It has been a long time since I felt this way! It is difficult to put into words the emotions I have been experiencing in the last 24 hours. My legs are weak ... I can't concentrate ... my eyes flutter open and then close again ... coherent thoughts will not form ... a brief smile floats across my face and then I drift into a peaceful reverie. Ahhh .. yes Christmas has come early to my house.
I am not one normally given to such abandon. Typically, I would remain more discreet and reserved but you are my Internet family and I know I can share this with you. I trust you will respect my feelings, share my happiness and wish me well.
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I bought the Homedics, Shiatsu Massaging Cushion from WalMart. I may never get up from this chair. 
Isn't he adorable??
How appropriate, after Thanksgiving, to be thinking of re-heating leftovers. (Is that redundant?) So much is happening right now and the best I can do on most days is keep my head above the fray. I am going to focus on adding my old AOL posts to this journal starting back in August so I hope you will enjoy the re-heated entries. Check for “new” August posts.
I enjoyed a nice weekend with my parents and my aunt and uncle in East Texas. My kids had other family members they needed to be with but everyone is coming together at Christmas so we will all be celebrating together then.
I am preparing to move out of my son's house into my own home in just a few short days so decorating for Christmas is a bit hit and miss this year. Christmas is always my most favorite time of year and I have enough decorations to fill a house and three full-size trees. I do not like to over do it so I carefully pick and choose what I set out each year and rotate items to keep from becoming too cluttered. It has been three years since I set up my Christmas Village but it isn't going to see the light of day in 2005 either. And, since I will not be entertaining this year, that means the Christmas dishes, platters, bowls, chip N dip snowmen, etc. will stay packed away. Of course, the outside lights can stay packed as well.
So, what does that leave? Well, for one thing, there is my Santa collection including almost 200 miniature Santas. I promise to post a picture of the little guys as soon as I set them out. I am so silly about my Santas. To be part of my collection they must be full-bodied. Just a Santa head will not do. They cannot be over four inches tall. And, I am partial to the Santas that are unique. I have one little guy who is riding a dolphin, given to me by a friend at work in North Carolina. Another one is Santa taking a bubble bath in a lion claw tub. I must assume he is full-bodied but cannot prove it. LOL Then there is the Santa that is 1/4" tall, the one that is from Russia, and the marzipan Santa. Each one holds a special memory and it just makes me feel good to get them out each year.
Quite by accident I realized one year that I had a large assortment of angel ornaments. I gathered them all together and have enough to decorate a full-size tree. My mother just added two to that collection over the weekend.
I have one large Rubbermaid tub filled with what I have labeled Christmas Critters. In addition to several full-sized Christmas bears, I have a collection of small critters that I perch on each rung of a little ladder leaning on the tree. There is Rodney and Rhonda Reindeer, a polar bear, a fluffy, fat lamb, a donkey, and a teddy bear, just to name a few. They look like they are invading the tree and then a few sit on the branches. Rodney has a half chewed ear from the year of the puppy but he doesn’t mind!
Among my other Christmas goodies are throws, decorative pillows, chair covers, books, pillowcases, games, puzzles, wreaths, CDs, sleighs, baskets, flower arrangements, hat boxes, candles, wall hangings, pictures, Smores, table runners, snow globes, music boxes, frames, a Christmas lamp, stationary, tote bags and the kids’ childhood crafts. The memories!!
Oh, yes. There is also a tree and a few hundred lights and ornaments. It will be interesting to see what gets done this year
THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:Name the top seven stores where you are most likely to do the majority of your Christmas shopping this year. If you can't name seven, name as many up to seven as you can. You can also include online retailers, too.Either answer the question in a comment or answer it in your journal and include the link in a comment.1. Dillards
2. Barnes and Noble
3. WalMart
4. Bath & Body Works
5. The Cracker Barrel
6. The Big and Tall Men's Shop
7. Hallmark
Patrick is continuing this from his new journal home.Here are this week's "Saturday Six" questions. Either answer the questions in a comment here, or put the answers in an entry on your journal...but either way, leave a link to your journal so that everyone else can visit! If you don't have a journal, you can still play, but of course you'll at least need a screen name to be able to leave a comment here. Enjoy!1. What was the last movie you watched at a theater completely alone? Would you have enjoyed it more or less if you had gone with someone to see it?
I cannot remember the last time I saw a movie alone. 2. What was the last non-sexual thing you did around the house completely naked?
Cleaned my bathroom3. How well do you know your neighbors? Would you like to know them better or not know them?
The neighbors on one side are very nice and I have enjoyed getting to know them. On the other side, I do not know them as well but from what I see and hear, that is just fine by me. It is never a good sign when you live in a house and can still hear what is happening next door. 4. Take this quiz: How much of a conspiracy nut are you?
You are 25% Conspiracy Nut You are a little bit of a conspiracy nut. You know about the big conspiracies - but it doesn't take up too much of your time. You have accepted that people lie, and get away with everything - so you don't dwell on the loch ness monster too often.Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com5. Of the following "conspiracies" mentioned in that quiz, which single one would you most like the "truth" about and why?
Countries developing deadly diseases to attack others. Why? To have a better understanding of the potential global threats.6. If you had to create a slogan that defined your life, what would it be?
Bloom where you are planted and always face toward the Son. (oooo ... I just made this up and I like it!!)
