A Surprising Gift

A little over a month ago (ok, it was October 2 because the Panthers lost to that jerk-wad Matt Ryan because  Baby M's parents forgot to put her in the Panthers' onesie), Birdie, SILExtaordinaire, and Baby M came over with a big red bag.

 Birdie said they had brought back the Tupperware (not the real thing just Tupperware wannabees) that somehow ends up at their house when they take home food but never make it back to my house and handed me the bag. There were a couple pieces of plastic in there but I was thrown off a bit anyway because they had just brought back most of it on Wednesday. What the heck was up?

Also, they both looked like that cat who swallowed the canary. Ok, a gift then.


A little background: Birdie is the queen gift giver in our family. You really have to be careful when you talk about things you want or things you like or when sharing your wishlist because she will remember all of it and you'll get the best gift ever. Not a problem at all unless she goes overboard. Which she did. They did. Anyway, one of the things I had finally decided on, after three years of researching and doing the back-and-forth decision move, was a Surface Pro. See where this is going?

THIS was inside the big, red bag:

Oh, yeah, that's nice but what's the big deal? First, it's way too extravagant! I was going to get my own. They are supposed to be saving money to buy a house which is another reason I am keeping Baby M during the workweek. I was overwhelmed, to say the least. I was trying to make them take it back. They refused. I surrendered.

Ok so not only was it a Surface Pro it was one with THIS on it:

A couple of you might know that I am a HUGE football fan and the Carolina Panthers are my boys! And then there was THIS:

A case for my new toy! Not that I would allow it out of the inner sanctum but, still.

We just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate you taking care of Baby M for us.

I promise I am not doing this for any selfish reasons. Well, except that I get to spend time with Baby M every day but, this was just too much. Finally, I threw in the towel and accepted this way over-generous gift. They were serious and they wanted me to have it.

Truth is? I LOVE this thing. I use it every single day and I LOVE it! See how it sparkles in the sunlight? LOL

So, a HUGE thank you to Birdie and SILExtraordinaire for your love and generosity and, most of all, for sharing your sweet baby with me on a daily basis. Just being able to share in the day-to-day with y'all and seeing firsthand what amazing parents y'all are is enough for me. But I do LOVE my Surface Pro! And y'all!

However, if there's anything under the tree for me at Christmas this year? Y'all are in BIG TROUBLE. Unless it's a new car. Then it's fine.

When was the last time someone surprised you with a gift that rendered you speechless?

It's day 14 of NaBloPoMo!

Links to my first 13 days of NaBloPoMo in case y'all missed them (because they're so dang interesting and all...Ha!):

1. TWIGS AND ROOTS! Where I introduced y'all to Deanie's new business. 
2. THE BRAVE SIDE OF ME Where I shared my nonexistent bravery with y'all. 
3. BABY M'S NURSERY Where I finally show off the pictures of the nursery!
4. KEEPERS: FALL TELEVISION SHORT LIST Where I shared the few fall shows I watch.
5. SINGING ALONG WITH BABY M Where I shared some songs Baby M and I enjoy.
6. BABY M GOES TO CLEMSON where I shared a gazillion pix and commentary on Baby M's first ever college football game!
7. THANKSGIVING FAILS where I shared that I cannot make holiday meals as good as my grandmother did. 
8. IT'STHAT TIME! where I slacked off and just posted a voting clip art. Don't judge. This is hard. 
9. HOW TO ENTERTAIN A 4 MONTH OLD where I share what I'm doing with Baby M and asking for more ideas. 
10. MY MESSAGE TO MEAN PEOPLE where I give a message to mean people. LOL
11. STAY AT HOME GRANDMA GOES ETSY where I put myself out there and cringe.
12. WHAT ARE LITTLE THANKFULS? where I compare my lists of LITTLE thankfuls from this year and 2015. 
13. AND NOW, THE BIGS where I share the big things for which I am grateful. 

False Advertising

Have y'all ever heard that kids enjoy the boxes better than the toys that come inside? I have. And, when the lovelies were coming along, it seemed to ring true.

Of course, who can blame them when the boxes are big enough to climb into and journey into that ever active land of kid imagination? It's a great place to visit. 

Funny since the boxes are probably designed to lure parents/grandparents/etc. into purchasing the toy in the first place. 

I know people who put a lot of effort into the wrapping of presents. I try to make packages look inviting, irresistible...it just doesn't always work because I'm just not 'gifted' in this area. Sometimes, if I'm not exactly thrilled with the gift, I might try to dress up the wrapping...to detract from the gift. But that can be misleading. If you receive a beautifully decorated package, doesn't it follow that the gift inside will be nearly perfect? 

I also know people who put a lot of effort into their outward appearance. You know the type- everything matches from their earrings to their shoes. Head to toe color coordinated. I'm not saying dressing like this is wrong. As a matter of fact, I think a lot of it is quite aesthetically pleasing. Especially if you're Doris Day- she could wear an outfit, couldn't she? :)

BUT, with some of these people, I can truly understand why kids like the boxes better than what's inside.

You can't dress up a negative attitude. You can't dress up judgmental hearts. You can't dress up insincerity. You can't dress up greed; hatred; stupidity; arrogance...

Packaging can be misleading. 

Not to mention, hard to open.

Have you ever been fooled by 'packaging'?   

I Quit You Pandora

I am NOT playing with Pandora any more. They suck.

Seriously. Frist, who comes up with the artists/songs related to the station you make? An idiot, that’s who. Do you really believe that Jimi Hendrix belongs on The Black Keys station? Really? Or that I want to hear RAP when I'm listening to the Maroon 5 station? Dumb asses.

And the music keeps skipping or hesitating or fading in and out---whatever the hell these things do these days. Back in the way day, records skipped. It sounds kind of like that. And it’s annoyingashell. Oh yeah, buffering. It buffers itself about 5 times every 10 seconds. Tell me that’s not annoyingashell. Go ahead. Tell me.

I don’t care about the ads. I just mute it or take my earbuds out. But that buffering crap has got to go.

And Netflix is just as annoying. It's like the morons who do the write ups on there never paid attention in fourth grade English. They cannot get their grammar correct to save their freaking lives. I’m sick of it. Not to mention (or maybe I will) that the dang thing is constantly interrupting itself to---what is it called---is this buffering also? Whatever.

I'm over it. 

Anyway, not playing around with Pandora was not an issue because I had my own music. Until my Zune died. Completely died. Wah!

I need my Zune because it has all my music on it and my running playlists (that's right playlists- PLURAL- why more than one? Because of my short attention span that causes me to get bored with the same one over and over and over and over...). 

But it died. Completely. 

And I was sad. VERY sad. Until Mother's Day rolled around. 

Have I ever told y'all how fantastically wonderful the lovelies are? They knew that my Zune died (completely) and this is what they got me for Mother's Day:

That's right! The lovelies gave me a brand spanking NEW white iPod touch baby! 8GB! (Whatever a GB is---I think it means I can have a really lot of music on there).

And so Pandora (you too, Netflix), I blow raspberries in your general direction! 

Hey, it could have been worse. I could have done this instead of the raspberries(if you don't want to see the whole clip, just start at 1:40):

 

I guess y'all can tell we've been playing around with my blog design. We might get one that I really like at some point. Sorry y'all have to see all the 'construction' but we can't figure out how to make the changes without them showing up when my helper is all the way in DC! Please bear with us!