16 posts tagged “christmas”
It's the last and first week of the year. It feels like some kind of calendar purgatory, where you are lingering and time is neither here nor there. Except with calendar purgatory, you don't have to cough up extra cash to save your soul. You just need to get moving or sit around and wait it out.
I thought I would wait it out, but now I feel like getting things done. Or at least getting ready for a long weekend with time on my side.
If anyone is interested in What I Did Over Christmas Vacation, here's the synopsis:
- never once was crabby or grouchy with any family member
- had severe back/shoulder/neck pain which I attributed to a bad pillow. MomH thought it was because I wasn't being crabby or grouchy and therefore holding all of my stress in and causing myself pain.
- shovelled snow. Twice.
- played with baby kittens and a few baby calves
- never did decorate a cow
- stayed indoors as much as possible
- escaped bad travel weather
- convinced ParentsH that Garage Kitty really should be House Kitty. Success!
- caught up with my favorite college friends
- ate fantastic Middle Eastern food in Metro Detroit.
- did not catch up with my favorite hometown friends except for my BFF, who was kind enough to give me a ride from Detroit to the farm, where she was polite enough to stay and listen to DadH go on and on about farm programs until 1:00 a.m.
- thoroughly enjoyed and finished GODBLOG! w00t! Now I can talk about it with all of you who are so much more with it than I am.
Now here's what I hope to do this week (some I could be getting done instead of spending this time writing about doing it...):
- Send condolence letter to College Roommate who unexpectedly needed to put her kitty buddy, Mason, to sleep last night. Soooo sad.
- Shop for non-floral sleeper sofa/Davenport
- Unpack suitcase
- Laundry
- Ironing of clothes
- Mending of clothes
- Organizing VP Finance stuff that's piling up. Whoops.
- Do monthly VP Finance reports for Nov. and Dec. Double whoops.
- Finish going through vacation mail
- Ride the new Light Rail into downtown PHX (Heard Museum is having fry bread! Yum!)
- Work on resume (job is secure, as far as I know, but I should have it ready to go regardless)
- Get to work on a St. Patrick's Day letter to make up for not doing holiday cards
- Get some exercise for crying out loud
- Read one magazine from the ever-growing pile
- Figure out Denver itinerary for Birthday Weekend
- Figure out vacation days for 2009
I think that's enough for now. Of course, even if there's something I forgot, I won't want to do it until next week because it's not on this list.
You know how I'm always complaining about how my parents' old computer on dial-up is faster than my cable modem Dell laptop?
I think that's actually a case of memory by sentimentality.
That said, I'm not doing well keeping up with the 'hood because it's too frustrating to even be online.
Okay, so there's my excuse for being lame.
I've only been outside a couple of times since getting here on Saturday night. I really lucked out and was able to sneak into Michigan during a break in the winter weather. My BFF picked me up in Detroit and the snow started kicking in again when we were about 30 miles from home.
It's cold here. So cold I really don't have enough words for it. When I do venture outside, I'm the little brother in The Christmas Story, all bundled up to the point of not being able to move. I'm careful not to fall over lest I be stuck in a snowbank until someone notices I'm gone and they send out the dogs.
Speaking of dogs, Jay (Steve's yellow lab) is a big fat goofy happy dog. His estimated size is around 100 pounds. And he thinks he's a puppy. Tyson, the pit bull who adopted our family a few years ago, hates the cold. He's such a baby. All I have to do is open the door to the outside to see him cower and hide. He's such a sweetie pie, super smart and loves kitties. Awww.
The rest of the family is doing well. DadH isn't very mobile, all that talk about how he needs to get more exercise was just talk. It bugs me how he doesn't bother to help himself get healthier, but I've run out of patience to badger him further.
I haven't made it out to the barn yet to see some cows, but I probably will today. Maybe. Did I mention it was cold? MomH just told me it was in the 50s in Phoenix. As far as Phoenix weather goes, that's pretty chilly so I guess I don't have it much worse here. :-P
MomH helped me finish my quilt. It took all of an hour to finish something I've been procrastinating about for the past three (four?) years.
That's about it for here. Nothing exciting going on. Just happy to be home and with the fam.
I hope everyone is staying warm and safe.
Merry Christmas!
1. Sexy patterned tights
2. Sexy stiletto boots
3. Not-too-short but short black skirt
4. Classic Christmas Cows & Cactus Mock Turtleneck Sweatshirt
I'm so freaking hot right now, you wouldn't believe it.
:-P
Headed to a white elephant gift exchange, except we're exchanging gift cards instead of items. Is it bad form to try and win back what you brought? Because I would love to spend my $25 Changing Hands Bookstore card on myself.
I can't party too hard tonight, because I have a 5:30 a.m. hair appointment tomorrow. That gives me enough time to pack and get to the airport before my flight. Hey, it was my guy's idea. He suggested 5:00 a.m. and I thought he was joking. He wanted to make sure my hair was all pretty for hanging out with the cows. I love my hair guy.
In case my computer is wonky at home (80% chance of FAIL), this is my last post until I hit the farm.
Hope everyone stays safe, healthy and happy - even if you feel like being grumpy (and you know if I'm talking about you...). :-)
Ciao!
It's been so wonderful to hear everyone's stories on my Christmas Question post. While I started with a simple question of "Christmas Eve v. Christmas Day", the most answers carried the same theme: Christmas is about being with loved ones and finding time to spend it with them.
