In a Minute

I made it through a year's worth of posts. Sometimes it was easy to think of what to type and other times I wanted to type about how I had nothing to type. Something always popped into my head in the end, even if I needed a day or two to reflect on it.

Happy new year!

Just In Case

Since I'm not sure I'll be home in the next day or two, I packed up some baking supplies in case I get the urge to bake something for New Year's Day dinner. The possible baked goods are: pecan butter cookies, gingerbread (since I didn't make any gingerbread cookies for X-Mas), a bundt cake (since I got a new pan for X-Mas) or chocolate chip cookies.

There and Back Again

I'm back at home after being stranded in Lorain. I hitched a ride with my godson and his mom tonight so that I could retrieve my car and collect the newspapers and mail that accumulated while I was away. Back for good? Who can say?

Spinderella

I got in the borrowed car this afternoon to get some lunch and the first left turn I had to take caused the car to spin almost 360 degrees. We went back home, adjusted the car's power switches, put it in second gear and took what we thought might be a safer route. On the left turn this time, the car spun into the oncoming traffic lane. We turned around and decided to eat leftovers at home.

Picture Me

I hate my camera more than usual. The battery is crap, it's bulky and I can't connect it to the computer very easily. I don't know whether I'll get a new camera or a new battery, but if I want to continue taking pictures I have to buy something new. Luckily, I got some cash and gift cards for Christmas.

End of Days?

I haven't decided whether I'm going to continue this daily blog into the new year. Probably not. I've been lazy in my posts for most of December, and I can't see getting better in January.

Serving Size

Holiday overeating is in full swing. I tend to eat what's in front of me and Christmas is all about endless supplies of cookies, casseroles and appetizers. The worst is being served a double-sized portion and eating the whole thing. How are you supposed to not finish a meal that someone else dished out for you?

X-Mas Eve

The California branch of the family is in town. I feel like I just saw them... oh wait, I did!

The Battery's Down

My car battery conked out tonight, which is bad. But worse is the fact that someone else was driving it at the time! I called roadside assistance and got a jump, and the car ran fine back to my house. Luckily, the auto repair shop where I take my car is open tomorrow, and they're pretty good about fitting in last minute customers.

Tree

I put my Christmas tree up tonight. I wanted to also decorate it, but it will have to wait until tomorrow.

X-Massing

Second round of Christmas shopping very late at night. So many places are open until midnight! At least one more round to go.

All Is Palm

I took some pictures of palm, orange and (I think) lemon trees today and also took some fruit off the orange or lemon tree and a lime tree. It's harder to pick than it looks. I'm very excited about the free citrus. I might post some pics but I'm not sure they are that interesting.

Orange You Glad

I tried to take a picture of the citrus trees in the area, but my camera battery is still crap. It holds a charge for only a few minutes, and I spent a minute looking at the pictures on my camera before I tried to take a few snapshots. Dumb mistake.

I hope to charge it up and get some post-worthy pics tomorrow.

Mac Envy

I intentionally left my laptop at home (it didn't fit in the carry on bag anyway) and have been working off a Mac for the last few days. It's like coming home! There are so many good differences. Not to mention the fact that my stupid PC is constantly downloading updates and/or working super slow.

My one complaint is the lack of a delete key at the bottom of the keyboard. That's always bothered me about the Mac. Why can you only erase backwards and not forwards? Oh, another complaint is no right and left click options on the mouse. You just get used to stupid things on a stupid PC.

I feel like I can only complain about it because I'm not typing on it. My laptop is over three years old so I guess I should just be glad it still works.

Go Gadgets

For some reasons the gadgets on this page aren't working right. I took the twitter one down a bit ago and now the blogger play one isn't looking good. I guess most people don't pay attention to the side bar stuff anyway so I probably won't try too hard to find replacements.

Jet Set

I can't tell if I'm jet-lagged or just tired. I had the whole emergency exit row to myself on my flight out west, which is the way to do it since it's the longer leg. I slept a little on the plane, but I should probably go to bed on east coast time anyway.

Packing Up

I'm trying to pack light for my mini-holiday. I borrowed some luggage that fits in the overhead bin so that I don't have to check any bags. I can always borrow stuff from my sister. Hey, that's what I've been doing this week and last anyway!

Sleeping In

I wish I could have slept in today. I usually get up early on Mondays and most of the time I stay awake, but I like having the option of going back to sleep. My "second job" continues this week. I surely couldn't do this type of work full-time.

Greensleeves

I've almost decided on a color for my living room, although I probably won't get the paint on the walls until next year. It'll be green, but I'm not sure of the shade yet. In the meantime, I've taped a bunch of color swatches to the wall to help me pick. One of these is a top contender.

