For those of you whom have been following my 14 month journey through The Gifts War, you should know, the time has come.  We are on a 27 day countdown to the big event, even less if you count the 2 days of set up and decorating.  Greg was kind enough to Gantt Chart my final 34 tasks tonight, which while seemingly large, are tiny compared to the work that has been completed.  I am quite excited, maybe to the point of mania, and certainly to the point of my friends and family gag ordering me to shut my pie hole.

But seriously, when in your life, I ask you WHEN will you do such odd things as:

Buy 3700 presents, all for under $5, organize, price and box up those gifts, order and bag over 600 pieces of candy, organize 1500 sheets of tissue paper, 800 bows, 50 rolls of wrapping paper and 2800 self sticking gift tags, cut 1600 strands of curling ribbon, paint 1500 gift bags, and organize 92 volunteers through 6 different jobs over a 4 day period, and then sell those gifts to over 400 students?  WHEN MAN?  IT’S MADNESS!  And let’s face it, that kind of crazy has my name written all over it.

So, sadly, I’m signing off friends.  The Gifts War cannot be won without my full attention to detail.  There are windows that need decorating.  Final touches on displays to be finished, and approximately 32 other tasks I wish I had another year to finish.  ‘Cause I’m tired just thinking about it.  I may stop by to say hello and laugh at myself.  I have some work in the draft pile I might find time to finish up and publish.  But realistically, you won’t hear much from me until the night of December 8th, when I hope to return here in a spirit of celebration.  Let’s hope NONE of my dreams come true, because the bad dreams started last night.  I forgot to decorate.  We lost the digital camera keychains, scooters, and electronic dart boards.  I forgot to assign any of the volunteers to actual jobs, so we Chinese Firedrill the whole thing, give up, and let the kids cashier themselves.  As Kelly would say, “Ai, yei, yei  Mommy!”

If you want to know how one fills out a resume (ha ha) to be qualified to run the Santa Shop at your child’s school, attach a Target Receipt such as the one below. Click on it to blow it up.  That price averages to 48% off on 271 items.  I’ve done better (75% off on everything I’ve ever purchased at Claire’s).  I’ve done worse (don’t get me started on my Candy Bouquets).  But my average purchase price to date is $2.23.  That’s 20 cents below target.  Shazamm, and  Snoop Doggy Dog!  That’s how one wins a Gifts War baby!  See you in December!