Christmas Shopping Day 1

I decided to take A to the mall and try and do a little Christmas shopping this morning. As well as possible, I tried to maximize the potential for success, meaning I left in plenty of time to shop before naptime. Sure, it's early, but since my sweet girl gives me about one hour per outing, I decided I'd better get a head start.

Since it's Wednesday, the mall was not very crowded. (Part of our plan to avoid the mall on the weekends, so that shortens our shopping season even more.) We were even the only two in line at Chick-fil-A, where we picked up a bite and headed to the carousel to eat. A was in a great mood, so my own spirits were high. I even began to hum Christmas carols. Then we entered our first store, where singing quickly turned into bah humbugs.

Did you know that parents are expected to pay $49.50 for sweaters for children? They must because that is how much they cost, and this particular store has been in business for quite a while. This was apparently no place for toddlers either because my stroller kept getting jammed in between the racks, knocking off hundreds of tightly packed sweaters. Maybe it wasn't hundreds, but you get the idea. I must have been making quite a mess because the sales lady was circling me like a vulture. After about one half-hour of staring at the same wall of sweaters , I decided to leave and head to a department store, where I had a coupon.

A, apparently, got the mixed message that we were leaving to go home because as soon as we entered Belk, she began to whine, loudly. Don't get me wrong, I am not blaming my daughter, who is rapidly approaching age two. I , too, would have no desire to sit strapped in a stroller while my mom stares at the same sweater for over thirty minutes trying to decide if it is the right gift for a three-year-old. I, too, would rather be at home reading or playing. If I would not have been carted out in a white-jacket, I would have probably been whining and kicking right beside her, shouting, "But I don't know what to get anyone.....waaa..."but as an adult, I try to behave like one as much as possible.

About this time, a mother and her two Stepford children walked by. You know the kids: narry a hair out of place, dressed to the nines without so much as a crumb on their pristine white collars, bow centered perfectly in their freshly combed hair, holding their mother's hand, silent and smiling. The mother leans over to A, who is wearing a turqouise t-shirt, stained with the mustard sauce she used for dipping her nuggets, pink pants, and she's barefoot. Her hair is matted a little on one side with oatmeal from breakfast, and her nose, which has been running, has a nice crust forming just at the top of her lip. (In my defense, she was wearing shoes when we left the house, and I wiped her nose right after lunch.)

"You must be getting tired," the mom coos to A. "Ooh, it looks like it is somebody's naptime." (I am quickly losing the desire to behave like an adult.) She continues, "Does your mommy have you out past naptime?" Meanwhile, her children stand motionless and silent, while A begins to kick her feet, shaking the stroller.

"We're just trying to fit in some Christmas shopping before it sneaks up on us." I say through a forced smile. I really want to snap, "I know she is tired, I know, I know, I know, but I have to get started on my shopping, and unfortunately, she has to come along for the ride every now and then."

"Poor girl, you'll get your nap soon. I'm sure your mom is almost done." Does she think she is helping the situation? The lady walks off, and A who was enjoying the attention, begins to whine with even more gusto. I lean over the stroller, "Hey pumpkin, I am sorry mommy's ignoring you. We'll leave soon." Feeling like everyone is staring at the "bad mom," I quickly make my purchase and head to the car, so my pumpkin can go home for her nap. I'm so flustered that I forget about my coupon, which is only good for the one day.

A quiets down and seems to enjoy the stroller ride back to the car. My sweet girl is asleep before we even pull into our driveway. I stop the car and look back at A, who has just turned her head. Her mouth is open wide and her hair is sticking straight out where she's been sleeping on it. I giggle quietly, ease her out of the car, and walk slowly inside to her crib. Two hours of shopping, an exhausted daughter, and I can only mark one name off my list. Oh well, only 26 more to go!

Disclaimer: I do love giving to others, and I love this time of year. Few things give me greater pleasure than giving to those I truly love. I just don't like the act of shopping. The result, not so much the actual mall part. I prefer the baking, decorating, and spending time with family, enjoying each other's company!

It's Early, Real Early

Fortunately, college basketball has a playoff. Kentucky, you can breathe a sigh of relief, or can you? While parity is certainly not a novelty in college basketball, I doubt it has reached the level where Gardner-Webb should be stunning the 20th ranked team in the nation. The loss certainly stunned me, a fan who has waited with baited, yet eager breath to see just what the Cats new head coach is capable of. It didn't look like much last night.

A game that normally would be overlooked because we're still in the thick of football season is grabbing the media spotlight, mainly because of a new unknown factor in Rupp, head coach, Billy Gillispie. When Tubby Smith won a national championship after taking the reigns from Rick Pitino, I had high hopes for the future of Kentucky basketball. This from a girl who cried, boo-hooed, actually, when Christian Laetner stripped the game winning shot to take away the title from the Cats during the Duke dynasty. "We've got our man," I thought. That man would coach well but not good enough for Wildcat fans who wanted a return to the Rupp era. He just didn't recruit the type of talent needed to produce Final Four teams, year in and year out. (Yet, in the era of play one year, go pro, who can blame him?)

Bring in Gillispie. A new coach, a new era. I still have high hopes for Kentucky and Gillispie. I am sure last night was just a fluke. Even Izzo lost to a Division II team this week. Ohio State, too, fell to a team that most of us won't remember unless they show up in our brackets. This could say several things. The players didn't show up mentally, or they just weren't ready to play, or because it was exhibition against cupcakes maybe they just didn't care. Whatever it says, I think my husband said it best when he quipped, "It doesn't count anyway does it?" Ahh, the beauty of college basketball, finish the season strong and who knows where you'll go!