9 November journal page

I asked David last night, "Is it really almost Thanksgiving?" "Already? Are you sure?" It seems like 2009 just began.

What are you doing for holiday gifts this year? Making? Buying? Both? Neither? What? I'd love to hear your lists!!

Me? Buying Legos for Tristan. David wants me to make him something, so that's hush hush (he reads the blog). Pots and pans for my sister and maybe some baby stuff. Dad wants his Sirius radio subscription renewed. Mom says she wants nothing but then drops hints. Clothing gift cards, scrapbooking supplies and fun play stuff for the nieces and nephews. Not sure yet what we're getting David's Dad and his wife, Verna.

I'd like to make more gifts this year, but not sure if anyone would actually appreciate it. I've been asking my parents for the last couple of years for a book with everyone's addresses and birthdays written in it. It would be nice to have something like that as a reference because I have a tendency to forget things unless they're written down. What I really want though is it written in my both of my parents' handwriting. I'm a goofy sentimental sap who thinks there's something very special with handwritten notes which seem rarer and rarer these days. I keep asking for the damn book, but it hasn't happened yet.

People have asked what I want, but there's nothing really that I need. I love handmade. I love old things. I love paper. I love old pieces of paper. I love old diaries, journals and things that have been loved long ago. I love old books. I love old photographs. I love old bits of lace and scrap. I love stickers. I love old labels. I love stuff I can glue down and use in my journals and books. I love tape. I love pens. I have tons of tape. I have tons of pens. I don't need anymore. I have tons of paper, but am always looking for more paper that I can rip up and glue down. I guess what I want is more time. Can you give someone that gift? More time to work in my books. More time to explore. More time to cut and paste. More time to be me.

My fantasy Christmas wish list in no particular order-

1. Dad to be cancer free and 100% himself. Health. Happiness. Peace. Wellness to All.

2. My sister's baby "Bean" to be healthy, happy and well loved.

3. Someone to clean my apartment for me-all of the things that I keep putting off doing, someone else to do.

4. No inspections. No managers. No more people poking their head in my front door. For a year at least, please. No notices on the door. Nada. Take my rent check. Leave me alone.

5. Quiet. Peace and quiet. No construction on weekends. No construction all damn day-what are you building anyway? No banging and pounding at 6 p.m. at night. No blaring "Friends" over and over again and laughing insanely with your friends who sound high as a kite. No dogs barking incessantly at all hours.

6. To not have to walk on eggshells around some people.

7. A double of me to help me work on all of the projects I want to do.

8. My 19 year old cousin, whom I worry about, quits smoking.

9. A big box of old paper scraps, photos, trim, and ephemera that someone else would consider trash, to land on my door step. Fun mail instead of bills.

10. More time in the day to do everything.

What about you? What are you giving and hoping to receive?