Calvin, Jane, Abe, Cali, Ty and Ande--1999Our son, Ty, loves roller coasters and would love to ride the biggest and scariest in the world. It would probably be a toss up as to which Christmas gift he liked best—the year he got the complete edition of Calvin and Hobbes, the year he got the book on how to fold paper airplanes (the girls call that year the Christmas from hell as he threw paper airplanes at them for two weeks straight), or the year he got his 16” x 20” roller coaster book.
I don't share his enthusiasm. I don’t mind a little thrill at the end of a ride—like Splash Mountain at Disneyland, because those cute characters sing and make you so happy that you know the little stomach drop at the end is all in good fun. But roller coasters are one head-banging, stomach-lurching, free-falling experience where you end up right back where you started except with a head throb and sick stomach.
Today was a roller-coaster ride for me. I had lots I wanted to get done. I really enjoy my job but it does zap a lot of creative energy from me. Fridays are nice because no matter how tired I am when I come home, I know that I don’t have to have a fresh new batch of energy for the next day. I planned to spray the fall cobwebs off the outside of the house, spray Outdoor Windex (I do love that stuff) on the windows, vacuum, dust, iron, write a blog post and maybe get a page or two of scrapbooking done. However, I came home to the offer I’m sure most of the e-mail world did: a free photobook from Snapfish.
I’ve always planned to learn how to make a photobook and thought this was a great time to experiment. Up. Since I had never uploaded photos to a massive database and kept deleting my work, it took me four and a half hours to complete my twenty page book. Down. However, there was a glitch in the program and the coupon was not being applied to my order at checkout. Down. I figured the offer was an e-mail gimmick and it was my fault for falling for it--there ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Down. I assumed Snapfish figured that any person willing to go to that much work and spend that much time on a project would automatically just pay the $40 bill at the end. Down. Temptation. Down. I called Melanie, one of my friends who sent notice of the offer; she said her coupon was working. Up. I hammered away at the computer keys for another hour trying to get a coupon to work. Nope. Down. Finally, six hours later the photobook was completed and the coupon was properly applied; final cost was $7.54 for shipping/handling/tax. Up. I have a photobook of 2008 SPT’s. Up. I looked around at all I had wanted to do and still needed to do. Down. I felt sluggish and unproductive. Down. Calvin came in and said, “Let’s go out tonight.” Up. After supper, we even went to Baskin Robbins for an ice cream cone. Up. Up. I know what comes after two ups, so I’m quitting and putting this day to bed before it can go down again. I do not like rollercoasters.
Do you like roller coasters and g-forces?
What gift made a Christmas from hell at your house?
12 comments:
I saw the offer but haven't acted on it. Love this whole post though. I often have days like that. Probably too often.
I was impressed by your list, though! Good think Calvin whisked you away from it all:)
SPT is a super theme for a photo book. Good idea!
I don't enjoy real life roller coasters very much anymore.
The photo book ups and downs are kind of funny to read about. You're a genius for making a Self-Portrait photo book!
Thanks Jill and Barb, I'm glad to hear you say that you think SPT was a good idea because I felt a bit vain doing it! However, I didn't have a simple enough theme to do one for the kids or Calvin....or for a gift....for the offer timetable. After I was finally done I was glad I did SPT because I thought it captured my personality for posterity.
I didn't fall for the offer, but I wanted to. I hope you share your book. I'd love to see it. I did fall for a free photo book at walmart this week. It was simple, but I was not smart. The book was 4 by 6 and they said I could use 36 photos. Well I did....it turned out great except you have to use a magnifying glass to see the photos....live and learn....
They had a free photo book offer a little while ago for Delta SkyMiles members. Jumped on that one with the photos we had taken this summer. I love having all my favorites in one hard-bound book!
Oh Jane!! I am so sad that you don't like rollercoasters! They remind me of climbing to heaven, and then a taste of earth life, and then the snapshot of heaven again. Love'em!! Maybe Heavenly Father gave me that love so I could get throught the hourly rollercoasters of our home. Can't wait to see your book!!
well.... there was the Christmas that 3 year old jack got his hands on the chocolate covered coffee beans in my stocking...
(spt book! darn it! i though of that after i had already spent many hours searching for and uploading holiday photos from 2001-2007. i'm still thrilled with it, though.)
Oh Jane, I'm so glad you got the book to work. I had so much anxiety for you and all the time you spent. I can't count the number of times I have that happen to me. At $7.54 no matter the hours spent, I would call it a success. Especially with your fabulous SPT idea. I love that your grandkids will read it one day!
My worst Christmas gift? The year my brother and I opened every single present on Christmas Eve when my mom left us home alone too long. We slept in and had to act fake and excited all day long about toys we already knew we were getting. It was awful. My mom was mad when we told her about it.....11 years later.
congrats Jane! I'm so glad you got it to work. I think your SPT book will be great for your grandchildren and great grandchildren to see.
And I love your roller coaster ride picture. Fun.
Clever! I don't like rollercoasters, either, the real ones or the days like that. Too much stomach-churning.
I think spt is a brilliant idea for a book!
I learned last fall when we visited California that I am NOT a roller coaster fan. That's not so fun to learn after you've spent big bucks to go to Knotts Berry Farm with your hubby and others (I was so excited to go after having heard about it all through my youth) and after a grand total or ONE ride, you feel like you are going to die of nausea. I tried to tough it out and go on a second one (where I felt twice as horrible as I did after the first ride) and learned that when you know it's not for you, you just KNOW. Splash Mountain is my type of ride though.
I've also learned I'm not so fond of the roller coaster parts of life, too.
Anyway, I think a SPT book is a great idea! I'm using my credit for a trip we went on that's never been scrapbooked. I think it's so nice of snapfish to offer that!
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