Citizen, Coach and Doodlebugs

As I had discussed earlier- Husby and I went Together-Present shopping on the 23rd.  We had fun- went down to Pacific Avenue, window shopping and strolling along the chilly avenue with yummy chai tea in hand (that part was me, not Husby).

I decided art supplies really were what I wanted most and had a field day... we hadn't exactly set a "limit" for our purchases, and as I shyly kept piling brushes and pigments and pastels and-and-and into the heavily laden basket, Husby just smiled and said "you need canvases too!".  I felt like a kid in a candy store- and probably looked like one, too.  I haven't taken anything out of it's packaging yet- I just keep staring at the large canvas bag brimming with creative yumminess and giggling to myself.  It is placed right next to the bed, so it is the first thing I see when I wake up.  Husby thinks I'm silly, I'm sure for far more than just this, but it really makes it feel like each morning is Christmas all over.

After our mini-excursion we dropped off my goodie tote at home, played with the pup a bit, got gussied up and went out for hors d'oeuvres and cocktails.  Lovely and yummy and intimate.  At this point Husby was just starting to narrow in on what he wanted his Together-Present to be.  By this time, we'd ruled out the toesy shoes (because, really?  would he wear them?) and a guitar, because maybe a sax (which he played briefly as a child) would be more fun- though the neighbors mightn't agree... leaving us at a musical impasse.  So we shifted directions.  Electronics?  No.  Kitchen gadgets?  No.  Clothing?  No.  Sports equipment?  No.  A watch? .....pause..... that was an idea.  He had been wanting a new one.... ponder ponder ponder....  well, we could look.  And look we did.  Sometimes Husby can be excruciatingly slow in his decision making process.  Someone had to make an executive decision and there was only the two of us.  I had it narrowed down to three nearly identical watches- different designers, and vastly different prices.  He narrowed it down to two.  And oh was that proverbial clock ticking!  Finally we decided on the one that didn't have to be wound.  That didn't have a battery.  That was charged by BOTH natural and artificial light, and, should he be trapped in utter darkness for six, yes six whole months, his watch would still run.  Praise be!  We'd made a decision and he would be safe and  punctual in the pitch black voids of Hell for months on end.  It was a momentous occasion.  As was taking out the correct number of links to make it fit properly.  And did I mention that the face of his masterpiece was scratched by noon Christmas day?  Maybe  I'll leave that part out of the story.

It was a wonderful day and it was just ours.

Christmas, on the other hand, was everyone else's.  Four different homes over the course of 11 hours.  In those 11 hours was breakfast, brunch, appetizers, dinner and copious amounts of cocktails, punches, wine and desserts.  Somewhere in the mix I received the most lovely of clutches, Coach, none the less! and Husby received a table lamp modeled after the infamous Leg Lamp from "The Christmas Story".  Apparently Leg Lamps top expensive, stay running in the dark watches, because he exclaimed quite loudly "This is the BEST Christmas Present EVER!" and the gift-giver wasn't even present.  Humpf.

Chloe, on the other hand has yet to decide what her most favorite Christmas present was, as she has not actually received all of them yet- we're rationing them to her,  s l o w l y.  The Periwinkle Dragon from Husby and I went over very well (once we got the damned squeaker out), but once "grandma's" goodie bag showed up, well- screw the dragon, hello Toy Heaven!  She received a tie-dyed fleecy tug-toy which lasted exactly seven blissful minutes.  Then there was the ginormous Doodlebug that she has not let leave her side.  She sleeps with it.  She naps with it.  She grooms it, gnaws on it, wiggles it, trips over it, and shows it to Husby and I triumphantly throughout the day.

For when she's left alone, Grandma got her a trick-treat dispenser... it's a clear plastic jar that you place treats in, with a hole at the top that has a knotted rope in.  As the rope is moved back and forth through the hole, a treat will fall out... it's challenging and entertaining for Chloe to try to figure out how to make the goodies come out- she loves it and it literally keeps her entertained for hours.  She bats at it, gnaws at it. rolls it, and carries it around in her mouth.  Today we were gone for about two hours and came home to her still trying to puzzle it out!  Now she is thoroughly exhausted at my feet, with her treat-toy nearby, still full of yumminess and Doodlebug snuggled under her chin.