Friday, December 07, 2001

The warmer than usual, record-breaking November and December weather around here has done some strange things to people. It seems that in the small towns that surround my home, people are competing for the coveted. . ."how many lights are too many" for the Christmas season. I believe the warmer weather has allowed folks to get out and decorate more, but I also know that the prices on lights have been really cheap....100 lights for $1.00, and icicle lights for $1.99. Is that the reason that some people have put lights on whatever is not moving in their yards, on their porches, on the deck, or around the house itself (not to mention the garage, the porch, the windows and whatever else is lonely for lights). Some of the home are just gorgeous, but others leaving me wondering if the increase in electric is worth that. Either way, Keith and I are going to spend some time in our small boro, the neighboring 2 or 3 towns and let you know who makes the best and worst this year. So, if your journey brings you northeast of Pittsburgh, you could come and see them.
posted by chris on 11:40 AM | go ahead - link me!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

After I get home from my early Friday (12:20 dismissal every Friday), Keith and I are going Christmas shopping here to pick up gifts that I know I won't be able to get anywhere else. And to get my cousin a shower gift from here. Her shower is on December 23rd since she and her family will be in from Boston. I actually think Christmas paper might be what I use to wrap. What do you think?
posted by chris on 9:24 AM | go ahead - link me!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

I rarely drink (alcohol) these days...for many reasons. One is that I never seem to feel good when I am drinking---flushed face, nausea at times, and the other is that I hear way too much about alcohol from my class and group members. I listen to the stories of what they did, and it makes me realize I don't need this to be fun. Last night was that was very true. The four of us (yes, those same friends I was bitching about 2 weeks ago) went to our club's Christmas party. It was over early (10ish), and so we wanted to go to the Anchor Inn for a drink. Well, Tammy didn't want to, so we had to take her home first. Four women over the ages of 35 (and all but me over 40) had the giggles in the car. Which continued at the bar. We moved from seat to seat, finally ending up at a table (our usual table) with 3 men who were out for the evening away from wives and children. There were mutual..."I know him, I know her, I think I have met you" before, but needless to say, our silly and fun-loving states continued with these 3 who had been there much longer than we had. It was innocent. No flirting, no pick-ups.....just conversation and enjoying the company for the 2 hours we were there.
I did have 2 drinks last night. Not near enough for me to be drunk or hungover, but I am tired. Late night, silly friends and alcohol (plus the food at the party) did no make for a restful sleep. I am a grown-up. I know better than to be up so late for an early morning, but every once in a while, you just need to do it. We
had FUN. We laughed and talked, gossiped and laughed more. It was a friendship moment, and tired or not, it was worth it.
posted by chris on 9:18 AM | go ahead - link me!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Thursday, December 06, 2001

Another work day is over. I am heading to my nail appointment, and then have to stop at the store. Tonight is our Christmas party for the club, and I have to make an appetizer very quickly. Caryn is coming at 6:30 to pick me up. I am ready for some socializing and fun. I feel like I have been a social hermit for the past few weeks. Besides dinner with MJ, the only socializing I did was with my husband. I need to talk, laugh, and just listen to the conversation around me. So, don't expect me back tonight. . .but tomorrow I will give you a weekend-ful of stuff that we have going on.
posted by chris on 2:41 PM | go ahead - link me!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Last night we did not go tree-hunting. We made dinner, talked, made plans for the next few days, and curled up and watched The West Wing and Law and Order. They were both repeats but I had not seen either one so it was a TV night for us. We will search out the tree on Saturday morning, since we aren't having dinner with my Dad and brother until 8:30. We are going to Morton's of Chicago (in Pittsburgh).
I also think we are not going to re-do the entire ceiling. Keith and I saw the same type of ceiling we have, and our tracks are fine, so he is going to go up tonight and see if they match what we have. If they do, he will buy enough pieces, and just repair the damaged parts, and we can return all we bought. I think he is getting a bit miffed at his son for not calling us back the past 3 nights, but he doesn't want to let me know. I told him that if its not done by December 15th, it will have to wait until after Christmas, and I think he doesn't want to wait so he plans on doing the repair himself. I know he can do it, but it pisses me off that his son never seems to make any effort to help his Dad even though K has done way more for him than he deserves. I could go on and on, but let's just leave it at 2 things.....K paid off 2 bills that were really Bob's because Bob wouldn't do it, and due to his credit they were in K's name. And, he sold them his house for 40,000 less than it was appraised at since they didn't have the money or credit to get it any other way.
I have gotten really good at biting my tongue about it, though. The really sad part is that my family has a few members like that----selfish would be a good choice of word----and I know it. I also will allow you to say that without getting upset, cause I see it too. K doesn't really, so I have to keep quiet about it.
Well, for someone who thought she had little to say, I did ramble didn't I?
posted by chris on 9:22 AM | go ahead - link me!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Wednesday, December 05, 2001

