5 Days Until Christmas! Oh, my!

Here in sunny South Florida you can tell that Christmas is coming by the traffic. Cars from Michigan and Montana, New York and Nebraska. Tourists driving rental cars, slowing down on I-95, not sure which exit to take! They're everwhere!  An old friend arrived Tuesday night and the Fort Lauderdale airport was an absolute zoo! Eghads!!! Jaywalking girls wearing boots and snow caps and fat men schlepping heavy coats and luggage!

I've got my shopping done, but nothing is wrapped. I'm going to wrap tomorrow. The house is decorated and looks lovely ... my darling husband strung new twinkle lights outside! The twinkle light reindeer aren't out on the lawn yet, but there's still time! Five days left until Christmas!

I've been watching Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel and listening to Christmas music at work and in the car. After the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut last Friday, I went into hiding.

I was just beginning to feel the Christmas spirit creeping back into my life after being gone for a few years, and the weekend of horror that unfolded on the internet and TV as the world tried to wrap its head around what happened scared me. I've been through a deeply personal tragedy where one person killed another and it's the most awful thing there is. I'm heartbroken for all the families and am saying extra prayers for them. There are too many of them. And, I'm saddened because I know. You never get over it. It changes everything forever. And, it takes years to learn to live with it without crying all the time.

In this season of Peace and Joy, I am saying my prayers for those people in Newtown, and holding on to my Christmas Spirit. For me, that's no easy feat. But, with just five days to go, I might just pull it off.

What's a good "Man Gift?"

Holy Cow!

Last Friday it was still November, and I was refusing to give into Christmas! I liked my autumn/Thanksgiving decorations just fine!

But, here it is now ... December ... and, the holiday season is staring me in the face. On Tuesday I delivered "little girl" gifts to Hope Outreach for a special family for Christmas. That's all the shopping and wrapping I've done for Christmas! So far. (And, it really is a joy to shop for little girl things!)


Lord! Lord! I don't know what to get my husband!!

New shirts, of course. Always a few new shirts. But, I'd love to get him something he wants and would use. He has every tool a man could possibly have. He said "NO" to an iPad. He uses his hand-held device for pretty much everything. And, he doesn't wear jewelry. I bought him a wallet for Christmas three years ago and it's still in the gift box in his closet. That was a successful gift, right?!

What, oh, what can I give this darling man that would give him a bit of joy?

Shall we surf the net for gift ideas?

Watches make for nice gifts. He might go for something like this little wood number ...

I just like this photo. The watch is cool, too.

My darling husband is from Germany and he loves his beer.
THIS is a very clever way to "gift" a six-pack!

These tortoise Wayfarer Ray-Bans have potential.
He might actually "LIKE" AND use these!

Watches? Beer? Sunglasses? Is this all the internet has to offer for "man gifts?"

The search continues ...