Christmas Catalogues

It's already starting... Christmas Catalogues are beginning to get sent out and if your mailbox is like mine, you'll start seeing an increase in your "snail mail". While some people hate getting holiday catalogues, I actually look forward to them - mainly because I have friends and family who pretty much have everything and coming up with ideas for presents can be time consuming and frustrating!

My favorite catalog of the year is always the Neiman Marcus Christmas Catalog. You never know what you're going to find. A speed boat, a hot air balloon, a BMW - if it's unusual then NM will probably have it in their Christmas catalog. If you want a peak at the 2008 catalog it can be found here: http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/sitelets/christmasbook/christmasbook.jhtml and I will post when the 2009 catalog is available.

In the meantime, I am still trying to come up with an idea that doesn't involve stuffed animals or clothing for my 4 year old niece. Talk about the girl with everything, this child wants for nothing! And, while I tossed the idea of taking her to Radio City for the Christmas Spectacular around - my brother and sister-in-law pointed out that she probably doesn't have the attention span to enjoy it this year and so my search for a great present continues.

Tomorrow I will wrap up Fashion Week and all the fun things I saw. And, yes, I enjoyed my three day weekend - I earned it!

Visiting NYC During Thanksgiving and Yet Another Cold For me

UGGGHH!!! I woke up with yet another cold!! This is the third one this summer, I guess I'm not taking care of myself like I should. I'll have to start building my immunity system back up or else it's going to be one tough winter. (I average three to four really bad fall/winter colds). So that puts a damper on my date tomorrow night but, the guy who passed it on to me is coming over to cook me dinner and we're going to watch a movie at my place. Isn't that sweet?

I'm working from home today, it's going to rain later and I don't want to get worse than I already am - fever, chills and other usual cold symptoms. Anyhow, I was helping a co-worker plan out Thanksgiving weekend for extended family who are visiting NYC and I stumbled across these two articles: http://www.examiner.com/x-18067-NY-Budget-Hotel-Travel-Examiner~y2009m8d5-Thanksgiving-Weekend-In-New-York-City-Part-One--Deals-And-Steals and http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-18067-NY-Budget-Hotel-Travel-Examiner~y2009m8d6-Thanksgiving-Weekend-In-New-York-City-Part-Two--Its-Simply-Magical

They give great information and the photo slide shows are wonderful. It's making me get into the holiday spirit already! Although, as you know from past entries I'm already anticipating the holidays this year but, these articles are really putting me in the mood.

It's hard to believe soon the Rockefeller Center and Ice Rinks will open, a nip will be in the air, and, then bam - the department stores will have the Christmas decorations up. I think I mentioned this in a past post but, Hallmark ALREADY have their holiday ornaments out for sale. And, somewhere in between I'll catch my annual Thanksgiving or Christmas cold or sometimes it's both, it happens like clock work.

Well, I better make some tea and try to get rid of THIS cold before worrying about one that I know is coming later in the year. Anyone want a cold? I'm giving one away for free...

If we're in June, why am I thinking ahead to the holidays already?

It's only June, and, here I am thinking ahead to the holidays. I'm not particularly fond of the holidays, but, this year I claimed dibs on Thanksgiving. Mainly because I can't stand another Thanksgiving at my sister-in-law's and eating what can only be described as mystery meat. She does not serve turkey and that's just the beginning to what is wrong with her hosting this holiday.

So, I have put the claim on the holiday, and, plan to do it right. Already there are issues, like trying to talk my Father out of the idea of taking my niece (who will be four years old at the time) all the way across town to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade live. I think he forgets the attention span of a four year old coupled with cold weather and crowds which is not going to make it a pleasurable experience for anyone - least of all my niece.

Another issue is getting my brother and sister-in-law to commit to go to see the Christmas Show at Radio City after we have Thanksgiving dinner. I have a good friend who is offering me complimentary tickets (that happen to be excellent seats) and, all my brother and sister-in-law have to do is say yes. What has me annoyed is the tickets are FREE, and, yet, my sister-in-law is dragging her feet in giving me an answer, and, I am not the type who is going to take more tickets than I need (and take advantage of a friend's very generous offer.) So, I have set a deadline for them, and, it's just wait and see.

Why is it that some people are so self-centered and/or self-important that they can't give you a straight answer? And, this isn't just a family issue, it's an issue I encounter every day. Like people who pass me on the road and end up slamming on their brakes at the next red light - I catch them within 5 or 10 seconds at the light. I usually just smile and give a little wave. I'm not impressed by someone who can drive fast and end up in the same location as me anyhow.

That aside, it's time to start thinking about a menu, and, you can rest assured knowing that Turkey will be the star of my Thanksgiving dinner in 2009!