I’m back. And while everyone out there in the weblogging world seems to be posting their Christmas wish (and received) lists online, I’m pleased to share with you the rules for a new holiday tradition in which I partook this year: A Struthers Family Christmas:
- Christmas comes but once a year, but gift gathering last the whole year through. Always keep your eye out for that special gift for your loved one; you never know when or where you might find it.
- All items bought must come from a garage sale, estate sale, moving sale, lawn sale, junk sale, Goodwill, Salvation Army, or any other type of second-hand store. You get the idea.
- Re-gifted items are great, too. You may give items you have received as gifts if you don’t like them. No hard feelings if you give it away again. But remember, it has to be something given to you, not something you bought new and used first.
- Free is especially good. Promotional items such as cups, caps, pencils, pens, posters, and t-shirts are great. Bonus checks and gifts certificates are okay, if they are free to you.
- Garage sales in May, June, July, August and September are the main Christmas shopping months.
- No last minute shopping in crowding stores with crabby clerks and irate, tired fellow shoppers. The Goodwill is never crowded at Christmas time!
- You don’t have to ask, �Why did I get this crap?� Because, you know, it was cheap!
- Total cost of all gifts must not exceed $10 per person, so you don’t have to float a loan or over-load your credit card.
- It’s not how much you spend. It’s how many gifts you can get for $10 that counts.
- Cheap, cheap, cheap and fun, fun, fun!
I came out a winner this year with a Betty Crocker sandwich maker, a new wok, a French coffee press, glassware, candles, cutting boards, power strips, wall adornments, and of course, a �bosom friend.� More on that later. Of course, my own mom and dad once again overwhelmed me with their wonderful generosity. Thanks, again, for a too-quick holiday weekend.
Select photos from the holiday celebrations are now online! I plan to finish out 2000 with a few more quiet evenings at home, writing a few New Year’s resolutions, and thoroughly enjoying my unusually fast Internet connection while all the kiddies at Olaf are playing at home.
So, they really did buy growzan.com and inmyunderwear.com.
My cousin Paul was kind enough to send me a portion of the Claire Swires email I was seeking the other day. Of course, I forwarded it on, possibly opening up the possibility to my own Claire Swires scenario …
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