Monday, December 15
Dec. 16th, 2025 12:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gottawonderToday I am grateful for:
Okay sleep.
That it is so warm outside. After being around -25 C, it was only around -5 C today. It actually feels SO WARM when this happens.
I wouldn't have minded not going anywhere today just to walk around more outside.
Today was pottery class though, so I went to town.
I hurried through glazing three mugs, in a lightening fast hour, in order to get to our "class" party. A women in our class had one last year, and did it again today.
She is a fairly recent widow, and last year especially having this gathering at her house was a way to remind herself of laughter and friendship, and to have people at her house.
She wanted people to bring "fun" items for a gift exchange, the kind where you can take other people's gifts. Typically called a "Chinese gift exchange", but you'd think it's maybe time to think of a new name for it?
She had told us not to spend any money, and to just find something that's been sitting around at home, like maybe a gift someone else gave you but you aren't using.
Well, I didn't really have anything of that sort at home that I thought would be appropriate. For this group of pretty well-off ladies, I figured I'd have to buy something. Last week I did shop at Winner's for this gift, and TRIED not to spend much, but still likely spent close to $25, which is nuts. It's not even an impressive gift, money just doesn't go far these days.
My goal though, was specific. I bought a tall cylinder (think Pringle's container) with biscuits in it for Christmas, and a package of wool dryer balls, and some "flesh" colored wrapping paper...so that I could arrange everything into something sort of phallic shaped.
I did the wrapping last night, and it's hilarious.
Everyone at the gathering thought it was pretty funny, which is good. What's odd, is that my gift, for all that it wasn't that remarkable, ended up getting "stolen" four times! Everyone wanted the dryer balls, which were cute and had a little sheep face on them.
I guess in the end, maybe it was nice to have a useful item.
The other gifts were a bit of a shocker to me, in that they were VERY NICE things, given that we were supposed to keep it cheap. One woman's gift consisted of a HAND TURNED WOODEN PEN and a few bars of her home made soap (professional soap, she makes it to sell). You know, a modest thing you had lying around.
That's the thing about gifts at these parties; it's not cheap, and you'd hate to be the person who took that seriously and brought something like a pair of socks you got for Christmas last year and didn't wear.
Well, the party itself was fun, and nice to have a social event to attend for the holiday spirit.
Then I went to get groceries, and I am always grateful for being able to do so.
Then I came home, and brought everything inside. By then the wind was really howling, and I happened to notice our neighbor to the South of us was outside burning garbage near his buildings. You have to shake your head.
My Sweetie had supper waiting, and we chatted for a while before he headed to bed.
Okay sleep.
That it is so warm outside. After being around -25 C, it was only around -5 C today. It actually feels SO WARM when this happens.
I wouldn't have minded not going anywhere today just to walk around more outside.
Today was pottery class though, so I went to town.
I hurried through glazing three mugs, in a lightening fast hour, in order to get to our "class" party. A women in our class had one last year, and did it again today.
She is a fairly recent widow, and last year especially having this gathering at her house was a way to remind herself of laughter and friendship, and to have people at her house.
She wanted people to bring "fun" items for a gift exchange, the kind where you can take other people's gifts. Typically called a "Chinese gift exchange", but you'd think it's maybe time to think of a new name for it?
She had told us not to spend any money, and to just find something that's been sitting around at home, like maybe a gift someone else gave you but you aren't using.
Well, I didn't really have anything of that sort at home that I thought would be appropriate. For this group of pretty well-off ladies, I figured I'd have to buy something. Last week I did shop at Winner's for this gift, and TRIED not to spend much, but still likely spent close to $25, which is nuts. It's not even an impressive gift, money just doesn't go far these days.
My goal though, was specific. I bought a tall cylinder (think Pringle's container) with biscuits in it for Christmas, and a package of wool dryer balls, and some "flesh" colored wrapping paper...so that I could arrange everything into something sort of phallic shaped.
I did the wrapping last night, and it's hilarious.
Everyone at the gathering thought it was pretty funny, which is good. What's odd, is that my gift, for all that it wasn't that remarkable, ended up getting "stolen" four times! Everyone wanted the dryer balls, which were cute and had a little sheep face on them.
I guess in the end, maybe it was nice to have a useful item.
The other gifts were a bit of a shocker to me, in that they were VERY NICE things, given that we were supposed to keep it cheap. One woman's gift consisted of a HAND TURNED WOODEN PEN and a few bars of her home made soap (professional soap, she makes it to sell). You know, a modest thing you had lying around.
That's the thing about gifts at these parties; it's not cheap, and you'd hate to be the person who took that seriously and brought something like a pair of socks you got for Christmas last year and didn't wear.
Well, the party itself was fun, and nice to have a social event to attend for the holiday spirit.
Then I went to get groceries, and I am always grateful for being able to do so.
Then I came home, and brought everything inside. By then the wind was really howling, and I happened to notice our neighbor to the South of us was outside burning garbage near his buildings. You have to shake your head.
My Sweetie had supper waiting, and we chatted for a while before he headed to bed.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-16 07:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-12-16 08:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-12-17 05:21 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-12-17 07:47 am (UTC)It's more fun if they're all gag gifts, but it can be a pain trying to find the right thing, and it also feels like a bit of a waste, because no one really wants or needs those things.
I personally like to give things that get used up, like soap or hand cream, but then you don't know if your friend will like what you give them.
I find gift giving to be difficult.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-17 08:08 am (UTC)Close friends get thoughtful presents, and some of them have wish lists so I can be sure they'll enjoy and use what they receive! There are stocking stuffers, too. Today I went looking for presents for Mungo (a cosy throw and a yak stick).
I think if I got a nice thing at an exchange, I'd run away with it immediately. I don't care at all for gag gifts - more trash to clog up the planet.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-17 08:15 am (UTC)I agree with the take on gag gifts, though I suppose people can hang onto them and give them to someone else.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-17 08:19 am (UTC)