thanksgiving.

 

 

Thankful for all of the many blessings in my life.  I enjoyed the day with family and we were all especially thankful for our miracle and to have Papa with us this year.

it's the most wonderful time of the year.

Now that Thanksgiving's over, it's officially Christmastime.  Today was day #1 of using the Spode Christmas Tree dishes, which make all the food taste better...even leftovers!  Mom removed most of the Fall decorations to make for the Christmas ones.  Tomorrow the snowman tree goes up, with the real one following in the next couple of weeks.  I just love Christmas!

This year we've done extremely well with shopping early.  I have all but a few gifts bought and might even wrap a couple this weekend.  My biggest problem with Christmas shopping is that I often practice the "one for you, one for me" method, which is really quite damaging to my bank account. 

We made a real effort to take pictures yesterday, so I'll post a few soon!  Hope your Black Friday was good (I worked most of the day, and no shopping for us...unless you count the online purchase I just made...)

impatient.

I was tired of looking at those fall leaves.  And, since it's almost Thanksgiving, I decided it was finally ok to switch the background to something more festive. 

second thoughts.

I'm having second thoughts about my decision to take the class during Interterm.  It would be so great to have it done, but the workload is intense.  Do I really want to be so stressed, especially since I'm leaving in the middle for a trip that I already have lots to do to prepare to go?

Or do I opt for the Spring semester class, which requires me to drive to LA every week again.  I don't mind the drive.  It's more the cost: gas & food, plus the loss of income since I don't typically work that day. 

I have to decide soon because I have to pay for the Interterm class.  Oh, what to do, what to do...


In other news, it's Thanksgiving week.  When did that happen?  Where exactly has November gone?
And only 30-something days until Christmas?  At least I have most of my Christmas shopping done already...I just need to keep working to pay for it!

Also, I bought new glasses on Friday.  I'll show them to you when I get them.  I learned that trying on glasses is a much better experience when you are already wearing contacts because you can actually see what the glasses look like on! What a concept! 

Aunt Jerre and Uncle Cliff are here for the week.  No school this week, but a big paper due next Monday, so I guess that means I'll be doing homework.  Joy.  Work, work, work, as always.  Possibly even subbing, if I get any calls.  I was poised to answer the phone and say yes today, but I didn't get any phone calls.  Probably if I do it will be at 5am tomorrow morning, which is my favorite...

change of plans. again.

Go ahead and call me crazy, because I think I just might be.  Today I received the OK to take the class I need during Interterm.  You might recall that I originally planned to do things this way: 2 classes in the Fall, 1 during Interterm, 2 in the Spring, done.  However, when I was presented with the opportunity to go to Slovenia, I emailed the professor of the class in January and he said it wasn't going to be offered then.  Ok, change of plans.  I guess I can go to Slovenia, though.  Now, as it turns out, the class is going to be offered in January.  Only problem: the class and the trip overlap by 2 days.  That's why I needed his approval for me to take the class.  Because missing 3 days of a 3 week class is kind of a big deal.  Anyway, he said no problem to finishing early.  Perfect.  Easier said than done though, I'm afraid.  He emailed me the syllabus and advised me to get started on the work as soon as I could.  No kidding.  It looks pretty intense.  So now I'll be going to school right up until the day I leave on my trip, and the Spring semester begins the day after I get back.  So much for a restful vacation...

wish list.

I want four things for Christmas:
1. New bottle of face wash.  I've been noticing that the pumps I take have been getting gradually smaller as the contents get closer to the bottom of the bottle.

2. Friends, seasons 2-6.  I've bought the rest through patrolling Amazon Marketplace, mostly New condition for a great price. 

3. Any of the clothbound Penguin Classics I don't have yet.  I can tell you which ones I don't have if you really want to know.

4. Gift cards/money.  Always appreciated.

Dream Big, right?

work. homework. meetings.

Those three words basically encapsulate my weekend.  It's thrilling, I know, so try to contain your excitement. 

Saturday morning dawned bright and early when I woke up around 7:30.  While this may be considered late for others, I work from home and rarely wake up before 8, so why I was awake so early on Saturday morning is beyond me.  Anyhow, Mom and Dad were headed to Morro Bay for the day (not as fun as it sounds: yard work and driving the grandparents back to Bakersfield), but I had opted to stay home and get some work done.  They left around 8, and that's when the party began.  I started by spending the morning giving my room and closet a much needed cleaning.  I spent about 3 hours cleaning out and cleaning up.  And, while it is by no means perfect, it is much better than when I started.  It definitely needs a few more doses and then will be presentable for others to see again.  (When time is lacking, it's all about the baby steps.) 

By now it was lunch time, so I quickly got cleaned up and drove to Chipotle for lunch.  I justified my time away by mailing 2 letters on the way to pick up food.  While I ate I finished watching Letters to Juliet, which I had started while cleaning.  (I had rented the movie and planned to watch it while working, but came to find out that my DVD player was no longer working.  This meant that I needed to use my computer, which is impossible while working...)  Movie finished. Work time.  I worked pretty much the rest of the day.  Mom and Dad arrived home around 6.  I made the mistake of not taking them up on the offer to bring me something for dinner and was hard-pressed to find something I wanted later.  Before I went to bed, I read two chapters of a school book and it was lights out a few minutes after 12.

Sunday morning, up at 7:15. Out of bed at 7:20.  Went to early church.  Had a Slovenia meeting for my teaching team during 2nd service.  Home for 15 minutes.  10 minute trip to Target.  Lunch at Panera.  Whole team Slovenia meeting at church, 12:45-3:45.  (We took the DISC test, by the way, so I know all about my personality now....)  Had a quick meeting after for crafts team.  Picked up the dry-cleaning for Mom.  Home again by 4:15. Sent a few emails.  Work.  Work.  Homework.  Work.  Homework.  Homework.  Wrote this blog.  A little bit more homework.  Read a couple more chapters in aforementioned school book.  Lights out.

Tomorrow holds exciting things: oil change in the car, work, homework, and a trip to the bank (ok, that part is good!)

Hope your weekend was as exciting as mine.