Blog entries for CarolV

Is It So Wrong to Ho-Ho-Ho for So Long?

CarolV — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:51:11 GMT

Maybe it was the long 2 weeks home with the kids (and the holiday decorations) but I'm WAY over Christmas earlier this year than ever before. I was ready to take down the decorations on Sunday. But, in years past, I've left up my 4 trees and various decorations until after the Superbowl party a few times. I took a lot of time to decorate and had some post-holiday parties, etc. where friends and family could still see the trees in January. So, with the long lead-up to the Holidays by retailers (Boston Store had their decorations in stores in September!), I'm wondering...is the pre-holiday season stealing my decorating/holiday enthusiasm? What is the socially acceptable timeframe to leave decorations up/take them down?

If anyone has thoughts on this...talkback.

Got My 40, Where's The Party?

CarolV — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 04:11:46 GMT

I remember many moons ago when "Getting A 40" was something some of my nefarious and not so nefarious associates might do, to get the party started. Now, I'm looking at getting a soon-to-be 40-year-old husband some big whopping birthday celebration and I'm at a loss. I have just over 2 weeks to pull of a fabulous 40 party that I have no idea what or where to do it. I'm usually quite gifted at the party-throwing but the surprise element had my stymied and now time is ticking on...last minute desperation has sunk in. Got any big ideas? Got any great "40th B-Day Bash" experiences?

A few parameters: 1. we have kids and no overnight sitters so the jet-off-to somewhere or even getaway on a weekend, is out. 2. we don't have a load of money to spend (a few hundo or so), and I have to be shifty about it, so its gotta be a little "on the cheap" to keep it on the DL (I knew I should have set aside Swiss bank accounts before this but hey, we have shared checking--large withdrawals are going to look suspicious)

I know people don't do "mix tapes" anymore but I would take a list of songs with 40 in the lyrics, other clever ideas, etc. to be on the soundtrack too.

It could just be the start of a "Year of Dave" with several 40th year events throughout the year. I'm game.

Grab a 40 and give me your ideas. I dare ya. I double dog dare ya. (I also just watched The Christmas Story, sorry). Talkback to me.

Ready for My Wrap Album

CarolV — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 04:12:13 GMT

OK so this is a procrastination technique. Plain and simple. I have presents to wrap and got introspective...or that's my excuse right now anyhow. I'm getting pensive and asking a lot of questions in my head about wrapping gifts as I'm doing it poorly--2 days before Santa arrives. I'm not even getting into bows and ribbons here...just simple wrapping stuff. Maybe you can help me answer my burning questions:

Through the years I have successfully kept a cadre of wrapping paper and gift tags (usually picked up in after Christmas clearance from the year before) for family gifts outside of our immediate household and separate from "Santa's wrapping paper and gift tags" and, am in the midst of going bonkers with it. My son is 10 so you'd think I'd be in the clear...but with the "genius" spacing of our kids...I'm in it for at least 8 more years of keeping distinct Santa wrapping stuff for the young one who will be 3 in late Feb. Am I the only one who does this? I'm just looking for some peer support people.

Here's another desperately dumb question...to wrap or not wrap stocking stuffers? I mean, they are already in a stocking, right? Maybe I'm just getting lazy though and looking for excuses.

And then there's my technique...I absolutely love and am jealous of the job that the wrapmasters at the department stores do (how do they do that? Is there a class or something?), I seriously want that skill. I have even bought (still on clearance) the expensive paper and bows with the false hope that they alone may solve my wrapping problems, to no avail. I swear, I can NEVER get my paper measurement right, always use too much tape, always have the package with the small strip of box evident because I cut it just a little too small and then I try to put random pieces to cover the space but then there's the tape issue all over again...or the opposite problem, I have that huge paper that folds over itself and looks equally shabby. I believe (heck I KNOW) I'm a remedial wrapper, yet I am responsible for almost all wrapping for our family (except gifts to me from my husband). Does someone have REAL easy wrapping tips?

By the time anyone reads this, I will likely have once again completed the wrapping tasks that lie ahead of me tonight. But, there's always next year...and birthday, Valentine's and other assorted wrappings in 2009 that could benefit from the Yoda-like wisdom of professional wrappers out here. C'mon people...this could be the best Christmas present I get this year--helpful wrapping wisdom from a wrapper with mad skills.

PS if you're looking to give a gift to charity, but like me, don't have wrapping skills, check out OMC's Wish List and I'll bet any one of those nonprofits won't have a problem accepting an unwrapped gift.

Snow Sucks: Even More for People Who Use Wheelchairs

CarolV — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:58:34 GMT

When it comes to shoveling--snow sucks. Many people say it, so do I sometimes. But, there are degrees of suck-itude when it comes to snow, my friends. A lot of people suck it up and don't say anything, but it affects them much more. I've come to realize that snow doesn't suck as bad for me as for my neighbors and coworkers at IndependenceFirst who use a wheelchair in the winter. Here's what I've come to understand:

1. Its near impossible to shovel for yourself when you use a wheelchair--so it sucks to have to rely on someone else to do it. (It also sucks to have someone push you in the wheelchair when you can do it yourself any other time of the year.)
2. It really sucks when someone didn't clear the snow in front of an accessible doorway or doesn't clear off a ramp that you need to get somewhere.
3. When you find a snowplow dropped a snowbank suddenly next to an accessible parking stall and you can't get in or out of your car, that sucks.
4. It sucks to cross the street successfully from one corner's curbcut and then not have anywhere to get up the corner across the street because a curb cut wasn't shoveled on the other side. It also sucks then when you have to wheel in the street until you find a cleared driveway (usually with a deep muddy puddle to drive through) for you to access a sidewalk. THAT sucks.
5. The bus stop sidewalks, where the bus lifts drop down for riders who use wheelchairs, aren't always clear to get on or off the bus--this sucks for sure.
6. People who use power wheelchairs have it even worse, since tires spin on ice, they slide sideways or out of control on snow/ice terrain or mechanicals freeze up and shut down. Think about a breakdown on the side of the road and how much THAT sucks--but now think of it without being able to wait for the police in a semi-warm car and out of the elements. There's nowhere to go in a stranded power chair. THIS sucks more.
7. To get in and out of a car to drive an adapted vehicle--you have to watch out so the wheelchair doesn't slip when you transfer from your seat. If it does, you're on the ground and that sucks too. Wet clothes and increased chance for hypothermia.
8. You try to make a good impression at work or in the community but your tires tread mud, water, snow, ice, salt into businesses, on carpeting or other flooring. Your outfit gets trashed. Your hands are cold, wet and dirty from the snow, puddles and wheeling yourself around in the winter. This happens every day for 4 months. That SUCKS.

There's a lot of people in wheelchairs who are trying to suck it up and get to work and live their life like everyone else. If they complained about it in any way, they may be stereotyped as angry or seeking sympathy. Most of them won't tell you this so I am...they are waiting for you to shovel your snow, clear the curb cut, plow the lot, shovel the ramp and accessible door. Snow sucks, no question. For some, it sucks way more. By doing our part for snow removal on a timely basis, everyone can get around easier and snow will suck less for all. Suck on that.

If you'd like to help make snow removal suck less for people with disabilities, shovel your snow and curbcuts or volunteer to shovel for someone with a disability through IndependenceFirst--call Char at 414-291-7520 or go to www.independencefirst.org/get_involved/volunteer/ .