Avon

So I've been going through an Avon period lately. For Christmas, I gave my nieces in law to be (K-older's fiancée's daughters) some mark lip gloss and perfumes. Since I was putting in the order anyway...*G*...I went ahead and got myself a few things. I'm currently in LOVE with their perfume "Always". Smells like lily of the valley. Delish. I also have "Tomorrow" which is a spicer oriental type. Nummy as well.

Anyway I've been out at the Avon site looking around and they have some great deals. If you want something, or you need to stock up, get out there and do it! I think shipping is free today!

Oh, and if you don't have an Avon lady, my friend Melody is the BEST! Visit her site at www.youravon.com/melodythomas She really ROCKS!!

Christmas time is...gone...

What a nice day yesterday. Seems that everyone was pretty relaxed and not wanting to "fight" or anything. Presents were all well received and the ones everyone got for us were excellent! Totally love my Trader Joe's gift card from k-younger and M-inlaw. K-Older and D gave us a card to a new restaurant that I've been wanting to try. Way cool.

K-nephew may have a job soon. He's been having trouble because of his record. But my friend J-hole works for a janitorial service and says that they're always looking for people who will work hard. K-nephew couldn't stop smiling after I talked to J-hole.

Other than that, it's been a very very quiet day here. I slept for most of it which was REALLY nice.

Tomorrow starts me getting back into the groove of things with the house and weight loss and stuff like that. I think I've decided to go back to WWers on Saturday. It just seems like it's what works for me and I can incorporate all that I've been learning from other diet books.

Bah Humbug?

I'm feeling sad. I don't know exactly why but it's just there. Hanging over my head like some evil anti-mistletoe or something.

M is sitting in the living room playing on his work laptop. He's addicted to some game called "NetHack". I don't understand it but...hey whatever! LOL He's also watching Deal or No Deal and laughing whenever someone gets a high case. He's so sick sometimes, laughing over the disappointment of others. It makes me wonder, from time to time, just what goes on in there. *head shake* I dunno. I pray that he'll eventually find himself in a happy place where he doesn't have to take joy in the downfall of others.

Everything is clean in the kitchen. I haven't stopped all day and I feel like just sitting down in the middle of everything and bursting into tears. But I won't. I'll just ball it up and deal with it after the holiday. Just have to wrap up Grandma's gift (a picture and a gift card) and I'll be completely finished with everything for tomorrow except the salami cream cheese rolls and the other little things I'll be "cooking".

K-sis was home all alone today. L was with her asshole of a "father". I really want to go and kick the ever living hell out of that poor excuse for a human. Mom said that K-sis was in tears most of the day. If I'd have known she was going to be home all alone, I'd have said something to M and seen if he'd take me down. (I mean, what's a 2 hour trip each way between siblings? *G*) I don't know what we'd have done, but I'm sure she and I could have thought of something.

Maybe that's it. Or perhaps it's knowing that the holiday is HERE. It's almost over and I'm already feeling the post-Christmas let down. You know, the "man all that work and it's OVER in 5 minutes...tops!" feeling.

Dad's sick too. He started to vomit this afternoon. He hasn't been sick like this in about 13 years, Mom said. I guess a part of me is worried...or at least more worried than I thought I was over him being sick.

Well, time to take dinner out of the oven. Maybe I'll actually feel better after eating something. Yeah...maybe.

Hey everyone!

What's that? What have I been doing since last we chatted? Nothing much at all except for the same old same old. I have everything wrapped and ready to go with the exception of Grandma's gift card from Kroger. I'll get that tomorrow while we grocery shop.

