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December 22, 2006
Friday Shuffle - The 2007: The Year of the Gift Card Edition
Tomorrow, we're leaving for the holiday in the hometown, and I'm just about worn to a nub. I'm one of Martha Stewart-crazed gift-givers. If it's not perfect, it's not worth giving. I pride myself on my gifting skills. Why? Because I'm a complete idiot, that's why.
I have been working on hand-crafted gifts for nearly everyone on my list for months. Not days. Not weeks. Months. I started in the summer, then went gung-ho a few days after Halloween. The fingerless gloves for my granny that have been giving me fits? I decided to make them at Thanksgiving. I mean, come on. How could I not? When Granny saw the fingerless gloves I was making for myself, she told me that she can't wear standard gloves because her fingers are so crooked from arthritis. But fingerless gloves would be perfect.
You don't honestly think I'd let my granny go another winter with cold hands, do you?
But here I am, after 11 PM the night before we leave, and I'm still not finished. I'm just taking a break while B. takes a crack at the last rather stubborn gift.
Let me tell you, gifts made after December 21st are not made with love and warm thoughts.
I'm not doing this again. Next year, everyone's getting gift cards to, oh, let's say Walgreens. Clonopin for everyone!
Since I'm in a rather bah humbug frame of mind today, let's turn the holiday cheer over to the delightful Mr. David Sedaris. The highlight of my day - and it was a shitty day in a lot of ways beyond gift-giving angst - was waking up to NPR just in time to listen to the annual reading of a selection from Holidays on Ice. If that doesn't do it for you, perhaps you need to be visited by Saint Nicholas and beaten senseless by his henchmen.
There is shuffling, but I can promise that nothing in the shuffle will be nearly as gut-splittingly perfect as Crumpet the Elf singing "Away in a Manger" in the style of Billie Holliday.
1. My Generation - Patti Smith
2. White Man - Queen
3. Let Me Be Good to You - Carla Thomas
4. C'mere - Interpol
5. In the Jungle - The Vines
6. Selah - Lauryn Hill
7. You Don't Wanna Call - The Donnas
8. Like a Rolling Pin - The Replacements
9. Fever - Shirley Horn
10. Johnny Get Angry* - Joanie Sommers
*probably because Crumpet the Elf told him that he was going to have him killed.
Posted by Robin at December 22, 2006 10:45 PM
Comments
Have a wonderful trip. Do the dogs get to go too? I love the gloves and have to tell you, I saw them in a little store here the other day for $26. I think they are brilliant.
Had the first of our family parties last night. Someone brought Paula Deen's banana pudding. Do you think I could east some for breakfast? It was fantastic.
Merry Christmas
Posted by: Kathie at December 23, 2006 07:10 AM
Nice thumb! I hate putting the thumbs in Fetchings. I wish there was an easier way than picking out that waste yarn. I get freaked out that I'm going to drop a stitch.
Have a safe trip and a wonderfully fun and happy Christmas.
Posted by: Dixie at December 23, 2006 10:51 AM
That's a great picture! All of my "Handmade Gifts" were done-up with the Knifty Knitter this year -- maybe my needle skills will be improved enough to "knit for real" next year.
I love that David Sedaris piece -- I was so glad to hear it on NPR while I was in the shower that morning!
Oh, and Pudding for breakfast is always okay! ;)
Posted by: Debbie at December 23, 2006 01:53 PM
Cookie--not made.
Tree--not decorated except for lights.
Decorations I've collected for the past few years--mostly sitting in a box.
I kind of want to go to bed and wake up when it's over.
I met David Sedaris a few years ago at one of his readings--he very graciously signed all of m books (mostly working dollar signs into the signature) and told me stories about his brother Paul, aka The Rooster.
Merry blanking Christmas.
Posted by: m at December 23, 2006 07:34 PM
I love the gloves! Merry Christmas :-)
Posted by: Jessie at December 23, 2006 08:47 PM
I've seen David Sedaris speak three times. One of the times I had driven 8 hours. When I told him that, he signed my book "that's a long fucking way to see someone like me."
Posted by: Lisa V at December 24, 2006 09:41 AM
