| FAA Gives Santa Thumbs-Up for Takeoff |
[Dec. 23rd, 2009|12:32 am] |
From: Federal Aviation Administration <usafaa@govdelivery.com>
Subject: U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Press Releases Update
You are subscribed to page updates for the Federal Aviation Administration. A new press release is now available. We've included a copy of the release in this email.
For Immediate Release
December 22, 2009
Contact: Les Dorr, Jr.
Phone: (202) 267-3883
FAA Gives Santa Thumbs-Up for Takeoff
WASHINGTON — Federal Aviation Administration chief Randy Babbitt braved snow, ice and foggy conditions at North Pole International Airport to give Santa Claus and his sleigh a thumbs-up for the jolly old pilot’s traditional round-the-world Christmas Eve mission.
During a 90-minute check ride, Administrator Babbitt made sure Santa can properly execute the demanding maneuvers and precision rooftop landings inherent in making toy deliveries. He also checked that the sleigh’s deicing equipment, reindeer propulsion system and communications and navigation systems are working properly. In addition, the Administrator verified Santa has policies in place to guarantee he and his elves will have a proper rest period before the long, all-night mission.
While the elves will have WiFi inflight internet access, St. Nick stressed he will strictly enforce his longstanding ban on distractions in the cockpit.
“Santa and his crew have always shown extraordinary professionalism in the cockpit,” said FAA Administrator Babbitt “I’m certain they’ll pull off the flight without a hitch.”
This year, Santa has several Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) technology improvements at his disposal to make the annual trip safer and more fuel-efficient.
For example, North Pole International Airport boasts a new ASDE-X ground surveillance radar system to help St. Nick avoid marauding polar bears and the occasional Grinch. Santa’s sleigh (registration N0EL) boasts all the necessary electronics to use Area Navigation (RNAV) and Required Navigation Performance (RNP), approaches the FAA has in place to help Santa easily reach children’s homes. The sleigh also has an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) component that pinpoints its position for air traffic controllers and other aircraft throughout the flight.
Mindful of environmental issues, Santa has incorporated several Earth-friendly features this year. Rudolph’s bright red nose and the sleigh’s warning and decorative lights are all powered by energy-saving LEDs.
The public can follow Santa on his Christmas Eve mission at http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html.
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| Upward and Onward, (but don't forget - side to side!) |
[Dec. 22nd, 2009|02:22 pm] |
2009 kicked my ass.
I could stop there, but I like to elaborate sometimes, especially when it's important. However, I'm not interested in re-hashing my year-from-hell - I mean, it's all archived, duh - but instead, reflection is the goal.
First, the good news. Some of my favorite moments from 2009 included (but are not limited to, and no particular order): - Deciding, for sure, in what I do or do not believe. I could be labeled an athiest, but I feel that there is just as much a lack of understanding in that word as any other. But basically, I reject most, if not all, common beliefs in religion and otherwise supernatural concepts. My beliefs (or lack thereof) are subject to change, though. If I see a ghost tonight in my room tonight, then BAM, I'm probably gonna believe in them!
- Graduating with the MLS. I set that goal about 8 years ago, and finally checked it off the list.
- Spinning poi. Meeting and learning from Isa Isaacs, who founded Temple of Poi in San Fransisco.
- New Orleans in the spring! With my favorite party crew!
- Trying psychedelics.
Twice Thrice in one year was *plenty*. - Seeing Spoon on what was possibly the hottest night of the year in Austin.
- Going to the TX coast twice during the summer.
- Finding two puppies that needed a home. One of them went to puppy-heaven (ok, so I do believe that all dogs go to heaven, shut it!), but the other one continues to brighten our lives.
- Getting a job, finally. Even though it's not what I really wanted, it might turn out to be better than I expected.
- Falling in love with my husband again. And again. And again.
