Old modern technology

This time 2 years ago, my 3 brothers were the only ones in this family that had moved into the modern technology.
I'm talking about cell phones, digital cameras and a computer. Not exactly up to date technology, more like old modern technology!

Me...
April of last year, I moved up in the world when I was given my first used computer (got a brand new one, February of this year) and in August I got my first used digital camera (got a new one in June of this year). August of this year I got my first cell phone, ever.

Hubby...
He got a new cell phone and a brand new tv.

Sister...
She had a cell phone (for emergencies only), but this year her and her hubby worked hard to get their very first used computer. Way to go sis! Still no digital camera or printer, but I'm sure they will be working on that next.

Parents...
Mom's sister had given her a computer, but she never got it hooked up, by time she did try, it had been ruined by toddler twins pouring their milk inside it.
Parents moved this year and dad it the jackpot. My dad is a scavenger, you throw something away and he is likely to find it and try to fix it. He found a computer, it did have its problems but worked for games. My brother came down and tried to fix it and he went and got mom a brand new computer. My other brother has given mom a cell phone on his plan.

Dad managed to find another computer and again my brother came down to fix it for him. Dad didn't get a brand new computer, but after my brother got through with it, it was close to brand new. At thanksgiving, my dad was showing everyone that he got a digital camera. He was thrilled over that camera. Today he calls me from his very first cell phone! Mom had bought him a reconditioned phone, but after trying to set it up and having problems. The company sent dad a brand new camera phone!
He exclaims...In the last six months I have jumped into modern technology!

Now my whole family (other than one sister) is just a few steps away from the newer technology.

Now that I have written this out and reviewed it, the only things we should need for Christmas is clothes!

What a year for my family! We all get gold stars! Right Mom?

A Tradition Dies.

For nearly twenty years now, my most major tradition was...

Every year I go to Wal-Mart and get us an ornament and have the clerk in the jewelry department engrave the year on the front or the back depending on the style.

Last year I didn't do my shopping till late in the season and there wasn't anymore (so I thought). I was disappointed, but soon forgot about it.

Today I went to get us one for this year and last year.
I looked and looked and found none.
I asked the clerk at the jewelry booth and she looked at me like I was crazy.
I'm trying to explain to the girl..you know the ones that y'all engrave.
She pointed to a wall of display and said that was all the Christmas stuff they had or go to the Christmas decorations department.
I went to the wall she indicated, nope not there.
I go to the far end of the store and search each isle. Nothing!
I'm getting really frustrated!
I was even letting some curse words escape under my breathe.

I stopped a worker, someone who looked like they had been there a while.
Well...Her reply was...We stopped carrying those two years ago!
*
*
OH NO! What am I going to do now?
I come home and hit up the Internet. I tried every word combination I could think of and was getting nowhere. I did find that just a few days ago, someone else just found out the same thing about those ornaments and was asking for help. The help gave a place to get them but I would have to travel four hours round trip for them. That's not going to happen!

Finally, after many hours for searching, I found the right words.
At last, I found a small amount of them! Only downside to this is that they cost twice as much as I would've paid for them. I got the two I needed, anyways.

Now I am going to have to come up with another way to mark the years.
Any suggestions?

Friends one day, Shopping the next!

Sorry I haven't posted anything in a couple of days. I hope you didn't miss me too much!

Sunday...
We went to our best friends house, to pick up her finished project.. I had boughten some yarn (last month) and hired her to make a baby blanket for my nephew due in January, A beautiful soft green with scalloped edging.

I'm sure your asking...Why didn't I do it myself? Well, just like everyones handwriting is different, so are everybodies stitches. She does this stitch that I have tried to duplicate and it just doesn't come out like hers.

After being there for three hours, visiting and eating. I started having a headache that just got worse to the point of a migraine. I don't know if yall remember, but last time I visited her the same thing happened. I called her when we finally got home and was trying to figure out what was triggering it, we came up with nothing. No new cleaning products, no new air freshener. I am at a lose as to why!

This time the headache didn't go away after and hour, this one lingered on through till yesterday afternoon.

Monday...
I had so much shopping to do. I want this Christmas shopping done and over with.
Still nursing my headache, I didn't want to do it but I had to. We only have one card for the store I was going to, so I had to go, cause I had to get that card back to the hubby by the next day.

I wasn't in any hurry, so I took my sweet time. Two hours later I am moving on to my next (and last) store and still didn't manage to find some of the things I was looking for.

I wasn't going to stop at the thrift store, but seriously it is an addiction!
I had to really reign myself in. I had to keep reminding myself that I was not here for me, I was here to find things for the baby and tools for my dad. I never found the tools he was wanting, probably cause I got lost in the linen area. Found a bunch of things for the baby, crib sheets and such.

