30. Can't have it ready until after 12.

31. AAAAGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

32. We drove clear across town to his school.

33. Dropped him off. (with no meds)

34. I drove clear BACK across town to pick up the meds.

35. I get the stinkin' meds in my possession.

36. FOR THE LOVE OF PETE!

37. I haven't been this frustrated or frazzled  in a long time.

38. My own blood pressure was probably sky high at this point. It's a wonder I didn't stroke out.

39. I can understand why some people go postal.

40. I have a headache just reliving this ordeal.

Thank you for listening to my vent. You may now go back to your regularly scheduled life.

6.

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