Now for the bad news, but I promise, it'll be brief:- People have always said "Forgive and forget". It doesn't work like that for me, though. I forgive, sure. Very easily, sometimes. But I don't forget emotional trauma. There were times this past year that were emotionally traumatizing, and some of it was my fault. The parts that weren't my fault and not all in my head will be remembered accordingly.
- *IF* I believed in karma, I'd have to say that some folks are gonna get what's comin'. I mean, everybody goes through shit, so it's not like I have to wish ill-will onto anyone. But, oh man, if you've ever been an ass to me, don't let me find out that you're suffering. I've been known to kick while they're down.
- I have come to find it amusing, and annoying, when people say they ALWAYS do this or NEVER do that. Who the fuck do you think you are?!
- Self-righteousness pisses me off more than anything. I'm so much better than that! <*smirk*>
Ok, now that I got some of that out of my system, onto the next. I made NYE plans with a couple of old friends. We had a falling out a few years ago, but one of the reasons that we're cool now is because nobody ever actually *did* anything to each other. We just didn't really know how to communicate back then, and I'm hoping that's been improved (on all counts). Our plan is to eat good food, go to one of the gal's favorite bars, and then pass out after smoking a NY blunt.
I'm not entirely sure about my goals for the next year. I've never really liked fleshing out resolutions, because like most people, I'm always afraid that I won't succeed. But in general, I'd like to get healthier, like for real, for real. I want to either earn more money or find a more fulfilling job. I want to move somewhere else, even if it's in the same town, and I want to take our time finding a place that is just amazing. I want to create a habitat that fits our lives, clean out clutter, buy new toys, and make time to play with them. I want to make new friends, and not lose touch with the ones I already have. I'd like to travel, but due to finances, that might have to wait another year.
Mostly, I just want to love being me in 2010. Everything else just kinda falls into place when you're comfortable in your own skin. |
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| Hi. |
[Dec. 22nd, 2009|01:12 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | me | ] |
| [ | mood |
| |  tired | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Imogen Heap - Wait It Out | ] |
Attempting to clean before the chaos of Christmas.
... It's not working so well.
Today was another early morning. Still, being awake at 5am is still better than 3:30. By 5:20 there was no point in being in bed any longer so I got up. Looking out the window to see if there was anymore snow only to see a few neighbors out working on sidewalks and driveways (you're in charge of your sidewalk here - to the point where if someone slips you can be held accountable). Might as well get something accomplished.
When Brad's alarm went off at 6 he stuck his head out the window saying something about how I didn't look like I was sleeping. By this time I was half way done. The sidewalk was finished and the front half of the driveway. When he came down for work I had the car cleared off as well. I might not make coffee in the mornings - but I am a helpy helperton. (And none of this was because I wanted to go play in the snow at all).
When I was finishing up after he left for work it started misting. It's been drizzling on and off all day. My snow is turning mushy and melting and I am not happy about this at all. What's the point on having 6 some odd inches of snow if it's not going to stay the three days until Christmas? Dumb rain.
While everyone was sleeping I swept and mopped the kitchen, hallway and downstairs bathroom. The living room has been straightened but still needs some attention. The kitchen counters need to be de-cluttered (only most of it is my stuff and without an office I don't actually know where to put most of it). I'm working in the bedroom now (spelled now as not - which would be more honest). The bed sheets have been changed and I've started and finished two loads of laundry and the blankets are started now.
I told Zoe she had to clean her room today. Dann's been sleeping in it so she hasn't been playing in there - but she didn't clean it before Cheryl and Dann got here so it still needs her attention. She's pouting and putting it off. First I caught her hiding laundry on a bookshelf (with a big book standing in front of it), then she was pushing trash and paper behind her toy box, and now she's downstairs because she's starving. She's getting on my nerves. If she'd just DO IT it would already be finished.
We figured out what was causing the Dizzy Spins that Brad and I were dealing with. Dehydration. Seriously. With the cold snap a few weeks ago went all our humidity and we weren't paying enough attention to it or our water intake. As soon as we added another bottle of water to our days the dizziness went away. Go figure. Water really does make everything better.
