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My parents drove from northern California in their RV about 3 weeks ago. My brother and his family have been great hosts for my parents as they enjoy looking for a house to move into. I only wish I could have helped with their accommodations. I know that my brother and his family had an incredibly busy month… First, they housed us for a couple of days before we could actually move here to our new home, then his inlaws came for a welcomed stay before they left for Texas, and finally our parents came for the Christmas/New Years holiday. (I think I’ll leave my brother and his family alone for a while now.)
I love to take my time picking out gifts for my family and friends, but this year I couldn’t do that. First off, our house was in complete disarray. (It still is, but it is getting better.) Making sure we had beds to sleep on and clothes to wear was very important.
Finding adequate shopping spots wasn’t difficult, just getting there was. I became very dependent on my cell phone’s GPS and Google Maps. That posed another problem… driving with one hand on the steering wheel and the other holding my phone to view the map… Oh my! Tucson is incredibly large. I have never seen so many MALLS! There is the Tucson Mall, Foothills Mall, El Con Mall, Park Place Mall, and then there is the Mall just west of the I-19 corridor that I can NEVER remember it’s name. Needless to say I don’t lack for shopping!
Then there is all this dang construction! Not just on the freeway, which is bad enough, but then there is construction either at the Malls or around the Malls, which makes for some interesting driving!
Anyway, I digress.
It has been so many years since we have been NEAR family, it became difficult to know what to get for them. (I am still not done shopping either!) I am a firm believer in GETTING gift cards. I love them. I know, I know… Gift cards say, “I didn’t know what to get you, so you find something for yourself that you like.” Yep… that is what I have become, a gift card giver. (It’s also an excellent way to stay on budget.) However, when you are trying to tell a family member that has been distanced for a very long time that you love them and care about them, gift cards don’t work! So, I did do some shopping with my sister in law who was able to shed some light on the subject… thanks Cher. 
Well, for the most part, the holidays were very nice. We watched movies, sat in a hot tub, watched football, and the kids got to play XBox 360 with there cousins.
Now the parents are home safely and the new year has begun. It is time for me to get my head back into business. Even though I have been working on business stuff over this last month, it hasn’t been as dedicated as usual. With personal stuff out of the way, now I can begin getting my head back into the game.
Have a happy and prosperous new year!
More later…