1.
It’s one of those days when 3.5 takes would be much easier. Just sayin’.
2.
Dear Dog,
This Christmas you are getting your very own six-quart saucepan*. I am tired of finding mine in the garage refrigerator with your venison scraps stored in it. The humans expect me to cook for them. To each species their own pot.
Sincerely,
The Complainer Santa
3.
PS: Bones stay outside. Out. Side. “Hiding them in the boy’s bed” does not count as “Outside.”
4.
My second-grader loves this book:
My son would have despised it. #2 probably would have liked it, and I think #4 might one day.
5.
The other find at the candy education supply house super clearance sale this fall was:
My kindergartener is using the beginning of the book to practice decoding skills. 2nd grader started a little farther in, for spelling / phonics / reading words. Lucky find. I’m liking reproducibles. When you have more than one child to use the book, it starts to be a reasonable investment.
6.
Don’t forget to pray for Allie Hathaway.
7.
So naturally the toner is low. Need to order more. I <heart> Newegg. I feel so 21st century. Hey and seven wasn’t so bad after all.
Now need to go figure out what to wear to the office party tonight. That part I’ll manage, at least well enough for a gaggle of engineers. But here’s a bleg: Any suggestions for good conversation starters? Mixed company, so religion, politics and money talk are right out. Also, education (mostly), childrearing (mostly), childbearing (mostly), because those are basically religion, politics, and money, Parenting Edition. You see my trouble.
Every Advent I forget how to chit-chat. Okay, actually all year I forget, but it becomes apparent in Advent. I keep meaning to write myself up an index card of opening lines. Help?
* I think they call it a “Stock Pot”. But hello, I have many humans to feed. That’s my saucepan size now.
You could ask people what they are doing for the “holiday”, do you have a new favorite wine, what’s the last good book or movie you read/saw, if they have children, ask about them. Other tips: smile and nod; offer to get people a drink, tell them what’s good to eat on the buffet
Good luck!
Thank you!! See, I always remember things right after I get home from the party. I need to stick them in my head now. Great list!
Sports. Movies. Sports. Restaurants. Sports. TV. Sports
I never get invited where the conversations aren’t about religion/ culture/ politics…all of a sudden I feel ok about that.
Lucky man.
I need to learn something about one of those other subjects.
Maybe save these for next year 🙂
1) If you had an unlimited budget to host your own party, what would it be like?
2) I just finished the best book; what are you guys reading?
3) I just saw the best movie? Have you seen any good movies lately?
4) If you could invent something that would make life easier, what would it be?
5) In the movie about your life, who would play you? Who would play your spouse? Your friends and family?
6) Do you remember any of your gifts from last year?
7) When did you realize Santa Claus wasn’t real?
8) Did you ever receive coal in your stocking as a child? was there a time when you should have?
9) Do you have a collection? How long have you been collecting and do you buy collectibles for yourself or just receive them as gifts from others?
10) Do you like to cook? What are your favorite spices? Do you like to try new flavors?
11) Have you traveled much? Where have you been? Where is your favorite place?
12) Do you prefer blinking or non-blinking lights? Do you have anyone in oyur neighborhood that has too many lights and/or lawn decorations? If so, how crazy is it?
13) What did you do as a child when Christmas vacation came around?
14) What musician would you most like to meet? Why?
15) Do you play a musical instrument? What instrument? Did you take lessons?
16) Do you think that people will ever visit Mars? How about live there?
17) What do you think the world will be like a hundred years from now?
18) If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
19) Have you ever traveled by train? If so how far and where did you go?
20) If you could travel back in time where would you like to go or see?
Oh those are good. Sandra I begin to see why you are so good at conversation!
(Other people: Sandra S. is really good at conversation. There should be an app with these questions.)
Edited to add: And your work is not wasted. Still at least one more party to go.