Exceedingly Mundane

like Christmas around here! At least, more than it was a couple of days ago 🙂

Yesterday, on that national holiday known as Tim’s birthday, I got my Snow Village put up (although I have a light out in one of the houses and have to go in search of a bulb), got the tree up and most of the rest of the inside decorations. We still have all the outside lights and decorations to do, but it is looking more like Christmas. It took a while though. Tim had to work late, starting at 11 PM, so I stayed up pretty late and worked on stuff. A lot later than I’m used to sitting up, and I am feeling it so far this morning. 😥

Now, about it feeling a lot more like Christmas, it doesn’t. I don’t seem to have one bit of Christmas spirit this year. I have absolutely no idea of what to get anyone this year, and no one, and I mean no one has given me a list of any kind, any ideas, suggestions, hints or otherwise helpful information. I refuse to just go out and buy people something for the sake of just buying them a present. I’d rather get someone a present that they want, need (although both of our families are very blessed, we really don’t want for any kind of necessities), or would really just like to have or enjoy getting. But, without a little cooperation, that ain’t gonna happen. 😀

So, come on family members, send me something to work with. My Amazon list is up to date, so you can’t say you don’t have any ideas for me. There’s 20 or 25 things on there, so no excuses. I’m into books, cookbooks, iTunes gift cards, and warm footwear this year 🙂 These new tile floors are cold!

Did someone say Decorations?

1. Do you decorate your house this time of year? if so… how? ( a photo or description. ) Yes, I do. Probably too much. I like to put it up, love enjoying it, but oh how I dread taking it all down! We do outside lights (icicle and net, well, not “we”, but my worker bee Tim), garland and lights on the deck, one tree, my Snow Village and misc other decorations around the house.

P.S. I might try to put up some pictures later on in the week or month. I put up my Snow Village today, and we’re going to work on the tree soon, then the outside lights. I have plenty of pictures of years past and will (as always) take pictures this year. Same every year, but I still take the pics!

2. Have you ever been in a decoration competition? No way Jose

3. How much is too much? Well, too much is too much! If it’s overdone or “gawdy” it’s too much. Can’t describe it, I’d have to point out what I think is too much. This is actually a running discussion Tim and I used to have. We’d be driving along and I’d see something I didn’t like in someone’s yard (mixed colored lights, a pet peeve of mine, too many decorations, etc) and I’d say something not-nice like, that’s sorta tacky. Tim would (deservedly so) point out that they just have more Christmas spirit than I do and everyone has their own idea of what they like and want. So, I better just back off and take the 5th on this one!

4. How do you celebrate this time of year? I’m afraid in more commercial ways than I should. I try very hard to remember what it’s all about, why we celebrate, and try to do things in that spirit. But, I’m ashamed to admit that most of the time I get caught up in the $$ aspect of it, and how much shopping I’ve done and what I’ve got left to do and on and on, and I get stressed about it. Not what should happen or what I want to happen, but alas, it usually does. I would like to do more in the future to remember the “reason for the season” and celebrate our Lord’s birth and not so much what present to buy for someone.

P.S. Oops – just went and read Kryss’s answers to this question (she does this meme) and realized she meant where and who you visit kind of “how do you celebrate” !! Oops! We go from house to house. One of the things I like least about the holidays and not being able to have kids. Then we could stay home some. Sigh. We go to the in-law’s (normally on Christmas Eve), then to my sister’s house (normally on Christmas Day), but this year they may be swapped due to a recent divorce and custody agreement on the in-law’s side of the family. That’s being worked out, so not sure yet. In the middle of that, or the tail end, I always insist that we carve out a small niche of time for us to open presents at home, and do stockings and have my “world-famous” sticky bread for a Christmas breakfast. 😀

Happy Birthday to Tim!
my better half …
the love of my life…
my best friend ….
and all of the cliches I could possibly ever come up with…
and more 🙂

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!!!

1. Stuffed:: like on Thanksgiving!
2. Armstrong:: Lance
3. Bruise:: purple
4. Content:: stuff, like on Hambones, we have lots of content!
5. Musical:: Broadway
6. Assistance:: help
7. Scrambling:: eggs
8. Battle:: royal
9. Extended:: family
10. Discount:: save

More fill-in-the-blanks this week! Thank you for playing Monday Madness! (Invite your friends to play along…)

1. I’ve always been afraid of snakes .
2. People should not talk on cell phones while in movie theaters or restaurants .
3. The one thing I look forward to every day is being with Tim .
4. My first meal of the day usually consists of cereal and orange juice .
5. It seems like dusting is a never-ending job.
6. The last time I painted a room in my house/apartment was repainting the bathroom .
7. The next time I paint, I’d like to paint my computer/scrap room (room) a soft green (color).

We’ve had a busy few days. Thanksgiving, and then we got home late Friday, only to turn around early Saturday morning and leave again. Whew, no wonder I’m tired! 🙂

We went to Tim’s parents house on Saturday, so Tim could hunt. I went with his mom to do some errands and shopping, and also to visit her Aunt Irma in the hospital. She fractured her elbow and is having to stay in the hospital for nearly a month for therapy and for them to help her out. She was very chipper though, and glad to see us. It rained off and on all afternoon and was really a dreary day. Tim, Fred, Terry and Zack all went hunting. Zack had shot his first deer on Friday, and was ready to go again. No one got a deer on Saturday though. It was really warm, and even though it was raining, they didn’t see anything.

