Insert Clever Blog Name Here

Before I head upstairs, I took another look at the ol' LJ and noticed it's been more than a month since my last entry.

Geeze.

I've had sinus issues (the weather here can't decide if it wants to be normal, rainy or cold or a mixture of all three.

Right now it's 31 @ 11:15CST. Ugh and It'll be 41 @ 7 and 58 at Noon. (All temps in F.) Oh and along with that, rain. See what I mean? And they say there's no such thing as climate change. Harumph, I say.

Hubby's last three fingers on his left hand swelled up like a damned balloon today and is angry red. I suspect a spider bite but naturally he won't go to the doctor. I think I shall have to coax him tomorrow if it's not better.

I am nearly finished Christmas shopping. I've already sent off one package to Florida. I just have to buy a few gift cards in order to ship the rest. After I wrap them. Early this week.

But, before THAT, I have to finish my fic. I wish my ideas would come to me before the last couple of weeks until the deadline. That would be so very nice for once. But noooooo. So, I've spent the last several nights typing until 2-3 AM and I've written almost 7k words in about a week. Whew. I only have the last bit to do (which will be tomorrow) then it's off to the beta for a quick turnaround so I can turn it in Tuesday night.

Skin of my teeth, indeed.

But--I love the way it's come together. It's very different from anything thing else I've ever done, so I'm very excited for my recipient to get it. :)

I've got to work the day before and the day after Christmas this year, so I'm thinking of buying a pre-made dinner from Mimi's Cafe. We'll see. That would free me up to only be responsible for making pie. It might be worth it.

Guess that's it for now. So very boring.

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

Enjoy!

Okay, it's been a while, I know. Let's see...

First, our trip. We started out on Thursday night, driving south. An online friend and her husband invited us to stop at their place outside of Dalton, GA to visit and spend the night. Their home is on the side of a mountain and is absolutely gorgeous. We had a lovely visit and the next morning a fabulous southern breakfast before starting off on the road again.

Friday was driving. I had forgotten how long it takes to get to my Dad's house (closer to ten hours--I thought eight) so we didn't arrive until after dark...around eight or so at night. And we missed the turn to their street, so it took a half an hour longer than it should have. *grumps* But it was really great to see everyone--my daughter, her husband and their son were there already--and my sister and her husband arrived a couple hours after we did. So, much visiting was done until we had to get going to the motel where we stayed that night.

Saturday was so much fun. We got back to Dad's house around ten o'clock and had pancakes for breakfast. Then we spent time visiting and catching up with everyone. Got to hang out with everyone and get to know the baby (Nathan) again. He is very cute and very smart and very TWO. Hee. In the afternoon, we exchanged gifts and then had a lovely dinner. It's hard to explain how much fun was had because it was mostly great conversation, laughter and general merriment. Saturday night, Hubby and I stayed at Dad's house for the night.

Sunday morning was breakfast and more visiting before Hubby and I had to hit the road for the long drive home. The kitties were really glad to see us when we got back.

We worked from Monday through Thursday and are off until next Wednesday (for me) and Thursday (for Hubby).

Yesterday, Hubby and I braved the crowds and finished our Christmas shopping. We had such a nice time going through the stores. The parking lots and roads were another story. Wow, I didn't realize there were that many cars in all of Tennessee! Yikes. But we got through it all. My car resembled Santa's sleigh--the trunk was full to bursting with gifts. We are really looking forward to Christmas day when the kids are here! We wanted to make sure their first Christmas in their new home was special and fun--and I think we will succeed. :)

Last night was my own tradition of wrapping presents while watching my two favorite versions of "A Christmas Carol." First and in my opinion the BEST version is the Alistair Sim version called "Scrooge"...watched in the traditional black and white. Next we watched some Disney cartoons with winter/Christmas themes and lastly was the George C. Scott version of "A Christmas Carol." By the time I finished my wrapping, it was almost 10:30 pm! I hope the kids like their gifts!

Today, I am going grocery shopping for the makings of our Christmas feast...roast beef of some sort. I am also going to try my hand at Rachel Ray's "Five Minute Fudge" which I am making to substitute for my usual "Fantasy Fudge" because I have not been able to find any Marshmallow Fluff anywhere this year.

