h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It's just after 4:30 a.m. The weather report is:

Clear 36°F
Feels Like: 31°
Wind Chill: 31°
Heat Index: 36°
Wind Speed: 6mph
Humidity: 86%

That's a huge change from last week. I woke up early this morning, on my own without help from the pets. I've already filled their kibble and water dishes. They probably went back to bed. I had a bit of extra time so, I sat down for a few minutes to plan my day.

November is almost over. The sooner the November paper work is done and in a box, the sooner we move on to the end next month and the end of the year paperwork. That also means taking an inventory of all merchandise in the store.

December is the month that is usually understaffed because of staff taking vacations or other time off. We might need to hire someone to replace those that are not filling the entirety of their shifts through either leaving early or arriving late, too.

One more journal after this for the Najopomo challenge. No really, just one more.

And, the Nanowrimo challenge ends tomorrow as well. Phew! I haven't written as many words as I'd have liked. But, the plot is more shaped than I'd expected. I'll let you know if anything comes of that. My goal is the story not the challenge with this one.

Now, that leaves the dreaded Christmas shopping. I really dislike shopping for undetermined items especially surrounded by huge crowds. In the past I've done the traditional store to store, even the.... mall. Only one mall and that's because it's close to where I work. Then, I did smaller stores like Tuesday Morning or the World Market. Considering doing the bulk of it online this time because more sites are offering free shipping for one reason or another.

Any suggestions for gifts for two brothers and maybe one or two friends? They have clothes, love reading, enjoy cooking and really don't do cologne, perfume, fragrance type of things.

Its just wet, cold and very windy here.

Hang in there, Evangeline.

I'm sure there are lots of places where employee time off causes understaffing. It was certainly that way where I worked. Retailers probably hire extra help because they know their regular staff will be either off or overstressed.

I walked through a nearby mall yesterday. It's the longest distance I've walked in months. My feet, amazingly, are not as sore as I thought they would be. I saw lots of Christmas decorations I'd love to buy, but nothing that would qualify as gifts for family members. My mother used to be easy to buy gifts for. I would just buy paperback copies of the latest Joanne Fluke murder mysteries. Every murder victim dies while eating cookies or pastries. There would be recipes for every item that's mentioned in the book. The protagonist runs a cookie shop. She also makes cakes, pastries, puddings, and a number of comfort food items that she cooks for herself in her apartment. I've gotten some good ideas from her recipes.

You mention that you filled the kibble and water dishes for your pets. I thought you had cats. Kibbles seem to be associated with dogs. Do you have dogs too, or are kibbles okay for cats?

I forgot to mention why murder mysteries are not good gifts for my mother any more. Her eyes have gotten too bad. I can't give her food, as she doesn't eat much. She can't hear very well, so music recordings would not go over well. It's going to be hard to think of something for her this year.