Ending the YEAR with POST **900**!!

AND, SOME FITTING "PURCHASES"...

So. The YEAR ended on a CLOUDY note, with the odd little SNOW-FLURRY... However, on the UP-side, NO "visits" from EVIL-SNOWPLOW-GUY! And, the TRASH-GUYS came by *just* BEFORE I needed to Leave for COSTCO!

I had been wondering about WHERE I could put those GARBAGE CANS within Reach of Pick-up and NOT Back-up OVER Them! -- Ah... "TIMING", gotta Love IT! -- To be sure, I gave CUTE-TRASH-GUY My profound THANKS!

COSTCO was just slightly less *crazy* than what I had Expected! A few more "Take-Home"-Food-Samples were to be had... Got the USUAL-STUFF and picked-up the "WORLD WITHOUT END" DVDs. - IT seemed to work with that whole END-of-the-YEAR-Thingy...

Meanwhile, seeing as I *was* "Close-By", I decided to pop into HOMESENSE... Where, I spotted THESE GUYS!!

ONE was just peeping out amongst a Clutter of Other-Stuff... Then, I noticed ITS Buddy further down the Shelf, *hiding*! -- $10.-Each -- THEY'd been Marked-Down TWICE! Definitely, a "ZEN"-Buy!!

Anyhoo... THEY're 8-Inches High, on a 4.5 by 10-Inch Base. And, Made of what I suspect is likely PLASTER..? Or, some THIN-CERAMIC - possibly even a Lower-Quality PORCELAIN, perhaps..?? Although, still "Weighty". -- Granted, THEY're *not* in "ALABASTER", but nevertheless, would still LOOK absolutely Stunning on a SLATE FIREPLACE-HEARTH, or MANTLE-PIECE!?

[NOTE TO SELF: Need a Large FIREPLACE]

Whatever... I totally LOVE THEM!!

Headed to THE MALL afterward. Just a fast Run-Through and, to get some LOTTERY TICKETS... I had Thought about going to OLD NAVY and FUTURE SHOP as well, BUT, the WEATHER was beginning to WORSEN in the quickly WANING "DAYLIGHT"!

I decided to CUT My "Losses"! SAVE Money! And, GET HOME! - *WHILE* I "could"!!

So...

I HOPE that EVERYONE has a GOOD and **BETTER** "NEW YEAR"!! -- Be SAFE! -- And, BLOOG on BACK HERE *LATER*!!

**CHEERS**!!

******************************************************************

hmm...Don't Remember EVER Seeing THAT Happen Before!

A PARCEL "DELIVERY", ON A **SUNDAY**!!? -- I guess I'm NOT the *only* One getting "Temporally"-Confused with all of These HOLIDAY "HOURS"!

ANYHOO... IT was from BABY-BRO! -- Who sooo *knows* WHAT His BIG-SISTER "LIKES"!!

IT's a T-SHIRT -- if You can't tell... 100%-Cotton [check!] - The *Correct* Size [check!] - A Colour I'm partial to wearing [check!] - Has a **RHINO**!! [BONUS "Sibling" Points!]

MEANWHILE, I "Celebrated" the *Appearance* of THE SUN with a Couple of Hours of SHOVELLING! -- ALL of that ANNOYING "POWDERY" Stuff from Yesterday... Thankfully, IT was just a FEW Inches worth and LIGHT, however the rather NIPPY-WINDS certainly *didn't* exactly "HELP" with ITS Removal!

And, "oh look!" at WHAT the EVIL-SNOWPLOW-GUY *LEFT* for Me!! -- I soooo "ENJOY"-*NOT* Digging-OUT the End of My Laneway in the SETTING SUNLIGHT!!

Tomorrow is GARBAGE-DAY *and* I have to go GROCERY-GETTING... I had better NOT *have-to* BURROW My way OUT! -- Got STUFF to DO! And, a *BUSY* Week ahead with PLACES to BE...

*********************************************************

ugh..IT's going to be One of **THOSE** "WINTERS", isn't IT?!

BBRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

yeah. I know. "SATURDAY"! -- Which, 99% of the Time means "SHOP-FARI"... However, "TODAY", I had *HOPED* to just STAY HOME!

really.

The way the "HOLIDAYS" are This Year, I keep having to look at My WATCH or COMPUTER Calendar to Remember WHAT "DAY" IT is! And THEN, I keep having to SHOVEL on the Days that I should and/or NEED to be "SHOPPING"... Which, WHEN I do, turns out to usually being 5-PLUS HOURS of TRAFFIC, CROWDS, Spending-More-Money-Than-I-Should-On-Stuff-I-Really-Don't-Need-INSTEAD-Of-What-I-DO-Which-Is-Usually-NOT-There-Never-WAS-There-And-Or-ISN'T-Quite-As-ON-SALE-As-IT's-SUPPOSE-To-BE!!

I *NEEDED* to do LAUNDRY, too!! - And, WASH My HAIR... Perhaps, even take a stab at actually getting around to WRAPPING Those STILL-To-Be-MAILED-Christmas-PRESENTS!?!

oh. LOOK! The SNOW has Started... YAY! - The PERFECT "EXCUSE" to stay IN!

Nevertheless, MOTHER **wanted** to "GO OUT"... [*not* good!]

We "COMPROMISED" -- So long as EVIL-SNOWPLOW-GUY doesn't TSUNAMI-by... Then, NO more than a FEW Hours - [as in, BEFORE SUNDOWN!!] - "WEATHER-Permitting"! And, that THE MALL was as FAR as We were going to go! *IF*, We could actually **GET** There! Besides, IT was *within* "WALKING-DISTANCE"! - At least, for Me...

Just "in case", I donned My "SHOVELLING"-COAT - [from BABY-BRO, a "Surplus"-MILITARY-Product-Testing-Cold-Weather-Work-Coat with Zippers, Snaps, Buttons, and VELCRO sealing *more* SECRET-"Pockets" than a CHINESE-PUZZLE-BOX!! - I've had this Jacket for Years and STILL keep "Discovering" NEW Things...]

huh. "SHOCK"! We actually GOT "GROCERIES"! -- And, another One of Those ON-SALE STORAGE-CONTAINERS for MOTHER... As well as a Couple of PURPLE-Double-Size-AIR-BEDS that were ONLY $7.94!! -- Always handy to have around...

It took Me SEVERAL Minutes to CLEAR-OFF THE-CAR when We were ready to RETURN HOME... That was "fun"... NOT. -- The Handle-Extension on the SNOW-BRUSH kept *slipping*! Then, that STUPID LEFT-WINDSHIELD-WIPER came OFF!! -- Still not sure IF IT's back on "RIGHT"?! Such a POOR Design! Thankfully, IT Stayed ON!

Although, Accumulation-Depth wasn't that much, the SNOW-Quality was very-FINE. That could, prove to be Troublesome LATER..? -- Meanwhile, despite the rather *NASTY* ROAD-Conditions, We arrived HOME *SAFELY*!!

