Well, the Christmas shopping is pretty much done. I’ve got two packages in the mail that I’m still waiting for, and I’m hoping that at least one of them shows up on time. That one is the gamer present, for our gaming group gift exchange, which is this upcoming Thursday. We do a — let’s see, the politically incorrect name for it is “Chinese Auction”, where you pick out a present, and the next person can either pick a present or swipe yours, and so on. I’m going to be seriously miffed if I have to put out an empty box with a picture of what’s coming in the mail, for the Chinese Auction. I gave myself almost three weeks for mailing time — you’d think that even with the Christmas mail crush, that would be enough.
     The other present is a book for Mary, and that’s not quite so urgent. If that’s late, I can just tell her so, no harm, no foul.
     This past Friday, I went on a shopping marathon with my Mom, and that was a blast. I did all my shopping in one go. We were out for probably about eight hours, and let me tell you, I was whipped by the time I was done. Good thing I had Mom to keep me going, or I’d have never lasted. Heh.
     I even got everything wrapped Friday night, so now all I have to do is shop for Lil’ Art.
     We had been planning to get him a Wii for Christmas, but that just isn’t going to happen. We’ll have to save that for a birthday present or something, because there is no way in hell I’m going to get my hands on one of those before Christmas. Best Buy was having a shipment of 50 of them in this morning, and I found out last night from one of their employees that folks started lining up to get one yesterday afternoon — seriously. They were camping out over night. I was like, my kid don’t need a video game that bad.
     At Wal-Mart, they have a sign back by the video games (and on the front doors) which reads: “Wii” don’t have any Wiis. “Wii” don’t know when we’ll be getting any more. Sorry for the inconvenience. The sign which reads this, back in the video game department, has a hand-written addition: “WII” WOULD LIKE YOU TO STOP ASKING.
     I feel bad for the retail folks who are having to deal with this. They look miserable everywhere I go.
     All of which leaves us stumped on what to get Lil’ Art for Christmas, and with the clock ticking down to zero hour, we’re going to have to come up with something in a hurry. I jokingly suggested that we get an empty Wii box with a note inside that says, “This is what you’re getting for Christmas as soon as we can find one!” Art didn’t think that would go over very well.
     
     In other news, we are apparently going ahead with the remodel at the restaurant. Our restaurant has two rooms, the “main” dining room, which is all booths, and part smoking, part non-smoking; and the “back” dining room (which is actually off to the side), which is some booths but mostly tables, entirely non-smoking, and used mostly for large groups. The remodel will remove some booths from the main room and replace them with tables, and put those booths in the back room. The main room will become all non-smoking, and all smoking will be going to the back room. We’re (apparently) putting the windows back in to the back room, and (big cheers) we’re probably getting rid of those goddamned rotten TVs.
     I am very pleased with this plan. It will solve a lot of the complaints that I have to take. Of course, it will add complaints from the camping smokers, but we don’t care about them.
     The Boss says that the remodel probably won’t happen until after the new year, but that’s only days away, really. I can’t wait. I particularly can’t wait to see the look on Dick’s face when the TVs are gone. And when he bitches, I’m going to tell him flat out — it’s his own fault that the fucking TVs are gone. If he hadn’t raised such hell over CMT, it would never have become an issue. I can’t wait! Lo, I am giddy with glee!
     And finally, I just got an email from my brother, which seems to be insinuating that he’s knocked his poor wife up again. Just kidding! If they are pregnant again, I’d just like to post the first official request for a boy.
     Oh yeah, and congratulations, too!

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