She’s making a list and checking it twice. Actually, a lot more than twice.
But it’s not a Christmas present list. It’s the list of things I have to buy and/or pack to take to Hartford. I’ve finished getting Don’s presents – thank goodness for online ordering! Now, I have to work with the weather/snow and find time to run errands before I leave on Sunday. Added note: It’s only going to reach 21 degrees on Thursday and Friday – not necessarily the best weather for running around shopping!
Late afternoon yesterday after our snowfall.
The little spiky flowers (I’ll try to get an even better picture today) on the sansevieria. They have a sweet scent, which I like. Hello, Mom and Dad!
Bokeh.
More bokeh.
Sigh. Posts can only be so interesting right now, my friends. I’m a bit overwhelmed. I have a lot to do before I leave for Hartford. I’ve finished my initial script work, but I have to do a bit more.
I finally bit the bullet and ordered a mobile/small printer to take with me. Very portable. As much as I work on the road, I’ve really never had a printer that I could use directly – sometimes I’ve been able to use the printer at the theater, but this will be much more convenient. It’s a Canon Pixma printer and will, hopefully, be delivered today. Since I’ll be back in Hartford in April, it will more than pay for itself. At the very least, I can print out the daily New York Times crossword puzzle! I’m addicted, you know.
I want to share this article with you. There’s been quite a bit of news coverage here about this terrific idea. Glen Pannell, one of my former students in the graduate program in San Diego, is a terrific guy who – incidentally – looks enough like Mike Pence that he has been able to use it and run with it. He calls himself Mike Hot-Pence. And he spends hours every weekend in NYC, especially in Times Square, collecting money for Planned Parenthood, The Natural Resources Defense Council, the Trevor Project and LGBTQ youth. I’m more proud of him than I can say. Here’s the latest link. Click here.
How are you all doing? Have you finished shopping? Are you, like me, making lists and checking them more than twice? Spill!
Happy Tuesday.
Hooray for online shopping! I have to finish everything Christmas-related by December 1st due to the weather and work deadlines. I need a replacement printer/scanner for home, so I’m interested to hear your review of your latest acquisition. My daughter does the NY Times crossword every morning on the bus to the uni – apparently you can access it on your phone.
Yes, you can access it on a computer or phone, but I cannot and will not do a crossword puzzle on a screen! I have to use my pen and write things on paper. I’ve tried it the other way, but that’s one tech update that I just can’t accept!
I started my list last night. I know I am feeling stressed when I start my list! Good luck with your list today!
At least we’re getting it down on paper, Doris! Good luck with your list!
You’ve got a lot going on Claudia…hope you can get it done and not be too stressed. Amazon is my friend. I love, love, love on-line shopping year-round – hahaha. I need to wrap and get things packaged to ship (a lot of stuff to ship out), I want to write cards and I want to start baking. I think I’ll get it done, but I am focusing on enjoying each moment. Last night I went to yoga instead of doing things at home…it was a good decision!
I won’t be able to wrap until Christmas Eve, Vera! Ah, well. I usually wait until then anyway.
Good idea to go to yoga!
I think my gift shopping is done!! On line shopping is the way to go. I have a few more commitments before Christmas and then just wait for 2017. Watching Tiger today he is home sick, but not too sick to play!
Oh, poor Tiger! Hope you get some cuddles with him today!
i shop year-round for my family so thankfully i am nearly done. good thing, because we are supposed to get awful weather (ice is the worst) this weekend.
best wishes to you, Claudia, and everyone else for getting everything done and traveling safe!
thanks for the link to “mike hot-pence”!
kathy in iowa
You’re welcome! Good for you for shopping year round. We somehow never do that! Stay safe in that ice. It’s supposed to rain all day the day I have to move everything into my apartment in Hartford!
Loved that article on Glenn….and loved that first comment. It basically said not all heroes wear capes! I have several lists…and I’m slowly chipping away at it….I don’t have your deadlines though. Online shopping is so much easier, but I actually prefer picking out gifts. However, with this deep freeze we are now in…I’m warming up to online shopping. I ran all over yesterday, getting what I could locally, just have a couple of things to order. I basically just have to wrap the presents, send out our cards, bake some cookies… and do anything else I feel I have to do. All before Friday, my self imposed deadline, because a new round of snow is expected to start then. Good luck with your lists! ;)
He is most definitely a hero, Donnamae!
I like to pick out gifts too, but I must admit, shopping in stores with fluorescent lights makes me feel tired and crazy. And the crowds. All the more reason to shop local, but there’s not a whole lot to choose from at our most local level. It sounds like you’re pretty organized, Donnamae. And yes – we have to plan everything around the weather!