BTW, THAT was the LAST-TIME I ever DO "THAT"! -- "SHE" can just STAY HOME and Watch the "SHOPPING-CHANNEL" NEXT-Time!!

My "BAD"-Shoulder is going to be Killing Me Tomorrow after all of that SLIPPERY-DRIVING. AND, SHOVELLING that will need DOING...

I. AM. SOOOOOO. SLEEPING-**IN**!!

***********************************************************

**CONGRATS, NANI-W**!!!

WOW! - DID I EVER *MISS* A "MEETING" OR TWO... OR NINE!!

Got a Lovely CHRISTMAS CARD in the MAIL Today from My DEAR-"SCI-FI-FAN"-FRIEND-AND-GREAT-"CUSTOMER", NANI-W...

oh, Look! A PHOTO... Probably of Her SON... hang on... ahh... a BABY..? -- *why* is She sending Me a... ??? !!!! - oh. **OH**!!

SWEET!! -- A NANI-"ETTE"!

I'm really going to have to get back to READING My TWEEPS' "TWEETS"!! -- Seriously... WHAT *ELSE* have I MISSED??!!

Anyhoo, needless to say, I *immediately* got started on THIS...!! -- "SHE" will be needing IT... MORE SNOW coming!

 MEANWHILE... Speaking of "NEWBORNS", checkout KRISTIN NICHOLAS' *NEW* "Addition"!

http://getting-stitched-on-the-farm.blogspot.ca/2012/12/beginning-again.html


*******************************************************************

WHITEOUTS Really Can BE Deceiving!

SO PRISTINE... SO PICTURESQUE... SOOOO *MUCH*!!

At least 8-INCHES of CRYO-WHITENESS! - DAUNTING at first glance! But then, when I put the Shovel to IT, "RELIEF" was My Second Thought!

We got **LUCKY**!! - Though We got MORE than *preferred*, ITS "Quality" was Our Salvation! -- FREEZE-**DRY**-CRISPY-FLUFFY-LIGHT-FLAKES!! *NO* Sticking! I probably could have Used a LEAF-BLOWER on IT!?

HOWEVER, I don't have One. Just Me and My Shovels! And the Shifting WINDS - And, FATHER wanting to get some "FRESH-AIR"... As I did the Driveway, I left Him to PIDDLE with the Walkway and Patio... I kept the smaller "PLOW-posit" to LAST! ...for 3-HOURS!!

Tonight has been TOTAL VEG-FEST! - Primarily, because I can barely "MOVE" at the Moment! Need My "Strength" for the NEXT Round of SNOW, Overnight...

I. AM. SO. POOPED. RIGHT. NOW!!

*****************************************************

DAY of the BOXed...

I STIMULATED THE ECONOMY WELL, TODAY... just not sure WHAT I got, though..?

So. Let's take STOCK of My RETAIL-"SHOP-FOLIO", shall We..?

The SUN was OUT!! NO SNOW!! - [yet...] - No GREAT-WALL-OF-CRYO blocking My Driveway!

The almost "Perfect"-Day for SHOPPING, *yet*, TRAFFIC was surprisingly *not* as BUSY as IT ought to be for "BOXING-DAY"... At least, Outside of the MALLS. Of course, IT was around LUNCH-Time - the EARLY-WAVE-of-DIEHARD-"DOOR-SMASHER"-SHOPPERS had probably already packed-up Their Camping-Gear and were Home trying to "ikea" Their IMAX-TVs together!

Meanwhile, at the TRAINYARDS WALMART... Parking "SPACES"! *NEAR* the Building!? -- SCAR-Y...

INSIDE though, SHOP-ZOMBIES-WITH-CHILDREN... MOTHER and I split up, I had STUFF that I needed to GET to over in HOUSEWARES...

I've been WAITING *all* Year for the nice "CHRISTMAS" GREEN and RED SEE-THROUGH-PLASTIC STORAGE BOXES to show up AND be ON-SALE! - Alas, THEY *were*! HOWEVER, only ONE was to be FOUND! Hidden on a Low-Shelf... No doubt, waiting FOR ME to "Rescue" IT!

Remember - ZEN-SHOPPING -- IF I'm meant to BUY IT, IT will STILL be THERE!

I popped that Puppy into My Cart and went in Search of MORE... But, NO Luck. Instead, just got about FIVE of the Regular-PLASTIC-STORAGE-CONTAINERS that were also *really* ON-SALE!

MOTHER had caught up to Me by Then. As I Directed Her toward the SHINY OBJECTS HOLIDAY-ORNAMENTS, I made a SOLO-SHOP-INSERTION into the ELECTRONICS-DEPARTMENT! - The apparent "Playground" of the afore-mentioned SHOP-ZOMBIES-WITH-CHILDREN...

32GB-THUMBDRIVES for $14.98 -- After much SKILLFUL Cart-Driving on My part, I soon Found what I hoped was THEM?! - [there wasn't a Price Label] - However, a "CLERK-WITH-*KEY*" was Needed...

Ah! There's ONE! - In order to not Complicate His Life, I flashed Him the "FLYER"-Pic of My Desired-Future-Purchase and POINTED to the Rack... He scanned the Price and UNLOCKED. I got TWO. -- Then, had to snake My way TO the Department-"CHECKOUT"-Line and WAIT... Only 2 ZOO-KEEPERS working "The-GATES"... But, then a 3rd opened up!

Retrieved MOTHER, then headed to GROCERIES to finish up...

"WHY?" is it, that every Time I want to get in and out of My CAR - when there are Lots of OTHER Spaces around - that PEOPLE either Pull-IN or decide to Leave JUST THEN!!?? -- Or, worse yet, *when* I'm trying to BACK-UP, CROWDS are either WALKING or SPEEDING BY!?!

oh. *LOOK*!! My LIGHTS, They *WORK*!! just saying...


Next, We popped into THE BOMBAY COMPANY... I was *HOPING* that They'd have some "NEW" BLUE & WHITE CHINA BALLS!!

Found THESE TWO - [3.5-INCHES] - 60%-OFF!! -- YAY!!

We Checked-Out a few more of the OVER-Crowded-TIGHTLY-Spaced-BREAKABLES-Decor-STORES on that STRIP before heading to MICHAEL'S.

But FIRST, I had to GET-OUT-OF-MY-PARKING-SPACE!


seriously, LADY?!

• I know You WANT My "Space".
• The OTHER GUY *knows* You want My Space.
• So, WHY THE $%^$#$%$^& do You ADVANCE-4-FEET-*IN*-MY-**WAY**-EFFECTIVELY-PREVENTING-ME-FROM-**LEAVING**-SAID-SPACE-WITHOUT-***HITTING***-YOUR-CAR??!!!
• hel-lo..? NOT a "HOLOGRAM"! Not DRIVE-THROUGH-ABLE!!
• BTW, **THANK YOU** OTHER-GUY for Kindly backing-up so I could get THROUGH without hitting You or the SNOWBANK!!
• I KARMICALLY *hope* She ended-up CHIPPING a NAIL or Something ELSE "Expensive"!

frak! I *hate* IDIOT-DRIVERS!! - I swear, "one of these days", I'm gonna *BORROW* FATHER's "BADGE"!!

