A while back I wrote about never wanting anything for Christmas. But my husband always stresses out about finding me things, so I thought I’d try to be helpful.

I learned about ThisNext from a contest on another blog, and it seemed like a good place to create a wishlist. I’m always seeing things I like when shopping online for people so I figured it would be easy to create a nice, long list of suggestions.

Not so easy. I’ve only added a few things so far. Where were all the things I liked that I kept seeing?

Sorry honey, I’ll try harder. Here’s my list — stay tuned for updates.

Last night my husband reached a breaking point in what had apparently always been a lingering question in his mind …

“Where does belly-button lint come from?”

He was pretty freaked out, like there was a conspiracy against him.

I’ve never really pondered the subject, but seeing how my belly button is significantly smaller than his, I imagine I generate a far smaller amount.

I promised him I’d do some research, and here are my findings (a few bullet points pulled from Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki’s 2001 study, as listed on Wikipedia):

• Navel lint consists primarily of stray fibres from one’s clothing, mixed with some dead skin cells and strands of body hair.
• Contrary to expectations, navel lint appears to migrate upwards from underwear rather than downwards from shirts or tops.
• The existence of navel lint is entirely harmless, and requires no corrective action.

Um, I don’t know why anyone would think it was harmful. And, what type of corrective action would you take? Lint screen?

Anyway, here’s another funny site: Belly Button Lint: The Hole Story.

And here’s something completely disgusting.

I like to think of myself as being laid back. I take things as they come. I don’t worry a lot. I don’t anger easily. Work only stresses me out when there are more projects than there are hours (but I usually end up ahead, anyway).

Life is good.

Yet I always carry a lot of tension in my shoulders.

I try to relax my arms, but it doesn’t last long. I know sitting at a computer all day doesn’t help … but it’s around when I’m not working, too.

I think I’ve just always been this way. I remember a friend giving me a shoulder massage commenting on how tense I was, back when we were in high school. How stressed could I have been then? I guess I can’t blame the computer …

Some days, it kind of hurts my shoulders when I’m running – I can’t even relax while performing a relaxing activity! (I know not everyone will agree with me that running is relaxing, but it’s a great stress reliever!)

My office periodically has massage therapists to come in and give 15-minute chair massages. They were here this afternoon.

The massage therapist probably thought I was extremely stressed out. She kept having me take deep breaths and exhale slowly. They do two at time; the other therapist only had my co-worker breathe deep at the beginning and end.

I needed a lot more than 15 minutes. But I guess I also need to learn how to relax!

I like getting things for free. I’ve been a subscriber to the Weekly Freebie Compilation for years now, and I often come home to free samples in my mailbox.

Usually, I expect to see grocery products, like tea or granola bar samples; sometimes lotions or shampoos. Often promotional items and sweepstakes make it into the list.

I laughed reading through this week’s selection — Ashlee Simpson’s “I am Me” album is available for free as mp3s.

Poor girl must be desperate for people to listen to her album … still, I’m not even remotely interested in downloading it!

I’ve been trying to multi-task my Christmas shopping.

Last night, while picking up a few items at the drug store, I also got some Crayola craft items for a little girl on my list.

Today, I had to stop by Target for some lights and garland, and I hit the toy section to pick something out for her baby brother.

I had a set of Fish Maracas in my basket for a minute — they were so cute and goofy looking! Bright orange fish with big bulging eyes … but, I ended up with a collection of soft plastic cars instead.

I’m going to have to mail their gifts, since I won’t be spending Christmas with the recipients this year. My decision was made by the size of the box.

And he was too young for the saxophone …