Little Bit of This, Little Bit of That

( Minor Gift Squee ) I just had to share that. :D

Related to that, Christmas was absolutely lovely at our place! Everything went so smoothly, and it was just a really nice, long weekend all around. I hope all of you had a similarly smooth weekend full of good food and better company, whatever you happen to celebrate! ♥

It's back to work today, and man, has my mood gone downhill. Things are Not Okay at the moment, but all the same, I'm enjoying this four-day workweek business, especially knowing it happens again next week! How about the rest of you?

Cleared a quarter of a million dollars out of old accounts so far, and it's only just coming up on lunchtime.

I should not be this hungry, but oh GOD, I am starving. The kind of starving where you feel the first couple bites moving all the way down your throat. I can hardly wait the five minutes left to go scarf that damn sandwich my hubby so thoughtfully made me this morning. EDIT: Obviously, it's well after lunchtime, now - that sandwich was way good.

1. ( Foooood. )

2. ( Shopping. )

3. ( Christmas Cards. )

4. ( This Song. )

So despite the inherent craziness of the holiday season, I think we're probably ahead of where we usually are at this point, and that's pretty cool. :)

1. Nothing too new from Friday's post. I went to the doctor; I am showing signs of "ulnar nerve compression," and have been referred for physical therapy and possibly an EMG. I don't want the EMG because it requires sticking my arm with several sharp things, so we'll see if PT helps, first. The only thing that didn't fit with the UNC diagnosis was the swelling, so they're going to keep an eye on it.

Also, it has been recommended that my workspace have an ergonomic evaluation by the safety education coordinator - who will have a field day because none of these workstations are ergonomically correct in any way whatsoever.

So now I have a wrist brace thing, which I have discovered I hate. Passionately. But I wear it most of the time. I have to take it off here and there because DAMN, it is irritating - and a little painful - but I'm mostly behaving myself.

2. Boychild had his very first school dance on Friday. A Halloween dance, of course; he and one of his best friends, Thing 1 (Thing 2 is one grade behind them in another school), went together to eat free pizza and see what exactly a "dance" is all about. Neither of them danced apparently, but they played pool and ate pizza and drank soda and ogled some girls they don't want to admit to finding attractive. I am assuming this is typical 13-year-old boy behavior; both are interested in the possibility of more dances.

I feel bloody OLD. Didn't I just get home from a junior high school dance five days ago? *sigh*

3. Hubby and I killed time while the boys were at their dance by first hitting up Trader Joe's - they have so much great stuff. We picked up some pumpkin cream cheese and gingersnap cookies (dip the cookies in the cream cheese and ZOMG, autumn treat heaven, I shit you not), some chai mix and cereal, and "toscana cheese brushed with cinnamon," which is the reason I wanted to go in the first place. SO. GOOD.

After that, we spent the rest of our time in Barnes & Noble, ogling books. superbeffie, I picked up The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and proceeded to devour it. I still need to read the other two, but I read the first and am willing to discuss it with you if you want!

4. Made cheeseburger chowder for dinner yesterday, and the crock pot just wasn't big enough. Had to move it into a huge canning pot to finish cooking the last couple hours. Our crock pot has served us very well for 11 years, but we're going to need to pick up another for bigger jobs, I think. Regardless, the soup turned out great and I have leftovers for lunch. Nom.

5. Boychild has not yet decided whether he's going to trick-or-treat tonight. We've left it up to him, but whether or not he goes, this is his last year. He carved a pumpkin last night (after getting Grandma to clean it for him, the wimp), and it's on the balcony now.

6. Huh. I don't think I have a six. Guess that means I'm done for now!


HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

1. Just had a sobbing phone call from my sister; apparently Mom and Dad just left to take the dog to be put down. The medication wasn't helping at all, the dog refuses to eat and the surgery wouldn't be worth it.

I am full of sympathy for my mom and my sister because I know that they really loved Sami. At the same time, I am relieved, both for the dog's sake - she will not be suffering anymore - and for the sake of their household budget, which really cannot withstand a pet's illness.

EDIT: It took me so long to type up this post that the deed is done. Dad just texted me to say Mom's devastated, but that it was her own decision, so while I am so, so sorry she's hurting, I am pleased that she was able to see - and make - the right choice.

2. I wonder how long it will be before Dad gives in and lets Mom get another dog.

3. We went to Boychild's school yesterday after I was done with work. He has decided he wants to be in band, and after several weeks of learning to play the recorder and then trying out different instruments, he has tested very well in low brass, specifically in the baritone. Added to that, he actually really likes the feel of the baritone, both holding it and using the mouthpiece.

Going into this, he thought he'd want to do percussion or trombone, and was leaning toward trombone. He decided, however, that he didn't like the way the trombone rests on the one shoulder, and prefers the baritone.

