Three times today I got the "Sorry about that" from Journalscape.

Glad I checked one more time!

I looked at the cat/possum/raccoon food supply and headed for WalMart a bit before 7 AM. It looked pretty busy for that early, so I checked the hours sign off to the side. Their current hours are 6 AM - 11 PM. I'll have to remember that--and check to see if they are maintained after the holidays. BK they were open 24/7. (BK=Before Katrina)

When I got home I made the mistake of putting up my feet after I'd put away the perishables. I woke up in time for a quick lunch, then decided to keep on with the geek reading and headed for PJ's.

My yard trash pile had burned itself down to almost nothing during the night. I think I'll do the next one next to the previous one. That way more of the volunteer grass in the driveway/parking area will get crisped. There's plenty of room to park while I try to denude the driveway. And eventually it will be less work for me to keep it looking like the gravel driveway it's supposed to be, instead of a messy, weed-infested lawn.

On my way to the coffee shop I stopped at the little used book store on the way to look for Douglas Adams' Dirk Gentry and the Holistic Detective Agency. They didn't have it, but I got chatting with the owner and ended up getting a fabulous new book for YGD. She threw in a couple of used mysteries just for the heck of it.

Next stop was Walgreen's to pick up a prescription and try to find a box of Christmas cards. I just might get some out this year, especially to the people that still send me ones. And, as I was going back to my car, a man sitting on an outside bench recognized me and we chatted for a while. He and his wife had a swimming supply store, and were friends of my chiropractor's parents.

I must not have changed very much over the years if he could still recognize me. It has to be at least ten years since I've seen him or his wife.

No "gifts" from my girls today, at least not as of 10 PM. Maybe they and the neighbor's cat Emma have the rodent population totally intimidated. (or eaten)

The meerkats came today, so that's one thing I don't have to worry about. I haven't opened the box yet to look at them.

I'm trying to think of token stuff for the 500 (give or take a few) or so extended family members that will be there on Christmas. Or maybe (probably) just the step-grands and/or step-great grands.

Well, I've still got about four+ days to think about that.