So, that's us, up to date. If I don't update before--I hope everyone on my f-list has a happy, healthy and fun Christmas, Chanukah, Solstice or whichever winter festival you celebrate!

Love and Joy to you all!

I think we are done. Well, I do still have one gift left to wrap, but essentially, we are finished. I'm sure I got hubby many more things than he got me, which he will feel guilty about. *shrugs* But, I think he got me a wand, so he may be forgiven.

I just made the last batch of fudge which I will add to the goodie bags I made tomorrow. Tonight, I am making a romantic dinner for us of Cornish Game Hen glazed with blackberry glaze and stuffed with sausage/sage dressing. We will be eating at the actual kitchen table and will be using actual plates and napkins!

Tomorrow, it's Christmas morning for the two of us and then in the afternoon, off to his folks' house for dinner and visiting. I will share the gifts we got his parents in a later post as I don't want to spoil the surprise.

I expect to be checking my LJ tomorrow as usual, I hope there's some entries. I pledge to make an entry, even if it's just to confirm the whole wand thing.

Happy Everything to everyone!

eta: I got the wand! Squeeeeee!

The good news is, I got a phone call today and I am definately hired at State Farm. The job starts in January, so that's a relief.

The bad news...we won't be going to Florida for Christmas this year. I am so sad about this, I cannot even express it in words. I would have said "Fuck all" and just gone anyway, but hubby basically put his proverbial foot down. Since I didn't get the severance pay I was promised, he is right, but still--I feel gypped. I have been hoarding my "vacation" days like a damn miser all year and really looking forward to all of the wonderful craziness that is my sister's house on Christmas morning...and to not be able to go is just heartbreaking. I find myself tearing up at unexpected times, and just wanting to say "to hell with it" and drive down anyway...

...but I can't.

Why can't anything ever work out for me the way it's supposed to?

My dad sent me a disk with some pics from a Christmas party my family in Ft. Lauderdale attended the weekend before Christmas. I have put the pics behind a cut to spare the dial up LJ friends, but I have to say...these pics? Totally worth the wait. You will see cute babies and sweet parents...aka: my grandkids and my kids.

Enjoy!

( AWWWWWW!!! )

It snowed here yesterday. All day the white stuff came drifting down out of the sky. We didn't get it as bad as a lot of folks...only a couple of inches...but underneath the snow is an inch of ice. I hate ice. It makes walking hazardous and driving worse. I ventured out under protest (my hubby had accidently left one load of laundry in the dryer at the laundromat the night before) and got back home asap. I thought about going to the grocery store--I actually went there and parked the car. When I put my toe out the door and felt the treacherous footing and abandoned that idea. I came home and worked on my fic some more. I like it, even though I know it's not very original. I don't care, it was stuck in my head and I'm glad I've done it the way I did. I just have to finish it...

Got packages from Mom, Dad and my sister during the past few days, so hubby and I will have lots of things to open tomorrow morning. He informed me today that one of my gifts is at his folk's house so I won't get it until we go over tomorrow...ACK!!! I got him everything he asked for.

I guess that's it for now. I hope everyone has a happy and very healthy and safe Christmas!

I hate being depressed. Lately I cry at the drop of a hat. I'm ultra sensitive to everything. I don't feel like doing anything or going anywhere, including both work and home.
Where else is there? I don't feel like going to work and I don't feel like going home. I don't want to work...but my place is so damned depressing, I don't want to be there either. We don't have room to put up a tree, and we are wary of putting up any decorations because our kittens are just so wild right now, they would probably just tear them up when we are not home.
I don't have any real friends here, so I'm really lonely.
My family is so far away and I miss them so much...(you don't have to call me, sis!) I wish we could go there for the holiday but we cannot afford it.
I'm not looking forward to Christmas at all. It (used to be) my favorite holiday, but now it just seems like too much effort and the day will not be like it is back home...so I just feel like "why bother?"
My husband bought two of my gifts in front of me, so no shocks there...and I love opening gifts and being surprised.
I won't see the kids or grandkids getting and opening their gifts...
Shit, I better stop now.