Three days until Christmas. Aside from candy for the stockings I think we're set. Looking under the tree you might imagine we're going to start our own library. There are SO MANY book shaped presents under the tree. We're going to be reading for at least the next few months. This makes me very happy inside (and want to buy more bookshelves).
No, this isn't all informative or introspective. The meds side effects have pretty much stabilized to what they were when I was taking this pill before. I'm not really seeing any of the positive side effects but that might be in part due to all the stresses floating around. Maybe the main sign that it's working is that I haven't run away yet. Probably.
Off to attempt some more. |
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| UNHAPPY WITH MAPS! |
[Dec. 21st, 2009|11:40 pm] |
Google Maps forces me to eat up 1/2 the printed page with a list of businesses at or near the address I specify. Their photo and street information is 3 years out of date.
Mapquest refuses to allow me to zoom in during print preview and forces the view to be the entire continental US, though their photo info is only 1.5 years out of date, and the street info is almost current.
Yahoo Maps doesn't let me enter in text to go along with the printed map and their info is also out of date. |
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| (no subject) |
[Dec. 21st, 2009|07:54 pm] |
Forgive me, I have been ABSENT because I was attending to my writer who was in town from New York. He was brilliant and interesting, as he was when only a parrot icon over AIM.
Woot party was fun, and I after-partied like a pro with the best of them until nearly 4am. I was still awkward, but I think they liked me, maybe. I saw Avatar with special glasses that looked nerdier than my own. I got to eat so much of the best Tex-Mex and drank more than usual with friends and coworkers who kept me listening to them, so happily, for hours. I will miss my writer, but I am exhausted too.
I lost my wallet yesterday which has turned out to be temporary as I always suspect when I lose my wallet. A nice woman found it and managed to also find my parents' number from my information inside (she informed my mumz, lovingly, that my license expired this month). My mom called me today to give me this woman's number and she was sobbing when she did so. "I just, I just thought it was so awful that you lost all your belongings and that you nearly lost all your money too!" My sweet papa is in the hospital for pneumonia (which attributed to her breakdown, I think), and my mom is already crazy, so I have more things to worry about. Maybe this sweet sweet woman (who sounds like she wouldn't touch, nevertheless steal, any of the money out of my wallet) can have my wallet and all my money if I could please live stress free for a month, give or take. Tonight, however, I sleep. Sleep like a pro! |
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| Christmas cakes |
[Dec. 21st, 2009|04:32 pm] |
From http://citrusandcandy.com/2009/11/sweet-and-simple-mini-christmas-cakes.html makes 6 jumbo + 5 standard cupcakes. Moist, vanilla cake with a bit of boozy fruit.
1) Soak 2.5-3 cups dried fruit in 200 ml brandy and/or rum. Simmer on low until alcohol is mostly soaked up.
2) Cream 125g butter and 190g brown sugar with 1t vanilla. Add 2 eggs, one at a time, 1/4c milk, and sift in 250g flour and 1.5t baking powder. Fold in fruits. Pour into pans, spray with baker's spray (oil and flour, this stuff is MAGICAL) first if they're not awesomely nonstick.
3) Bake at 320F for 45 minutes or until tester comes out clean.
Hooray for recipes like this. Baking cakes should be by weight anyway, and using the scale means I don't get a zillion measuring cups dirty.
I want to sleep for a zillion years, but I pretty much have a working vacation lined up. Time to redo my papers, figure out insurance, and jack up my prices. (With community sessions for those who can't afford care otherwise.) Maybe it'll translate into giving myself a raise! I kinda liked having enough money for Christmas presents this year and would like the trend to continue. |
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| A button nose and two eyes made out of... what? |
[Dec. 21st, 2009|09:03 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | monday, music | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | work | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | geeky | ] |
| [ | music |
| | DJ Spen and The Muthafunkaz - Our First Christmas | ] |
[mm]
We've got more holiday music this week, virtually none of it traditional. But, there should still be something to appeal to almost everyone.