EVENTUALLY, made it *across* THE COMPLEX to MICHAEL'S... huh. Lots of SPACES over There, too... Not complaining.

Anyhoo, We managed to catch MANAGER-DAVE for a second, as He was about to go "OFF-DUTY". About 10-Minutes before MOTHER "Discovered" a 5-BALL-Pack of that Fab "BONSAI"-Colour PATONS YARN! -- [ah, D? You *missed* ONE!?] -- I'm going to *assume* that SOMEONE-ELSE "unpacked" THAT Shipment-Box..?

Whatever. SOOOOO Glad that MOTHER Spotted IT!! -- BEST Present!!

I also found a 6-BALL-Pack of KROY in the ABOVE Lovely PURPLE... And, got a FEW MORE BALLS of the MARTHA STEWART YARN that was still around.

BTW, did I mention that there was a 25%-OFF-ENTIRE-PURCHASE-COUPON - [including on SALE items!] - for TODAY!?

DAYLIGHT was waning, so We headed toward THE-MALL... Trying to get PAST the EXITTING THE-BIG-MALL TRAFFIC!

LOBLAWS had Their CHRISTMAS-Stuff at 75%-OFF... Lots of BULBS... Those are CARDINAL Ones in the Box - [RIGHT] - Lots of WRAPPING-PAPER, too...

yeah... I should probably get around to DOING *THAT*... "WRAPPING" STUFF UP! And, MAILING IT!! -- **THIS** WEEK!!

**AFTER** I SHOVEL-*OUT*!!

**HAPPY KWANZAA**!!

****************************************************************

While THE ELVES have been Tidying-Up...

I'VE BEEN VEGGING-UP... with TWO HATS on the SAME SET of NEEDLES! -- I'm still "Working-Out" on HOW *Time-SAVING* that will end up being!?

BOXING-DAY, Tomorrow!! -- *AND*, I have to BRING MOTHER! Should be an Instructive *STUDY* of "SHOPPER-SURVIVAL"!!

oh. And BTW, did I "mention" the BIT about the GINORMOUS SNOWSTORM that's Predicted for Tomorrow NIGHT?!! -- Needless to say, I'll quite likely be on SHOVEL-DUTY for THURSDAY!

...I *suppose* THAT's "One" Way of SAVING MONEY!!

HO-HO...

**************************************************************

In Search of SECRET "SANTA" *SQUIRRELS*!!

HAVE YOU CHECKED UNDER *YOUR* TREE, YET..?!

***MERRY CHRISTMAS, BLOOG-BABES!!***

*****************************************************************

..snow..? again?! Just when I *have* to GO out?!

BTW...HAVE I "MENTIONED" HOW MUCH I REALLY *HATE* THIS TIME OF YEAR..??

OR,

• How I'm NOT particularly fond of being OUT amongst the SCARY-SUNDAY-SHOPPING-DRIVING-PEOPLE...
• Having to SHOVEL for THREE-DAYS-STRAIGHT!! - [albeit for 5-Minutes of a Dusting]
• Having to WAIT *another* Half-Hour for MOTHER...
• *Missing* out on Winning the LOTTERY by ONE-NUMBER!!
• STUPID-TRAFFIC! - [Yes! *PLEASE*, TAILGATE Me on the SLIPPERY-Road!]
• HOLIDAY-"BARGAINS" that really *AREN'T*!
• As well as, the IDIOTS who Campout for Them and/or *BRING* Their ENTIRE FAMILIES along!
• EVIL-SNOWPLOW-GUYS who are still CLUELESS on the PROPER-Use of "The Second-OUTER-Blade"!
• NEEDING to Get THIS or THAT Looked-At-Bought-*FIXED*-Treated-Rid-of-PAID-For-Attended-To, ALL at ONCE, *before* the POOR-DOUBTLESSLY-OVERWORKED-SMUCK on the Other-END Closes-Up-SHOP for the "HOLIDAYS"!
• THEN, *WHEN* You CAN get that Necessary-Appointment and/or some FREE-Time to *attend* to "WHATEVER", **WEATHER-HAPPENS**!! -- AGAIN!

So. With ALL of THAT Said... I had to Break with My *NO*-Mingling-With-The-SCARY-SUNDAY-SHOPPERS "RULE", OR else, NOT have any "USE-of-THE-CAR" until BOXING DAY!! -- We needed a bit of Groceries, and I, had YARN to Pick-UP!

oh. And just to say, the Light-SNOWFALL on already GREASY-Road-Conditions with only a Couple of Hours of DAYLIGHT *LEFT* really made the "EXPERIENCE" so *much* more ANTICIPATING!

Those PHOTO-BOXES were back down to $1.67-Each again... And, the "MARTHA STEWART" YARNS were Available once more at $2.99!! -- MANAGER-DAVE has the MERINO-"RACK" way DEEP into the YARN-Section. So, THOSE who "WANT IT", will have to "FIND IT"! - That Way should Slow-down ITS "Selling-OUT" too Early...

ANYHOO... I just got Those FOUR-BALLS of the ALPACA-BLEND, but Another 9-BALLS of the MERINO. Sooo GLAD that MANAGER-DAVE *Saved* that BUNCH of BALLS for Me! As the PEACOCK-Colour was already GONE!

ahh... I Love IT when the "HAT-*bribe*" works! - [right, FAIRY-T?]

******************************************************************

"THE WALL" is DOWN!!

AND, IF I HADN'T BEEN SO EXHAUSTED... Or, that IT wasn't so LATE in the Day, I would have *ESCAPED* for a WHILE, AFTERward!! -- Then again, I haven't Looked OUT of a Window "recently" and, EVIL-SNOWPLOW-GUY does have this "KNACK" for *SPEEDY* "RE-Construction"..?!

Anyway... Despite, the SUNNINESS, the WINDS were rather GUSTY and BITING! Doubtlessly, "HELPFUL" with the Overnight FREEZE-DRYING of the *SNUSH* and actually making IT "Lighter" - sorta... However, SHOVELLING in Said-*MEGA*-BREEZE was a tad "Challenging"..?

Meanwhile, FATHER *insisted* on "ASSISTING", but was a "concern" as to His penchant for NOT Wearing WARM *enough* Clothing! THANKFULLY, He went back IN after completing the "Dismantlement" of THE WALL's "WEST WING"! -- I stayed OUT to "DUST-OFF" the Grainy-Bits covering the INCH-THICK-Pebbled-ICE-SHEET that's *FUSED* to the Laneway's Asphalt and the PATIO-Side of the HOUSE.

