Three things in one day… thrice!
I am exhausted today. My eyes are red. My hair is unbrushed. I still have my pajama top on (threw on jeans to take Dash to the bus, to present the illusion to the bus driver that I have my act together). My handbag is filled with used tissues and reciepts. My bank balance perilously close to zero.
Why, I hear you ask.
Oh, OK. I’ll tell you!
It pretty much boils down to 3 things:
1. We (Mr I, Dash, Violet and I) went to the Big Smoke yesterday.
2. It was a day trip.
3. We went to get all our Christmas stuff. In one hit. Cause I hate shopping.
Any fool who lives this far from town knows that those three things should NEVER EVER go together. If you don’t already know this, then get a pen and write it down. Never forget it.
…
It’s a simple mathematical equation of timelines.
Ready for some stats?
Here we go:
Travelling = 5.3 hours
Organising 2 children’s toilet activities = 1.2 hours
Distracting children so partner can attempt to buy one’s gift = 2 hours
Feeding children & partner to prevent LBSCBDO* = 1 hour
Finding parking = 0.5 hours
Attempting to recall sizes of various nieces & nephews = 0.5 hours
Attempting to choose trendy clothing for various nieces & nephews = 1.1 hours
Recovering from headache/heart palpatations induced by above = 0.5 hours
Choosing 95% of gifts in excellent stumbled-upon toy store = 0.8 hours
Giving thanks for above toy store = 0.2 hours
Finding photo store willing to print photos from a USB stick = 0.7 hours
Grocery shopping for the hordes descending in 10 days = 1.3 hour
Purchasing enough alcohol for festive toasting for the western world = 0.4 hours
Running into people from home (who I will see again on Friday) & gabbing on = 1 hour
Calming down husband who would rather do anything but shopping = 0.3 hours
Picking up goods for other people too clever to attempt this madness = 0.6 hours
Checking lists to make sure everything achieved = 0 hours
…
How’s your math going?
Mine says that adds up to over 17 hours.
We were away from Granite Glen for around 13.5 hours – so there must have been some serious multi-tasking there in some spots! Keep in mind (when doling out your pity) that this doesn’t include:
UNPACKING of groceries (1 hour)
STOWING of gift mountain into bedroom (0.2 hours)
FEEDING of family (0.5 hours)
WRAPPING of photo orders for my overseas readers (1 hour)
and vitally, CATCHING UP of blogs. (not saying!)
…
As Bossy would say: keen for a Pity Party anyone?
…
And in reading this outpouring of shallow nonsense, I hereby come to the following conclusions:
1. I have a massive mess in my bedroom
2. I must check my lists before turning the car towards home
3. I am very lucky to have the luxury of worrying about Christmas activities.
…
oh… and three more things to be achingly grateful for:
1. The Prado is back … and going like the clappers (touch wood!)
2. The Nikon in back… come to Mama, darling!
3. You… for listening to such drivel. But enough about me!
…
BB Question to You: What are the “three things” on your mind as we hurtle towards Christmas?
13 Comments
Alison
LOL @ blogging “not saying”!
Three things on my mind – Will we have enough chocolate?
What happens if we run out of chocolate?!
Where did I put my chocolate?!!!
Pencil Writer
Chocolate! Ha, ha! Good one, Al! And yes. Where did you put your chocolate? And no. If it goes missing, it isn’t me. No way. *snicker*
My three things: 1) Getting all the sewing of gifts accomplished for the two major trips I’m making in the next two weeks.
2) Getting everything packed for to trip to daughter Sarah’s wedding one week from today–trip is about 900 miles one way. 🙂
3) Finding a minute or two to sleep and replenish my energy stores.
[and there’s a #4 . . . ummmm . . . Now I forget. Refer #3. Perhaps #4 is to try to remember where I left my mind????
Oh, BB. Over Thanksgiving, my #2 Daughter, Amy took some pictures of the OLD, OLD things at my in-laws home. I think you’ll like looking at them. ;-} Catch them on bugsinthedesert.blogspot.com.
Andrea
Dang girl!! You were busy. But as mothers, we are super multi taskers. It’s a God given talent.
Three things that I have on my mind. First, my oldest son going to his Dad’s house that is 1200 miles away for two whole weeks.
Explaining that they only get three gifts because I didn’t get a bail out from the government.
And how grateful I am for a husband that works his butt off so I can stay home with my kids. He has worked extra hard these last few months.