So at his school last night was the company the school goes through for band instruments, and we were able to rent a baritone. It's actually a really good idea; we paid $65 for a four-month trial period, which includes any necessary maintenance, and after that, it's $42 a month, plus $5.95 if we want the maintenance plan to continue. And every payment - including that original $65 - is applied toward the purchase of the instrument, though we are not at all obligated to purchase it. AND if we want to pay it off early, we get a 20% discount on the remaining balance, and there's no interest at all during the life of the rental period.

The only thing that was kind of a shock was the total price of the instruments - my GOD, have they gone up since I was first in band!! A new baritone retails at around $1595. We could have gone with "like new," but at $1395, we didn't quite see the point - he may as well have a new one.

But price aside, I'm really glad he wants to be in band; I think music is so important, and of course both hubby and I were band geeks ourselves. It's kind of lovely to see the tradition continuing.

4. I kind of want to see if I can find a secondhand flute and maybe take some lessons again. I still have my piccolo, but it needs a complete overhaul...and besides, I should really relearn what I've forgotten on a flute, first.

5. We get to do the bulk of our Christmas shopping this weekend; my stability pay came in yesterday and payday is this Friday, so Saturday will be fun. Now I just need to make a frigging master list so all the info is in one place - HEE!

We have picked up a few things here and there already, of course, but the majority of the fun is yet to come. ;)

6. OHMYGOD. This cocoa is AMAZING. We had a holiday party on Sunday and one of the take-home things were packets of hot cocoa; I got one that's DARK CHOCOLATE, and I just made it, and I think my eyes crossed with unadulterated joy.

You were in my dream last night, herminia, or peripherally, anyway. Set mostly in my old garage, something about laptops and the onset of evacuation due to oncoming summer fires, angsty and tense and just...weird.

My grandma was in it, too, taking a corporeal form that only I could see, and angry with/yelling at me because she thought I was being irreverent about her sister, who in the dream was in the hospital and dying.

WTF, brain?

... I suppose I should be thankful that it was a vague dream, for once; generally they're ridiculously detailed and no one detail meshes coherently with any other detail. *rolls eyes*

Easter dinner last night was AWESOME. The ham came out beautifully, and the au gratin potatoes were creamy and smooth. And my green beans? KICK ASS. Best green beans I have ever had, I am totally doing that again.

( Yummy and Simple Green Bean Recipe )

Sandwiches/leftovers for dinner tonight, and I'm SO making egg salad, too. Note to self: Ask Mom what she put in the deviled eggs she made yesterday, because even kiddo liked them!

Back to school for kiddo today, and he went cheerfully enough. He goes to the dentist tomorrow for a new impression to be taken for a new retainer. It will cost us significantly less than we thought it would; we were expecting anywhere between $700 and $1500 - turns out it'll only be $250. Which is still a lot, yes, but shockingly more reasonable than we thought, and easier on his grandparents, who insist on paying it, since it was their dog who chewed the first one to bits.

Got to work this morning, and discovered that some bastard took it upon himself to finally replace all the burnt out light bulbs over my desk. The light - it burns! Jesus, I preferred sitting in the dark, even told them each time they took a look that I liked it a little darker back here. So now I'm going to whine about it for a while before I get over it. [/cranky]

And finally, finally - I feel better. I still have a minor cough, but no stomachache at ALL. I can eat, I can sit, I can stand, I can WORK. Definitely a lovely thing.

Did you all have a good Easter?

1. Happy St. Patrick's day, flist! I haven't got a drop of Irish in me - and no, I don't particularly want any at the moment, thanks - but I'm wearing green anyway so as to avoid being pinched, because DAMN, people pinch hard! And as everyone is generally aware, I am pain-phobic. Because they always go for my upper arms! WTF is up with that?! God, those are the worst place EVER to poke me, pinch me, even TOUCH me with anything smaller than an entire hand. Ahem. Sorry, rant over.

2. It's Wednesday, but it feels like Tuesday. I want to say the time change is at fault for this, but it's really because I stayed home with Mike yesterday and it's apparently thrown me off. *rolls eyes at self*

3. A little bit of promo: the forum I participate on, Obliviate, is sorely in need of members. So few of our people go there now, and we've been contemplating shutting it down, which none of us really want. It's really not Harry Potter-oriented anymore - we discuss many various things, although it's harder when the four or five of us who still go there have said most of what we think already. We would LOVE some new blood in there, and I especially would enjoy it because I truly love it there and think that others would, too. We are friendly and welcoming and open; there's a serious/debate section and sections for books, movies, general lives and silly games. There's also an arcade with some fun games that are great for loosening the tension when you have a few minutes, and a market as well. Please feel free to check it out!

4. I went to Half-Price Books last week and found about twenty Betty Neels books - she's one of my very favorite Harlequin romance authors. I managed to narrow it down to four that I ended up buying, and I've now read every one of the four and added it to my swiftly-growing Betty Neels collection.