So what is Christmas going to be like this year? Will Dad get through the day without killing my Aunt? Will K and M help with dishes? Will the guys help? Will dinner go off without a hitch or will something burn? And will I actually be treated like an adult this year instead of having instructions spelled out for me? (Like "Strawberry, get the rolls out of the oven...and use the mitts! Like duh there Mom...I didn't know hot things were, you know, HOT. *sound of head smacking the desk*)

It's not really that bad. I love my family and all of the above actually gives us stuff to laugh about and tease each other about. It's frustrating at the time but, once it's over it's over. *G*

Anyway, now that everything is done Christmas wise (except for the noshes) I decided to be productive and roll the coins I've been saving for the past 6 months. (M has been stealing quarters for his "snack" so I'm down about $20 from where I would have been.) I've saved $152.50 in the last 6 months just from "harvesting" the coins that M leaves in his car, coat, pants pockets, bed ('cause you know, he can't empty them before hitting the sheets), bedroom floor...etc. Not a bad day's work if I do say so myself. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it yet. I may hit the post holiday sales and see if I can't (finally) find a good inexpensive vacuum cleaner that won't freakin' lose suction. It'll be our 3rd in about 5 years. Or maybe I'll get that really cool steam mop or even a steam cleaner. Perhaps some new clothes or shoes or bras (all of which are desperately needed) or something totally frivolous like some Demeter Fragrances or books. (wait, books aren't frivolous!) Or maybe I'll be a Good Berry and put it in savings. Nah. :oD

Whatever I do with it, I'm sure it'll come in handy.

Other than that, I've just been getting things done around the house. I'm enjoying myself doing what I can, as I can and then taking frequent breaks so I don't have a flair or get sick again. I've been doing pretty well with that. Now if I can just cure the freakin' insomnia I'll be doing well. Have doctor's appointments all next month so I should (hopefully) get some answers. If I remember to ask the questions. *G*

Anyway, that's about it for now. I'm going to go read (Got Fangs? by Katie Maxwell for the umpteenth time) and try very very hard to fall asleep.

I'm an Edmontosaurs

Get this widget!

Ahhh...

Well, it's almost time for Christmas and, with the exception of some gift cards, I'm officially done shopping. Yahoo! I don't think I've ever been done this early before.

Of course, I still have things to send out along with my Christmas cards. I'll get those done tonight and off to the post awful tomorrow.

Check out my book review blog (over on your left...see it? WildDog's book review? yeah, that's it.) to see what's been occupying my time. Finished 3 books this weekend and have started on a 4th. That's really not a lot for me but I've been busy doing other things as well.

Last night, I was hostess for my Sunday School children's program. I didn't realize how much WORK that was...and most of it was done for me before I even got there. (Thanks J and girls!) And then I was cleaning up and one of the ladies came back and helped out by washing the dishes (thanks W!) and *poof* it was all finished and we were out the door. I didn't get to see much of the program but it was one of those "cutsey" things from Group Publishing so I guess I really didn't miss much. One of these days I'll write my own Christmas play/pageant and try and get the Church to put it on. I'm tired of the "we have to make it relevant for today" mentality that seems to be rampant in most of the Christmas stuff of today. I mean, does Christ's birth EVER go out of style? Really?

I've been doing okay with the "get the chore done NOW...don't wait" thing. It really is a good feeling to just have it done and not hanging over your head.

So now I'm waiting for M to get home so we can head out to Meijer so I can get kitty food (we're down to crumbs in the bags even though the kids have full bowls), litter, some coin rollers (I'm tired of looking at the bags of coins!) and a couple of books (because it's not like I have nothing to read or anything...lol)

Nothing more to really say today. Just a lazy day. Hope I'll be able to fall asleep tonight. It's been hell getting only a few hours of sleep each night. Although I've been enjoying listening to 700 WLW and America's Trucking Network with Steve Sommers and Bubba Bo. They've been fun this past week. Interesting too. I'd still rather have a full night of sleep though.

Busy busy...

'Tis the season and all that. Been hectic 'round here as I try madly to get back into the swing of things after a recent bout of ick. I need to remember that all my clutter and housework wasn't made in a day (except what M creates) and it doesn't need to get done in a day.

I am making progress with getting into a routine. Even if it is only a routine of cleaning the litter box. Still, that's something, no?

I think routines are important. They help those of us who have memory problems (thanks chemo!) they help us to feel in control even when everything seems to be slipping away.

