… I finished all my Christmas shopping spending just under $250 and in a time of two and a half hours. I was shopping for eight nieces, five nephews and other family and friends. The time is what people find shocking. I look at it this way; I have a good idea of what I am looking for each person on the list. It's not that I don't care as some may argue; I just get to the point with no dilly-dally.
I'm buying presents mainly for children ranging in the age of two weeks to 10 years old. I'll walk up and down and aisle, stop, and say: "I think (so-and-so) would like this." They usually do. Well now that I think of it, I've never gotten a complaint.
Now, I just need to wrap everything.
… Between now and the last time I blogged, I spent time with my parents. I picked them up from the airport as they arrived from Mexico and took them to my sister Georgia's house in Pasadena. The next day, I drove them to Fresno where my sister Clemencia lives and where they had left their truck.
I used to drive my parents everywhere when I lived at home. I thought it was pain then. Years later, however, I found it was enjoyable.
On the way there, I asked them what they wanted for lunch and at first didn't know until they saw an In-n-Out billboard and said they wanted to go there. Then my father said their food is good for you. Now keep in mind, my dad is now 78 and had never heard of the food pyramid, let alone the four basic food groups. I asked why he thought that and he said, "They put so many vegetables on their food." He had a point.
He then told me that another sister, Rosa, took them to an In-n-Out before they had left for Mexico and they enjoyed it, they had never been there before. I reminded him that they do have In-n-Outs in Tracy and Stockton and he was surprised and asked if they were new. I said no, the Tracy one has been there since I was in high school.
But I am looking forward to them renewing their wedding vows next month.
… I've been babysitting a two-year-old recently for a friend at work. He and his wife take their newest born to the doctors nearby and leave me for at least 90 minutes with the toddler. Their child, Sophie, knows me well enough that the parents know I am not a stranger to her.
The first time was easy until an hour into it. Then Sophie realized after watching her DVDs that her parents weren't there. She began to scream and cry and I tried reasoning to her but that wasn't happening and so I put the DVD back on. It worked, but I felt like I failed and took the easy way out.
It wasn't until later where I learned a trick. Focus is everything. While having dinner, I had her crayons and was drawing. She became possessive and said it was hers. Later on, as she was trying to play with one of her parents who was trying to get dinner ready, I yelled out, "Look Sophie, I'm coloring." She stopped and looked, then came towards me. So the next time I watched her, it was much easier.
… It's Christmas time and once again I turn into the free airport shuttle for friends. I started this week taking a friend to the airport who's flight was at 7 a.m. That translates to me getting up at 5 a.m.
Maybe I am just too nice. So, if anyone needs a ride, you know what to do. This is a service for friends and family only. No friends of a friend or family of a friend. But I will do friend of the family for some reason.
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