Friday, December 10, 2004
USP&A Pens
I have a lot on my mind tonight. It seems that everyone does. Nobody seems to be in good spirits these days. It's really a shame. This time of year should be enjoyable. Although I'm not in the best of moods, I am still appreciative of Christmastime. I hope everyone else who's not having fun is also appreciative of the festivities. I think they are.
I wrapped my first Christmas present of the year today. That made me feel good. I have "the gene." I got it from my mother's side. My father's side of the family was terrible at giftwrapping. They all cheated and used gift bags or they'd go bowless or something. It was cute. However, my mother's side of the family is crazy when it comes to giftwrap. My grandmother's entire basement is practically dedicated to nothing but rolls upon rolls upon rolls of wrapping paper. Religious wrapping paper, secular wrapping paper, metallic wrapping paper, winter scene wrapping paper, Christmas-specific wrapping paper, wrapping paper with words, wrapping paper with pictures, patterned wrapping paper, plain wrapping paper, blue, gold, silver, striped, polka-dotted, you name it. She's got it all. I fear that I will end up that way when I am 79. My mother is well on her way. I didn't think she had a wrapping paper addiction until I went to get a roll out to begin my own wrapping and discovered a glowing treasure trove of red and green sensory overload in the closet. Oh well, at least I had a nice selection from which to pick.
It's nice to be all into wrapping paper, but my mother's side of the family also carries the "ribbon and bow" gene. Nobody in this bloodline would be caught dead wrapping a present and then just sticking a pre-stickied bow on top. Nono. First of all, we can make our own bows out of any thickness of ribbon, any material. Secondly, there's so much more to it than just bows. You gotta wrap the ribbon around the present in creative ways too. And you can mix and match colors and textures... shiny and matte, cloth and ... whatever the normal kind is.
Don't get me wrong - we do use the stick-on bows. I'll admit that. However, they simply must be used in conjunction with other creative ribbonic stylings. It's cheating if you don't mix genres.
So anyway, I love giftwrapping. I would be happy as a clam as a professional giftwrapper. I love making them pretty and unique... and putting my own special Claire touch on it. Ewww, THAT special Claire touch... you're sick.
I had to start my wrapping tonight because I will be visiting with Josh this weekend to celebrate our Christmaversary, and you certainly can't have a Christmaversary with a naked present.
Typing about Christmas has helped me to feel better. I shall invent a new concept and make a bazillion dollars. It will be called "Blog therapy." Even though any schmuck can start a blog, I will require that people who are sad pay me a lot of money. Then I will tell them, "Hey, you won't be sad if you blog." And they will say, "Blog?!? That's brilliant!" And then they will cheerfully drink sunscreen, give me a lot of money, go home and type some random crap onto a website, and become happy while I become rich. Everyone wins!
Gotta go pack.
Peace out.
I wrapped my first Christmas present of the year today. That made me feel good. I have "the gene." I got it from my mother's side. My father's side of the family was terrible at giftwrapping. They all cheated and used gift bags or they'd go bowless or something. It was cute. However, my mother's side of the family is crazy when it comes to giftwrap. My grandmother's entire basement is practically dedicated to nothing but rolls upon rolls upon rolls of wrapping paper. Religious wrapping paper, secular wrapping paper, metallic wrapping paper, winter scene wrapping paper, Christmas-specific wrapping paper, wrapping paper with words, wrapping paper with pictures, patterned wrapping paper, plain wrapping paper, blue, gold, silver, striped, polka-dotted, you name it. She's got it all. I fear that I will end up that way when I am 79. My mother is well on her way. I didn't think she had a wrapping paper addiction until I went to get a roll out to begin my own wrapping and discovered a glowing treasure trove of red and green sensory overload in the closet. Oh well, at least I had a nice selection from which to pick.
It's nice to be all into wrapping paper, but my mother's side of the family also carries the "ribbon and bow" gene. Nobody in this bloodline would be caught dead wrapping a present and then just sticking a pre-stickied bow on top. Nono. First of all, we can make our own bows out of any thickness of ribbon, any material. Secondly, there's so much more to it than just bows. You gotta wrap the ribbon around the present in creative ways too. And you can mix and match colors and textures... shiny and matte, cloth and ... whatever the normal kind is.
Don't get me wrong - we do use the stick-on bows. I'll admit that. However, they simply must be used in conjunction with other creative ribbonic stylings. It's cheating if you don't mix genres.
So anyway, I love giftwrapping. I would be happy as a clam as a professional giftwrapper. I love making them pretty and unique... and putting my own special Claire touch on it. Ewww, THAT special Claire touch... you're sick.
I had to start my wrapping tonight because I will be visiting with Josh this weekend to celebrate our Christmaversary, and you certainly can't have a Christmaversary with a naked present.
Typing about Christmas has helped me to feel better. I shall invent a new concept and make a bazillion dollars. It will be called "Blog therapy." Even though any schmuck can start a blog, I will require that people who are sad pay me a lot of money. Then I will tell them, "Hey, you won't be sad if you blog." And they will say, "Blog?!? That's brilliant!" And then they will cheerfully drink sunscreen, give me a lot of money, go home and type some random crap onto a website, and become happy while I become rich. Everyone wins!
Gotta go pack.
Peace out.