I Later worked on My "WARMING-UP" Techniques with some KNITTY-VEG-TIME... I'm taking a Stab at "trying" Something a little *DIFFERENT*. - At least, in Time-Management-"TECHNIQUE"? *IF*, IT works "OUT", THE ELVES are sooo gonna *hate* Me!

Well... OFF to Bed now, BEFORE *THE BODY* Files ITS own GRIEVANCE!

*************************************************************

huh. -- WE're *Still* "HERE"..??

oh-KAY... MOVING ON, THEN... BTW, **HAPPY SOLSTICE, KIDS**!!

 

Say, does ANYONE happen to "Know" if there are any ACTION FIGURES for "THE GAME OF THRONES" Series..? -- Because, I really had that whole "THE WALL" thing going with **WHAT** was DUMPED "on" My CURB!

 

After *3-HOURS* of doing JUST the Driveway and about a Quarter of THE WALL, I gave UP! Besides, IT was DARK OUT by THEN!

 

Actually, I probably SHOULD have Started *EARLIER* BEFORE the TEMPS went UP and the BIG-FAT-FLUFFY-GUSTING-FLAKES had PILED-UP! Once I had gotten OUT, the WINDS had died down and there was DRIZZLE. Along with, CLUMPS of MELTING-TREE-SNOW Dropping all about like HAIL! - On the Ground, 8-INCHES of SLUSHY-WET-CEMENT-PACK-SNOW...

 

I'm **LUCKY** that I DIDN'T "Break" any of My SHOVELS!! - I could only PUSH about 2-Feet at a Time before the "SNUSH" would *STICK*! -- I kept half-Expecting for some "SUBMARINE" to *SURFACE* from the Numerous "KEYHOLES" I was making! About a HALF-HOUR in, I finally *FOUND* THE CURB!!

 

Surprisingly, *only* about 2-Feet of DEBRIS was actually ON "OUR" Lane. HOWEVER, the Remainder of THE WALL was about 2 to 3-Feet HIGH and EXTENDED another 6-Feet or MORE into the "PARKING-LANE". LOTS of MASSIVE-CHUNKY-FROZEN-SNUSH-BOULDERS that only a "BOBCAT" - [THE 1st "TOY" I get IF I ever Strike IT RICH with the LOTTERIES! -- Ooo! FINALLY WON $7. Today! Now I can Start to SAVE-UP!] - would Love to "Play" with!

You know, the more I Think on IT, I'm actually quite BUMMED by the *LACK* of ANNIHILATION-ness. *IF* THE ELVES don't do AWAY with THE WALL "OVER-Night", I'm still going to be STUCK with *MORE* SHOVELLING and *sans* SHOP-FARI-ing...

 

Then again, WHICH is the "LESSER" of TWO *EVILS... 2-Hours of SHOVELLING. Or, the FATEFUL *CURSE* of 5-Hours of LAST-SATURDAY-BEFORE-CHRISTMAS-APOCALYPTIC-MAYHEM..??!

 

..choice..choice... decisions. decisions...

 

MEANWHILE... *LATER*, I "Celebrated" with OPENING My PRESENT from SISTER! -- She had dropped IT off WHEN She LAST "HERE", with "INSTRUCTIONS" to WAIT until CHRISTMAS..?

 

yeah. right. THAT'll *happen*!

 

• ONE - I prefer to "Observe" SOLSTICE.
• TWO - I'd just Spent IT with HOURS of SHOVELLING! - I deserve a "TREAT"!
• THREE - That END-OF-THE-WORLD-Thingy... Lots of NASTY-WEATHER out There - THE MAYANS *could* just be STUCK in TRAFFIC!?

 

 

 

 

Whatever...

 

F.Y.I. - My SISTER was *never* the "Best" of PACKERS, HOWEVER, She can and *does* WRAP a WICKED-PACKAGE!! With AWESOME "NAME-TAGS"!

 

At the onset, I was pretty much "expecting" ANOTHER "RHINO" from Her. "GUESSING" what *KIND* is where the "MYSTERY" lies..?

 

Mind you, considering the Layers of "MUMMY"-BINDING-NEWSPAPER She used, I'll admit, I was almost Suspecting that I'd end up with The MALTESE FALCON *INSTEAD*!! -- hmm... There's a CROSSWORD-PUZZLE on one of the Sheets. I probably could have had IT DONE by the Time I got to the *DOOFUS*!

 

HEY! - The DAYS are going to be Getting LONGER now, right..?? - ahh...MORE Time to SLEEP-*IN*!! -- YAY!!

 

*************************************************************

"20-12-2012" - A DATE So *NICE*, They Named IT *TWICE*!!

WHY NOT, EH? -- IT'S NOT LIKE WE'LL BE "HERE" TOMORROW TO REALLY CARE ABOUT IT ANYWAY... RIGHT..?


WELL... IT had began "SUNNY"! However, BY the Time I had Left, Conditions were OVERCAST... My "END-OF-THE-WORLD"-SOLSTICE-EVE was Turning-out to be quite the *LONG* 6-HOUR Day!

• Beginning with DRIVING to One LOCATION way off the Day's "FLIGHT-PLAN" just to Pick-Up some Paperwork that I haven't been able to for Weeks!
• STAPLES next -- THEY had some SD-CARDS ON-SALE... An EARLY "Stocking-Stuffer" for MOTHER as We're BOTH IN need of NEW-Ones! Of course, there *aren't* ANY "LEFT-on-Shelf"... hmm. I think THE-REALLY-HELPFUL-MIDDLE-AGE-GUY who had to go to the BACKROOM for More might have been THE MANAGER... As I awaited His Return, I ended up *Chatting* with YOUNG-EXTREMELY-PRETTY-POLICE-PATROL-WOMAN.
• On to THE BIG MALL -- Much "BANKING" to attend to. Got IN at an Empty-Time... Although, a "LINE-UP" did Appear once I began with the Multi-"AUTOGRAPHING"-Session!
• The POSTAL-OUTLET was also Lacking in CROWDS... huh.
• The FOOD COURT was nearby - picked-up some TAKE-OUT for Later.
• THE GAP -- an *APT* description of the Space between My "WALLET" and "THRIFTY"-SENSE! - I really do have to STOP Buying ANY *more* CLOTHES!! Even ON-SALE, the PRICE of the LOVELY-*LAST*-ONE-GRAPE-HUED-MERINO-COWLED-SWEATER was slightly Above My "BUDGET"... Then again, I *DO* have a BIRTHDAY fast approaching. Besides, IT *was* One of My FAV Colours. MERINO! My SIZE! "END-OF-THE-WORLD" Tomorrow... After THIS WEEK's *ANNOYING*-crap, I felt like "TREATING" Myself!
• ..wander...wander...browse...browse...
• THE BAY -- Checked out the CHRISTMAS-ORNAMENTS... 50%-OFF. *Not* a whole Lot LEFT! Just got a Few GLASS and CERAMIC ONES - [FORGOT to take a PIC!]. You know... the STORE's "Concept" of returning to MULTI-SERVICE-DESKS is Good. Although, IT would *work* BETTER, *IF*, Said-DESKS were actually "MANNED" with STAFF..? -- I was Parked BY the "Ornaments"-Section where there's a DESK. However, I had to go ACROSS the Store over to "MENSWEAR"!?
• TICK. TOCK...
• TRAFFIC trying to EXIT the MALL PARKING LOT! -- The Start of RUSH-HOUR and I'm running OUT of DAYLIGHT! - I wanna get TO MICHAEL'S!

