Random thoughts on this day after Thanksgiving…

‘Twas the day after Thanksgiving, and all through the house, not a creature is stirring. Except me and my cat. I did get up early, but I did not head to the mall. I made my husband’s lunch and shooed him out the door to work. Lovingly. I got a shower — finally, as I never managed one yesterday — and then shopped online. As I sit at my computer next to our R2D2-like kerosene heater (yeah, we are classy like that), I am enjoying a final cup of coffee and eating a flour-dusted potato roll with slices of ham and mayo — while pretending I am eating a powdered doughnut. Laundry is slapping the sides of the dryer while another load rumbles in the washing machine. And as random as my tasks are today, my thoughts are more so.

The morning after photo... because, of course, we ATE instead of shooting photos of the bounty of blessings our table hosted (not the least of which was my children and their loves). — The morning after photo… because, of course, we ATE instead of shooting photos of the bounty of blessings our table hosted (not the least of which was my children and their loves).

Thoughts on Thanksgiving:

Note to self: Shower and get beautiful BEFORE you even think about putting the turkey in the oven on Thanksgiving day. Once that bird begins to heat, your personal time is all over. Your kitchen has become a side-dish construction site.
Assign someone ELSE the task of shooting family and food photos on Thanksgiving. You will never get out of the kitchen in time to see the finished product before it is, well, finished. Trust me, it was picture perfect. And a good meal was had by all.
I failed to employ the use of a timer until the final 10 minutes of the casseroles. Ooops. Miraculously, everything was absolutely perfect.
If my son doesn’t marry his girlfriend Stephanie, I will. (Well, not really, but I do love her — just not like that.) She is an absolute dream companion in the kitchen and may never come to my house for another bout of holiday cooking. Her catch phrase yesterday was “… now what can I help you with?”
Reconsider paper plates.
Pumpkin pie is still my go-to breakfast the day after Thanksgiving.

While too late to help me this year, I am making a note of this... — While too late to help me this year, I am making a note of this…

On Black Friday shopping:

If the Belk site actually functioned properly yesterday, I would have bought much more than three pairs of men’s pants. I mean, really? Today, I went back to the site for what I would have bought yesterday and got either the message “Out of stock” or simply “Internet error” messages. Belk is going to miss me. I wonder if my survey response of “Was this site created by the same folks who worked up the Obamacare site?” had any impact.
On a lighter note, I purchased my yearly supply of lotion from Bath and Bodyworks — feeling pretty good about my savings until…
I discovered “coupon codes” just before I checked out my online shopping cart at JC Penney. As I was about to continue the check-out process, I saw the little box for “coupon code” and decided to do a search for “coupon code + JC Penney.” Bingo! Got a code for an extra 10 percent off and saved a little bundle (slightly more than I spent on tax).
Out of curiosity, I did a search for “coupon code + Bath and Bodyworks” and found I COULD have gotten a 20 percent discount AND free shipping.
Now I am a little disgruntled — but, oh, so much wiser!

I find going into the gas station to purchase kerosene with my American Express card a bit of an embarrassment, but the affordable heat is worth it.

Our cat, Tori, curls up on my laptop sleeve. Though I would prefer a hairless case for my computer, I make the compromise so I can actually type.

On cold weather, cats, and children

Though 45 degrees of cold is warmer than 30, my hands hardly notice that warming trend when hanging wet laundry on a shaded clothesline. It may not have been as bad if my hair, also, wasn’t damp. But I’m a Florida girl. What do I know about it?
A kerosene heater might not be classy, but it definitely does the job. I only wish they made a kerosene air conditioner for summer use.
My laptop sleeve protector is the perfect cat sedative. A clingy, needy, get-in-your face (or get-in-front-of-the-computer-screen) cat drops like a fly onto it the moment I retrieve my laptop, and I am at peace to type.
They do not make laptop sleeves large enough for my 17-year-old son, who happened to make his appearance as I tried to think and type. (Note to self: Write blog posts while others are sleeping; online shopping is possible even when other creatures are stirring.)

Meal eaten, dishes done, my family got cozy in the living room. When I looked up from texting my sister and nephew, I noticed I wasn't the only one having screen time. Social media in the midst of a social occasion. Go figure. — Meal eaten, dishes done, my family got cozy in the living room. When I looked up from texting my sister and nephew, I noticed I wasn’t the only one having screen time. Social media in the midst of a social occasion. Go figure.

On the changes technology has made

For one, I am spending without leaving my house.

For another, I am avoiding my schoolwork like the plague — and finding much to distract me online.

My phone kept chirping all day long as Black Friday emails loaded my box. (“Why do you sign up for advertisements?” my husband asked me. “Why don’t you use gmail?” my son asked me. “Why did I download the Yahoo mail app?” I asked myself.)

Random thoughts on this day after Thanksgiving…