Preserve Reserve

I was just commenting to a friend yesterday that I just am having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this year. I'm finding my regular duties are just dragging me down and I'm feeling a bit "bored" with my routine. Now before you jump on me saying I should be feeling lucky and sheer bliss at having the opportunity to be an at home mom....yes, usually I am, but as with all working people, mom's have their down weeks too! After all, you can only do housework so many different ways to try to make it more interesting!

After saying this I quickly realized the horrible mistake that had just escaped my lips! I blurted a hurried prayer out loud, "Oh please God, NO! We don't need to get sick before Christmas....forget I said that."
Because, it never fails that whenever I complain of boredom something bad happens, usually taking the form of a virus or bacterial infection for someone in the family.

No body got sick. Our fridge stopped working immediately upon my returning home. Thank God that was all .... I think.

As you can imagine, I haven't been terribly excited about the cleaning process that was definately one that needed to be done. I was however excited that since the fridge has been off for so long that all of the preserves that I have collected over the past couple of years are now "aawwww, too bad" spoiled and I have had to throw them out.

People are very generous to us and for that I am greatful (although I know I won't sound it!) but, sometimes there are preserves you like, some you can tolerate and those that you know you'll never eat once you've opened them, but don't have the heart to waste. Someone has worked hard to make that disgusting looking green stuff with black and orange dots and you'd hate to just throw it out! And I don't know what the heck a boogleberry* jelly is, but I'm sure there is someone somewhere that actually likes the stuff.

Also, because the generous person who has donated that crap often checks up on the status of your supply, you want to make sure that you always still have a little on hand to make sure they don't send you more.

You may be wondering why I just don't tell these people that we don't like the stuff? Because:

a) hurt feelings (I've tried to let people know a couple of times nicely)
b) word gets around and people stop sending the good stuff that you like!
c) I need something to complain about, right?
d) A full fridge runs more efficiently than an empty one.
e) People are very maternal/paternal about their preserves. Insult a preserve, is like insulting an offspring. It's the same thing.
f) That stuff may actually start to look appealing if there is ever a catastrophic event and we run out everything else edible.
h) There are starving children in Africa for goodness sakes, how can I waste food!

That being said, I have to say that for once, the boredom phrase worked in my favour, sort of, knock on wood, as long as somebody doesn't get sick now from eating warm cream cheese or something. My unappealing preserves are now tucked snuggly in the garbage. I won't mention the broken fridge to the donators unless they ask why there isn't any in my fridge. I'll just politely tell them what happend and say that for now, we won't be needing any more. I have extra's in my cupboard.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to get rid of those?

P.S. If you have donated a preserve and are reading this, I just want to let you know that yours was one of the good ones, not the disgusting ones. In fact I personally liked yours the best!

*name of jelly changed as to not to offend the donator. I've never heard of the kind of berry in the jelly you gave me, are you sure you didn't make that up?