Oooooh! Shiny!

Lucy: Say, by the way, can you play "Jingle Bells?"
[Schroeder proceeds to play "Jingle Bells", which sounds like a traditional grand piano]
Lucy: [interrupting] No, no. I mean "Jingle Bells." You know, deck them halls and all that stuff?
[Schroeder begins to play again, with the piano sounding like an organ]
Lucy: [interrupting again] No, no. You don't get it at all. I mean "Jingle Bells." You know, Santa Claus and ho-ho-ho, and mistletoe and presents to pretty girls.
[gazes lovingly at Schroeder, who then out of frustration taps one key of the piano while playing "Jingle Bells," which sounds like a child's toy piano]
Lucy: That's it!

'Tis the season for giving. Unless you've been living under a rock or on Ice Station Zebra (and even there, I suspect Target might have bought ad space on a glacier or something) you've been inundated with tweets and texts and emails and tv spots and billboards and catalogs and and and... all touting DEALS! and SALES! and BARGAIN! for the PERFECT GIFT for that SPECIAL SOMEONE!

You know, presents to pretty girls. Ahem.

True (not so secret) confession: I LOVE presents. Getting, giving, selecting, getting. Many moons ago, when we could still be considered newlyweds, The Mister and I took a class with our Sunday School group about the five love languages. My number one love language -- by a HUGE margin -- is receiving gifts. I'm clapping my hands in glee at just the thought of getting a present. YAY!

Gifts to me signify a tangible representation of someone thinking about you. Don't have to be fancy or posh or... wait for it... expensive. It's really the thought that counts. And lest you think I'm one of those dames who just likes to receive, I love to give gifts to those I adore just as much. There's so much fun in seeing a little something-something that either reminds you of a person or is a piece that special someone would just love -- and then getting and giving it. I'm clapping my hands in glee again.

Yeah. I know.

Gonna be talking a lot about this particular subject this month -- I'm pulling off the bandaid and getting ambitious, participating in NaBloPoMo during December, which has the theme of, you guessed it, gifts.

Your "presents" will be most welcomed.

Ouch. That's really bad -- even for me.

But still -- thank you! I'm here all month! Try the veal! Maestro!