Like a fool I went to the mall yesterday afternoon. Surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as I expected, but then anytime for me at the mall is bad.

I entered at one end of the mall and when I returned to my vehicle, I had been all the way to the other end and back. Doesn't take this guy long. I hate shopping when I don't know what I am shopping for. I guess I am not a shopper, I am a picker upper!

I had bad information. I thought Krl and I weren't exchanging gifts (that was our gift). Totally by coincidence, she had a slip of the tongue and mentioned that she needed to check with Trc about my Christmas. Now if that isn't deceitful I don't know what is! Get out the switches and the lump of coal and show me to her shoes!

I am amazed at some of the promos going on. Of course every store has it's featured buy. Many of them are proclaiming their after Christmas sale has already started. Probably the funniest sign I saw was this one, "Buy that nice girl something naughty!" I am also amazed at the different hooks stores are using. No credit check with military ID. No payments until 2007.

I would love to see one that proclaimed presents that fit your budget! That sales person would have their work cut out with me as the customer! I have been in the spot before where all my shopping was done on plastic. Yuk! In hindsight, I can't believe I did that. Even more amazing, you can't convince someone not to do it. That's another one of those nightmares you have to live through and hopefully wake up from. It often comes to mind what my Mom has always told me, "Children don't care what they get because of the magic of the season".

Over the last several years I have converted almost totally to a cash basis. When the green is gone, it is gone! I do carry one credit card and it is used either in road emergencies or for pay at the pump when I am pressed for time. If I ever use it, either I am reimbursed for the road emergency and it flows through to the credit card account, or if it is for personal use, the card is paid in full each month. At present I do not even have a checking account. I am becoming a pro at money orders! Just call me Ebeneezer!

The most crowded place yesterday was the grocery store, and I made two of them. One wasn't enough.

Krl and I seem to be on different clocks. I begin early and end early. She begins late and runs later! The two young pups are the ones who are winning because they go to bed with me and stay in bed until she gets up. By the time Krl got up yesterday I had made the cornbread for the Christmas dressing and I had made a large batch of chex trash mix. Although she would argue with me, I was cleaning the kitchen when she walked through.

Krl has been on some kind of weird kick where she is going ninety miles an hour, she began decorating yesterday, did a lot of meal "part" cooking (she boiled eggs, squash, and chicken. I think I even remember hearing her cookie press that she used to make deviled eggs.) While I was out and about I had picked up frozen lasagna for supper last night and she even found time to throw it and some garlic bread into the oven. I wasn't in there but it was probably a behind your back or under your leg toss! We talked briefly, and I told her if she would group what she wanted wrapped together for the little girls, I would do it. The stuff for the little boys is no problem, even I can figure that one out.

We ate supper then Maple Syrple, Phooey and I sat back in my recliner watching a little television. Next thing I remember is being awakened by some loud snoring (I am almost positive it was one of the pups) and Krl telling me to take my cohorts and go to bed. She was sitting in the floor wrapping (not rappin') and I told her not to worry about that because I would do it "in the morning". Because we do need to keep these young pups on schedule I took them to bed.

Twas the night before the night before Christmas and all through the house, there were lights on, the tele, with gifts and wrappings all about. I could hear Krl working as she wrapped away, taking brief respites to check on food preparation for Christmas Day. Imagine my surprise when I awoke with a startle, to walk in the living room and find the Charlie Brown Tree as well as another, twinkling and blinking in full Christmas splendor. This was tree-mendous! I then looked around at all the packages wrapped with great care, and began to stutter because there was no clutter.

The woman had stayed up long enough to get it all done.

I guess I will head into the kitchen and see if I can start the cycle all over again. I'm going to make her sausage, eggs and biscuits to begin her Christmas Eve. Then I may make time to go out and buy my nice girl something naughty, because she has been just too good!

May your holiday be filled with laughter and cheer.

Thank YOU FATHER, for the blessings we enjoy!