4 posts tagged “shopping”
So I've been reading Charles Dickens lately. And by 'lately' I mean, I read one of his books about two or three months ago (Hard Times), then about a month ago I started Nicholas Nickelby but haven't even come close to finishing, and last week I started A Christmas Carol and will definitely finish it this week. Possibly today. And I also have in the line-up: A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, and I think one or two others. Plus finishing N.N., of course.
Anyway, the whole reason I decided to pick up some Dickens reading is because I'm going to the Dickens' Christmas Faire up in San Francisco THIS WEEKEND! I'm...SOOO...excited. I don't really even know what it's going to be like, what it will entail, or why I get all giddy with butterflies about it. Maybe I'm just excited to spend a fun, unique weekend with Joe doing something that he initated and which also sounds like a great time for a nerdy English-major girl like myself. So, we'll see what happens. I also get to meet a couple more of Joe's good friends, which is always a great experience. (No, seriously...I don't think I've ever met a friend of Joe's that I didn't like. He knows how to pick 'em.) :-)
In other news: I'm just starting week two of December's NaBloPoMo challenge, and it's already been pretty tough. I think it'll be easier once I have internet at my house again (tomorrow? *crosses fingers*), but it's definitely also hard because of this time of year. It's inevitably really busy, whether with holiday parties, Christmas shopping, visiting family and friends, being sick (sadly something that seems to happen this time of year EVERY year for me), or whatever. And I'm also trying to keep up with going to the gym at least 2-3 times a week, and running once or twice a week too. So throw a daily blog requirement in there on top of all that AND working 40 hours a week...and I basically don't know how I still manage to sleep every night. But alas...I love this time of year. It makes me happy. Christmas music. Yummy goodies. Time with special friends and family. Celebrating Jesus. (Okay, that one shoulda been first in the list...my bad.) It's alllllll great. All except getting sick. And I'm glad I got that overwith a few weeks ago during Thanksgiving time. (Crap, now I've probably jinxed myself and am gonna get sick twice this season...oops!)
The end, for now.
I snuck onto a neighbor's wireless this morning...shh, don't tell!
So I've been trying to figure out what Christmas presents to get for everyone, and I hate how hard it is! I've never been a very good gift-giver...it seems like I always get stuff that's too generic/boring/not very thoughtful, or stuff that just doesn't fit the person, or stuff that I think is funny or awesome and they totally don't. This year I emailed everyone in my family in like, November, to ask for their wish lists so I could get some ideas. I got lists from a few of them, and I've been able to find SOME stuff that I think will be good. But now I'm in sort of a rut. I keep finding more things that would be great for the people I've already GOTTEN presents for...not for the ones I haven't gotten anything for yet. (Fortunately, Joe knows that feeling, so I know I'm not totally crazy. Or we're just both the same kinda crazy.) Anyway...just something I was thinking about this morning.
Gotta get to church!
Amazingly, we managed to get up and out the door this morning by 2:15. We headed down to Costa Mesa to do our first Black Friday shopping day together with Joe's brother John and John's girlfriend Kelly. We hit JCPenney's regular store and their home store, and Home Depot, all before the sun came up. Then we conquered the mall...well, Kelly and I conquered a few stores in the mall while Joe and John waited ever so patiently for us to get our girly fix. We hit Express, Victoria's Secret, Bath & Body Works, and The Limited...and maybe one or two others. It's kind of a blur. But let's just say that next year, if we decide to do the whole Black Friday thing, we're gonna have a better plan. Like, think ahead about what we want to buy. Because I definitely spent more money than I'd planned. BUT...I got a lot of great stuff for REALLY great prices, and now I feel like I have about half my Christmas shopping done, which is a relief. Plus I got a few new clothing items that are winter-wearable AND nice enough for work. And really cute. So...all in all, it was a successful day. Oh, and we also went to Target and Michaels. ALLLLLL before 11 a.m. Crazy, right? It was really fun. And then we had lunch, hung out for a bit, and Joe and I headed back to his parents' place with all intentions of crashing for the rest of the day. I did take a little nap (in the car on the way home, and then on the couch), but I still feel like I'm running on like, three hours of sleep. Needless to say, I'm hitting the sack early tonight. And totally NOT setting my alarm in the morning.
And then tomorrow...Pride and Prejudice! FINALLY. Maybe. Joe's mom and I have been trying to plan time to watch it since the day we met, and tomorrow seems as good a time as any. I hope I like it...but we'll see. I've heard a LOT of good and bad remarks on it -- the book and both movie versions.
Anyway, I'm sitting on the couch with Joe and his parents and we're watching The Incredibles, so I'm gonna cut this one short and join the fun.
Happy day after Thanksgiving!
I'm getting up at 2 a.m. tomorrow. Yes. Seriously.
I'm going shopping with Joe, John and Kelly, to scope out some sweet deals on Christmas gifts (and maybe a little sum'sumthin' for myself.
I had a really great day. Met some really great people. And I really, really, REALLY love Joe. And I loved being able to say, "See you next year!" to everyone and meaning it. Believing that this is going to be a lasting thing. Feeling immensely excited to share my life with this person and with his family, and looking forward to becoming a part of their traditions, and to starting some of our own.
I am so blessed. Yes. Seriously.
And I'm also going to sleep right now. Before 9 p.m. Because I'm getting up at 2. Seriously.
