christmas

A Couple of Happy Things (Picture)

Aidan and me, matching again:

Mommy and Aidan

He loves the gifts he got from Ivy; a toy airplane and a bulldozer that really works.

He is playing with everything in his stocking:
– a little stuffed moose who “sings” O Christmas Tree;
– a toy DHL airplane;
– a bubblegum story book;
– a CD and egg-shaped maracas;
– one of those M&M stocking stuffer tube thingies.

Other happiness: adamselzer‘s book FINALLY has a cover on amazon.com. Check it out here. While you’re there, pre-order it. Want a preview? Go here for an excerpt. I guarantee, you’ll love it. Take it from me, his number one fangirl, street team person, whatever.

I have to pack for the long weekend away! Eeep. Not to mention–I have to try not to forget any of the gifts! Eek!

‘Til next time!

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I’m One High-Falutin’ Son of a Gun

Got to work this morning. Everyone was kind of punch drunk, with the holidays being so close and all. Heather gave Jay some Head On, so of course, I had to keep saying “Head on. Apply directly to the forehead. Apply directly to the forehead. Apply directly to the forehead.” HAHA. Then he let us try it. It made my head tingle and I felt relaxed all over. Both Heather and Jay attest to its effectiveness. Good stuff.

I skipped the lunch outing, but the office was SO quiet because just about every one else left, so I took a very nice nap. πŸ™‚

Next week, I get to develop another style guide! This one will be for the Teacher Edition of the Pre-K Handwriting program.

Stopped by Target to get cat litter, and then came home to find a notice on my door for two packages from UPS! I went to my mailbox and saw another package slip! I RAN to the rental office, and found out that I had FOUR packages waiting for me! Elizabeth had to give me a bag so I could carry everything. I got a package from Ivy with:

Newsies soundtrack;
– Pitcher and glasses;
– Pink slipper boots (they are so unbelievably cute!!);
Eats, Shoots & Leaves;
– Nag Champa (!!!)
– stuff for Aidan πŸ™‚

From Andy, I got a Mickey Mouse toaster (!!), and some footie pajamas (I am so putting them on after I take out the trash), and I got more Mikasa stuff from Rosa!

Overwhelmed? Oh yes. Feeling VERY loved? Absolute-freakin’-lutely!!!!!! πŸ™‚

Chris is on his way over with Aidan. I’m going to let him open his stocking and play with the things Ivy got him tonight. We’ll probably watch Mickey’s Christmas Carol a million times. Tomorrow, we’ll head up to my mom’s for the weekend, and I’ll come back home Sunday. Spending some of the day with a few Davis folks on Christmas, and recovering all day Tuesday !!!!

Before I go, I have to clean out my car. My mother told me to do so. :O

I have no plans to go out anymore today–it’s rainy, people are driving like bad bananas with greasy black peels, and I want to relax for the drive up tomorrow, and before the weekend. Can’t wait ’til Aidan gets here! πŸ™‚

‘Til later!

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I Feel Like Writing!

Yesterday was an AMAZING mail day. I got a letter from wlotus and a letter from verytruly, a load of cards, and two birthday presents!

Today’s line at the post office was INSANELY long. I mean, it was threatening to go out the door! Tell me that’s not a bit scary! Tomorrow is the last day to mail something Priority and get it there before Christmas. I’m sure the place will be a MADHOUSE. Eek.

Work is going okay. I was dreading working on the ELL pages for a while there, but now that I’ve helped develop the style guide, and now that Tamera lets me have the run of the project, I’m really enjoying it! I know I’ve mentioned how awesome Tamera is, but I must reiterate. She is AWESOME. Working with her is so much fun. She’s hilarious and just all around nice. Did I mention that she’s letting me make a lot of style decisions on this project? Wheee!

I’ve been looking at confirming pages for Handwriting–Practice Masters, which are books of excercises one can do to simply practice letter formations, joinings, and sentences. I like seeing the corrections I suggest get incorporated. I like making our products better. No, not better. The best.

There were loads of cards for me in my mailbox today. People come in every morning with holiday bags filled with gifts to give people. The VP gave everyone little houses filled with mini sausages and cheeses. One of the editors gave cards with handmade ornaments in them (mine will be going on my tree shortly!)

A Good Meme

I got this from a friend, and decided to reproduce it for me.

Step One
– Make a post (public, friendslocked, filtered…whatever you’re comfortable with) to your LJ. The post should contain your list of 10 holiday wishes. The wishes can be anything at all, from simple and fandom-related (“I’d love a Snape/Hermione icon that’s just for me”) to medium (“I wish for _____ on DVD”) to really big (“All I want for Christmas is a new car/computer/house/TV.”) The important thing is, make sure these wishes are things you really, truly want.
– If you wish for real life things (not fics or icons), make sure you include some sort of contact info in your post, whether it’s your address or just your email address where Santa (or one of his elves) could get in touch with you.
– Also, make sure you post some version of these guidelines in your LJ, or link to this post (it’ll be public) so that the holiday joy will spread.

