October 20th 2007 Western Magic

[Karen Mouse]

ok, ok I couldnt leave it without knowing so I looked it up - Boxing day is called boxing day because they used to have collection boxes outside alms-houses and churches and this money was distributed to the poor after christmas - hence boxing day. There, I feel happier now

Anyone put their tree up yet?

"christmas" is usually out of the loft by now, but cos of Ellis "decorating" the enitre house being "ill" I havent had time yet.

Lets all post some "christmas in our house" photos once your trees are up to get us in the mood for christmas

 

[perdidobay]

To all of you who got up so early this Friday to shop...I salute you!
No way, no how will I go near a store today... and I slept in till 8am (really late for me!)

Baby Kira being born on Thanksgiving day takes me back to when my youngest was born on Thanksgiving day...1983! Boy does time fly! She's 23 today! All of you with young ones...enjoy them! In a blink of an eye it seems they are grown and gone.

 

[PrincessMom2002]

I attempted shopping today with the kids. I am a FOOL! First we went to Petsmart to get some doggie gifts. That was not too busy. But then we went to Kohl's at noon and that place was packed. Wandered around for about 20 minutes, put back the stuff I was going to buy and left with nothing. The whole time Gwynne was whining "I'm tiiiiiiirrrrreeeedddd". So that was enough shopping for me. I ordered the stuff on-line when I got home. I'm definately not in the commercial Christmas mood. We'll decorate Sunday.

 

[Lindy Loo]

Ref the question about sales.

I work for Next, as a store manager in one of their largest retail stores. Fortunately I only work 16 hrs a week and as I do mostly personnel and operational functions ( the Full time mananger does the commerical stuff!) I dont get too involved in selling/ merchandising EXCEPT for sale day, for us the 27th Dec. We open the store at 5am ( we have a staff of over 200 in at 4am !) the queues are often over 300 people long, when we open the doors. Its crazy, as all itmes are half price. We sell mainly ladies clothing, with Childrens, mens and home departments too. We took almost £500,000 last sale day, which was amazing ! and very tiring!

The only perk we get, is we can have first pick of all the bargains , so suddenly I get lots of friends with lists of stuff they need!

I do enjoy the buzz of the day, but glad its only twice a year ( we have a summer sale too. For you English Dissers the Summer slae is 7th July in 07, so will be a great time to grab a few bargains, before the cruise)

Heather Gos, thanks for the dollar tip, we will get some more for sure ( we know we will spend it ! )

 

[Karen Mouse]

Lindy Loo - You are soooo brave! I hate the Next sale! The big store in Birmingham is manic - people just climbing over people and knocking clothes on the floor then tramping all over them too. They are like cattle at feeding time . You must be black and blue by closing time and be shovelling in anadin by the dozen.

Mind you... I wouldnt mind your discount and first dibs at the sales either . Theres nothing ever left when I go in except for skinny size 6's, and I'm not quite a size 6 .

We have a next clearance by us too. There is always racks and racks of nice girls clothes but never any boys? - no idea why but I wish it was the other way round cos it costs me a fortune buying for Ellis - Next is the only place I can get trousers to fit his skinny waist.

Anyway, enough moaning, I feel so sorry for shop assistants this time of year..I went to the Disney store in Birmingham today (our first trip out since Ellis is feeling a bit better today) - my god - the queue to pay was round the shop and out the door - approx 40 to 50 people, we only wanted a Captain Jack but we queued anyway. Those poor shop assistants were working their socks off and the queue just kept getting bigger.

Birmingham was absolutely rammed today with shoppers. Horrendous . I do most of my shopping online nowadays to avoid the chaos. Its crazy really - all for just one (christmas) day. God knows how much it costs people.

Our credit card is groaning this month, I 'll be when the statement arrives.

 

[Karen Mouse]

AFEG - Your bouncy christmas santa looks lovely

Remember to pass him on to someone else

 

[Dyerneeds]

ROB AND CASS... CONGRATULATIONS!!! welcome to the wonderful world of parenthood!! theres nothing like it. we just got back from visiting our daughter at college in dayton. (4 hr trip.) shes studying to be a photographer. maybe she will take photos at the wedding pavilion at wdw someday. we can dream cant we.

 

[cntkg1]

Greetings everyone!

Well, when last you heard from me I was up and out of the door by 4:15 am on Friday and headed for the mall. At 5:00 am the stores opened. We managed to get the two girls (22 & 24) done by 8:30 and then moved onto the boys (26 & 25) and were done with them by 2:30. All gifts are wrapped and in the attic. Now we can relax and watch Christmas movies on the weekends instead. My favorite is National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. I'll watch that at least twice between now and Christmas.