• The "BIG-RIBBON" is still 70%-OFF... Had a 50%-OFF-COUPON burning a HOLE in My Pocket... Oooo! A GINORMOUS-"METAL" CROCHET-HOOK! ..with a LINE attached... I'm thinking, either IT "was", or is *hoping* to be a Carabiner, in ANOTHER **LIFE**..?! -- Whatever... A NEW TOY!!
• Ran into MANAGER-DAVE... chat..chat..saw a Pic of "MRS."-MANAGER-DAVE in One of THE HATS... VERY-PRETTY-LADY! -- Meanwhile, the "MARTHA"-MERINO is *suppose* to be ON-SALE again THIS Coming Week - DAVE is "Saving" Me SOME.
• SUNDOWN. Traffic. TRAFFIC. **TRAFFIC**
• Gotta get to PIER-ONE! -- THEY're "HOLDING" that OTHER BLUE & WHITE SET OF PORCELAIN MEASURING CUPS for Me as well. Going to be a "GIFT"...
• DARKNESS. Except for the BLINDING-TRAFFIC! **SLOW** TRAFFIC...
• THE MALL -- browse... another BANK... Junk-Food that I should really do WITHOUT!... Groceries... Soon-To-Be-LOOSING-LOTTERY-TICKETS... Phone-TAG with MOTHER...
• NEXTDOOR-TO-"THE-MALL"-MALL -- A Quickie-Pop-INTO-BOWRING. Filled-IN Loosing-CONTEST-FORM. - Not holding My Breathe...
• OLD NAVY - yeah... MORE CLOTHES...
• 7:00pm -- **HOME**!!!
• An HOUR LATER -- **FREEZING RAIN**!!?

ANYHOO... IN the EVENT, that THE MAYANS actually DO end up being "RIGHT", have a SUPER-[whatever is Left of IT]-SOLSTICE! -- I'm going to BED Now...


***********************************************************

you know...It really must be "END-OF-THE-WORLD"-WEEK...

..'CAUSE **SOMETHING** HAS BEEN "TEMPORALLY"-ANOMALYZING MY *CYBERNESS* ALL FRAKKING DAY!!

Seriously!! My SOFTWARE has been FRIED for *SOME* UNKNOWN REASON since I Turned THE LAPTOP on This Morning!?! -- And, *DON'T* get Me STARTED on *WHAT* EVIL-SNOWPLOW-GUY and His BUDDIES *did* Last Night to My 3-HOURS of "RUN-OFF"-CARVING!!

**WHATEVER**!!

HERE are the Promised PICS of....

"URCHIN"

PATONS "Classic Wool"
- 100% New WOOL
- [made in TURKEY]
- Colour: 77226-Bonzai
- Colour: 77201-Aquarium

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May The EVIL-SNOWPLOW-GUY Scrape-by In Interesting *TIMES*...

...JUST SAYING...

**3**-HOUR-LONG-SHOVEL-SHORT...

Over TWO of those Falling SLUSH-DRIZZLE-SNOW Hours were Spent CLEARING and DRAINING the Nearby SEWER to keep My Laneway from FLOODING - *between* - the TWO-TIMES that "E-S-G" **FILLED** Said-Laneway UP with SIX-FEET of **SLUSH-NAMI**!! - [AS I stood-by watching! - I'm really going to have to start VIDEO-ing this crap!]

Let's just say, at THIS Point, I'm actually Hoping that "THE MAYANS" *DO* Show-Up for SOLSTICE-Dinner!!

So... TODAY's "PLANS" were a total BUST! -- Probably, a "Good-Thing" seeing as ROAD-Conditions were rather NASTY! - Meanwhile, I made a few Calls... RE-Scheduled the "MY-Day"-SHOPtivities for THURSDAY!

The "ITINERARY" is Lengthy... I'll have to do some "PREP"-Work Tomorrow to Streamline a few Things.

ANYHOO.... As I "Recovered" from the Challenges of CRYO-HYDROLOGICAL-REPOSITIONING, I *managed* to FINISH the "Current"-HAT! -- Only had Time for THIS "PREVIEW" PIC. *MORE* Tomorrow!!

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I'm missing a Shovel...

CAN'T FIND THAT ONE MADAME-Q LEFT ME... Could have really USED IT Today!

CHOPPING-UP the FROZEN-SLUSH-ICE was a tad "TRICKY" in Spots -- *SEVERAL* of My SHOVELS and the ICE-HOE were NEEDED. The ICE Quality changes every Few-Feet!

Although the LAYER-DEPTH was only an INCH or so, I was still OUT *THERE* for 2-HOURS! - Mostly, at the CURB *trying* to RE-Route the MELT-SLUSH-WATER to the SEWER... IF I'd had that OTHER-SHOVEL, I might've been able to WIDEN the FLOW-PATH. -- I just *HOPE* that WHEN EVIL-SNOWPLOW-GUY swings by, that He *actually* REMOVES some of Harder-Crap!

BTW, the Earlier "PATH" that FATHER had Carved along the LAWN-LINE - [to get to the Empty TRASH-CANS] - only ended up being more of a Problem when IT RE-Froze incorrectly... A Scoop-Width to the "RIGHT" would have been considerably more "Time-SAVING".

I *ADMIT* IT! - I'm a little "O.C.D." with My SHOVELLING-"TECHNIQUES"! However, I've honed My "SKILLS" into an ARTFUL-*SCIENCE*. -- Some People JOG, *I* SHOVEL.

MEANWHILE... There's *RUMOUR* of MORE CRYO-PRECIPITATION for Tomorrow..? - HOPE *NOT*! At least, *until* LATER! -- I've got STUFF-TO-*DO*!! PLACES-TO-*BE*, other than *BEHIND* a SHOVEL!

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PLAN-of-the-Day: HIBERNATION

IT WAS THE SUN'S *FAULT* for "STARTING" IT, with staying BURIED behind THE-DARK-SQUALLY-FLUFFY-WET-SNOW-FREEZING-RAINY-CLOUDS *all* Day!!

And, after having a restLESS Night, I didn't get UP until LATE! - Since The WEATHER was pretty much *crap* and going OUT to SHOVEL would have been Beyond POINTLESS, I took My Time in Eating My Late BREAKFAST and Reading the PAPER... ah. "PAWN STARS" is ON... I haven't Seen THAT yet. Could be "Educational"..?

Got some KNITTING in...

