HO-HO-HO-hoooooo----

Less than 2 weeks to Christmas! Am I streeessed! Nope! Wonder why? I think it might have something to do with all the WONDERFUL things that keep happening. I LOVE this season. Life is good! I was shopping with Bre last night and get a text from Bryon. He'll be home about 9 days sooner than expected. Yipeee! I'm a little worried about his stuff still being a mess in the garage, but hey----I've got a day to get it cleaned up. I've missed him and am SO looking forward to his return! At work the wonderful family we work for decided to 'dole' out Christmas bonus checks AGAIN this year. They are pretty wonderful to us, and so generous.[lets just say--I COULD buy that flat screened t.v. if I really WANTED to.] A co-worker [and friend] invited Briddy and I to his home next Saturday to a Christmas buffet. I was a little disappointed that our annual Christmas party was bowling this year but only because that meant no dressing in my Christmas finery. Now, we have this lovely party to attend. I am still really enjoying Bre's light display and have found a few little gifts for my loved ones. As I said 'LIFE IS GOOD!' Merry CHRISTmas everyone.

OW!!!! That HURTS!

You are not going to believe this! [I promise!] I have been spending my money 1 month in advance. Yes, I pay ALL my bills, yes, I pay off my credit cards IN FULL each month, yes, I CAN eat but--- By the time everything is paid I'm out of money and have to rely on my Credit cards to get by. Dennis was LIVID when I told him. He's been after me for YEARS to not use Credit cards AT ALL! So--what do I do??? Good question-- I choose THIS MONTH to ween myself. All the bills ARE paid [til NEXT payday] and I am indeed broke but instead of using credit, I'm pulling from SAVINGS and using CASH!  Let tell you--THAT BITES! Every time I spend a dime I have to give up some of my hard saved CASH. Santa is going to be a real TIGHTWAD this year. It has been a learning experience however and I DO recommend it. You'd be surprised what you DON"T need when it's going to hurt RIGHT NOW instead of LATER! Oh well, to those on my gift list--sorry I was dumb enough to think it would be a good idea to be fiscally responsible THIS MONTH! Know I love you anyway!!!!

Christmas lights????

I want an 'old fashioned' Christmas in the worst way. Not 'old fashioned' like Victorian, old fashioned like MY childhood. I find myself only wanting 'old fashioned' candy, decorations, ect. I would even get a real tree if I could talk myself into it.  With that one however, there was a 'reality' check. Wait, they're messy, I don't have a tree stand AND they can be dangerous. Anyway, I buy 'old fashioned' Christmas lights. you know, the Big ones, like when I was little. [yeah I remember life BEFORE mini lights.] So Breane gets all excited and wants to put them up right away. Ok, it's dark and COLD outside. I tell her, 'you're on your own!!! She doesn't care. She starts to take them out of the package and drops them. Two lights get broken. She yells at me for, [get this] buying GLASS ones. I ask you, 'Is there ANY other kind??? She insisted mini's were PLASTIC. Yeah, in what universe??? Breane darling, ALL light BULBS are GLASS!!!!!

I hate being 'under the weather'

I don't even know why we call it that???? Either you're sick or you're NOT! Ok, so I'm a little sick. How's that? Not sick enough to climb into bed and pull the covers over my head but---sick enough to not want to do anything. I took my car for an oil change this morning. They wouldn't do it???? Actually they would have but told me 'it's kinda silly when you do drive it EVERY day and you still have 1200 miles on your last oil change.' So, next spring when I've driven the additional 1200 miles I'll take it back.  I leave there and decide to spend the 30 dollars saved on Christmas. I stop at K-Mart. They didn't have much that I wanted but---I'm on the WRONG side of the store when I realize I'm sick. Oh my, the bathrooms are WAY over there and I'm WAY over here. My sprint across K-Mart would make a 6 minute mile look slow. I made it though. Which explains a lot AND oh so very little. That's all you get though. I'm spending this afternoon in my robe wrapping Christmas presents. I LOVE this season.

Do it your own self---

The man will learn. [I hope]' Honey, the handles on the French doors are loose.' 'You know how  to do it, You tighten them.' Ok, how hard can that be? I found the tool and procceded to tighten the handles. As soon as I did, two [count them, TWO] handles fell off in my hands. Oh, wonderful idea Honey! I couldn't even figure out what I'd done wrong. I've learned to 'not mess' with stuff when I don't know what I'm doing, so, guess who got to 'tighten' handles this morning. By the way sweetie, when you say 'tighten' I EXPECT' to have to tighten it, NOT loosen It!!!!

'Confused??????'

This story has a moral--really it does! So yesterday, I 'hopped' over to the DMV to pay taxes on mine and mom's cars. Ok, first their 'stupid' intercom system was yelling at me to get in the right spot.[yelled at by a machine--how embarassing!!!] First thing I discover is that the reason MY paperwork had not come in the mail, was because MY taxes weren't due until NEXT month. So why do I have a sticker that says 10? They didn't know but---would fix it. I give them my money they give me ----papers? I notice that one 11 is red and one is green. Ok, either mine or mom's car is going to be a 'cop magnet' this year. I don't care, I'm sick of this place!!! I walk two buildings over to get a motorcycle handbook [Dennis is getting me a scooter] and repent of my earlier thought. [maybe it was the 15 minute wait to get the handbook] I decide to go back to the DMV but first---I'll look closely at the paperwork. Oh wait--there are 3 11's. Ok, I guess they moved mom's due month to the 11th too. I'm 'outta here!' So, I call mom and tell her that her car is 'good to go' but can we borrow it. [whole nuther story] also, her month is now the 11. Totaly confused her!!! I get home and am telling Bryon about how the DMV 'screwed up". He says, 'no mom, NEXT year IS 2011.' Oh crap, now it's all crystal clear but--- I've confused Mom. Never, NEVER listen to ME mom. [oh, that's the moral:]

'At times, one must ask oneself----'

Is this WISE???' I was shopping today and decided on a 'Witch' for Halloween. Now, I've been a "Witch' several times before. As I recall, others do not ALWAYS realize that I AM dressed up. It would make more sense to dress as something that is OBVIOUSLY not me. [A princess perhaps] So anyway, I buy a top for my costume. It's black [of course] and says in BIG letters, 'This IS my costume, I'm a WITCH!' I also purchased an apron that looks like a 'witches' dress. I already had the hair and a hat, plus the nose, so I should be 'good to go!' Maybe, I'll get black tights and a broom. I dare-sent leave my broom on the stoop anymore. Dennis ALWAYS hands it to me with some 'smart-ass' comment about leaving my 'car' on the stoop. Men! He'd better watch it or I'll post 'on facebook' just how LONG it actually took to get the faucet installed. Surely it's not THAT difficut????