The trees have been up since last week and our Christmas Village is also done. One slight mishap with one of the trees. The tree that usually "stands" in our family room is now trailing around the yard behind our yellow lab. He decided that he didn't like it standing up so he decided to bring it down. Now you may be asking, "Nancy, why is the tree following him around the yard"? That's probably because we thought that to teach him a lesson about messing with my stuff, that we would insert (better word..."shove") it in his butt and let him play all he wants with it now. Just Kidding (or am I??)

When I figure out how to post pictures I'll post some of the Tree (notice I didn't say trees) and the Village. I'll spare you the pictures of the dog and his new Balsam toy.

Later,
Nancy (Hey where are the Christmas Smilies?)

 

[oybolshoi]

But Nancy, the picture that I want to see is the one of Cabo with the tree!

Jay and I are off to see Spamalot tonight...hope it lives up to the hype.

Oh, and Mr. FatEnglishGent...are you out there? I humbly apologize for calling you by the wrong name and I will never do it again - I don't know why I thought you were a Keith instead of a Chris.

My memory aint what it used to be.

 

[PrincessMom2002]

ROB AND CASS... CONGRATULATIONS!!! welcome to the wonderful world of parenthood!! theres nothing like it. we just got back from visiting our daughter at college in dayton. (4 hr trip.) shes studying to be a photographer. maybe she will take photos at the wedding pavilion at wdw someday. we can dream cant we.

You were in my neck of the woods! Is she going to one of the bigger colleges or one of the specialized schools, OIP&T maybe?

 

[cntkg1]

Here we go...I hope....

My Favorite Ornament (Thanks Jo!!)

Our Christmas Village

Christmas Tree in Living room.


Sorry Brenda, no picutre of our combo Lab/Balsam Tree

 

[perdidobay]

Nancy, way to go on the Christmas shopping and wrapping! I'm tired just hearing about it
How sweet of you to take a pic of the ornament I sent you! It looks good on your beautiful tree. I'd like to see a photo of Cabo and his "tree" too

Give Chuck my compliments on his Christmas village, I've seen it before (you sent me photos last year) and it is as beautiful as ever!

We might get our tree up tonight...I am cooking a Thanksgiving dinner for my girls and sil's tonight (they were all out of town on Thursday). I told them the price of dinner was to help put up my Christmas stuff as I really hate doing it

 

[cntkg1]

Thanks for the compliments Jo. Your ornament is front and center!! Have fun with Turkey Day.

Sure wish someone would "tag" me with the bouncing Christmas Mickey...hint hint.

 

[Karen Mouse]

Sure wish someone would "tag" me with the bouncing Christmas Mickey...hint hint.

Just pm'd you

 

[Karen Mouse]

Soooo sorry - I forgot to say before in my speed to send you a bouncing xmas Mickey - your tree etc looks fab

I usually have mine up by now, but looking after a sick 6year old is taking all my time up at the minute

I was hoping he'd be well enough for school tomorrow but theres no chance - he's still burning up with temperature and wont eat anything.

Next week is a busy week with a school trip, school and family disco and childs birthday party all of which I am meant to be helping at and Ellis is meant to be going to. - not sure how I'm going to split myself into two yet, but I'll have to think of something

Trying to think up things to occupy a lethargic and feeling sorry for myself little boy for over a week is getting more and more difficult as the days go on.

We've been making paper snowflakes all afternoon- god knows where we're gonna put them all

Oh well, nearly time to pump him full of drugs (ibuprofen) again and give him another

 

[cntkg1]

Brenda, Just thinking, I still have not received your postcard from October. Must be lost...ya think?

 

[Karen Mouse]

Ok...I need to know how to get a countodwn line thingy as part of my signature. I like the ship cruising to the island.. how do I do it?

Come on Hall monitors - first one to answer becomes "chief Hall monitor" and gets special powers

 

[Karen Mouse]

I'm bidding on a castaway cay t shirt on ebay for my hubby as a stocking filler for xmas - 5 minutes to go and I'm highest bidder

Also bought him a rolling cooler to fill with beer, wine and water, a cruise watch, passporter - cruise (of course) cruise tree ornament and a cruise wine glass , pirate of caribean tshirt and scarf thingy for pirate night..any other ideas?

Edited to say - yeah! - I won the item on ebay - another silly prezzie to add to the pile

 

[Lindy Loo]

Good luck with E BAY Karen. Has my bouncy Mickey worked ???

 

[Lindy Loo]

Whoops................. almost there !!!!!