╨╧рб▒с>■  (*■   '                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                ье┴M Ё┐жbjbjт=т= *АWАWж      lиииииии╝цццц Є ╝▌╢        \^^^^^^$У │TВи     Вvии  Чvvv и и \v \vцv\ии\ ■ Р+еDЕN╞╝*ц "\\н0▌\ B4 \v╝╝ииии┘Home Sweet Home By Dianne Collier The hustle and bustle of the Christmas season is upon us. Every year we complain about not being ready but somehow, we always manage to pull it all together in time for December 25th. The secrecy of gift selection, the plotting and planning to keep those secrets always intrigued me. It doesnТt take long to figure out if an individual is a good СfibberТ or not. Having such an honest personality, I always found it hard to fib Ц but sit me down to play a game of poker and IТve definitely mastered the art of deception. But reminiscing back to my childhood days and the excitement of the Christmas season, I remember one year in particular when my sister and I decided to tell what gift we had for each other. Always truthful, I blabbed what my gift to her was and on Christmas morning I must admit I didnТt have the same amount of enthusiasm about opening her gift since I already knew what it was. But lo and behold, she fibbed and her gift was a complete surprise. We must have been about 7 and 9 years old at the time but I learned a valuable lesson then. Somehow I had to learn to fib at Christmas time. And so, over the years IТve practiced the art of not telling the truth (only concerning gift giving) but will never come close to HIS approach to the holiday season. HE doesnТt give an inch, doesnТt believe in giving some hints, doesnТt believe in setting a wrapped gift out early so it can be shaken, prodded or peeked at. No, HE wants his gifts to remain top secret until the time is right. This year, with a newly renovated basement, many changes have been made in the rec room. And, since HE gave me free reign to tackle the redecorating as I chose, I am really pleased with the way itТs all come together. However, in doing the makeover, some of HIS possessions have been removed and as I looked at the overall affect of the room, I felt I had to give HIM some presence in the room Ц but what would that be? An unexpected trip to a department store provided the perfect solution. There I found a beautifully framed print of two moose posing behind some birch trees in a winter scene. The color of the framing and matting was a perfect match for the room and I humorously thought those two moose represented HIM and I. Having always been an avid hunter I thought heТs appreciate this gesture... But it was one of those should I or shouldnТt I dilemmas and I left the store without the print. But time and time again I found myself thinking about it and so a week later I went back to the store only to find the print gone. I was so disappointed but cheered up considerably when the salesperson said they could order one for me. And so, I left the store waiting to hear from the lady that did the ordering who would be at work the following day. After several phone conversations with her which were quite unsatisfactory as they left me with no clear answer as to whether the print had been ordered or not, in frustration I mentioned to HIM that I was going to order the print online as much as I hated to. After all, Christmas is approaching fast and I wanted the rec room to be finished for the holidays. But, Son #2 was installing my new computer and it wasnТt ready for me to use. A few days later when Son #2 came to put the system all together, HE wanted a private word with him before he left our home. I could hear loud laughter coming from the rec room and УDad, IТm not as smart as you think I am Ц youТd better tell her or youТll end up with two!Ф I had absolutely no idea what they were talking about. HE seemed so disappointed that Son #2 couldnТt do what he asked. Which was: hack into my computer and СpretendТ to be the print company so that when I ordered the print online he could tell me it was out of stock!!Ф Bless him for trying so hard to keep his gift a secret until the right time. The day after I first mentioned how much I loved this print, he went to the store and bought it. He also asked the salesperson not to order the print for me and to make up some excuses if I called to inquire. Poor Tanya, she did her best but wasnТt a very good fibber. However, I still have to wait until Christmas day to receive my gift. But then not only will the room be complete but also our whole family will be present to view the last item that will pull the room together. And, IТve learned another valuable lesson. Just because HE is usually a December 24th shopper doesnТt mean that HE canТt surprise me. ┘█su椤H*#$▀р45ЖЗ  ╣ ║ б в @AщъHI椤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ж¤(1Рh░╨/ ░р=!░а"░а#Ра$Ра%░0ЄР$ i8@ё 8 NormalCJ_HaJmH sH tH <A@Є б< Default Paragraph Fontж    #$▀р45ЖЗ╣║б в   @ A щъHIиШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААЪ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААЪ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААШ0ААж ж ж и.mt═и3W`бдеи   mom`C:\Documents and Settings\MOM\Application Data\Microsoft\Word\AutoRecovery save of Document1.asdmomD:\Articles\moose print.docmomD:\Articles\moose print.docmomD:\Articles\moose print.docMOM&D:\Webpages\salute-web\moose print.doc @АфДrжP@  Unknown            GРЗz А Times New Roman5РАSymbol3&Р Зz А Arial"ёИЁ╨hV║гЖV║гЖНН!Ёааx┤ВВ20▐2ГЁ  Home Sweet HomemomMOM■ рЕЯЄ∙OhлС+'│┘0hРШ░╝╚╘рЁ № $ 0 <HPX`фHome Sweet HomeomemomomomNormaleMOM2MMicrosoft Word 9.0@@┤ф%ЕN╞@┤ф%ЕN╞НН■ ╒═╒Ь.УЧ+,∙о0№ hpАИРШ аи░╕ └ ▄фtreve▐э Home Sweet Home Title ■   ■   ■    !"#$%&■   ¤   )■   ■   ■                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Root Entry         └FР+еDЕN╞+А1Table            WordDocument        *SummaryInformation(    DocumentSummaryInformation8            CompObj    jObjectPool            Р+еDЕN╞Р+еDЕN╞            ■                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           ■       └FMicrosoft Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.8Ї9▓q