So, I've decided to add to my routine. I just need to decide what to add and how much to add at a time.

Been reading several diet books in a quest to find intelligent answers to the questions I've been asking myself. One of the overwhelming statements in all of the books I've read so far is "change doesn't come easily...take it slow and let one thing become habit before you start to do something else."

Heh. Change doesn't come easily. No kidding. Especially not for a Lutheran. LOL But it is sound advice. Like the litter box. I used to HATE cleaning the box because it was...well frankly...disgusting. But now that I've been doing it everyday it's not so disgusting. It's easy and rather relaxing as well. Just knowing that that one thing is DONE, that the cats have a clean place to piddle and poo so they aren't doing it all over my "to be washed" pile of clothes. (note to self: get hamper. *G*) It's freeing to have that chore DONE and out of the way. Even if I don't do it until 4 in the afternoon. At least it's done.

I need to remember this for other areas in my life. Get the chore DONE when you think of it or when you're done with whatever you've been using. (like the dishes) Once you get into the routine of putting things away when you've finished with them, the rest is a snap. Why didn't I remember this earlier? Other than the whole "I'm dying from cancer 'cause I don't know I have it" thing. *G* I guess I was either stupid, stubborn or just flat lazy.

So, that's going to be my new thing. I'm going to get myself a routine and I'm going to work at sticking to it no matter what. Unless the whole death thing comes up again...then we'll have to see.

whee

Did I tell you about my cool new toy? The swiffer sweeper? OOOHHHH it's great! No more kitty litter on the bottoms of my nice clean wet feet. Ahh.

Plus it's rechargeable so I don't have to go plugging it in when I want to use it. It's already there and waiting for me to make the floor nice 'n clean.

Now I want to get this steam mop that everyone on my email list is talking about. The Bissell Steam Mop. Man. I so want this mop. Freaks me out too since I'm like the least likely person to be all het up about a cleaning product. LOL but I do...I so do.

Anyway, today's a nice boring day. Paid some bills...made some calls for the cookie walk at Church on Sunday...gonna play with my toy...er I mean sweep the floor...and clean the bathroom later. Nice lazy type day. Ahhh.

Best of all? No Bells tomorrow. What a happy thought!

'Tis the Season to be...an Asshole?

No really. I don't know why I fail to remember from year to year just how...nasty...people can be around Consumermas. It always amazes me to be out in a store and have people shove me out of the way to get to something that, had they just said "excuse me", I'd have been happy to step out of the way.

*sigh* Come on people! Remember the TRUE meaning of the Season...Christ comes to be born a man...be born under the law to fulfill the law FOR US! He is the true gift, guys. *sheesh*

Anyway, as you can tell, M and I went out shopping today. Actually, *I* went shopping, M was just the driver. *G* Works for me. I don't have him hovering over my shoulder glaring at me because he hates to shop, he doesn't have to do anything but sit in the warm car, listen to music and play the DS. Although, I know if he DID come in there'd have been a LOT less shoving. He's 6'8" and 290lbs. He's a big scary guy. Of course, people don't need to know that under the scary there lurks the heart of a marshmallow. *G* But still.

I found a few things on my list, gonna have to hit Amazon for some things that they didn't have. Got a Swiffer vacuum that I've been wanting for the kitty pan area. Tired of getting out of the shower and having kitty litter all over my feet. It's currently charging. (heh. no pun intended but that was good for a chuckle.) Hmm...some pretty Christmas paper, a few bath 'n body needs and cold medicine (will this stupid cold never go away?) Ooh and a couple of really pretty nice skirts for Church and Christmas. I'm looking forward to wearing one of them tomorrow for my FINAL(!!!!) bell performance. And I (finally) bought my Christmas cards...they're pretty.

Other than that, nothing exciting went on at ALL. Just the same old stuff. *G* But it was a fun day. I think I wore M out...even though he did nothing.

Off to surf and see what's new, place a dang Amazon order and then read before I hit the bed.