Sally, cats are so smart they figured out how to make others clean the litter box. But of course they pay for their smarts by drawing out the contempt of those who believe in being helpful. No more cats for me after my one very special guy, Nubicat, who died many years ago.

I wonder when the local news is going to change it's name to "Police Blotter Report"
Seriously, half of the newscast is about murder, robbery and assault.

I wouldn't know. Never watch the stuff.:D

Black Friday - not!!!
 

Staying home, making turkey soup, and baking bread. You couldn't get me out shopping today even if my body worked fine all the stuff were free!

Me, too!!! ;)

Once I get myself and this body functional (Its just 7: 20 Am here), I'll be heading out to stock up on staples so that I don't need to go near a store of any sort until well after Christmas. This will not be a Christmas present shopping trip (I don't do that), but rather for pet food, tissue paper products, toiletries and non-perishable grocery items.

The stores will be busy by later this afternoon, through the weekend, and right up until January, so its this morning or never. Abusiness associate/friend said that she will come with me to help if I need it, so I might give her a call. The hands are not too bad this morning, but the legs are dragging their feet, if you know what I mean :winky:.

With love, Erika

That makes perfect sense Erika, if you live in Canada! :) Since you had your turkey day in October, you probably won't risk getting trampled if you go out today. Here in the US, it's mayhem and insanity after our Thankgiving. The stores offer ridiculously low prices on certain in-demand items, then only stock a few of them, so people push and jostle to get them before they run out. It's nuts.

So I hear.

Not wanting to miss out on retail opportunities, some big box stores and even some of the little local ones here have adopted the USA Black Fiday mayhem sales. Although not as crazy as it is down in the USA, I can't do crowds at the best of times, never mind when there is this sort of atmosphere attached to them.

I feel like wearing a sandwich board today that says "I'm only here to buy paper towels...yes, really". :D

With love, Erika

Erika, I get all those kinds of products delivered to me right here at home. I do the bulk of my shopping online. I use drugstore.com and soap.com for nearly everything. I think I'd still do it that way even if I could drive. It's so convenient. :)

No today..:eek::eek:, but during the Holiday shopping time, I'd like to go
to the Mall/DT, in my scooter and just roll around, looking at the
pretty lights n decor and people watch. TeeHee, what fun, cool huh?:D:p:D

Sally,

Make a plan.
Make it happen!

ANN :)

Yes, Sally...get out there and do some Holiday watching and enjoying if you can :).

Kitty,
On-line shopping is great and I do use it for some items (supplements, books, educational and professional items, specialty items etc), when delivery is available, but for most areas of Canada that are outside of the big cities, delivery is not offered...and when it is, it is usually way too expensive to make it economical. Usually I still have to go and get it from a Canada Post depot or the shipper's nearest outlet, which from where I live can be a 90 minute drive away. Otherwise I have to pay extra to have it taken to a bus station and then pay additionally for delivery to the depot in my town.

Added costs are especially so for items coming into Canada from the USA or anywhere else beyond our borders.
We pay the delivery charge (Usually a minimum of $ 25.00), duty & import taxes, Federal - Goods & Services Tax (GST) of 5%, provincial tax (In my province it is 7%), plus border handling by the shipper which is around $ 25.00/item.
Then on top of all that, our border people like to sit on packages for quite some time it seems (weeks to months).

I waited for 2 months for a package containing 6 educational CDs last year and paid twice the cost of the CDs in taxes and shipping charges to get it here ($ 86.00).

In the end, it is more economical for me to purchase most things from the big box stores when ever possible. I've completed one run (Wal-mart), and am resting up to out into the fray a bit later for another run (Groceries & hardware), but my friend is coming with me for that one.:)

With love, Erika

Sally - That would be fun! If I lived closer I would so go with you. :hug:

Erika - Can you shop Wal-Mart online and have it shipped to the store near you? I know here in the US it is free shipping if you have it shipped to the store.

Kelly - I have yet to order something from Alice.com. I remember you posting about that but I still haven't done it. Their prices do seem really good.

Random thought . . . I'm just finishing my lunch of soup and an apple. The apple is an organic one from Trader Joe's. These little guys are so delicious. And one small apple is plenty for me.

That's definitely a thought Trish. I'll check into that.
Thanks.

With love, Erika

Oh I love my Walmart free ship to store. One item came the next day. One of our pick up areas is right in the front door. The other store is way in the back and staffed by the sporting good department. Hard to get some one there. So I go right down the road to the town next to me, and pick up there. Just have to remember to print off the email notification to scan.

The wisdom of a mother:

This has stuck with me since my trip to Walmart yesterday.

At the checkout, there was a young woman with a child of about 6 years ahead of me in the line up. As we got closer to the till, her little girl perused the offerings of small toys, trinkets and candy that were on display there. She selected a package containing sparkled, plastic bracelets and holding it out toward her mother asked "Can I have this?"

Without hesitation, her mother said "No. Please put it back."

Clearly disappointed, the girl, pleadingly asked "But why?"

