Run, run, run..

Got most of the Christmas shopping done yesterday. We had a good idea of what we wanted to get, and then the problem was getting to the right store to buy it. Nasty slippery roads, and behind every steering wheel--an idiot! Shopping for clothes for teddy bears is a challenge, especially when one of those bears is a frog. The frog got a pair of black trousers, and a white pin striped shirt with a built in black vest. The bear--who is multi-coloured but mostly pink-- got a very nice off-white party dress. They offer "frequent flyer" points at this store, so Amber got those, as well as a $10 gift card, purchased for $5-- they sure know how to keep you coming back. Loren's children live for Chapters gift cards, but they're getting older and their books cost more, so we had to bump up the price this year. Jessica will also be getting pink "Princess" pyjamas, and Smantha a little outfit in lavender--she rarely gets "new" clothes.

Then out for supper. So nothing got done around here yesterday, which means working our butts off today. I'm having coffee with my friend Carolyn this afternoon. She's in town to teach and to visit her oldest daughter, Katrina, who has been fighting cancer for about a year now. As far as I know, things are going well, but I guess I'll find out this afternoon. And this evening I have a one-off beginners acrylic class with a different teacher. We're doing a small landscape, and will be mixing our colours--something we don't do in the series of classes I'm taking. So this will be a chance to learn another style. But the series of classes was advertised as being for advanced students, so this may be a good chance to get back to some of the basic techniques.

I envy you somewhat Cathy, being able to hear live music, and enjoy the social atmosphere you experience at the same time. You and Jim have active social lives, even if it's just people dropping in to finish a mickey. We never experience that, and I'm seeing our social skills getting rusty. I have to believe this socialization is part of small town living. You have to make your own culture etc. , and I know you do this actively. Keep it up, as you will need it when you retire.