Things to be thankful for mixed up with things I hate!

So this is the time of year I love. Mom sends the Christmas gifts, Grandma adds in her cookies and candied nuts, mom throws in too much of her fudge for anyone to eat. All this is fantastic (though working it all off, not so much.) There is so much food, that I get to share it with friends and coworkers, who all wait anxiously every year for the next box.

However.

This box usually includes one of two things that I cannot stand most in this world. No matter how many times I beg and plead, this crap comes anyway. What am I talking about?

Styrefoam peanuts. Or their less static-ky cousin, shredded paper.

Now, I understand. Things like chocolate chip cookies are fragile things, and must be protected. BUT, sending a 6 sq ft box with two shoe boxes full of cookies is unneccessary when it warrants putting 4 cubic tons of styrefoam peanuts in it! They get everywhere from the moment you open the box. The cats love them...until they can't shake them from their paws. They stick to everything, they fly everywhere, they hide in every unimaginable spot. I have found peanuts that needed carbon dating to determine how long they had been hiding.

So mom listened (once) and started sending things packed in shredded paper instead. Ok, maybe a better choice, more environmentally sound. But I'm not talking about the paper you get from your home shredder. This is microscopic shredded paper that is 1/2 a millimeter by one inch in size. And it gets everywhere just as the peanuts do. And its even harder to pick up unless you use tweezers. (sigh)

So I offered a suggestion, as good complainers do (my motto: don't complain about an issue unless you've also got a solution). I suggested whole newspapers. You know, maybe twist 'em, wad 'em up, stuff 'em in...that way, its still protected, and yet, I can still read it. As a big reading nerd, I thought this was a great idea. So mom took my advice and started sending the newspapers. Whole. In the box with all the goodies. Surrounded by shredded paper or peanuts. (sigh again)

So I've given up the fight. I curse under my breath, pick up the strays, attempt to throw them away while they cling for life to my fingertips and pant legs. But the food inside makes it easy to forget the trouble I went throught to GET to the goodies. So this year, when my box came, imagine my HORROR when I opened the box and it had BOTH peanuts AND shredded paper....!

The humanity....

Merry Christmas! :D

p.s. The picture is only one third of the goodies I get sent. Note: The peanut butter cookies are almost gone, and are usually the first to go. No one makes them like grandma does! <3