Christmas Observations

OK, I only have 10 minutes to write this entry because I’m too busy trying to hang my Christmas lights up outside, address my photo Christmas cards, make cookies, finish shopping, wrap my presents, mail a package off to Maine and balance my checkbook (which you know is all out of whack considering I’ve been whipping that debit card around like I’m a millionaire). So, really, I have no time to blog. However, I just had to share some of my favorite Christmas observations:

1. I hate everyone in my neighborhood. They obviously have no life because they all got their Christmas lights up at Thanksgiving. Come on, people, give me a break! I still have leaves under that foot of snow in the yard! Aah, the pressure…

2. I’m not really a big fan of those stupid blow up figures people put in their front yards. If you have one, I apologize. I just think they’re dumb, and they always blow over (it is Erie, ya know).

3. Cats and Christmas trees do not mix. My cat (this is his first year experiencing a tree) won’t leave my tree and ornaments alone. I’m thinking about buying some kind of spray for $14.99 that may keep him away. Seems pricey, but then the peace of mind would be worth it.

4. I despise the song “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.” And I’ve never known anyone who roasted chestnuts for Christmas, let alone did it outside where Jack Frost was nipping at his nose.

5. Fruit cake – gross. Who eats that? And, believe me, I eat just about anything.

6. Nutcrackers freak me out. I don't know why, they just do. And I was very disappointed that the Christmas stamps this year were either the Virgin Mary or a Nutcracker. It seems I've turned my kids against them, too. Two years ago I wrapped one up for my daughter as a joke. It was great. Last year, my mom wrapped one up for me. This year, I'm going to regift that one and give it to my son...an unsuspecting victim. Ha, what fun!

I put up this little decorative thing outside my cubicle at work that says, "Countdown 'til Christmas." Every day you change the number. My friend Melissa said, “Looking at that thing every day is a heart attack waiting to happen.” Nicely put! I laughed, but it’s still hanging there to remind me of all that I have to accomplish in only 16 days.

That being said, you won’t hear from me until after the holidays unless something really funny happens, because I simply won’t have time to update the blog. So, have a wonderful Christmas. I hope you have a beautiful holiday with your loved ones; I know I will (aside from my sarcastic – some would say “smart ass” responses -- I love Christmastime.) Be Merry! Catch you in '09...

Black Friday Big Bust

I had a master plan for Black Friday.

I had a plan after carefully studying all the newspaper ads and figuring out what I wanted. I made a detailed list. I set the alarm....and then in the morning...couldn't quite get myself out of bed as early as I wanted. I planned to get to Wal-Mart by 5 a.m. Well, 5 came and went, so I figured ok, no big deal, I'll get to Target by 6 a.m when they open.

I rolled out of bed, threw on clothes, brushed my hair, brushed my teeth and set out for the adventure. Well, I arrived by 6 a.m., but then I had to find a parking space. What a joke! That took another 7 mintues. Finally, I walk in the store with the other 5,000 people who apparently had the same idea as me, and realized that there was no way in hell I was getting that Kodak digital camera for $89. There were no carts left, there were people walking around with stacks of DVDs in their hands, and there was no where to even walk in Electronics. I have never seen more chaos in my life. It was insane. I heard people swearing, I heard the guy working behind the counter in Electronics scream, "Just hold on...I'll be with you in a minute!!!" That's when I realized that there was no way I was getting anything I came for, let alone getting out alive! The lines were backed up further than they eye could see, so I promptly left.

I decided to check out Wal-Mart. Could it be possible that everyone was just at Target and that maybe Wally World would be more calm. Um, yeah, not so much. It was just as insane. I ran into someone I knew in line with a cart full of stuff. She said she was already in line to check out for an hour (and she was only about 3/4 of the way to the cashier!). Again, no way am I waiting in line for a couple things. So I left there, tried my luck at Kohl's and decided it wasn't worth waiting in line there either. By this time, I am thoroughly disappointed that I woke up for nothing, wasted 2 hours of my time and didn't get any deals. UGH. But I'm already out and I've already missed my morning Jazzercise class so I decide why not try the mall. Wish I would have only gone there, it really wasn't that bad. It was about 8:30 and yes, it was busy, but not too bad. I did manage to get some good deals and was home by 10 a.m.

Here's my solemn oath: I will never ever in my life get up that early to shop!
I don't care if they sell a 30-inch TV for $25. Not worth it.

I really think Black Friday is crap. There is no way I could have gotten any of those deals because I wasn't waiting in line at 4 a.m. I wish some store would have a Black Friday sale that kicks in about 9 p.m. on thanksgiving night. I'm a night owl, so I'll tell ya, I could do some damage if that was the case. But this getting up at 4 a.m. thing, no way, not happening.

And to further my irritation, I see women all dolled up---hello women, what time are you getting up to put on make-up and doing your hair? Are you kidding me! I have no time for that! I could barely roll out of bed to begin with.

