Baby Clothes

Okay, this is getting ridiculous.

In the last few months, I have received about five garbage bags full of used baby clothes. Some of it was from a lady at Curves whose granddaughter had outgrown them. I wondered at the time why the mother hadn't simply taken them to a local used kids' stuff shop and sold them. I figured out the reason pretty fast, and it had nothing to do with altruism: the fact is, most of that clothing was not in good enough shape to have been resold. I actually threw out some of it, and I hate doing that. I gave a whole pile of it to the Amity, either because it was already too small or because it didn't meet my minimal standards for play clothes. Many of these even had the tags cut out, leaving me unable to ascertain size without trying everything on my little clotheshorse daughter, and often leaving the clothes with holes where the tags used to be attached.

The second main source was from the LRT at my school, who has two daughters aged 5 and 3. These clothes were in much better shape, purely because they come from a household of non-smokers with similar standards to my own. Still, most had been through two kids before SHE got them, bringing the total up to four children so far. They are clean, unstained, not at all smelly, but quite worn.

The problem: Christmas starts tomorrow in our family. (It will not be over until Monday. Don't you just love extensive extended families?) She's getting two new outfits from me, at least two that I'm aware of from Piet's side of the family (aware of because I was asked for input on them; I love it when people do that) and probably a bunch more from other sources, since it was my mother's job to disseminate information about size and style to her side of the family. I would imagine she will come out of this Christmas with at least eight complete, new outfits. That's a conservative estimate.

So what the heck do I do with all this used stuff???

If anyone on my friends list knows of someone nearby who can use some of it (I'll pick the best stuff, and my standards are fairly high) please let me know and I'll arrange to get it to you or directly to them.

The alternatives are a) sell the best of it, which I don't want to do because it was given to me free to begin with, or b) donate it all to the Sally Ann or the Amity, which means some poor soul working for minimum wage gets to decide what to throw out and what to try to sell, or c) a combination of the above. Maybe I'll sell it to my local used shop, then donate the money I get to a food bank or something. That meshes better with their desire to give it away.

Meanwhile, I need to sort through it all and decide what is being kept for next summer/next baby.

Snow!!!!!

It's snowing! The roof of the back room is already covered. We might get a white Christmas. More importantly, we might yet get some 'nomen this week.

I wonder if Elizabeth would recognize a snow angel as an angel? We'll have to find out. . .

Productivity

I wrote three thousand words today. I'm quite proud of myself, actually. Most of it was during nap time, but I made serious headway just now on an insert scene where Kharaba puts a protection spell on one of two sailors in a fight. Naturally, the protected sailor still loses. I'm debating whether this will have any effect on Salvatore's view of Kharaba. Since that is none too positive to begin with, I think he'll still reserve judgement and trust for a while yet. The problem is that I haven't witnessed any more fistfights than I've witnessed knife fights. There's a reason people are advised to write what they know. I'm getting better at it, but it's a bit of a slog to write these types of action scenes.

My next book will be much more introspective. I'm good at introspection. The confession and campfire revelation scenes just flowed onto the screen. This swashbuckling action stuff takes a lot more work. And why the heck did I decide to write a book about pirates when I've never set foot on a sailing ship?

Okay, I'm done now.

Tonight we're going out to the Keg to spend gift certificates from our anniversary. That was in June. we got the certificates from my aunt in September. The day that aunt sends out a card on time will be the day the family takes out an add in the National Post celebrating the achievement. :)

So, instead of celebrating a fifth wedding anniversary, we're celebrating a seventh engagement anniversary, which is on Boxing Day. Also a birthday, and Christmas, and an opportunity to go out and make merry. Since we're leaving the baby with Aunt Krista tonight, hopefully my festive clothes will survive the evening intact this time.

Notes on Getting Pretty for a Party

A few things to remember prior to the next time I have two hours in which to get ready for a party. (Like that'll ever happen again. I'm a mom now. I'm lucky if I get to blow-dry my hair.)

1) If one doesn't wear one's contact lenses on a daily basis, it is very important to check them periodically to make sure they have not turned into shrivelled blue bits for lack of moisture. Needless to say, that was my last pair. Luckily, it's been quite some time since I last visited my optometrist. I can get new contact lenses through my benefits plan. That can't happen until after the holidays, though, so for the moment, I'm four-eyed.

2) If one does not regularly use hairspray, it is wise to check that the nozzle still works before attempting to spray the product on one's nicely-blow-dried hair. The result of the encrusted nozzle today was a tiny trickle that landed right in the middle of my forehead - the part of my forehead, that is, that had no hair on it to begin with.

3) It is possible to type effectively with wet nail polish and not chip or otherwise mangle it, provided one is fairly dexterous and a good typist. I am both. My nails look pretty good. Of course, it doesn't hurt that I chose a sheer, sparkly colour that would not show a mangled patch very clearly in any case.

4) A new lipstick once a year is not too much to ask. It is, however, too much to remember when one is trying to remember if one's mother has ever seen the movie one is considering buying her, and if so, if she liked it. The lipstick I'll be wearing tonight is five and a half years old. In all that time, I've bought maybe two new ones, and I have no idea where they are.

5) Eyeshadow is a waste of time when one is wearing glasses.

6) When the bedroom lamp which is the main source of illumination for the hairdressing station gives out the weekend before a holiday, replace it immediately. It's a real pain to have to move everything to the bathroom because the lamp isn't working. At least the baby was already gone to Oma's and Aunty Krista's for the evening. I could leave the curling iron on the floor, plugged in, without worrying about anything except my own feet.

7) Before next year, consider purchasing new party clothes. These ones are getting rather old. And I'll never look at this outfit again without thinking of the contents of the fruit tray being dumped on it, via Elizabeth's stomach, two weeks ago at thebitterguy's Christmas party.

And in spite of all these issues with getting pretty for the party, I'm still quite chipper.

I love the holidays.

Celebration

That was a lovely evening. The food was good, the company was better, and the evening was topped by a very special moment.

sassy_fae, etherlad, I'm sooooo happy for you both. Congratulations.