I am heading home, but I wanted to stop in to reflect on one thing....dinner. Any suggestions on what to make for dinner? I am not currently hungry, but I need to think about what I should get at the grocery store. Somedays, that is the worst part of cooking....what to have.
posted by chris on 2:22 PM | go ahead - link me!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Its Wednesday, and that is about all I can say for this morning so far. I am in need of some serious holiday spirit injections. Last night, I wrapped gifts for a party on Thursday evening, and to mail out to San Diego for Keith's daughter and her boyfriend. I still need to dig out the tags so they know who the gifts belong too, but I have not been up to the storage/office for 3 days. Which is also why there has not been much posting going on after school hours. Anyway, as I was wrapping, I was trying to get in the holiday spirit, but it was not happening. I know I need to get on the ball with wrapping gifts to be mailed, but I keep putting it off. I am one of those who says, "give me a day to make a mess and wrap everything at once" not an "as I buy it wrapper. But, if I wait for that, people will never receive their gifts by Christmas. I also prefer to have the tree up when I wrap, but that might not be for another week, so that will not work.
Am I whiney today? Sorry. Moving on.
I had group last night, and it went very well. I actually got alot more participation from certain members than I had for the first 3 weeks. Of course, some of them are actually done with their 10 hours, so that may be why they participated. It was productive in content, but also a bit of fun going on, which always makes it easier for the members.
Tonight, I think we are going tree-hunting. Wish us luck, because I don't want to pay more than 40 for a tree, so we will have to search a bit to find one we like. Keith would like a taller one than I have had in the past, but we also have higher ceilings in the house than I did in the apartment. I just want to get one so we can cross that off of the list I am working on. I would also like to complete my shopping, but I have to wait for my brothers to send me some money to get the gift certificates for my grandparents. However, that is an easy gift to pick up. (even my husband can do that one!!!) Our biggest challenges are his son and daughter-in-law----he says a gift certificate but I feel like we should at least think of something for them to open. I know if I make a list of what is left to get, I would feel better, but I keep putting that off until later. I guess I need to get organized with that and cookie-making. ***sigh*** OK, I have only succeeded in adding stress to my world, so I am going to go and do some work. Bye for now!!


posted by chris on 8:36 AM | go ahead - link me!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Tuesday, December 04, 2001

Another gray day in PA, and I wish for the sun. It has been very warm lately---60 degrees or more, but with the gray skies, who cares when they are at work? Sunshine in my windows is better than warm weather when I have to work.
I have a class in 30 minutes so I am winding down my whirlwind of work to check in. I have been looking at flight prices to visit people next year. We are going to San Diego in late March to visit my brother and sister-in-law, and K's daughter. I hope to make a few trips to see friends (if they still want me). I don't have to make the purchases now, but I just like to keep checking to stay on top of any discounts there may be.
posted by chris on 1:02 PM | go ahead - link me!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

I am in better shape today. I feel much better although we didn't relax at home too much yesterday. We had to go to Home Depot to get the stuff we needed for our ceiling. We got the tile with no problem, but then we had to get the track, and what Bob had wanted was way off what we needed. He said to get large pieces to cut, but you need to have interlocking pieces so you must have 2 foot ones. I stood in the store and figured out what we would need, and now I just have to hope I am right. I drew the diagram like they say to do, and when I counted the pieces, I got what I counted. Only time will tell. Now we have to wait for Bob to find time to do this. He claims it won't take too long, but he also didn't calculate what we needed correctly, so I am inclined to doubt him. K. was upset with me because I questioned if Bob knew what to do, so now, I keep my mouth shut, and just pray we don't have to have someone else come in to fix any messes. This is not a "hidden" room----its my entry way, and I would like it to look nice.
I have group tonight so I have a long day again. Tomorrow we are going for our Christmas tree, and then Thursday, I have a Christmas get-together for Junior Woman's Club. I need to wrap my secret pal gift, and
I need to relax. I am hoping we can get the tree up by Sunday, but I really don't want to have to cover it because Bob is working on the hallway. . .so I think we should wait until he is done. Plus, I know I will have to clean when he is finished, so what is the sense of cleaning, putting out decorations, and then having to clean AGAIN? None, I say. . .and so we will wait. However, if the damn ceiling is not done by December 14th, I will tell him not until after Christmas. And we will decorate the hole.
Not too much else to say for now so I will be back.


posted by chris on 9:50 AM | go ahead - link me!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Monday, December 03, 2001

I had a too quick weekend, and here I am back to work. On Saturday, I had to give the placement test, and then we waited at home for K's son and family to stop by. We were hoping to go out to eat and to Sam's Club, but they didn't get there until about 6 (supposed to be 3), and they left at 8. His daughter-in-law had been in an accident with a deer on Friday, and they had to take care of all the stuff with that, as well as look for another car. Casey (his granddaughter) took a while to be friendly, so I think they wanted to see if she would warm-up to us. After they left, we went to eat at a local bar. . .I was in a bitchy mood due to PMS and cramps. We fought over stupid shit, but things are ok now. We tend to fight and then get over it which is better than holding it in (my opinion, anyway).
Sunday was not a good day. I had cramps so bad I felt nauseated all day. BUT, I had a ticket to see Les Miserables, and go to dinner on a bus trip with the school. I went, but felt like crap all day. I took so much ibuprofen that my stomach kept feeling sick, as well. Although the show was wonderful and I did enjoy seeing it, I was so happy to get home and curl up in my pjs with a heating pad. I was in bed at 9:30, and here I am. I feel a little better, but not completely myself. I may make it the entire day, and I may not. I do find that the longer I go between periods, the worse I feel when it comes. Yesterday, I would have been happy to just be cut in two to feel better.

OK, enough of that. . .I see Karen has some new and adorable Christmasy look, and that Deb has a very busy (and not so great) week ahead. Hugs out to Tina and Liz who seem to by having the PMS kind of days as well.

And, finally, check out The Back Porch where our new hostess Shana has started us on a journey of "magic moments".

posted by chris on 8:58 AM | go ahead - link me!

~  ~  ~  ~  ~

weeds 

 

In A Mood  

 

Contact Me   |  Read My Archives |    Go to My Home Page

Big thanks to: Blogger and: