I had to run some errands yesterday and as I went into one store I had to do a double-take as there, on the sidewalk in front of the store window was a display of Halloween items for sale. Halloween! How is that possible? Here it is, a sweltering August, with temperatures constantly hovering in the mid to high 90’s and stores are displaying fall colors and scarecrow yard art for sale. Now, while urge to enjoy the crisp cool temperatures of autumn is very tempting, isn’t it a little early to be thinking of October so soon?
I guess that means bargain hunting for pool toys and summer gear is probably nearly over. I’m always late for those sales somehow. So there I was looking for new shorts for the kids and finding them in limited supply. Well, at least the prices were pretty good. A neighbor mentioned they were in a home decor store in the mall and the store even had Christmas items on display. I was floored enough by the Halloween decor, so I’m glad I wasn’t the one to view the Christmas goodies.
Finding the perfect gift, isn’t that the hardest thing to do sometimes? Shopping for some people can be easy because you know what they really like and so it’s fun to head out to the stores and find something you know they’ll love. Sometimes choosing just one thing for someone like that is impossible! Then there is the person that’s hard to buy for because either you don’t know them that well or perhaps they seem to have everything already.
Some of the toughest people to shop for can be teenagers, especially if you don’t have a clue as to what their tastes are. You can always go with the gift card to be safe, but if it’s someone in your family or extended family it can seem kind of thoughtless. But then again, it’s probably better than buying them something they can’t stand that ends up stuffed in the back of their drawer or closet. If you don’t know what to buy someone, it can’t hurt to ask them or someone close to them what they might have on their wish list. This way you’re sure to buy them something they’ll enjoy and you won’t be throwing your money away.
I have a bit of a love hate relationship with electronic gadgets. For one, I can’t imagine living without them. One day without my computer and I’m lost - how will I look up driving directions, check the weather, the news, what’s on television tonight. And how can you beat the convenience of a digital camera? No mailing or dropping off film to get developed, paying for pictures that look awful. And all of the great kitchen gadgets that I love, that make everything so much easier than when my mother or grandmother cooked in their kitchens.
But then there’s the downside for me, like how people from work can track you down day or night for something with cellphones and email. Not like in the past, when things could wait until the next day. And there are many functions of my camera that I haven’t even discovered yet. I suppose if I took the time to read all of the manual, I might figure it out. The worst of it all of course is when something decides not to work, it drives me crazy! Honestly, I really don’t want to learn how they work, I just want them to work when I need them.