Oh, my list is outta control! Company on the 20th means my time is cut short for doing anything…so I’m in high gear and stepping on the gas! Just finished clipping the dog, decorating, baking in progress. All of my presents are at least ordered. Some here and wrapped, some waiting, and some still to come. Oh, please let them get here in time! Love online shopping. How did we do it any other way? Now downstairs to the studio, where much work in progress awaits. Good luck with your trip planning and may the weather gods be with you!
I hope everything gets there in time! I just had to call our local post office because a tracking number from Amazon said the package had been delivered in my mailbox yesterday. And it wasn’t! Turns out, they made a mistake and put it in our post office box! That’s when I’m grateful to live in a small town where they know us and can get to the bottom of things!
Oh, the darned weather. I’m sure hoping that it doesn’t rain all day Sunday – as forecast, at the moment – when I’m lugging boxes and bags and all sorts of stuff into the apartment.
Well, I think she finds it convenient while on public transport but I tend to agree with you. It has to be paper and pen on a Sunday morning for me – with a second cup of coffee. I just checked out the link to Mike Hot-Pence – brilliant!
I don’t blame her – makes sense to me. And generational, I’m sure. Crossword on paper with a pen and coffee – perfect!
Isn’t Mike Hot-Pence fabulous? So, so proud of him!
meant to tell you that when i type in your full blog name on Start Page the seventh or eighth item they list after your blog is a link to “the real housewives of atlanta”. what?!? I don’t have cable tv so don’t know about that show, but from i’ve heard it’s about super-wealthy people partying, arguing, whatever, so i can’t imagine how a search engine links a show like that to your sweet blog! there’s not even words in common. ???
kathy in iowa
Who knows how that happens?
Maybe I once wrote about how much I despise those shows – in fact, I think I did. I’ve certainly written about reality tv before – maybe I mentioned the ‘real housewives! Search engines will often pick out words and topics in posts.
am not a fan of “reality” shows, preferring instead a little mystery or laughter. don’t watch much tv, but i do like something sweet like reruns of “andy griffith”. oh, and “ncis: new orleans” to get glimpses of a city i love. and to look at scott bakula. heehee!
kathy in iowa
I think Don worked with Scott Bakula once. I’ll have to make sure I’m right about that! We’re almost done watching all five seasons of The Dick Van Dyke Show on Netflix. It’s been a welcome escape!
agree; “dick van dyke” is another welcome break! they just showed a colorized version of that show a couple days ago (didn’t watch … i like the original b+w version).
good for both don and scott b. :)
kathy in iowa
We watched it but came to the conclusion we knew we’d come to – we much prefer the Black & White version!
didn’t mean to sound or be judgmental about super-wealthy people, arguing, atlanta, etc. just seems like a weird link compared to what i find on your blog. :)
Search engines come up with weird stuff, Kathy. I don’t use that search engine – I just use Google!
I think I can make you feel better about rain on Saturday in Hartford ….. this week our high temp is to be 12*. It is 9* right now, we have about 6 in of snow on the ground, with more to come this weekend. Windchill of -27* on Thursday morning…… I know the rain definitely won’t be fun,,,, but it could be worse!! ugh.
LOVED the link!! I am still so very very depressed about Nov. 8. In fact, with the announcements he is making, I think my depression is even deeper than it was on the 9th!!
I remember many years ago when I first heard of on-line shopping, I thought I could NEVER do that. Ha!! It is the best!! “buy with a click” are some of the happiest words I read. And with Prime, everything is here in 2 days or less!! Ordered 10 things late yesterday afternoon and 3 are to be delivered today!! Going into Madison this aft to finish the very last couple of things I need and will be done. Baking is also done. Still have to do the (very) few cards we still send out. Everything we have so far is wrapped, so just those 10 things and a couple of other little things I get today. You, however, have the added challenge of packing and setting up house coming up. I can’t imagine adding those things to my “to do” list!!
May you have a tremendous Tuesday!!
Well the rain is a problem because I have to park in a parking lot next to the apartments, walk several hundred feet to the building – over and over again until I get everything inside. The rain will get everything I need to unload wet.
It’s going to be cold here, too – Thursday and Friday.
My depression is even worse, as well. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. I’m praying that the Electoral College voters read more and more about Russia interfering with our election and think again about voting for Trump. Or that the vote is delayed – which it should be – until more is revealed to us.
I love, love shopping online. So much easier, as long as everything gets here on time!
Oh, please know I wasn’t trying to diminish the ickiness of moving in the rain. It will be dreadful. Last night at supper when we watched the weather, I mentioned to my husband that I wish I was fretting about rain like I was just a few weeks ago, and not horrific wind chills and more miserable snow. I know it will not be even one moment of fun as the rain falls and you are trying to move in!! ♡
Oh gosh, I understand. Please know that I’m also fretting about snow and ice, which could screw up plans to get home on my days off or for Don to get to Hartford! I wish for NO SNOW AND ICE FOR EVERYONE!
