shopping last Friday.

I don't get it. Are the deals really that great?

I check out the advertisements. But I have never opened one up and said: Yes! That is exactly what I'm looking for.

I usually see things and think, oh Clin might like that. Ellis would love this. But they are usually not on my list. And come on, do I really need to add more to those lists?

I have never seen one advertisement that has motivated me to get up at 4 AM and park myself in a line.

I've always wanted to go. Just to see what the fuss is about. But something would have to be practically free to pull me in.

I did mosey on over to Wal-Mart last Friday around 10:00. Because I was alone. Because I could. It wasn't crazy. A bit busy. But I wasn't pushing a cart. The only difference from a usual visit to the Mart? I couldn't stop searching. Searching for a deal. It's the day after Thanksgiving. The prices are supposed to be rock bottom. Where is my amazing find? And the more I searched, the less I found. I wasn't searching for a doorbuster, just something that said to me:

I am cheap. You must purchase me because you will never be able to find me at this price again.

Nothing. Everyone else was loading up on toys. But the prices didn't seem that different from every other day. And I felt bad. Like I was missing out. Like I needed to buy something NOW. So I left the store with some blocks - because they seemed to say:

I'm the last available doorbuster. Buy me now or you will miss your chance.

So I bought them. And stood in the 20 items or less line waiting for the woman in front of me who was trying to price match Connect 4 and Trouble to an ad she thought said $6.00 but couldn't remember the store. And she asked the cashier, multiple times, to check different ads for her. What???? Is that really the cashier's responsibility? To find us better deals?

I left with my lousy bag of blocks and a hollow feeling inside because I still didn't know if I truly found a good deal.

counting the days.

In an attempt to motivate my spirit 'o' Christmas, I'm trying a new tradition that will be completely axed if it's any of the following:

1. Too much work
2. Extra Stress
3. Unsuccessful
4. Difficult to complete
5. Not fun

I stole the idea, thinking it might be fun since Clin will be spending the month of December in rehearsals.

So I have activities planned for the next 24 days. Simple activities. One a day. And we won't find out what we're doing until we open our daily present.

Day 1? Making a chain. To hang on the door. To rip apart. To reinforce our advent theme.

one of those days.

You know those days when you make the decision to grade all of your papers in one night, knowing that the solitude and quiet of the late hours will allow for relatively quick grading, with the understanding that the next day will consist of existing only for sleep and surviving the periods of wakefulness to make it to the moment when you can crash into blankets and drool?

yeah. me too.

November 27, 1992.

In honor of Thanksgiving - here's a look back at a journal entry from a Thanksgiving past.

11/27/92 - Friday (15 years old)

Been really busy this Thanksgiving weekend. Yesterday night we went to Grandma's and celebrated. I loved it. We always get around her player piano & sing together. That's something I'll always love. I wish - I'm going to become better friends with Grandma Summers. I always feel so far away - yet she is so interesting. Especially her growing up years. She's writing a book about it and I can't wait to read it. I love her.

Kelly & I went to the movie, A River Runs Through It. It had an ending that was the best I've ever seen. I love Kelly - she's a sister to me.

This Sunday I'll catch up my writing on all the things I've meant to write about, but keep forgetting.

*Reminder - John & Rags for curls.

giving thanks...

for late mornings in bed

with white sheets

and best friends

documented by Millie

pouncing by Ellis

up close

vicariously thankful.

elmo

pig and duck pajamas

shoes
mac&cheese

shoes

teddy

blanket

goodnight moon

shoes

milk
goldfish

goldfish

goldfish

--Ellis

sending thanks.

Dear Judy, Greg, and Chandler:

This is the cow shirt. It is my favorite shirt. I want to say thank you. I like the color.

Millie

_____________________

P.S. Details from the Mom:

She wants to wear it every day. Everywhere.

And the funny addition? I couldn't get her to try it on for weeks. Why? She thought the sleeves would be too long.

But once she felt the warm, orange, comfy Texas goodness she did not want to take it off.