So to all my wonderful peeps - I wish you the happiest of holidays, whenever, wherever (and whatever!) you choose to celebrate.
This may or may not cause controversy, but I'll throw it out there anyway.
I received a meme with a holiday theme, questions about Christmas. I read through what my friend answered and busted up at this:
21. Open presents on Christmas Eve or morning? only a Communist opens presents on Christmas Eve
I do not understand the opening of gifts on Christmas Eve for any other reason than that's the only time your family can get together.
Fact: Santa Claus doesn't show up until the middle of the night on Christmas Eve.
One of the great joys of childhood (and now) is going to bed on Christmas Eve with giddy anticipation. Then waking up and seeing presents under the tree that weren't there before.
If you unwrap all the presents on Christmas Eve just because, then what's Christmas Day for? And how do you get presents before Santa comes? Then it becomes just another day, in my opinion.
In our family, we'll go to Christmas Eve service at our little country church. The next morning, my nieces will open their Santa presents at their house and then everyone will be at Mom & DadH's house for a big breakfast spread. After breakfast, it will be a present-opening frenzy. Then assorted adults will go out to the barn and do cow chores. Then my relatives will show up around noon for lunch, playing in snow, riding snowmobiles, ice skating, etc. Then more chores, then dinner, dessert and coffee. When my relatives leave, I'll crack open something alcoholic. Maybe some raspberry champagne from the local winery. Yum.
I suppose some of you out there have legit reasons why you open presents Christmas Eve (like if that's the only time you can all get together), but I could never dis Santa and give up Christmas Day.
It's a romantic full moon, when Pedro said, "Hey, mamacita, let's do Weeweechu."
"Oh no, not now, let's look at the moon!" said Rosita.
"Oh, c'mon baby, let's you and I do Weeweechu. I love you and it's the perfect time," Pedro begged.
"But I wanna just hold your hand and watch the moon." replied Rosita.
"Please, corazoncito, just once, do Weeweechu with me."
Rosita looked at Pedro and said, "OK, one time, we'll do Weeweechu."
Pedro grabbed his guitar and they both sang.....
"Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year."
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
Penguins, sequins, jingle bells and more... Show us your "unique" holiday sweater.
Most of you have seen this atrocity before. Courtesy of my former mother-in-law. Believe it or not, she found this wonderful combination of Christmas cows and Arizona cacti (saguaros are only found in the Sonoran Desert at certain elevations, FYI). There are some prickly pear thrown in for kicks.
As crazy as it is, I will most likely wear it work next week just because.
Just because I'm a goofball, that is.
I'm sooo busy.
My new >1 year old refrigerator is not running. Sure, there's not much in it, but still. Now I have to deal with that.
The end of the year is bearing down on me like a runaway train.
But - I did make it to a super fun party on Friday night. Highlight of my evening (other than free food and cocktails) was a PHOTO BOOTH! With props!
I started kind of tame, and then as the evening progressed I jumped back in when there wasn't a line. I should make you guess what was early in the night and what was late, but I'll post them in chronological order. I couldn't talk my friend into getting her picture taken so I needed to make up for her lack of enthusiasm.
I'm looking up in some of them because I was watching the monitor for the between shots and also to make sure I was in the frame. Then of course, I missed my moment to look back at the camera.
It was a real fun addition to the party. Very stoic bigwigs in town were hamming it up, along with the rest of us goofballs. If I ever throw a big bash, I want to have one of these around.
Okay, enough fun for the day. I have some work I need to do before tomorrow. Blargh.
Today is the ceremonial kick-off for the online holiday shopping season. Planning on buying anything today? What good deals have you found?
Over my lunch hour, I bought DadH his annual gift of super warm socks and gloves from REI.com. Today's the last day of the Winter Sale and there were lots of high-tech warm socks on sale. Yay!
I called him to check his shoe size and he said he's wearing last year's socks right now, on his way out to the barn. MomH told me that everytime he puts on those socks, he happily says, "These are the socks Amy bought me." Then he goes on about how warm they are, how well they fit and how they are nice and padded in all the right places.
Before anyone reminds me that online shopping doesn't contribute to local sales tax revenues which in turn fund programs and services in my community, I'll add that when these arrive at my Tempe store for pickup (free shipping!), I'll make a few more purchases of things I need to get anyway.
This will be my only online purchase of the season. I'll be buying the rest of my gifts from the Heard Museum gift shop, Changing Hands bookstore and other local establishments.
While walking in a winter wonderland can be fun in theory, it makes shopping a big of a drag. Do you plan on doing your holiday shopping online or in-stores this season? Why?
Sponsored by Best Buy.
My winter wonderland looks exactly the same as my summer swelterland. The only difference is the temperature, which is pleasant during the holidays. But it does make for a drag and it's hard to get into the holiday spirit, especially for a snow girl like me. The lights on the saguaro cacti and mesquite trees are pretty at night and all, but it doesn't cut it.
As for gifts, I'll take a look through my gift box and see if I'm missing anyone. If I am, then I'll probably do my usual REI Outlet.com and buy the family some nice winter gear. I have to get DadH his fancy mountain trekking socks. He's never been so happy with a gift since I bought him a stovetop popcorn popping pan many years ago. And MomH doesn't have to listen to him complain about how cold his feet are every time he comes back inside. It's a gift for everyone!
