Three More Days

Three More Days

of 2005. Wow.

Sorry for not writing. I have been... you guessed it... busy!

I am sitting at a laptop on dial-up in the basement of my friend's house eating her mom's delicious lasagne while their cute senior Tibetan spaniel whines, trying to convince me he will die if I don't give him some. I have been dogsitting him for a week and will be done tomorrow night. I am off tomorrow, which is a very good thing, because I am sick. Started coughing Christmas afternoon. Turned into a full-blown cold in a day. Yesterday I went in 2 hrs & 15 min late so I could rest more. Today I just sounded really gross when I couldn't stop coughing. I have been trying very hard to keep my cooties to myself.

Tonight and tomorrow I am going to try to finish making various cookies and treats I promised my co-workers as Christmas gifts. I bought a mask and gloves so I won't contaminate them as I bake and decorate the goodies. I am making Mudballs, dog-bone-shaped sugar cookies, chocolate chip pan cookies, and maybe peanut butter cookies with kisses on top. Mudballs are so yummy. They are peanut butter, powdered sugar, rice krispies and butter rolled into balls and dipped in chocolate.

I hope everyone has been having fantastic holidays. My Christmas was great. I am so spoiled! It was great spending the day with my family and Brian. Everyone got/gave great gifts, which was fun. And the food was so yummy. I got a tummy ache from it all. I got (in no particular order) pug pajamas, cookie monster pajamas, soft blue sweater, stretchy curdoroy blazer, a really nice water-proof jacket, a book on training your pet hamster, a hot/cold neck wrap for my sore neck and shoulder that's actually made to look like a dog, a super duper comfy beyond belief pillow, lot$a ca$h, sudoku book, doggie calendar, doggie ornaments, animated newborn puppy toy (it's kinda creepy), dog sheets, tiny travel Cranium, gift certificates galore, a self-help book i wanted, pug figurine, purse, scented candle, Nintendo DS w/ Nintendogs, memo recorder and framed photo from my family reunion. Whew! What a haul! I definitely wasn't that good this year! I got some gifts in the weeks before Christmas too.

But I think I did a good job of gift-giving this year. Everyone seemed thrilled with the stuff I found for them. I shopped everywhere. I found a bubble gun and unpoppable bubbles my sister was extremely excited about for storytime (she's a children's librarian), more so than the nice and unique kitchen stuff I got her (she loves to cook and might start her own business). I found little earrings with horses on them for my mom, and some with crabs and some pretty black and white ones. And I got her a big coffee table book by TV Guide on 50 years of television history. She loved it and originally $50 I paid $2.99! Tell me I don't know how to shop! My dad thought the clock that looks like a steel brake drum and pad with tools for hands was cool for the new garage. It was $40 on sale for $15 and then they gave me a military discount because my check card says Navy. And he was very happy to get a gift card for TGI Fridays so we can start doing lunch together since I'm off on Thursdays now. It will be Thursdays at Fridays. :)

I think Lex thought the pin I gave her was as cute as I did. It's a nice silver sculpted pin of a pup w/ floppy ears. And I gave her a cute corgi calendar/planner. I gave pet toys and treats to pretty much everyone who has pets or knows someone who has pets. :)

I haven't seen Steph or C.B. to give them presents yet. I gave my boss health-food-related kitchen items he seemed pleased with.

Brian's gifts were a slam dunk this year, making up for the first year when he actually got mad that I gave him stuff he didn't like. :P But this year I did great and he was happy and surprised.

So what's everybody doing for New Year's? I was invited to First Night Alexandria but it's always so damn cold on New Year's and I'm sick... I'm working a long day New Year's Eve but we're closed on The First. I kinda wanted to have a party but I don't think anyone can come.

I'm definitely making my resolutions happen this year. I must. I will change my unhealthy habits and become the person I want to be!!!!!!

I'll have to write soon about trying to decide about moving. And about the cool Tivo thing we just figured out.

Merry belated Christmas!!!! Happy Hannukah!!!! Happy New Year!!!!
Love, Laura

Good Thing I Didn't Name Him Harry

Good Thing I Didn't Name Him Harry

cuz Mr. Nibbles is losing his hair!
I'm increasing his vitamins from fruits and veggies. I hope it's not parasites.

Speaking of being grossed out by bugs...
This morning I put my right shoe on and laced it and felt a lump under my foot, which I guessed was a lint ball. I took my shoe back off and one of those creepy ass cave crickets (aka spider crickets, aka camel crickets) hopped out. Ew!