I was expecting one of the usual responses or excuses but this mother came back with an original.

"Because it isn't yours. It belongs to the store, and until we choose to buy it from the store, and have the money to do so, we can look, but we don't touch."

The clever little girl put it back on the rack, then pointed to it and asked again, "Mommy, can we buy this?"

"We haven't put the money aside for it honey, but if you really want it, remind me to put it on our shopping list for next week and we''ll buy it then, OK?"

The girl nodded in agreement as the mom smiled and flashed a wink in my direction, knowing very well that in a short while that her daughter would probably forget all about it.

When I was the daughter's age, we were taught 'store' in school and at home, but our lessons mostly revolved around how to make change; something that is mostly done automatically these days.

This mom was teaching her daughter something more appropriate for the time and circumstances that we live in now...how to be a wise shopper. :winky:

A wise mom indeed.

With love, Erika

That's a wonderful story, Erika. I cringe to think what the WalMart shoppers here might do in that situation. :Sigh:

Oh, there's plenty of 'that' here too Kitty.

Its a shame really, because I think that youngsters learn a lot more from the behaviors of others, especially their parents, than we want to accept. Besides, I think that nasty behavior on the part of parents takes away from that special time when young children see their Moms and Dads as somewhat magical.

An acquaintance is an primary grade principal and she told me a story that brings that point home.
A teacher of grade 2 taught a lesson to her students about magnets, where she described how they attract and pick things up through their strong power.
Later, she included a question about magnets on a test that read:
"My name starts with the letter M....I am strong, attractive and pick things up. What am I?"

She was surprised to find that 50 % of her students answered the question with the word "Mother" :)

With love, Erika

A great Sunday story, Erika. Made my day.:hug:

Pope Francis has come out against the culture of consumerism. I applaud him for this, but I will believe that he truly lives it when he sells the gold chalices, miters, etc that are a part of the reality of being a pope.
And yes I know he drives an old car and lives simply…but there is still a culture of opulence in St. Peter's...

This time of year, consumerism is horrible. We are bombarded constantly with advertising gimmicks. Since Thanksgiving, I have gotten a least 8 e-mails a day from stores stating their sales. Some stores I've gotten 2 or 3 in the same day. I hate that.

Erika - What a great mom that woman is. She also was teaching her daughter that you can't always get what you want when you want it. I'm sure she and her daughter have discussed needs versus wants. That discussion took place many times in my house with my girls. Unfortunately, their dad and I are complete opposites. As an example, since it's close to Christmas time, I would only get the girls 3 gifts - one from Santa, one from me, and one from their sister. They gifts were simple. A toy from Santa, pjs from me, clothes from their sister. I didn't go overboard and stuck to a budget. We focused on traditions (Advent wreath and lighting the candles and saying the prayers each night and things like that) and the meaning of Christmas. One Christmas, the girls were like maybe 2 &3, he brought them and ALL their gifts home in a truck!!!! It took a truck to get them all to my house. The truck deal only happened twice that I can remember. The other times it would be a car trunk full of stuff. It was truly sad. All those gifts didn't make up for the lack of love the girls felt from their dad. The stuff was wants, the love was a need.

How come you can visit the washroom right before getting ready to go out... but once you have put on your sweater, your scarf, your coat, and in my case your insulated snowpants, then jammed your double socked feet into your boots and topped it all off with your hat and gloves...you need to "go" again?

With love, Erika

Yes and Jesus wouldn't have liked that, either.:mad:

Well, because you have MS. :D For a normal person, that all takes a matter of a few minutes. For MSers, that's a lot of work and takes a lot out of you and probably takes 4 times longer than the normal person.:D

Have you read a kid's social studies book lately? I just did and I was kind of confused. They jumped around too much and it didn't seem in chronological order. Of course, the stupid book was online and I hadn't read the chapters leading up to Chapter 22, but I was not impressed what so ever. I'm going to check out some reviews on the publisher. It was that bad.

You hit the nail on the head Trish,

It can take a long time to "suit up", and down again. Its frustrating to take so long to gear up...especially when one has a dog that insists on running to the door to show me where it is (as though I've forgotten), with each addition of an article of clothing :D

I had trouble following the contents of some school text books when I was in grade school (45 years ago), never mind what they must be like now.:winky:

With love, Erika

I may be 45 years old but... I still get excited by a snow day :D

About education of our youth
 

Hi to all those who have kids in school. I was a teacher in Art. We are something like 27th in the world. WE are failing, as the teachers hands are often tied, to do so much in one particular day. We are not teaching problem solving, and often the text books do NOT have correct information. Check out the books they use in all subjects. Good teachers should be paid what football starts are paid, then we draw the best and the brightest to be teachers. They took Art, and music out of the schools, and most of PE. Art and Music have underlying structures in physics. Science needs to start from an early age. If I had to do it over again with my own children, (70's) kids, I would home school. Just an opinion. Have a good Christmas all,,, give books! ginnie:grouphug:

I agree Ginnie,

It seems that today's education programs are geared toward the three "R"s and passing tests, while creativity, appreciation of beauty and natural curiosity have become a thing of the past.

With love, Erika

H Erika
 

Ever the three R's aren't doing so hot. Einstein said the worst thing we can do educationally is tie a teachers hands. Today, a set way to teach, what to teach each day, etc. is planned with no room for creative ways to introduce concepts. God above help those kids that have other ways of learning. I know a guy in my neighborhood who went all the way through high school, and cannot read....how in the heck did that happen???????????????????????????????????????????? ???????????????????????? I honestly think he had learning disabilities, and he was just shoved through.I do not even understand how he got his drivers license.......I see stuff like this going on, and it really upsets me.
Even though I am disabled and retired, I still give free lessons to neighborhood kids in mosaics. Had three girls over the summer who did a show and tell project (each one) for their school. I get plenty of adults in here too. There is a lack of the creative arts, that I think is essential for human development. We only have Art Artifacts, to show what generations and civilizations before us created. Where will our generations Art be 200 years from now? Sorry for the soap box, I just want the good old USA to do better. ginnie:thud::Clever::idea::hissyfit::deadhorsebeat ::Sob:

Where did my day go today? It's almost 4 and it seems like it's still morning. Sheesh!

Right there with you Trish.

I've been home bound today too...and have accomplished very little. Managed to bath, get dressed, feed myself as well as the dog and cat, clean the litter box and take the dog around the block a couple of times.

The rest of the time, other than visiting here, I've pretty much sat in the living room, too stunned to do anything.

It feels like I've been in a time warp or something.
I got up at 3:00am, and it is now 3:00 pm here.

With love, Erika

time really does fly
 

Hi trik, If you are feeling like time is going too fast, it really does the older you get. Lovely.....humph..... by the time you are 60 it is more than double than of the" time" frame for a child. It has to do with our perception and physics in some form. Some days I get angry that it is over, and I just started....it is weird.... Have a great rest of the evening. ginnie:grouphug::hug:

Oh no! At the rate that time went today, it will go at the speed of light before too long.:eek::D

Erika - I'm kind of still in my PJs. I have my PJ top on and some yoga pants. I never got to change today. I guess it's lucky for me as all I have to do is put PJ pants on and I'm ready for bed.

Don't feel bad, Trisha. There are many days I don't get "dressed".....which means I change from the PJ's I slept in to a fresh, clean set of PJ's! :o

What's the point if I'm not going anywhere or having company? :confused: And depending on who the company is I might just stay in my "lounging clothes". ;) My kids are used to seeing me in comfortable clothes. :p

ginnie, my 12 year old GD is on the honor roll all the time, usually all As. But when I try to get her involved in a discussion about geography or social studies or even have her do something simple in math in the kitchen she has trouble. I don't know what they are teaching them. The 7 year old who is in 1st grade is in a special arts program at her school and the things she has been taught! WOW. Maybe they stop at elementary school. At Thanksgiving they were playing a game and she was keeping a running score in her head. She got a score of 105 three times in a row so I asked her how much of a total that was. She stood and thought and immediately came up with the right answer. Their county in Kentucky has this really neat program in which all the kindergartners in the county go o one school and that is the only grade taught there. So everything is geared to that age group and size of kid. Then in the elementary school 1st and 2nd graders are called primary grades. It is in one big classroom with a separation between the two classes. If a child needs to be in the 1st grade in one class but the 2nd on another one he is. There is another grade that some children are assigned to be a mentor to others in the class. And if there is a new student that comes in throughout the year, one of these kids will be assigned to them, write them a welcome letter and then be their instant buddy. The 12 year old really enjoyed doing that. Now she is ion middle school which is right next to the elementary school. The middle school starts about 45 minutes later so she goes over to the elementary school and does copying, running or whatever duties are needed for one of the teachers. She really thrives in school.

Sorry didn't mean tog o on and on about my grand children but I think they are pretty special.

Hi Kitty
 

The quote at the bottom of your post is wonderful. If we all would practice compassion, what a wonderful would it would be. ginnie:D

I used to wake up in the morning dreading my day. Well, may be dreading is too strong of a word but I wake up in such pain sometimes that I know my day is not going to go well. So, I changed my morning thought patterns. I lay in bed and just thank God for this day and always ask, "What are you going to surprise me with today" or "What are you going to bring me today" or something along those lines. For some reason it just puts a more positive spin on my morning. It sets me up to just accept what comes my way during the day. And, it's cozy laying in bed talking to God about all sorts of things. It's my morning pleasure. Also, since I can't just hop out of bed right away anymore, I take advantage of that time to speak with Him instead of moaning about the pain I am waking up to.

Thank you Trish. What a great idea.:hug:

I was just wondering if anyone here, has ever given or received
a Cha Cha "Chia" plant or pet?:D:rolleyes:

OK...I give up. What is that? I know what Chia seeds are, but a cha cha plant or pet? Not in my vocabulary.

With love, Erika