Outdated

I made my annual pilgrimage to a "warehouse" store in preparation for cookie baking. You really can't beat their prices on a big ol' bag of chocolate chips. I was very disappointed that they didn't have any dates, but more disappointed when I went to another store and asked for dates and the stock gal replied, "as far as...?" Are dates really that exotic that people need an explanation as to what they are? Sticky Toffee Pudding should be more popular in this country!

Mañanitas

I'll have my first tamales of the yuletide at the Mañanitas a la Virgen de Guadalupe fiesta tonight. Last year they were a little doughy so I hope they are better this time.

One of my cousins sells tamales during the Christmas season, and he's making a dozen for me (via my grandmother). His food is always delicious so I'm looking forward to them!

Get the Lead Out

I feel like I might be coming down with something. I can't tell if it's the weather, the furnace (as opposed to boiler) heated places where I've been hanging out or an actual sickness. I hope it's nothing.

Everything In Its Place

I rearranged my living room furniture in preparation for putting up my Christmas tree. I'm not sure if I'll get it up sooner than a few days before Christmas. The stupid fake tree is big and clunky and in my basement. I'm not feeling it yet.

Name Game

I was at my grandparents' house tonight, and my grandmother asked me to look up something for her when I got home (whether Post still made Post Toasties.) I had my iPod and an Internet connection so I looked it up right away (apparently the cereal was discontinued in 2006.) This led to me doing at least 10 more searches for actors and singers from yesteryear. Mostly we were interested in finding out whether they were still living, whether they had kids and how many times they were married. I didn't think my grandfather was paying attention to us until he asked me to look up someone, too.

Simply Cards

I finished my Christmas cards today, and I was super lazy with them this year. They're cute though.

Party Time! Excellent!

One of my favorite things to do during the Christmas season is bake cookies. It used to be a family affair when I was a kid, but at some point it changed to more of a solo effort. There were years when I did all of the baking, frosting and decorating myself, but I usually have some help.

A few years ago, I started my very own tradition when I hosted my first official "cookie party." My initial thought in having the party was to recruit help in making the dozens of cookies I bake every year, but I found it's just nice to have company while baking, especially when Christmas cookie baking takes 24+ hours. Of course, guests don't have to help although I strongly encourage their help in frosting and decorating, which are my least favorite things to do.

I sent out the invitations for this year's cookie party today. I hope you all can come!

Overdone

Second trip to the gym today. But this time was more comprehensive. I hope I didn't overdo it, really. I'm not in the worst shape of my life so I think I'll be okay. Hot tubs can be wearing, though.

Office Space

I'm not sure why, but I have an easier time tackling a project if I can stretch it out over a period of time. I can't stand doing a long clean-up of any one room. My newest long-term project is my office. It's going to take forever. Here's why:
1) It's freezing in there. Even on warmer days it's cold since the entire east wall is full of drafty windows.
2) For every well-organized file there are about three unorganized ones.
3) I have a box lid (not the box, just the lid) full of various papers from college, work, etc.
4) I have a box of magazines and various other papers.
5) I have a box of job search related papers.
6) I have a box of office supplies and work files.
7) I have a box of stuff from my grandparents house from when I was a kid.
8) Everything that didn't have a place to go over the last 8 years got thrown in my office (or my closet, which might be my next long-term project.)
I try to spend 15-20 minutes in there every day, which is about all I can stand.

Speedy Delivery

I sent my first Christmas card today. I didn't put it in the mail since I was going over the family's house tonight anyway, but it still counts as being sent.

I'll probably do the same tomorrow when I go to a different family's house. The rest I'll likely mail since I bought two books of Christmas stamps so I should probably use them.

At the Gym

I overheard two different conversations today on my first visit to the gym where I have a free three month membership. The first was about how this woman and her husband? (not sure because she just said "we") were going on a cruise to the Bahamas over Christmas. Not before or after but from the 21st to the 26th. The second was a woman who talked nonstop for about 10 minutes and whose topics ranged from hosting Thanksgiving for 35 to how her grandmother came to America from Hungary on the Carpathia to how [Mexicans] come to this country expecting free housing and other handouts. My favorite story was about how she told the younger generation (mine, from what I could extrapolate) that they had to help clean up after the Thanksgiving meal because they normally don't. Of course she only meant the women since, as she said, "I understand that the men want to watch football."

Needless to say, these women are my new BFFs.

It's Beginning

I thought about setting up my Christmas tree. I gathered my cards and thought about addressing them. I'm debating whether to write a letter this year, but I'm afraid of how it would sound.

I've bought no presents, but I did make a list of approximately 20 people and gift ideas for each.