Just a little stress, but tis the season.
jeanie
See, I have all that to yet look forward to. Of course, I am aiming to be not so silly as to drag V into it.
Our bank balance hovering perilously close to zero BEFORE I even attempt Christmas shopping is adding that little extra zing to the anticipation, I can tell you.
Did you find the toy shop in the main drag, then? Or is there another hidden delight?
‘Salina LOVES THAT SHOP. It is to her eternal disappointment that it doesn’t open on Saturday afternoons, and therefore there is no post-grocery option.
dykewife
how am i going to budget my time in order to get the methods assignment done before the 18th when it’s due. otherwise, we don’t do christmas, yule however, is going to be a lovely homey vegetarian deal…but i have to figure out something for boy’s present for that day.
Kate
WOW!! That sounds like a crazy day, i hate shopping too so i can empathize. I’m so glad you have the Prado and the Nikon back!!
Three things on my mind?
Gifts – my family is doing a “homemade” Christmas this year and i’m not the most creative person.
Time – It’s coming up fast! I really don’t have enough time for everything on my list.
Family – I love Christmas and i love giving gifts to my family and i love spending time with my family. I’m so excited for a quiet, simple day with my family.
🙂
PS I LOVE the new pics you’ve posted. I’m going to run out of money 😉
Debby
So ‘going like clappers’ is a good thing, then….
3 things…believe me. You don’t want to know. Al? Pass me the dang chocolate….
Just saying. :^D
A Novel Woman
Yay, you got your Nikon baby back!
It’s snowing like mad dogs today. School closings, roads are a mess, my car doors are iced shut, in other words, a typical November day in Montreal. I’d post photos but it means getting dressed and going outside, and I’m doing neither today.
Three things? Hmm. That’s a tall order. I have to put the house in some kind of order so that I can clean it for the crowd expected for Christmas dinner this year. We’re at 24 and counting.
I have to pick up all the stray books around the house and put them in my new bookcases.
I have to find a source for a “happy” turkey so that my children teetering on the brink of vegetarianism will eat it.
Forget Xmas cards. Baking cookies will have to wait as I have no butter and I’m not going out to get it (see snow above.)
Pam
WV: unpdodo (which is EXACTLY how I feel today)
Wrensong Farm
WOW! I’m amazed at how much you can cram into a day!! Glad you got your Nikon back.
Three things on my mind?
I haven’t sent Christmas cards
I haven’t started Christmas shopping.
And I haven’t decorated at all yet.
sigh.
Tracey
Relativity is a good thing huh. After reading your post I am feeling that starting and finishing the christmas shopping before Dec 25 is actually achievable (because I am only 15 mins from town), and so I don’t need to panic when people look at me weirdly when I say I have barely done any christmas shopping
Another two things on my mind?
How to get myself psyched up to clean up the house which is the pits.
And, how to balance my “I hate Christmas” urge with the need to make something special out of it for the sake of the kids.
Bush Babe
Tracey & WF – I hear you. I feel what you feel. But it will all be worth it in the end!!
Pam – "teetering on vegetarianism" … send them this way, pronto!! It's my Dad's ambition to turn every veggo into a meat-eater before he dies. Heh. Oh, and I'm glad others are girding loins just like me. *groan*
Deb – yes, 'going like the clappers' is very good. As opposed to 'dead as a dodo'. A bit like going 'flat biccie'. Hmmm. More for the translation post methinks!! Hope you are feeling OK today??
Kate – Homemade sounds great – as long as one is organised enough to do the homemaking in October!!!
DW – more veggos… heh! Hope your Yule is not too cool, but lots of fun!!!
Jeanie – that shop is Christmas mecca. Can you say that? It is.
Andrea – hope the stress decreases and you get to enjoy a few festivities and some goodwill!! Hugs.
PW – travel safe!!! Hope your daughters wedding goes beautifully.
Alison – bring it on sister!!! My fav is dark chocolate with roasted almonds… mmmmm.
Rose
Three things hey? Hmmm, well I guess the first would be weight loss, or gain depending on which way you look at it. The second would be the pressure I feel at this time of year (most of which is self inflicted – crafts and gifts and baking etc) especially since I have no decorations up and it’s only 13 days left now… and the third thing is that I can’t wait to spend our first Christmas with my three month old daughter and my three year old son who finally “gets” Christmas. Now that he understands Santa I’ll have to work the baby Jesus in there somewhere!
Debby
Dark chocolate and roasted almonds?!!!! You know, we must be kin…