Did some of My SUNDAY-"TIDYING-UP"... Some CYBER-SURF-SEARCHING... And, have just been Generally VEG-PREPPING for Tomorrow's - NO *doubt* - SHOVEL-SCOOP-FEST!! - [*more* RAIN in the FORECAST!] - I just hope the GARAGE DOESN'T "FLOOD"?!!

OR, that EVIL-SNOWPLOW-GUY "Visits" with a COVER-THE-SEWER-GRATE-WITH-AN-ICEBERG-SCRAPE-BY!

But, on the *BRIGHT*-side... IT *is* "PLASTIC"-RECYCLE-GARBAGE-DAY Tomorrow. Those Plastic-Containers could be "USEFUL" - [as in *can FLOAT*!] - and aren't such a Problem if THEY get WET!

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**HAPPY "40K", THE CAR**!!

"THE VEHICLE" is Several YEARS old, but We really don't TRAVEL Great Distances with IT, hence, the "LOW"-Mileage... If the TEMPS weren't so CHILLY, I would have had IT "Washed" to Celebrate! -- nah. Who am I kidding? *Maybe* WHEN IT hits 50K... *IF* IT's SUMMER!

So... The "EVENT" occurred as We Arrived at MICHAEL'S. -- hmm... I *did* Buy some BIG-RIBBON There. Perhaps, I *should* have Made a "BOW"..? - [nah. IT's just not a "BOW" kind of Car..]

Anyway, there was another of those TIME-LIMITED-"20%-OFF-ENTIRE-PURCHASE"-SALES again. Which We actually showed-up ON-TIME for. For ONCE! - However, there really wasn't all THAT Much to GET...

An Observation that I found quite Puzzling, as I had SEEN the BOXES of *NEW* STOCK Last Tuesday. Hopefully, the CONTENTS are still *Awaiting* to be PUT-OUT..? -- Although, I did *happen* to catch a PEEK of a Display-Carousel FULL of "MARTHA STEWART CRAFTS" MERINO in the STOCK-ROOM as I Waited for MANAGER-DAVE to come out...

He was a tad more than His usual-BUSY, so I only had Time to give Him His CHRISTMAS "Presents" and "Chat" for a COUPLE of Minutes before He had to "MANAGER"-OFF... Not a Problem, as I had to go FIND MOTHER and carry-on with REST of Our SHOP-EDITIONS! -- I'll likely be back on Tuesday anyway...

Whatever... HERE's WHAT I GOT...

The BIG-RIBBON was *already* 70%-OFF *JUST* for Today, then PLUS the Other-DISCOUNT! - THOSE were the ONLY "PURPLE" Ones I could Find! Would have LIKED *MORE*... There were Several Other NICE-"SHINY"-ONES, but I just DON'T *DO* "GLITTER"!

And, ONE can NEVER have *ENOUGH* "TINS"!!

Oh, and MOTHER Found the WHITE-CERAMIC-BALL-ORNAMENT for Me... Apparently, there had only been a Couple LEFT. She's *keeping* The-OTHER!

We popped into WALMART for a bit... Was way LESS Busy than I had Expected IT to be! -- Actually, "OVERALL", TRAFFIC *and* the HOLIDAY-SHOPPING-MASSES were quite surprisingly on the BELOW-AVERAGE side for a SUNNY-SECOND-LAST-SATURDAY-BEFORE-CHRISTMAS!!

IT did make Me "Wonder" as to *WHERE* THEY all WERE!? -- NOT that I'm "COMPLAINING"! - THEY're probably *saving* THEMSELVES for *NEXT* WEEKEND!!

WHILE, IT was *still* DAYLIGHT, We FINALLY got over to PIER-ONE! And, spent almost an Hour "INHALING" the DECOR-ness... And, Chatted-Up the PRETTY-FELLOW-AQUARIAN-SALES-CLERK for probably Longer than We should have!

Between "Paragraphs", I Found THIS SET of BLUE & WHITE PORCELAIN MEASURING-CUPS that were on "CLEARANCE"...


ONE of These DAYS, I might just *have* to LEARN *HOW* to COOK! -- hmm... THESE would "GO" *PERFECTLY* with My BURLEIGH CANISTERS! - [SEE 03AUG2010 POST]

- nuts... I probably SHOULD have Bought the OTHER SET that was Left, too..? THEY really *are* NICE! -- I'll have to "remember" to GO BACK on Tuesday and GET THEM! THEY'll make a Great GIFT... And, I know exactly WHO *for*!

We eventually FINISHED the DAY at THE MALL... And, Shopped the "USUAL-SUSPECTS"... Also, MOTHER finally "Acquired" ONE of Her *much* sought after ANNUAL-*FREE*-"LARGE"-SIZE-MALL-SHOPPING-BAG!! - IT was the LAST ONE in that Size. So, She's *HAPPY* Now! - [THANK YOU!]

hmm... I wonder if I should Give THE CAR the SMALL ONE that I got..? -- nah...

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"...an ANGEL gets IT's Wings..."

TRAGICLY, WAY TOO MANY WERE *ACQUIRED* TODAY...

*In ONE Location* -- however, I think that it behooves EVERYONE to also Remember the FACT that as "HORRIFIC" as Today's Transgression was, many *more* INNOCENT CHILDREN Suffer *SIMILAR* Fates *EVERY* DAY around The GLOBE!! - Be IT by the Hand of some DISTURBED-INDIVIDUAL, a MANIACAL-DESPOT, or some FANATICAL-DECREE...

I can only HOPE that the over-whelming MEDIA Coverage of THIS "ONE" - albeit Senseless - Event, *succeeds* in bringing about some obviously NEEDED Future Societal CHANGES "LOCALLY" and "ABROAD"! And *doesn't* end up as some "RATINGS"-Exercise over-shadowing OTHER-Equally-Important-Occurrences..?

BTW, did ANYONE *happen* to catch that NEWS Report about ANOTHER "School" ATTACK in *CHINA*..? Or, even *know* how MANY Children were PROBABLY Killed in the Numerous "WARS & CONFLICTS" going on, TODAY? Not to mention, on any number of "INNER-CITY" Street Corners..??

"PERSPECTIVE" - is the Point I'm attempting to make HERE... Tonight, when You HUG Your KIDS and THINK of the ONES in "CONNECTICUT", DON'T *FORGET* about the ONES in CHINA, GAZA, SUDAN, CONGO, AFGHANISTAN, SYRIAN, that CARTEL-RUN-VILLAGE-in-MEXICO, the STREET-CORNER-in-CHICAGO, and *ALL* of the OTHER NON-NEWS-*WORTHY* Locations where the INNOCENT are *ALSO* being *Quietly-SLAUGHTERED*, either!!

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"..THEY've paved PARADISE and now, IT's a Parking Lot..."

...SURROUNDING A MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING...

-- okay... Maybe *not* so much "PARADISE", but IT was ONCE a Pleasantly-Shaded-PARK-Area belonging to the adjacent Much-Expanded-HOSPITAL-Campus just a FEW YEARS ago. - Which, might "EXPLAIN" the sorrowful LACK of ANY "good" ONLINE-MAPS of the Specific-Address!?

