This Just In ...

... I am sick. I have been sick since I got home from work on Friday. I am miserable. I haven't had a cold last this long in forever. Usually day and a half max. Not four whole days.

Yesterday, I got up at 4pm, went to my mom's to take her shopping, got home at 10pm, went to bed at 11pm and woke up at 4:30am. I stayed up today until 6:30am and then went back to bed until 9:00am. I just don't have any energy.

In other news, Christmas is happening today in about three hours. Because Mother Nature has decided to dump a ton of snow on Iowa. Travel is not advised for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Awesome.

So I have made the executive decision to bump Christmas with my uncle up to today, bring my mom back to my house for Christmas Eve/Day and not get stuck in a snow bank. 'Cause it would so totally happen to me. Cold + Snow + Ice = Snow Bank.

Also, I am seriously leaning toward hibernating after Christmas until I have to go back to work on Monday.

Everything is April Fresh

A little over 3 hours ago, I got a different washing machine!  I wanted to say "new" washing machine but that would be a lie (unfortunately).  My landlord had another washing machine that the repairman swapped for mine.  The repairman didn't know what was wrong with it and may have to completely take it apart.  Oops.  The new-ish one seems a little smaller than my old one.  Not sure if my queen comforter can fit in it.  T_T

So I was a little late to work because I didn't want the repair dude in my house.  Alone.  With my cats.  I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before but just about everyone that has ever come to my house leaves the front door and my apartment door wide open.  Even in winter.  I don't understand this.  I don't think I have to worry too much about the cats getting out, though.  They are terribly traumatized every time someone not Mommy or Grandma is in their house.  Emme actually growls when someone knocks on the door.  Before fleeing in terror, of course.  Kisa just flees.  No warning growl just absolute terror.  But there's still that chance.

I was kinda upset that I had to be late to work.  I had the first part of work all planned out in my head.  We started giving treats out to the students for their birthdays and I had December so I made some Rudolph Cupcakes.  As a side note, I need to go to Cupcake Remedial School.  They were kinda scrawny looking cupcakes.  I'll try to post the picture later.  If I can figure it out.  So I had cupcakes to bring and I just got some ornaments for my tabletop tree to take to work.  I was going to to spend the first half hour decorating the tree and getting my desk ready for Christmas!  Well, the tree is up but I forgot the extension cord in my rush.  The cupcakes survived the trip to work until I had to shift into park and my elbow hit them and they kinda mushed a little but they looked okay.  And I forgot my new Trans-Siberian Orchestra cds. 

But I will not complain (too much)!  I now have a washing machine that doesn't try to do the hokey pokey and go through the wall!



Laters.

Confessions of a (non)Shopaholic

It may come as a surprise to some but I'm not a fan of shopping.  I don't hate it but I don't like it either.  I'm not a fan of the crowds of rude animals people that shove their carts into you or can't keep their spawn kids from using the store as a giant playground.  (Can you tell I'm not a fan of spawn kids?)

Anyhoo, despite the above fact, I spent 5 hours shopping on Saturday and it was awesome!  My mom and I went to Le Mars to finish up my Secret Santa shopping.  Can't say for who though!  Totally ruins the surprise.  We went to the Dollar Tree so I could get most of my Secret Santa presents.  That store was a total lifesaver!  It is very difficult to get four days worth of Secret Santa presents for only $20.  At least for me.  I have to go back there and pick up a few things.  Some of the presents I got for my Secret Santa person are really cool and I want one, too!

After that we went to Wal-Mart, conveniently located next door.  And that is where I totally died.  By the time we were done shopping, I wasn't sure I could feel my feet anymore.  Spent way too much money but I finished up the Secret Santa shopping.  And got a few things for me.  Of which I can only remember three things.  2 Trans-Siberian Orchestra Christmas CDs, a mulled cider candle (my absolute favorite!) and a drill bit set for the drill I got after Thanksgiving.

Then we went to Hardee's to get some sandwiches to take back to my mom's.  And some shakes.  'Cause Hardee's shakes are awesome.  Then we went to my mom's house and spent about 3 hours putting her tree up.  We finished around 10 pm. 

Then, we loaded up my mom and went to my house, took three trips to get everything in the house and collapsed in the living room.  We looked at the things I bought, sorted out the Secret Santa stuff and somehow four hours went by.  Don't ask me what we did.  I was pretty foggy by then.

Finally, we went to bed.  As an incentive for putting up her tree, my mom gave me one of my stocking stuffers to open.  I got a lighted magnifying tweezer thing which will probably see some action tonight and a sleep mask which I have totally fallen in love with.  The room darkening shade blocks out most of the light while I am asleep and the mask blocks out most of the rest.  Bliss.  All I need is ear plugs and I will totally have the best sleep ever.  Except for the fact that I won't hear my alarm.  Oops.


Laters.

I Survived Thanksgiving

There were a few moments when I thought I wouldn't make it.

Such as:

• Sticking my hand inside of a chicken - disturbing
  
• Finding out that the innards of the chicken were not packaged in nice neat plastic bags - ick!
  
• Picking the chicken up by the wings and discovering that if felt like picking up a person - creepy
  
• Gravy, how you hate me
• Dishes, how I hate you
• Pumpkin pie. I followed the damn recipe, why did you taste horrible?!

Some of the funnest parts?

• Kisa licked a hole in the meringue of the butterscotch pie.
  
• I placed a towel over both the butterscotch and pumpkin pie.
  
• Kisa stepped in the butterscotch pie and tried to lick it through the towel.
  
• She saw me coming, panicked and ran through not one but two pies.
  
• Much laughing ensued.

Not bad for hosting my first Thanksgiving. I'm proud to say that I cooked all the food minus the broccoli casserole and sweet potatoes and the only thing that didn't turn out right was the pumpkin pie. Even the gravy turned out good (only after I washed my hands of the whole thing and walked away did it thicken up).

Go me!