For this week's pick, I'm going with Snowfall.
As always, discussion isn't required, but is certainly welcome.
01.  | Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Everything You Want For Christmas
Mr. Heatmiser (Swing, Holiday) |
02.  | Ingrid Michaelson - Snowfall [Single]
Snowfall (Pop, Holiday) |
03.  | Straight No Chaser - Holiday Spirits
The 12 Days of Christmas (Live) (Vocal, Holiday) |
04.  | Various Artists - Christmas in the House
Ananda Project feat. Terrance Downs - Christmas Lights (House, Holiday) |
05. .jpg) | Various Artists - Francfranc presents Super Elegant Christmas (Luxe House Music)
Jazzida Grande - Last Christmas (House, Holiday) |
RSS:
 or 
A word of warning - if you subscribe via iTunes, it will replace the album name and genre ID3 tags. If all you want is the music, knock yourself out. If you're OCD about the tags, use the generic RSS and something other than iTunes. |
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| Tour's Over! |
[Dec. 18th, 2009|06:12 pm] |
I've been meaning to update this more often, but I've had so much to cover that it was a daunting task. So now, it's next to impossible to cover everything, but I'll hit the highlights...
I said yes to the Ray Johnston Band deal mostly because of Ray's story. He played basketball in college and afterwards moved to Dallas and became a loan officer. After being spotted at a Hoop-It-Up contest, he was signed up to the Mavericks Summer team. After a minor bump during practice, he discovered he had leukemia. He was admitted into hospital, where he lapsed into a coma for 2 1/2 months. When he woke up, he was told that 7 of his toes had to be amputated as there were circulation issues during the coma. He went code blue a couple of times during that hospital stay and the doctors don't know how he's still alive. That was 5 years ago and it was on the tail of yet another relapse that he decided to book this tour. It seemed like the real deal - he was hiring a kick-ass band, traveling in an RV and staying in hotels every night and hitting the southwest and east coast. For me, I saw the opportunity to help out with running the sound and the possibility for ending up with enough photos for a book. The tour was going to be filmed for a reality show on HDNet and my photos were going to be used for promotion and on the show. The money was about 60% of what I considered to be my lowest offer, but it was enough to pay the bills and I felt the other opportunities would make it worth it. Really, I felt I couldn't say no to it.
From the very start, the tour was nothing like it was described to be. Ray had never toured and really had no idea what he was doing. There were supposed to be 100 shows over the course of the 4+ months of the tour, but really only a handful were confirmed and those were at venues owned by friends of Ray's or private parties for fraternities. The first week out was a nightmare - in order to make the money that I needed to make, I had taken on driver duties. I was assured that there would be short drives and plenty of time to rest every night, plus there were 6 people in the band and surely one of them would help if the going got tough. Well, the drives were hell - during the first 7 days, I drove 44 hours. On top of that, I had the hours of setting up and tearing down the PA we carried around with us - and the hours of show time. Most of the shows were private events with the band playing for 4 hours or so. The routing also made no sense - we doubled-back on ourselves in the first 4 days alone. Also, Ray had asked me if I'd mind sleeping in the RV if money was tight and another hotel room would cost too much. I had said yes to that, so it turned into me sleeping in the RV every night. With his dogs. He forgot to mention that he would be taking his 2 dogs on the road with us.
The first leg lasted 10 days and ended with us heading back to Dallas a day early as Ray started to not feel well. We had played 9 shows in those 10 days. Ray believed I would only need to set up the PA for 1 of those - we ended up using it for 6. After getting back to Dallas after a drive from Baton Rouge, LA, Ray was feeling worse. He ended up being admitted into the hospital again and wasn't released until nearly 2 weeks later.
From then on, the tour consisted of weird or just plain bad shows, more hospital visits and we all lived with schedules that were up in the air. Shows were being booked on the fly and we never knew if they would happen because of Ray's health. We had a couple of shows where Ray called after the first set to say that he wouldn't be showing up.