IT's a HIGH-TRAFFIC-AREA and the last Time I was *BY* the BUILDING, I was just a tad preOCCUPIED with Driving and the Road AHEAD... I didn't exactly have a Chance to RECCE the PLACE!

FATHER's "G.P." is over THERE now... Much to ALL of Our Dismay, as He *used to be* - literally - JUST Down-the-*Quiet*-STREET from Us! AND, "Parking" was FREE!

ANYHOO... We actually got LUCKY! - The WEATHER was "Good". As was TRAFFIC at *that* Time. Also, quite surprisingly, Parking-ACCESS was Visually-Clear and NOT the FEARED-HASSLE I had EXPECTED. -- Woohoo! PLENTY of SPACES!

Just WISHED that the WAITING-ROOM was as SPACIOUS... Not that there wasn't MORE than *enough* Available-Seating, however, the ROOM's "TRIANGULAR"-Shape made IT feel somewhat "CLOSE"..?

-- BTW, the EVERYONE-HAS-REUSED-THEM-SO-MUCH-THEY'RE-STARTING-TO-RIP-APART-BRIGHT-BLUE-PLASTIC-BAG-BOOTIES really *SELLS* that whole CUTTING-DOWN-THE-CONTAMINANTS-*THEORY*! - [just saying..]

*THANKFULLY*, We got "IN" right ON-Time! -- I'd even brought My KNITTING along, in the event of Boredom! And, to "show-off" My Occasional-Time-*Management*-SKILLS... Which, alas, was NOT to Occur!

So. IT was just a Regular-Check-Up for THE ELDERLY-MALE-PARENTAL-UNIT... No Worries... He *still* has disgustingly "PERFECT" BLOOD-PRESSURE!! -- A Useful-TRAIT, that He *Neglected* to PASS-ON to the REST of Us PROGENY! - [..I didn't get His Skinny-KNEES, either...gee, "thanks" DAD!]

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*12*-*12*-*12*...

HEY! LOOK! - THE POWER JUST CAME BACK ON THE CALENDAR!

- [Don't mind Me... Just an old VCR joke...]

okay. so... *DON'T* TELL MANAGER-DAVE yet, but His "HAT" is Finished!

"KAHUNA"

PATONS "Classic Wool"
- 100% New WOOL
- [made in TURKEY]
- Colour: 77226-Bonzai
- Colour: 77222-Clover Leaf
- Colour: 77201-Aquarium






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Chip. Crackle. Crunch!

OR, "WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DRIVE OVER THE *ICE-BARRIER* AT THE END OF MY LANEWAY"!!

Remember? - I had "SLUSH", Yesterday... WELL, Last Evening - just BEFORE the TEMPS Jumped OFF of the THERMOMETERS - EVIL-SNOWPLOW-GUY made sure that there was this little CHOPPY-SPIKEY-WALL along the Curb!

The Overnight -12C FLASH-FREEZE pretty much Guaranteed a "6" on the HARDNESS-SCALE... Just ENOUGH to *probably* RIP-OPEN THE CAR's Underside IF FATHER hadn't have taken the ICE-CHOPPER to IT before I Left on My SHOP-FARI!

The DEBRIS is *still* THERE, but NO longer in POINTY-HULL-GOUGING-BERG-BITS!


So. Shopping...

Although My SHOP-MISSION-PLAN-OF-THE-DAY was to stick around THE BIG MALL, I took a QUICKIE-DETOUR - [Literally! There was CONSTRUCTION on the Way!] - over to MICHAEL'S, seeing as IT *was* "SENIORS' DAY"!

After SATURDAY's "HAUL", I really DIDN'T *need* to GET "ANYTHING" - *however* - I did Want to Check-In with MANAGER-DAVE to SEE if He'd come across any MORE of those "GOOD"-COLOURS..??

He *hadn't*, but DID Promise to "Put-Aside-ANY" when I Asked! -- He *KNOWS* I'm "..Good for IT!.."

Meanwhile, He let Me know that *another* SHIPMENT of the "MARTHA STEWART" YARN had Arrived! - No WORD as yet on whether IF, IT would be ON-SALE or not... He was just TRYING to Find *SPACE* to put IT and the OTHER MANY-BOXES-OF-YARN out *onto* the Shelves!!

I Wished Him "LUCK" with THAT - [trying not to Laugh too "Hysterically"..] - and LEFT Him *TO* IT!

I *did* Purchase a COUPLE of PURPLE-"STORAGE"-BOXES that were ON-SALE... If *only* to Buy "SOMETHING" to *justify* My Journey. -- I actually managed to spend LESS Time IN the Store than it took Me to GET There!

THE BIG MALL, NEXT!!

...Full of YOUNG-STROLLER-WIELDING-MOMS and FELLOW-"BABY-BOOMERS" checking out the HOLIDAY-HYPED-"SALES"!

And YES, I Fell *VICTIM*! -- Got a Couple of STUFFED-RHINOS! - ONE for Me, of course! And, the OTHER for LITTLE-PRINCESS-BIG-RED.

Anyhoo... Much POWER-BROWSING was Had. As well as LINE-WAITING! -- MY Mistake that I DIDN'T Double-Check MOTHER's "CARDS" to see if They were "STAMPED" **BEFORE** I Left the HOUSE!!

"TIME" was soon Escaping Me... Picked up some TAKE-OUT, did a bit of GROCERY-GETTING and headed HOME! -- Where I LATER *Remembered* that there had been a Few OTHER THINGS that I had *WANTED* to DO at THE BIG MALL, but had totally FORGOTTEN ABOUT!!

...NUTS!!

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CRYO-"CIRCLES"..??

SAW SOMETHING WEIRD WHILE I WAS SHOVELLING...

Last Evening had been froth with RAIN, some SNOW, FREEZING-RAIN, etcetera... The RESULT was about an INCH of SLUSH covered over with SOFT-ICE and a spritz of RAIN. - Just ENOUGH to Require REMOVAL before the TEMPS could DROP.

oh. And, EVIL-SNOWPLOW-GUY had been by, with a Pathetic-SCRAPING as some NEIGHBOURS' Cars that had been Parked OUT FRONT. -- "MELT"-FLOW to the SEWER-GRATE was slightly Encumbered...

ANYWAY... When I was DOING the PORCH-Side of the HOUSE, I happened to Notice a 4-Foot-Long SWATCH of a what *looked* like some CELTIC-ish PATTERN of "Broken-Circles" just UNDER a SHEET of FROSTED-ICE..?? -- hmm... In *all* of My YEARS of SHOVELLING, I really can't Recall *ever* SEEING such a THING!?

With a Few SCOOPS of CRISPY-SLUSH, I *BURIED* the "MYSTERY" and Continued with My TASK...


LATER ON...