I always have lists, Claudia. Sometimes I think I’ll never get through them. Yesterday I spent 6-1/2 hours and spoke to 10 reps of a certain cell phone company, to upgrade to a smartphone. SIX AND A HALF HOURS?!?! For something I thought would take at most 20 minutes. I knew what I wanted (2 iPhones and a flip phone, for my Mom), I’ve been a long-time customer (over 17 years), I have excellent credit in the 800’s. I finally got a competent salesperson who understood the computer system and diagnosed a system glitch. That was why the previous sales reps couldn’t finalize my order, and kept shuttling me back and forth to customer service, account services, back to tele sales. So, only one thing checked off my list. After spending over two weeks straightening out the cable company, yesterday’s ordeal was the straw that broke my back. I hope my two experiences may be rare, that most interactions between customers and these types of companies are smooth. However, after I’ve had to go through these, I don’t hold a lot of trust or confidence in the phone reps of those big companies, but I don’t hold the staff responsible. I think the companies, as much as they tout customer service, just don’t train their staff adequately. Anyways, hope you get through your lists quickly. A portable printer is ideal for you.
I understand. I’ve been in that same situation with customer service – on the phone for hours. Thank goodness it happens rarely, but how frustrating that must have been for you! xo
I love Mike Hot-Pence! Thank you for that. It made me feel a teeny bit better, and that is saying a lot right now!
Merry Christmas! xo
Even a teeny bit is helpful right now, Jill!
read about Mike Hot Pence a few days ago collecting money for Planned Parenthood. We thought it was so coool of him!! I do crosswords everyday, but I do them online. It started as an effort to work on my typing skills and now I race through them seeing how fast I can complete one. They are the easy variety.
It is very cool of Glen! He’s a great guy!
Yep, shopping is all wrapped up for me [except for groceries, obviously]. But then our family has dramatically-scaled back on gift-giving in recent years, especially since even the “little kids” are all now 21 or older. None of us need anything anymore either, so we do a family charitable gift all together – this year it’s going to the American Cancer Society [both Mom & Dad had cancer]. And then we generally give gift cards, certificates for haircuts, books of car wash tickets etc. PLUS fun little things that we know would be useful & appreciated like batteries, lip balm, breath mints, bags of favorite coffees or teas etc etc. We try to customize with the little things, and to be a little creative too. One year I did little bags with things for winter [handwarmers, cough drops, envelopes of hot chocolate mix, pocket Kleenex packs, vitamin C, hand lotion]. 🎄
PS – LOVE LOVE LOVE what your student Glen is doing in NYC too! That’s a riot. I think Senor Pence better get to that kind of thing – he’s in for 4 years of it. Because – say it with me everyone – #ThisIsNotNormal !!! 🇺🇸
My sister and I stopped giving gifts years ago and all the kids are grown up – except for Little Z, whose present is going to be late, so it’s really just Don and me. Good for the budget! Or maybe not!
Yes. The is not normal, in fact, it’s terrifying!
Love what your student Glen is doing. Something positive for something he believes in. I think that is an excellent example for us all. Sort of like, putting our money where our mouth is.
Exactly. I love his idea and he’s followed through with it in a big way!
Well Claudia…yesterday we got covered with ice….today we got covered with snow…which is still falling…needless to say…Nancy is not a happy girl….lol…I really want to get everything I need for the holiday and be done…Your student Glen is a good man…and what a looker…lol…he certainly is “hot”…lol…and much better looking then Mike Pence……it’s good to know he has a beautiful soul to go along with those looks…
He is much better looking than Mike Pence! And kinder and more compassionate, to boot!
I have a long list of stuff to get done before the 22nd, which is when we’ll be traveling ten hours by car to visit family for the holidays. I have to mail the Christmas cards, arrange the cat sitter, put a vacation hold on the newspaper, make sure all the gifts have been purchased, coordinate packing luggage for three people, take the kid to winter break camp, etc. I’ll be happy when I arrive at my destination!
You do have a list of things to get done, Bridget! You’ll certainly have earned a rest!
It’s tough trying to exist comfortably in two different places, isn’t it? You taught in San Diego, where? Lucky students, I’d say. Good luck with your project!
I taught in the graduate acting program run by the University of San Diego/Old Globe Theater.
Kudos to Glenn for getting out there and doing something positive after the election. Sounds like he is making quite a stir … bet folks do double and triple takes when they see him.
I bet they do, too! He’s taking action, which is what we all need to do – especially when we feel so powerless.
Actually, I’m making lists although I stay at home. It’s this time of the year when everything and everybody gets a bit crazy. So I try to stay on top of all and not to forget anything. Christmas shopping is done already. I keep it simple. 7 more days in school until the holidays. Can’t wait. :-) All the best for Hartford. Regula
I keep adding to my lists, Regula. I remember yet another thing and on it goes!