Sunday, I didn’t feel well. I can’t figure out if I’m just run down or I’ve picked some little bug up. I ache all over and have a nice little headache and tummy ache. I think the tummy ache is from overeating and not eating anything very healthy for the last few days (Saturday, we had pizza and fried chicken 🙁 ). We ran a few errands Sunday afternoon, and then watched the Saints game on ESPN Sunday night. They finally won a game, yeah! 🙂 Tim went up in the attic and got down my Snow Village for me, but so far, I just don’t feel like putting it up. After the village goes up, then it will be time for the tree, the outside lights and the rest of the decorations. Is it just me, or has the holiday spirit not hit anyone else yet? I don’t have a clue what to get anyone for Christmas this year (hint, hint, please send me some ideas or a list, please!) and I really, really, really don’t want to get out in those crowds and shop. Maybe I can have an online holiday this year!

I have a few things to blog about, but just don’t feel like blogging. 🙁 I don’t feel great and don’t feel like sitting at the computer. Maybe tomorrow.

Feast Seventy-One
Friday, November 25, 2005

Appetizer
What did you look like when you were a teenager? Um, a little like I look now, except I was a lot thinner. Probably 25 pounds lighter and my legs looked better (no cellulite, varicose veins or big purple splotches).

Salad
Whose advice do you listen to? Tim’s. Especially when it’s a judgement call on other people, he sizes people up really well and can tell if they are being true or really insincere. I can’t tell. I’m very naive and tend to believe what people tell me.

Soup
Name a book you would like to memorize. Umm, none. Unless it was really, really short.

Main Course
How often are you sick? I don’t get “big” sick very often at all. I get “piddling” sick a lot – tummy aches, sinus congestion, headaches, general aches and pains. I’ve only thrown up twice in the last 10 years, and I haven’t had the flu in at least 15.

Dessert
Do you like or dislike change? Dislike. I don’t do change well. Unless, of course, it was my idea, which it’s usually not.

We got home tonight from Gail’s – had a great Thanksgiving, tons of great food, got to see lots of family and hang out and visit. It was so good to see Trent, Shanna and the kids, as well as the rest of the family. We miss seeing everyone more often.

We’re headed out again in the morning, to Tim’s family. He’s looking forward to going deer hunting again.

Checked my email when I got in tonight and Linda sent an email that Zack shot his first deer, so we’re very excited for him! She sent pictures with blood smeared all over his face (yuck!) and everything 🙂 I’ll try to load those, plus the ones from Ethan’s party (yes, I’m a week behind) and Thanksgiving in the next week or so.

Happy Turkey day, one and all 🙂

We’re headed out to Gail’s in a little while. I might try to blog later today or tomorrow, not sure. Hope everyone has a great day!

Not a lot going on today… Hambones is quiet and the blogs are quiet and no fun memes to do today. That’s ok, I know everyone is busy getting ready for the big day. I’m about to go start that as well.

Tim is working from home today, and I have a lot of things to do around here. There’s the regular laundry and cleaning, plus today, I’m going to mop the new ceramic tile in the kitchen for the first time. We’ll see then how much I screwed it up when I walked on it after applying the sealer. We may seal it again, or we may just go with it. We’ll know more when it’s mopped.

Got some cooking to do later. Gail is doing the bulk of it, but we’re taking the broccoli cheese casserole and maybe a loaf of cranberry bread. Can’t wait to see everyone and hang out!

Gobble Gobble.

Today, I get to be a hunting widow. YEAH! Tim left a little while ago to go over to his parents and hunt again. You’d think after he killed that 9 point that he would be ok, but it just stokes the fires, I guess. 🙂

Headed out to the grocery store in a minute to pick up a few last minute items. Tomorrow is cooking day. Then, Thursday we get to drive up and see everyone – yippeee!

I’m going to watch some of our favorite shows tonight, without Tim. Looking forward to 3 back to back – NCIS, Amazing Race and our new favorite, Threshold, which they just moved from Fridays to Tuesdays. All great shows. I’ll have to tape them for Tim, but I’m going to be bad and watch them without him!

Found this one today… it’s new to me! From this site:

BBRRR… Did someone say winter?

1. Do you like the colder weather, or are you into the hotter weather? I love, love, love winter. My absolute favorite time of year is fall and winter. I hate summer and sweating and being hot and even wearing shorts (hate my legs). What’s weird is that I’m very cold-natured and hate being cold, but go figure – I love this time of year!!

2. What is your favorite thing about winter? Making homemade soups and stews, homemade bread, drinking hot chocolate and coffee, curling up by the fire with a book, burning all my wonderful Yankee candles, etc

3. Do you have a favorite comfy, cozy lounging around outfit? Any comfy old sweats and sweatshirt

4. What’s your favorite warm drink when it is just too cold out there?
My homemade hot chocolate

10 Things You Like Eating at Thanksgiving Dinner

1. Turkey – white meat only, please
2. Gail’s squash dressing
3. cranberry sauce, preferably canned
4. Broccoli Cheese casserole
5. sweet potatoes (casserole or roasted)
6. leftover turkey sandwich, with lots of mayo
7. anything sweet for dessert
8. Gail’s green bean bundles
9. rolls with butter
10. more dessert 🙂

Ever have one of those days when you can’t seem to do anything right? Where you wished you had just stayed in bed with the covers over your head?

I have. Today is one of those days.

Geesh, I hope tomorrow is better. Maybe everything I touch won’t break, I won’t mess everything up and things will go a little better.

P.S. I am not the only one, Tim has been on a conference call since 8 PM and I think they are having problems… 🙁