I'm Confused ......

...... or maybe it's not me, so much as it is my community.

I was driving down the road yesterday, as in Halloween day, and I saw lots of these:

They're lining one of the main streets here.
And I think ..... well, I think it's pathetic.

Yes, I realize that many retailers have been putting up Christmas decorations before Halloween for years now, but I still think it's pathetic.
And I always will.

I don't know what I was so surprised to see these trees ...... or these decorations on one of our shopping centers:

But I was surprised.
Surprised enough that I took pictures, knowing that I had to blog about it.

And then I drove on to the next store to do some errands.

And that is where I got REALLY confused.

You see, I went into this store ...... a store most of you know very well.  I'll refrain from naming this store, but I will tell you that red and white are it's favorite colors.
As is that circle thing that has a bullseye on it.
You know, that thing that people with bows and arrow shoot at.
Or people with darts.
Or bb guns.
Or whatever.

Anywhoooooo, I walked into this store to look for items like this:

It's not a very good picture (so sorry about that), but those are winter items.  There are gloves and hats hanging up there, as well as long john-type shirts and pants.  (Son #3 and I are going skiing with V and her family and several other families over the holidays.  Wait ...... scratch that.  Son #3 is going skiing.  I'm going to Colorado to read some books, watch some movies, drink some hot chocolate, and hang with friends.  I have no intention of strapping skis on me feet at any point during the trip.
None at all.
I do, however, hope to go tubing.  Because that's a blast.
And relatively safe.
Skiing?
Not so much.
For me, anyway.

ANYWHOOOOOO, I was shopping for some warm clothes.
But when I walked into this store, one of the first things I saw was this area:

Yes, you are indeed looking at a lot of bikinis.
A whole lot.
That entire back wall is lined with bikinis.

So what the heck?
Either it's Halloween, and thus time to put out the Christmas decorations ...... or it's Christmas, and thus time to put out the bikinis.
But it can't be both.
No way.
No how.

Is it any wonder I'm confused?!
This is insane.
You can't have Christmas stuff up at the same time you decide to pull out the swim wear.
Not even down here, where the temperature seldom dips below 40.
Seldom, but once in a while.

This places me in a conundrum.
Hopefully you don't have to Google that word.
But if you do, that's ok.  Go ahead.  You'll be able to catch up when you're done.
:)
Do I buy warm clothing?
Or do I buy Christmas decorations?
Or do I buy a new bikini?

I know that you're all stumped at the moment ..... what's the correct answer?
Well, I think I have plenty of Christmas decorations.  And most of you know how I feel about decorating for Christmas now.
(For those of you who don't, let's just say that it's not my favorite activity anymore.  Not by a long shot.)
And I could use some of that warm clothing when I'm on the top of a mountain ...... reading a good book and drinking a cup of hot chocolate.

As for the bikini ...... well, I don't know about you, but the mental picture of me in a bikini just made me throw up a little in my mouth.
I'm sure some of you feel the same way.
It's ok.
I need to go rinse out my mouth now.
I'll be back in a sec.

OK, I feel better.
As long as I stay away from that thought ..... and picture.

So I leave for Kenya next week.
A week from today, to be exact.
There are many, many feelings swirling around inside of me about this trip.

I'll tell you about them later.
Tonight I have to pack.  I'm going out of town with my mom and D.
It should be a fun weekend!!

I'll tell you all about it later.

Stay tuned ......

And Happy Thursday/Friday, Peeps.
:)