Black Friday -- for me -- was a real bust. If you got some deals, please do tell. And do tell how you managed it...

Snowin' and Stormin' in Erie, PA

This entry has nothing to do with being single in Erie.

It's just about living in Erie in the winter. Or fall...

Here it is mid-November and we've already had two major snow accumulations. The storm right now is really freaky. It was actually thundering and lightning. Wow, was that weird. I don't think I've ever experienced a thunderstom and blizzard at the same time. I was out on my deck brushing the pile of snow off of my grill and patio furniture. No, I did not move them inside ... yet. I know, I'm irritated at myself, too. But it seems all of a sudden I ran out of time. Then we changed the clocks back and well, by the time I get home at 5 or 5:30 from work, it's dark. I had all intentions of doing it this weekend, but it literally rained the entire time.

Oh, and then the rain turned to snow. aaaahhhh...Within about four hours, it seemed several inches fell. I don't really know how many inches we have now, but I'd say a lot and the snow keeps on coming. If anything happens to that new patio furniture, I'll scream (see earlier entry from June). Believe me, as soon as this latest accumulation of snow melts, I'm on it. I'm moving it all in the garage -- even if it's pitch black out.

Until then, bundle up and get those snow boots out...

One -- no two -- Sexy Devils!

Happy Belated Halloween!

The weather this year for Halloween was fantastic. It was great to see kids without snowsuits on! It was also cool that Halloween fell on a Friday.

So, my kids and I went to a party after trick or treat. It was at my boyfriend's sister's house. He has asked me many times to post our picture on my blog, so I've finally decided to oblige. Now you can see for yourselves this creepy guy (of course, I'm kidding)!

I am the sexy devil in red pleather with light-up horns and a tail (which I know you can't see), but it was a pretty cool ensemble. He was undecided if he should go as an angel, devil, fallen angel or half and half. It was Friday, he's a guy (you know how those guys are always procrastinating...) and he went to the Spirit Halloween shop in search of horns. No luck. But my resourceful man, upon walking into his house and spying his carved pumpkins on the table, took matters into his own hands. Yes, those are pumpkin stems on his head. Aren't they freaky, considering he is bald? We decided it looked like the horns were growing out of his head. But still, how cute is he? :) Well, you might ask: How did those horns stay on his head? Good question. Very simple answer: Super Glue. Yes, Super Glue. How is it that the Super Glue did not take off a layer of his scalp? I'm not really sure, but it didn't. In fact, the one horn kept falling off, and I had to reapply the glue several times. We figured it must be because the head is more oily than say a finger where the Super Glue always seems to stick.

Anyway, I think we look pretty cute together, if I do say so myself!

Wedding Photos Added

Here are the photos I talked about in my last entry...

I Love a Good Wedding!

Don't you just love weddings? I do -- no pun intended!

My good friend, Mary, recently got married. We work together, so I've been hearing about wedding plans for the past year. I finally got to see all her hard work pay off. Yes, it was a BIG wedding and it was beautiful.

But the most beautiful part about it was watching Mary and Chris. I honestly have never seen a bride smile so much in one day. She was beaming from the moment she walked down the aisle til I said good night to her at the very end of the reception. She was sincerely happy about entering into this thing we call marriage. It was really refreshing.

I've been divorced for more than 5 years, and I never was the "crazy divorced lady" who was a man-hater. I never gave up on the institution of marriage. I've certainly at times over the last 5 years felt like it, but I haven't. I've certainly heard about numerous marriages ending and seen how painful it can be to go through. I think the divorce rate in this country is still 50 percent. It can be kind of discouraging, but seeing Mary and Chris so happy gives me hope that there are still long-lasting marriages out there. And that's what I choose to think about.
What a happy thought...

I will add a few photos soon...

Chillin' on a Saturday night

I know I've been slacking lately, sorry. But I have a boyfriend now, so you understand what that means, right? I try to spend a lot of my free time with him. And I'm not complaining about it. I WANT to spend my free time with him. It's just funny because it seemed like I had a lot more free time this summer when he wasn't in the picture.

That leads me to my next point: I'm updating my blog on a Sat. night at 10 p.m. My son is upstairs conked out in my bed. My daughter is at a sleepover birthday party (the second one this weekend!). My boyfriend is out of town with his kids at a wedding. So that explains why I'm updating my blog on a Saturday night. This has been the first weekend we haven't seen each other in our very long 8-week courtship. It kinds sucks. He is very good at sending me texts, though, and letting me know what's going on. I took today as the perfect opportunity to clean my basement, which is nothing less than a disaster. I now have 4 giant bags of garbage after my afternoon down there and two huge totes full of toys to sell at our next neighborhood block sale. I am impressed with my work, so I guess it was good that he was out of town or I probably would never have dedicated a block of time to do it.

Well, now I'm going to finish writing my next column for "Her Times," and am about to embark on an ER marathon (thanks to my DVR -- how did I ever live without a DVR???).

Happy Saturday night!