It's hard to express how frustrating it all was without sounding like a douche for picking on a guy with a serious disease. The truth is that while Ray could sometimes be difficult to deal with, we could only direct our frustrations at ourselves as we had agreed to sign up!
The band had lots of time off, but we never knew when we would be called upon. On the road, I was being paid to film some behind the scenes footage using one of HDNet's cameras. I also had to deal with the RV and trailer, which meant that I was working on my supposed days off. We parked them outside Ray's house when we were home and one weekend the trailer was broken into. All of our PA speakers and the mixer were stolen along with the sax player's bag of effects and his wireless mic. Ray was in the hospital and I was supposed to take the trailer for repairs that day anyway. I ended up filing a police report and in the subsequent weeks was the one dealing with Ray's insurance company to try to get back some of the $12,000 of gear that we lost. Normally, a band using gear to make money would only be entitled to $1,000 of coverage under the rules of the coverage Ray had. I told them that we were partnered with a non-profit charity organization and that all of our earnings went to them (which is true) and asked them to re-read the fine print. They called back a day later to say that with proper receipts, everything would be covered. The check's still in the mail and that was 3 months ago.
The last 2 weeks of the tour were easily the best. Working with the HDNet publicist and the publicist that Ray had personally hired, we played a week of great shows in Alabama and Georgia, culminating in a show in Atlanta that was filmed for the TV show and recorded in Pro Tools to be released as a 5.1 mix. We stayed in great hotels and apart from the roof of the trailer leaking during awful storms, everything went really well.
All in all, definitely the strangest tour I've been on - and that's saying a lot.
Yesterday, I took the RV out east of Fort Worth so it could be filmed driving over some hills at sunset. I have an opportunity to do some sound gigs for HDNet, which pay really well, I've managed to put together an okay photo book from the thousands of photos I took AND I'm being paid for a fashion shoot that will be filmed for the TV show. Ray's publicist found an urban clothing company that will partner with Ray and they need a photo session. That will happen some time in January, so in the meantime, I'm trying to figure out how to get more photo work and will be coasting by on the money from upcoming sound gigs at Sons of Hermann.
So that's the short version - details can be seen in the TV show, which is set to air on HDNet in April. We still have exit interviews to do and the show wants to do something for SXSW, so I'm probably not completely in the clear just yet.
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| Humility |
[Dec. 18th, 2009|02:12 pm] |
If this is not humbling I don't know what is.
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| $$RAPE$$ |
[Dec. 18th, 2009|02:21 am] |
Ever since Nixon abandoned the Bretton-Woods agreement to back the United States dollar with gold and instead decided to "float" the dollar, the dollar's value has been merely the shared delusion of everyone that uses it. Initially we did this because the French and German governments mounted an attack upon the dollar, exchanging as much of it for gold as possible knowing full well that we had deflated the price of gold and could not keep up with producing gold at $35/oz. We abandoned a gold-backed currency because the United States was unwilling to accept foreign constraints upon its economic policy. However, once again with a floated currency we have hit the same barrier. Today foreign investors hold far more in US government bonds and liquid currency than the worth of our nation's gross national product. Foreign banks now get to decide the price of the dollar more than the US economy, Federal Reserve, and the legislative branch of government combined. There is a solution that's in the best interest of all Americans: the adoption of RAPE DOLLARS as the official US currency. National Institute of Justice estimates placed the annual social cost of rape and other sexual assaults of adults at 127 billion dollars, or about $508 per U.S. resident. That's even with rape being at a record low as of 2003! If we increase our national rape production we could easily put that value at upwards of several trillion dollars! Rape is an endlessly renewable resource. If we back our currency with it we can print as much money as we want without it being inflationary! RAPE DOLLARS are instant riches. The best we can do now is educate people on the advantages of RAPE DOLLARS. In the future we can envision a world with a universal rape-backed currency, and a paradise of incredible proportions. RAPE DOLLARS will be the first step towards achieving that world.