During DINNER - with the Aide of His TRUSTY-TV-REMOTE-"UTENSIL" - FATHER has this *HABIT* of Switching NEWS-CHANNELS at "Particular"-Times, to catch certain Regular-FEATURES. ONE of which, is this "PHOTO-OF-THE-DAY" Display, presented by a rather Pleasant and actually *Knowledgeable*, METEOROLOGIST...

GUESS, "WHAT" the *SUBJECT* was of His FIRST-PHOTO??!

YEP! -- A *SIMILAR* PATTERN in a Patch of SNOW... How STRANGELY "COINCIDENTAL" is THAT!!?

whatever... The ANSWER to My little "BLIZZARD"-Mystery...

**MOUSE-TUNNELS**!?!

"MICKEY"-The-*ICE*-MINER..? -- So THAT's *Where* THE ELVES get Their "GLITTER"..?

huh. Who knew?!

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"BONSAI"!

*MY* FAV NEW COLOUR-"BLEND" FOR 2013!!

IT's that ONE in the Middle...

And, *all* THANKS to MANAGER-DAVE!

Yesterday, when I caught Him in a *brief* NON-Store-"ELF"-Moment, and after Our Discussion concerning "SMART"-CAMERA-THEORY, We got onto to "YARN"... I was mentioning that PATONS apparently had a "CLASSIC WOOL" **ROVING** Line, and was wondering about the *Possibility* of the STORE "getting" SOME..??

And that's WHEN, He Informs Me of a NEW SHIPMENT of those 5-BALL-PACKS that's just COME-IN, but hasn't been *checked-out* YET!! --

"..You want me to bring them out and have a look..?"

oooo!! - I so *Love* WELL-"TRAINED"-MERCHANTS!!

5-Minutes later, He's back with a BOX... hmm... Mostly "PINKS", which I have enough of - [for now] - and a couple of "GREENS" and a "BLUE" - [like ABOVE] - which I also *already* have. However, seeing as He WENT to all that Trouble, I grabbed the BLUE-PACK. Besides, THAT Shade "goes" with EVERYTHING!

MEANWHILE, the Part where MANAGER-DAVE *really* EARNS His "HAT" - [the ABOVE *WORK-IN-PROGRESS*] - about 15-Minutes Later, He TRACKS Me Down on the OTHER side of the STORE, "..I found *another* BOX!"

More PINK... and... WOOHOO! - Finally! Another "COGNAC" Shade!! -- I got the *only* ONE of Those during My INITIAL-*MEGA*-PURCHASE.

Ooooo!!! - WHAT's **THAT**??!! -- [INSERT HAPPY-*STASH*-DANCE!]

There was only **ONE** PACKAGE of "BONSAI"!! - [ABOVE "BLEND"] - A totally NEW Colour that I *know* will GO with EVERYTHING!!

I soooo NEED **MORE**!!

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WOOHOO!! The "SMART"-Camera WORKED!!

AND, THAT'S ABOUT the ONLY THING Today!!!

AT THIS MOMENT, IT'S 5:30AM ON THE 9TH!! I'VE JUST SPENT 4-HOURS WRITING UP A PITHY-POST, ONLY TO HAVE **BLOGGER** NOT SAVE IT!!!

OF COURSE, IN PART, *MY* ERROR ON NOT COPYING THE CODING OFFLINE *BEFORE* DOING SOME OTHER PARTICULAR THING... THOUGH, IT WAS AROUND 4:30 THEN!! -- YOU KNOW, LACK OF SLEEP...

THEN THERE WAS THE WHOLE COMPUTER "HANG-UP" CRAP THAT TOOK A REBOOT TO CLEAR -- ALONG WITH "THE PITHYNESS"...

SO. BECAUSE I'M SERIOUSLY **P*$$ED-OFF** RIGHT NOW - AND THAT I DON'T WANT TO RUIN MY CONSECUTIVE POST-RUN, I'M GOING TO LEAVE THIS LITTLE "RANT" *AS IS*!

GEE.. MAYBE, ONE OF THOSE "NEW"-VERSION-ROADKILL-IQ-*BLOGGER*-DESIGNERS WILL COME ACROSS THIS AND GET-A-CLUE!! -- nah... I HAVE A BETTER CHANCE AT THE LOTTERIES!!

ANYHOO, HERE'S TODAY'S SHOPPING-PIC...

NEW COLOUR ON THE RIGHT!!

THE HIGHLIGHTS...

• SLUSHY SNOW ON MY CAR
• I OWE MICHAEL'S-CLERK-AMANDA A HAT FOR MY CHECKOUT WOAHS
• BUT THE BARCODE-THINGY WORKED GREAT
• I OWE MANAGER-DAVE TWO HATS FOR THE [it was His idea!] YARN-SNEEK-PREVIEW-DIBS WHEN HE WAS BUSY DOING OTHER STUFF
• NO-TAXES-DAY AT LOBLAW
• AND, FREE CHOCOLATE CAKE
• SHOVELLED SLUSH-FILM IN THE DARK
• MY INTERNET CONNECTION AND BLOGGER SUCK!!
• AND APPARENTLY, SO DOES MY "LIFE-IN-GENERAL"...

GOING TO BED NOW...

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nuts! - WHY didn't I THINK of *THIS* Before??!!

NOW, I JUST HOPE *IT* WORKS!! -- [damn! The YARN MONEY I *could* have SAVED!]

okay... FIRST OFF, I *don't* own a "SMARTPHONE"! - As, I don't have a NEED, or ANYONE to TEXT *TO*! And, I only Use about a HALF-HOUR of "MINUTES" per MONTH as it is.

SECONDLY, NOR do I own a "WORKING"-PRINTER.

As a RESULT of My "ANCIENT"-LOW-TECH-ECO-ECONOMIC Ways, I have been UNABLE to take ADVANTAGE of any Additional "SPECIAL" MICHAEL'S COUPONS!
-- The SO-MUCH-MONEY-OFF-WHEN-YOU-SPEND-SO-MUCH-MONEY ONE comes to Mind... Including that $200. YARN PURCHASE of not so long ago!!

ANYHOO, until This EVENING I had never really bothered to actually LOOK AT Their ON-LINE COUPONS...

hmm...

So. I got to Speculating...

The BARCODE MUST be The KEY...

Although I've yet to thoroughly OBSERVE the "PROCEDURE", I'm *ASSUMING* that ONE just SCANS an IMAGE of the BARCODE on a SMARTPHONE? And, that there isn't any OTHER "DATA-EXCHANGE"??

I *hope* NOT!! -- 'Cause... I took a PHOTO of the BARCODE with My CAMERA! - ITS Screen is the SAME Size as ANY SMARTPHONE's. -- I TRIED to just "COPY" the COUPON-IMAGE, but IT wouldn't Register on the CAMERA as an "IMAGE" - no matter *what* FILE-Manipulations I did! The actual "Photography" bit really was a LAST Resort!

We'll SEE Tomorrow, *IF* IT WORKS!! -- Hope MANAGER-DAVE is Around...

-- you know, JUST in case...

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