Something about the linens area that just calls to me. I love to find sheets that have that special feel, it is not so much the look of the sheet as it is the feel. Once I find that feel, then I check the size and condition. Sometimes I will buy them anyways just for material for projects.
I can get all giddy over a find like that! High dollar sheets for four dollars!

I talked to my daughter after the first stop and had to drop by her house, told her I would be by after this next stop. (thrift store was not included in the plan) I still wasn't finished with the last store when hubby called to let me know he was on his way home (as he does everyday).
H...Where are you?
M...I'm still trying to get done with the last store, I'll try to hurry.
H...Don't rush and be VERY CAREFUL!
(He said that cause it had been drizzly all day)
I forgot to tell him about still having to stop by daughters house! Crap!
Now I am rushing around, grabbing who knows what, trying to hurry up! GRR..
Headache starting to come back, just from the stress of running late.

I get to daughter's house and the kids are all "Nana, watch this!" and "How long you going to stay?" Broke my heart to have to get hugs and kisses and run. I won't get to see them again for another 3 weeks!

If only I hadn't stopped at the thrift store for my fix! Bargin prices robbed me of time with the grandkids!!

Fight traffic and finally get home (my saftey zone). Hubby is already home! Crap!!
I rush in the house with just a portion of my loot. I tell hubby there is more (this usally leads to help), nope he proclaims that his day is done!

Fine, find your own supper, cause so is mine!!

Sneeking a Peek

I was eleven and the Christmas tree was set up and some of the presents where already under the tree. My grandmother had just been to our house (the day before) to drop off the presents from her. My parents weren't home and the kids (siblings) were napping.

I kneel on the floor and look through the presents to find the one with my name on it. I find it and am curious as to why it is so small. It feels light as air, like nothing is in it but paper. Curiosity peeked as bad as "What prize is in the Cracker Jacks?!" I run to the door, look out the peep hole, nobody is coming. I go to the kitchen with the big window and scan the whole area, still nobody is coming. I still have this light as air present in my hands. I knew what I was thinking was wrong and if I got caught I was going to get a whipping. I just couldn't resist the curiosity, it was too strong.

I had seen daddy do this many times, I knew I could do it to. I ever so gently pulled on the tape, trying real hard not to tear the paper. My heart is pounding in my ears, the excitement was giving me a adrenaline rush, but the fear was ALMOST enough to make me stop. I didn't of course. I felt like I was moving in slow motion and breathing was too much noise. I get it peeled off and every so quietly unfold the edge.

It is something green and crocheted. My heart sank, I was so disappointed it wasn't something fun or fashionable, but still I just had to know what my grandmother had thought I would want. Maybe it is a dress for my doll, that would be neat. (Yes, I still played with dolls) My mind went all over the place, trying to think what it could be. I wasn't going to pull it out of the wrapping, for fear that I would never get it back in. Before I could stick to my plan, I was pulling it out!


SLIPPERS! The ugliest things I had even seen! Even the color of the green was sickening. They were two rectangular strips sewn together, they pointed at the toes!


Today, I could kick my eleven year old butt. Not knowing then that that was going to be the last present I ever got from my Grandmother. Not because she was gone. No, we were gone, we moved from Maine to Texas eight months later. I only saw her two times after that, at 18 and again at 25. She passed two years ago at the age of 92.

The point of my story is...Love your family, TODAY! Appreciate their efforts, even if you don't really like it. You never know what the future holds.


Ps...In the writing of this memory, the realization of this being her last present swept over me and of course changed my ending. No, I didn't get caught

Soo you DO believe in Santa Clause!!

Phone convo with sister…

Me...What was the most memorable Christmas present?
Sister...One year, I wanted a cabbage patch doll. I was opening all my presents and was disappointed there wasn’t a cabbage patch doll!


There was a knock at the door and I answered the door and there wasn’t anyone there, but there was a present.

Dad‘s yelling who is it?
S...Nobody, just a present!
Dad...Well, who is it for?
S...Looks at the tag and yells… IT”S FOR ME!!
It was the cabbage patch doll she'd been wanting!

M...Who was missing from the room?
S...Nobody, everybody was there.
M...Who was out of breathe?
S...Nobody.
M...Oh! Soo you DO believe in Santa Clause!!! LOL!


Niece and sister convo…

Niece...This year I am going to find out for sure if there really is a Santa Clause!
S...How are you going to do that?
N...I’m going to check Santa’s handwriting on the tags, if it looks like yours or daddies then I will know there is no Santa.


I told my sister to take all the tags to work and have someone else do them!


Niece finds her letters to Santa in her mother’s room.


N...How did you get my letters to Santa?
S...Santa said we could have them for keepsakes.