http://www.encyclopediadramatica.com/Rape_dollars
I'll admit, I've always been a fan of paying off debt with Rape Dollars. |
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| Meds - Z - Today |
[Dec. 18th, 2009|07:54 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | me, zoe | ] |
| [ | mood |
| |  groggy | ] |
Still dealing with random side effects from the brain pills. The insomnia isn't as bad as it was the first three days but it's definitely still there. I've never had any form of insomnia before. It's not fun. It hasn't been the "ok hi 3am how are you" kind of awake where there's no chance of me going back to sleep. It's more - restless. Awake at random times. Just hard to stay asleep - which is worse honestly. At least when I was just up at 3 or 4 I would just get out of bed and go do something else (movies, blankets, lights on the tree). The restlessness is just keeping me constantly tired AND making it so that Brad isn't getting any sleep either.
I had the two week check in with the Dr yesterday and talked to him about it. He said that even though it says to take it at night (because it's supposed to make you tired) I could try taking it earlier and see if it helps. Maybe this one makes everyone else tired but keeps me awake - stranger things have happened. My only concern is that the reason I started taking it at night two years ago when I was first on it wasn't because it made me tired but because it gave me really nasty headaches. As long as I took it before bed, the headaches didn't bother me. I'm going to try taking it early just to see but I'll only be doing that if there are no other plans for the night. That way if I need to go curl up in a dark silent room I won't be missing anything.
*****
Speaking of not missing anything ... today is the last day of school for Zoe before the holiday break. That means today is the last day I have to get up at 6am and walk in the FREEZING cold and ice outside. I can't even describe how happy it made me to turn off the alarm today knowing I won't be turning it back on until the 3rd of January. That sentence just makes me smile :)
For their last day the Elementary school is having a read-a-thon. The kids were encouraged to wear pj's or super comfy clothes and bring their favorite book. Zoe is wearing the new footy jammas that Dani picked out and Cheryl brought. They're pink with skull and cross bones and pretty punk rock. Z loves them and was so excited about getting to wear them to school.
Sometime either this weekend or early next week I have to take the kid to go shopping for Brad and then I need to take Brad to go shopping for the kid. Nothing like waiting until the last minute to try and get things taken care of. I'm sure the crowds won't be bad at any of the stores this weekend. (I swear sometimes I do things like this and I'm just sure of the fact that I must hate myself on some subconscious level.)
*****
Today, depending on what the sleeping people upstairs would like to do, I think we'll have the last official "relaxing" day. This week we really haven't done anything but that's mostly because it's hard to do anything between the time Brad gets home from work and Zoe should be in bed for school the next day. Going out on a Friday night to any of the Christmas activities that are going on all over is just asking for crowds and frustration. I'd personally rather go while the sun is out. Makes seeing easier and it's also at least a little above freezing. There's a good chance I might be out voted, which is fine - as long as I'm not driving so I can keep warm with my happy spiced wine. I don't ask for much ... really.
Now - to nap on the couch? go back to bed? or find a movie that I can watch and play with yarn?
*****
The bed won. Dizzies are back today. It's a very disconcerting feeling. Vertigo and all over body shakes. Not crazy shaking, just like you haven't eaten enough (even though I've just eaten). Not being able to pin it on anything like standing up too fast or an ear infection. Knowing that the only thing that it could rationally be is the meds I'm taking myself. I'm really getting annoyed with it. I don't like unexpected surprises. I like them less when there are people around and I should really be doing something other than sleeping all the time.