5. I also went to the library last Saturday and picked up The Screwtape Letters (CS Lewis) and The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho) since I never got around to picking them up the last time I had them on hold, Bridget Jones's Diary (Helen Fielding), What Jesus Meant: The Beautitudes and a Meaningful Life (Eric Kolbell), a website-building-for-dummies book, and Ballad: A Gathering of Faerie (Maggie Stiefvater).

I've gotten a few pages into Bridget Jones and been giggling, and last night I opened and read several pages of The Alchemist, which is lovely so far. I also have What Jesus Meant in my shoulder bag because I really do want to read it and will be more inclined to do so if there's nothing else in there to distract me while I'm out.

I've got maybe a chapter or two left of Born Round and still have From the Kingdom of Memory and The Golden Compass to be getting on with, as well.

Why, oh WHY do I keep checking out so many books? I'm telling you, it's a sickness. Can I just please move into the library?

6. Huh. I think that's everything for the moment! I hope you all have a wonderful day!

( Lots of little things. )

13. I actually think that's everything for now. How are all of you? Did you have a good holiday? What was the best part? The worst? What are your hopes and plans for 2010?

14. *points to icon* I just had to point out how ridiculously appropriate that icon is right now. I should be working, but I'm totally not. ... Must work on that.

Your life is an occasion. Rise to it. MR. MAGORIUM, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium.

Just wanted to say a very HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all my friends; I am so thankful for all of you!

1. Got my hour back.

2. My Vikes are currently winning, but we just lost the ball; 24 to 13, the Pack just got a first down, and there's 5:40 left in the third. Argh. Fuck. They just got a touchdown. My team's game is falling apart.

3. ( I have Halloween pics. )

4. Game update: Vikes are leading 31 to 20, just got a touchdown and there's 13:30 left in the fourth quarter. That's better than it was. Go, Vikes!!

5. Candy on sale is awesome.

6. Cleaned the balcony today; swept up the leaves, emptied the dead flower pots, tossed the dead box the herbs were in. It looks better.

7. Making dinner now. Chicken patties and leftover mac-n-cheese. And some cheese sticks we'll heat up in the oven.

8. Bunny made pea soup yesterday and sent us home with an entire pot of it. When we put the pot on the stove today to heat up, it smelled icky and got foamy and we ended up dumping it. People who are better cooks than me: should we maybe have removed it from the pot and put it in different containers when we got home last night instead of putting the pot in the fridge as-is?

9. I realized none of you really know what Bunny and John look like. They are Mikey's grandparents, the mother and stepfather of Mikey's biological father, and some of our very best friends. We are very lucky to have them; this is a pic of them from last weekend:


10. Pack just got a TD, score is 31 to 26, 10 minutes remaining. *growls*

1. So. Work is stressful. Friday night was... Let's just say that I have not been THIS stressed in a VERY LONG TIME. So many things are so very messed up, so very confusing and so very irritating; we get told nothing but are expected to be happy to keep producing while they dink around with this and that. Changes are one thing, but when you don't keep your people informed adequately or flat-out ignore them, their desire to just do the work wanes significantly.

On top of all this, my new manager? Her father suddenly passed away, so now she's gone in South Africa for a month. I feel horrible for her, because I'd probably lose it if that happened to me - but also, what horrible timing on the part of fate!

And there are people here who are already suspicious of the timing, wondering if she got a better offer from another place and jumped ship, since this particular ship is so wrought with holes. *rolls eyes*

2. I updated my reading list; I took a few books off because I don't know that I want to read them all. I'd rather just start with the first and see if I'm interested enough to move on to the others.

( Updated Reading List )

I had The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho) on hold at the library, but never got there in time to pick it up, so it'll have to wait. Currently, I've started A Wind In The Door (Madeleine L'Engle), and I still have both The Stolen Child (Keith Donohue) and Letter to a Christian Nation (Sam Harris). I also picked up A Swiftly Tilting Planet (Madeleine L'Engle), since A Wrinkle In Time went so quickly.

3. Vikings play the Packers this Sunday at 3:00 P.M. I'm making a big-ass pan of tater-tot hotdish and inviting people over to watch the Vikes kick Packer ass...or lose miserably, as the case may be. I love me my Vikes, but I am not delusional about their abilities! BETH - you and Dana and the girls are invited - we hope you can come! Let us know.

4. I've gotten more done at work yesterday and today than I have in the last two weeks combined. Is that sad? I'm just not into this whole supervisor thing. PAY = YES, PEOPLE = NO.

5. HALLOWEEN!

Made for me on request by xsprite at nightbreeze_gfx.

What are everyone's Halloween plans this year? We're spending the afternoon at Bunny and John's place, since that's where we'll be taking Mikey around for trick-or-treating. Mikey's going to be...get this...a WHOOPEE CUSHION. I shit you not, he has the costume already and everything. As soon as I get a pic, I'll put it up, I promise.

6. That's all for now, methinks. ;)