Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Some of those random questions I saw on another blog.

1. What does it mean to have the 'holiday spirit'?

To me it means knowing and believing the REAL reason for this season is the birth of Jesus Christ, and not how much useless stuff we spend our hard earned money on, that usually gets returned to the store the day after Christmas.

2. What sits atop your tree (s)? Why?

I don't have a tree topper in the true definition of a tree topper.. I kind of have an arrangement of numerous shiny glittery things that makes a real mess when being inserted into the tree. But, I will say, it is very pretty.. Thanks Brandy!

3. When was the last time you gave yourself a pat on the back?

Not really self-back patter, but every now and then, I think I deserve one.

4. Which of your senses is most sensitive this time of year?

My awareness of the needs of other people.

5. What do you have too much of in your kitchen?

Pasta... we don't eat very much pasta, but yet I have several packages of same. We also have too many snacks! and Popsicles!

6. What do you do for meals on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day? Big meal? Breakfast tradition? Open the cookie tins and have at it?

Christmas Eve is my mama's responsibility and she doesn't let anyone mess with that tradition. Christmas Day is different every year. This year we plan to have gumbo, compliments of my daughter's culinary skills.

7. What is the best thing about winter?

Football!!! I love cold weather, and watching football, especially outside on my back porch and deck. We have a variety of heaters, as long as it is not freezing, I can definitely sit out there for an entire game!

8. Insert your own random thought here

I wish people were less self-centered and more aware of how what they do affects others. There are a few people in my own life that are selfish, self-centered, and really don't care how what they do, or don't do affects anyone other than themselves. I have learned to overlook it for the most part, but sometimes it still stings a little.

9. I love, love, love the holidays! I love the lights, the decorations, the food, the parties, and the general spirit of the holiday season!!!

How about them Saints!!!!

Monday, December 13, 2010

A lot of randomness....

Things happening in my hood....

* My house has now been decorated for Christmas for FOUR weeks, and although I am enjoying it, I am also having to pretend to ignore the large amounts of dust that seem to accumulate on, around and under all the decorations.

* We had a great Thanksgiving weekend! My mom cooked a HUGE lunch, and that was the only meal I ate that day...

* I did not go shopping on Black Friday.. No way, no how was I getting out in that drama.. Hubby and I did go out for lunch, and watched a little football, but we mostly stayed home.

* My deck WAS NOT FINISHED until 3:00 on December 3! After telling the contractor I needed it done by noon on that date because my mother, sister-in-law and niece were coming for the weekend to celebrate my mother's birthday, he finally left at 3... I spent the next two hours cleaning everything so it would at least be presentable when they arrived. I was stressed BECAUSE I HATE MESSES!

* Instead of going out to eat for my mom's birthday, we stayed at my house, grilled chicken, and had a few adult beverages and then watched movies. I thought it was a good time.

* I am done with my Christmas shopping. COMPLETELY DONE and I will not be tempted to buy the grand kids anything else. I will stay out of the stores, and delete all emails associated with toys... :)

* Took the grands to see the play, The Christmas Carol, and it was awesome. Benton thoroughly enjoyed it. Bailey packed a backpack full of snacks and had a picnic at intermission. It was pretty dang funny.

* Bailey decided it was her turn to spend the night with G ALONE, and told Benton Friday night that he had to go home with mama because it was her turn to stay with G. And she did. And she slept until 8:30 which is VERY late for her. We went to the grocery store, bought things we didn't really need, met her mom and a friend for lunch, and then she said her turn was not over. We went and bought her two pairs of boots, and then went back to my house, per her request. We had the best time!

* It is very cold here... The wind chill was in the low teens this morning. Too bad it was not snowing, because it would have definitely been a snow day.

* I rescued a kitten from the dumpster behind our office this morning. He would have died in there. I had to actually climb down into the dumpster to get him. Thankfully there was only one bag of trash in there. I was prepared to throw a blanket over him and scoop him up, but he crawled into the trash bag and I was able to get it out, empty the contents and he came out and ran off. He was wild and I knew that, but I couldn't let him die in there. I need to make sure I put plenty of food out in the future so he doesn't have to dumpster dive to eat.

* Santa is coming to my next Monday.. All the way from Dothan, Alabama. He is the best Santa ever.. He is the "real" Santa....

* And, FINALLY, how about them Saints!!!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Friends, Decorating, and my deck is still not finished!!!

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of activity at G's House. My friend from Orange County came to see us, and we took her to New Orleans for the weekend. To say we had a fabulous time would be an understatement. Even though we have spent time together before, we have always stayed close to home. Needless to say, while out in New Orleans, she was pretty much recognized everywhere we went, and mostly by men. How many do you know that would actually tell you they watched Housewives of Orange County? Apparently there are a lot, especially in New Orleans. In many cases, the husband recognized her before the wife did. It was interesting to say the least. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I had dinner for the first time ever at Brennan's and it did NOT disappoint! That may have been the best meal I have ever eaten, and I know it was the most expensive!

Once that trip was over, it was on to decorating for Christmas, which is completely done, and has been for over a week now. I don't like having to do this over Thanksgiving, so I do it before that holiday, so I can actually enjoy four days off work, and I did enjoy it very much... I am in the process of now trying not to buy the grandest kids ever too much useless stuff for Christmas. And it is H-A-R-D!!! I love buying for them, but it is not sensible and I don't want them to be expecting cars and rolexes before they are teenagers!

And, the deck that was supposed to be done two weeks ago, is still not finished, and I don't know when it will be finished. This carpenter has done lots of work for us in the past few years, but this is probably his last gig at my house. For two weeks he was "going to get started tomorrow," and when that never happened, I started sending him text messages to let him know I was PISSED, and then he finally showed up late one Friday to "mark it off." He actually worked through the weekend, including Sunday, but it was very slow going. He is very thorough and a perfectionist, but sometimes he carries it too far, and gets stuck on something no one can perfect. He worked again the three days before Thanksgiving and left with the assurance he would return on Saturday and would work Saturday and Sunday to FINISH THE PROJECT!!! And, he didn't show up at all on Saturday. He called around noon and said he was headed home to change clothes and then would be over to work. HE NEVER SHOWED AGAIN!! Sunday I sent him a not-so-nice text message and he showed up an hour later with some lame excuse. He did work until dark, but it was very slow going. He did work som e Monday, and didn't show up until 2:00 yesterday and didn't show up until noon today. So, this 3 or 4 day project has turned into a 3 or 4 week project and it is STILL NOT FINISHED. I am having company this weekend and need it to be done by tomorrow so I can at least clean up the outside area before my guest arrive. I am not getting my hopes up that this will happen. I am barely talking to him at this point because I am so completely frustrated with him. My mother-in-law would say "this too shall pass" and it will, but I need it to hurry up and pass so we can move on to something else!!! I have to mop every day to stay on top of the large quantities of dirt three dogs and a husband track in every time they go in and out the back door. And, now that I have vented about that, I feel much better.. at least until I get home and see how much/little progress he has made today. Happy Hump Day!!!