Here's where things get weird. Brad has had vertigo almost every single day that I have. He's not taking any medicine at all so that's not the reason. So what in the world IS causing the crazy spinning? I haven't changed any of the cleaning supplies or soaps anytime recently. The shampoo is the same brand/type we've had for a month or longer. The laundry soap is the same. We use the same things that Zoe uses and she hasn't had any issues. Brad's parents have been here for five days and they haven't had any complaints. It all started about two weeks ago (when I started my meds). What the heck is it?! |
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| Time |
[Dec. 17th, 2009|07:53 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | me, zoe | ] |
| [ | mood |
| | tired | ] |
* I don't feel like I have any. Maybe if November had been an extra week I'd feel different, but it's like I'm constantly running late. All the Christmas boxes were sent out the 14th ... if they were going to be at their destinations BY Christmas they needed to be out the Friday before. We still don't have stocking stuffers and I didn't get Brad a gift this year. He was helpful enough to pick up one for himself (and he won't tell me what ~I~ got him). I just need a little more time.
* Brad's parents made it in on Monday. We all picked them up, then we dropped Z off at school, went to run an errand and then dropped Brad off at work. Back to the house to unpack the car and let the Grandparents rest for a little while. It's been a relaxing week with more snoring than anything else but that's ok with me.
* We've been staying up too late. Midnight being the typical time I'm crawling into bed (and still getting up at 6 because Zoe has school this week). Last night I was in bed by 9pm. Couldn't keep my eyes open and didn't want to try. The brain meds are still waking me up though it's been closer to 5 or 5:30 instead of 3:30 so I can live with that. It's even kind of nice (in a very strange way) to be awake when the alarm goes off. Mornings are easier when I'm a little more awake. More patience with the kid and such.
* I messed up my jaw again. I've been noticing that it's a little tighter than usual (which means I'm either grinding my teeth at night or clenching during the day. I yawned last night and felt it crunch. Just my right side is locked which is better than it was the last time this happened. Still, it means lots of mushy foods for me for a while. I hate my jaw and the fact that there isn't much to be done to "fix" it sort of sucks too.
* Zoe got to walk home last night from school in a postcard. Big huge fluffy flakes of snow. The sidewalks were covered and you couldn't even see very far because of the snow. She had the rosiest cheeks and the biggest smile. Her hat and backpack were still cold enough to have some snow still attached when she got inside and took them off. Snow makes the little one very very happy. It's pretty freaking adorable.
* Been thinking about going to the gym every morning (just for the elliptical or bike) because it is way too freaking cold to walk after dropping Z at the bus. Usually I take the long way home after dropping Z off. This turns the 8 minute walk into a 20 minute walk and when I'm really crazy it's a 30 minute walk (up an 18* incline and lots and lots of stairs). It's been so cold that just walking her to the bus stop leaves my legs frozen. The only problem with going to the gym is that then I can't wear my pj top (I usually only put on jeans) AND one I issue I hadn't even thought about ... I have to clear the snow and ice off my car. I'm not sure that's going to happen at 7 in the morning. Yesterday I walked. Today I didn't because not all the sidewalks were swept and slipping on the stairs doesn't sound like the best way to end the week.
* The Christmas lights are up in the windows. The tree is decorated. There are a million presents underneath (Zoe's counted and sorted). I still need to take Z shopping for Brad and pick up a few odds and ends for the stockings and then we're done. I'm stopping by the post office this afternoon to check for boxes (and mail out a very late camera). Apparently we need more wrapping paper too. I've got my brain Dr apt today (just the standard 2 week check up) so I'll try to do all of it before then.
* My eyes are tired today. My head hurts right behind my eyebrows. It is super dry in here (the snow's fault?) and even after going to bed at 9 last night and getting pretty good rest, I'm still thinking about curling back up in bed to nap. There are bags under my eyes and I just feel ... old.
* Friday is Zoe's last day of school before break. They're having a Pj Book Day. She's got her new pj's from Cheryl/Dani picked out and asked me to wash them. Actually, she asked me to do all her laundry. I told her sure - as long as she paid me a dollar. Z said that I could just keep the dollar I usually paid her. I replied that wasn't how it works but how about just 50 cents. Z countered: 20 cents. We settled on a solid quarter. Somehow, I think she'll be just fine out in the "real world". That kid cracks me up. |
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