4 Nights Before Christmas

'Twas four nights before Christmas and all through the mall, people dashed and scurried to make sure that they got it all.
Seriously.  As of 7 pm, the city of Ottawa had received 28 centimeters of snow and it's still (now 10:50 pm) snowing!  Despite the storm, there are people everywhere in the mall.  One might say, well yes, but you're there too!  I am only here because my darling husband is working until 11:30 (the mall is open until 11) and I need to pick him up.  I thought that I would come  a little bit early so that I could enjoy a steamed eggnog (eggnog latte minus the coffee) and to ensure that I wouldn't have to wait out in the cold parking garage.
I really am amazed at the number of people who are floating around in this place. In fact, a former co-worker from Carleton Place just walked past me!  I wasn't thrilled with the prospect of driving across the city; I can guarantee that there is no way that I would have driven in from a neighbouring community!  I understand that there are only 4 shopping days (including today) left before Christmas, but if I were not already done my shopping, I would not have made a specific trip out today.  I think that I would have rearranged my plans and made a point of coming tomorrow or Sunday.  In fact, I would have hauled my butt out of bed early to be here for 8 am when all of the stores open!  That’s saying a lot because there are very few reasons for which I am willing to get out of bed early on a Saturday but avoiding a crowd is definitely one of them.  The worst part about all of these people, from an employee standpoint (and I’ve been there often enough to know) is that they never leave by the time that the mall is officially closed. They take their sweet ass time and doddle about because they are too self-centered to think of anyone but themselves.  The employees couldn’t possibly want to go home so that they might have some time with their families!  Even during a normal night this is the usual, it’s not specific to the Christmas season and it is something that I have never understood.  For the love of Pete, no one stands around your place of work at the end of your day and just wanders about, so please, don’t do it to the hard-working retail workers!

Aside from my general dismay with the last minute Christmas shopper, I am so excited for Christmas!  I really can’t wait to get in the car and head home to mom and dad’s because in my opinion, there really is no place like home for the holidays!!!!

My shopping is done, my wrapping is done (aside from a few objects that need to go into bags but that will occur at my parents place because they have a major bag surplus) and I have all of the ingredients that I need to make my AWESOME Christmas morning French Toast bake!  Hubby still has to wrap the gifts that he has bought me but that will be done by tomorrow night and then all that is left on Sunday is to pack the car and pick him up after work.  Then we are south-eastward bound to the booming metropolis of Cornwall!!!  Fortunately we have an awesome neighbour who will be checking into our apartment a few times a day just to make sure that all is well and to give us a little piece of mind while we are away.  I will have to remember a little thank you gift for her :)

I don’t know that I will be back before Christmas so I am going to say it now.  I wish all of you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!  Please be sure that it is a safe one and that you are able to enjoy the love and laughter of family and friends at some point during the Christmas season.