Well, How Do You Do It?

I grabbed my big mug of hot tea and headed upstairs, calling to my husband, "I'm gonna go try to give birth to a blog post."

"Any ideas?"  He already knew the answer.

"Nope."

I checked my e-mail, and Facebook, and other blogs I follow - even though I had done all that just before I went down to make the tea. 

I played a game of spider solitair. Well, two.  But I didn't clear the board on the first one so it doesn't count.

I re-read the Christmas wish lists received from various family members.  Although I already know them by heart.

I rumaged around for a nail file and repaired a chipped nail.

I found the cool e-mail I received today of "Idle Thoughts", such as: 

I planted some bird seed. A bird came up. Now I don't know what to feed it. 

and thought of putting one in this post then decided against it.

I blinked and rolled my eyes for several minutes, trying to decide if the numbing drops the opthalmologist had put in this afternoon had completely worn off.  They still felt kind of weird so probably not. 

I studied the New Post window on my monitor.  It was still blank.

Well, how do you procrastinate?


Countdown to retirement and writing full time: 8 work days to go.

I'm currently enjoying: The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters

Groaner of the Day: A group of chess enthusiasts checked into a hotel and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. "But why?" they asked, as they moved off. "Because," he said, "I can't stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer."

What? It's time? Already?

Tomorrow is the official beginning to my Christmas shopping season.  This is not driven by the calendar but by a special event.  Each year all the museums in the area get together and host a museum shop sale. All the best goodies from all those different kinds of museum shops, together in one convenient location.  I always find some very special items to get my Christmas shopping off to a great start.

And then I relax because I have some shopping done early and suddenly it's three weeks later and those are still the only gifts I've bought.  Panic sets in and doesn't subside until Christmas Eve.  At least once, I will have my annual Christmas nightmare where it's Christmas Eve and the stores are closed and I don't have any presents to give.  It's my own holiday tradition.

I was on the phone with my son last week and my very efficient daughter-in-law was coming in with bags of Christmas gifts.  She will probably be done by Thanksgiving.  I never have liked her. 

How about you?  How do you approach holiday shopping?  Get it done early.  Wait until the last minute.  Start buying now and keep buying until the last minute (oh, wait - that's me).  Do you have any special shopping traditions?

Countdown to retirement and writing full time: 18 work days to go.

I'm currently enjoying: LAST TO DIE by Kate Brady.

Definition of the Day: Calories - Those little S.O.Bs that get into your wardrobe at night and sew your clothes tighter. (My closet is infested with them!!)