Step Two
– Surf around your friendslist (or friendsfriends, or just random journals) to see who has posted their list. And now here’s the important part:
– If you see a wish you can grant, and it’s in your heart to do so, make someone’s wish come true. Sometimes someone’s trash is another’s treasure, and if you have a leather jacket you don’t want or a gift certificate you won’t use–or even know where you could get someone’s dream purebred Basset Hound for free–do it.

You needn’t spend money on these wishes unless you want to. The point isn’t to put people out, it’s to provide everyone a chance to be someone else’s holiday elf–to spread the joy. Gifts can be made anonymously or not–it’s your call.
There are no rules with this project, no guarantees, and no strings attached. Just…wish, and it might come true. Give, and you might receive. And you’ll have the joy of knowing you made someone’s holiday special.

1. Acceptance Mark
lilrongalATaol.com
Money. Until I find a part-time job to supplement my ZB income, I’m going to be cutting it close and barely scraping by, and if something comes up, like needing new brakes on my car (please, not yet), I will be utterly screwed. Any generously given help will be SO appreciated. Normally, it would hurt my pride to do this, but it’s the holidays, this is a wishlist, and I’d do the same for my friends if I could and they needed it. Besides, who doesn’t wish for money??????

2. A Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for Aidan. He really wants one, and he’s been such a great kid, but the thing is SO HARD TO FIND, and on eBay, it’s no cheaper than $75 with shipping. Unfortunately, I can’t get it for him. But he deserves it because he’s so wonderful, such a blessing, the light of my life. ♥ Uncle A was indeed, at it again! πŸ™‚ Thank you!!!! ♥ Aidan will appreciate it so much. Today, he told Santa that he wanted a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I can’t wait to see his little face!!

3. Gift cards to Barnes and Noble or Amazon.com or Best Buy πŸ™‚

4. Grown-up size pajamas with feet. I lost mine. πŸ™ I wear a small.
Matching!
I’ll post the new picture when I get them!! πŸ™‚

5. A laptop computer for Aidan.

6. Plane ticket for a four-day weekend to Chicago in May.

7. A book publishing contract. A best-selling career.

8. A toaster. I am spoiled. ROTTEN. πŸ˜€ But I appreciate it all. Thank you! πŸ˜€ I’m so excited about eating toast that I will forget to be afraid of it popping up. Yes, yes, yes. πŸ˜€

9. To be off of Lexapro. Peace of mind.

10. My friends to be happy.

I’m going shopping with Angelo tonight. Not buying anything myself, but he needs help, as always, with his purchases. We’re avoiding the Easton area. I think that’s the most wise decision. In the meantime, I’m gonna take a couple of Aleve (stave off the cramps), and hang up Christmas cards.

Til next time! πŸ™‚

ETA: Let me reiterate that I have the BEST FRIENDS EVER!!!!

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Given The Choice Between the Two of You, I’d Take the Seasick Crocodile (Pictures)

Aidan and I had an awesome weekend together. When he leaves Sundays, I have mixed feelings. One says “now, I can rest!” and the other says “Oh, he’s so cute. I’ll miss him!” But I’ll see him tomorrow, so it’s okay.

I’d had every intention of taking a one-hour nap, getting up at 3:30pm, and walking down to the library. I didn’t get up until 5pm! πŸ™ I hate that! So, I decided to wash my towering pile of dishes, make dinner, and wrap presents. I’m all done!

My Tree

My Tree
One of my nutcracker ornaments.

Christmas Corner
My holiday corner.

Fun Effect
On Tuesday, Rob and I were playing with my 6-point filter, and decided to do something cool with my big ass sunglasses. Check out the flash in the lenses! πŸ™‚ (Please ignore how NOT CUTE I look)

Weeks ago, I’d purchased steaks at Kroger Marketplace. Three little ones to a package, buy one package, get one free. Last week, I opened the package and made a little steak on Sunday night, one on Monday night, and I made the last one tonight. I had that, green beans, and rice made in the rice steamer. It was yummy! πŸ™‚

And now starts the last week before the holidays officially begin. Copy editing galore for me. I did download some Christmas music that I used to listen to as I was growing up–a few Nat King Cole and Elvis Presley songs. There are a few cards that need to go out, and some to take to work tomorrow. I’d love to get some candy to stuff into Aidan’s stocking, but we’ll see how the budget looks for that.

Time to bake some muffins for next week’s breakfasts. πŸ™‚

See ya!

P.S. Just like to mention that I hate loud neighbors. That is all.

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Interesting…

While watching Mickey’s Christmas Carol, adamselzer noticed that during the scene where the rats are digging Ebeniezer’s grave, one of the headstones in the background says “Gladys Knight.” Today, I paused the DVD and zoomed in, and noted that it went a step further and said “Gladys Knight & The Pips.”

I wonder if she knows about this?

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