Did you get what you wanted for Christmas?

Well, did you? Just wondering.

Oh? You want to know how my vacation was? Well, I'm happy to tell you. So glad you asked. :)

**BTW--this has the potential to be one VERY LONG post. Don't say I didn't warn you.**

The first week of my vacation I stayed in the area and visited some nice places. I went to Philly to see the light show at Wannamaker's (Macy's). It is pretty much a little kid thing, but I can remember my mom talking about seeing it when she was younger so I really wanted to see it. Of course I also went to Redding Terminal and ate a cheese steak.

I took some time to visit Longwood Gardens, also in Pennsylvania. It was SO pretty. They had everything all decorated for Christmas and it was GORGEOUS. During the day it is nice to look at but at night, when all the lights are on, it is simply BEE-YOU-TI-FUL. I highly recommend it.

We had a MAJOR snowstorm here the Friday we got out for vacation. miss raven and I do not like the snow. miss raven REALLY did not like the snow when she had to go out and *ahem* do her business. Truth be told, neither did I because it is so cold.
I flew home on Christmas day. Now, one would think (at least this one thought), that planes would be fairly empty on December 25. I figured everyone would already be where they wanted to be by then so I would have a nice, calm, empty airplane. BWHAHAHAHAHA. Not so much. The flight from here to Dallas wasn't too bad, except for the fact that they "lost" my seat. I had a seat. I had a window seat. Only, I didn't. I ended up on the AISLE!!!!! I should have known something was up when I got to Dallas because I came in at Gate C 29 and was SUPPOSED to leave from Gate C27. Whenever your gates are that close together in Dallas you should always know that something is going to happen. Something notsogood. I was only supposed to have an hour layover. Long enough to walk from one gate to another--airtram? I laugh at your airtram! moving sidewalks? I scoff at those! I am tough! I can carry a dog, a purse, and a bag through the airport with one arm tied behind my back. Ok--maybe not, but still...I can WALK!--go to the bathroom, AND get something to eat and possibly drink. (Now, before I go on, please remember that I got up at four in the morning to make my flight. Yes, FOUR, you read that correctly.) We land, early, and have to sit in front of the gate for almost half an hour. Am I worried? Of course not. I am going from Gate C29 to Gate C27. Nothing to be worried about. I may not get to go to the bathroom and I may not get a snack, but I am not worried.

We finally got off the plane and I noticed that there was no red-coated agent waiting to meet us with helpful information. In hindsight, I think the designated agent was too afraid of all the mad passengers to be there. I take a look at the monitors and do a double-take. My departure gate has changed. TO GATE A26!!!!! Quick look at the watch reveals I have about 41 minutes to make it. No problem. I'm not worried. I can still walk it, quickly, and make it by boarding time. Wait--what's that? Double-take again. The flight is now not leaving until 11:42 (supposed to leave at 10:50). Hmmmmmmm......ok. Well, darn it. There goes the surprise. You see, my brother didn't know I was coming home. Dad was going to pick me up at the airport, take me to his house to drop off miss raven, and then drive me over to my brother's house to surprise him and his family. Now I have to call Matthew and tell him that I am coming home, surprise, but am delayed in Dallas. He was surprised. I think.

Long story short. I end up in Dallas for an extra almost four hours. I shouldn't complain because there were people on my flight that had been in Dallas for more than 24 hours. One lady had a dog with her. I PRAY that never happens to miss raven and I!

I made it to El Paso and had a wonderful time with the family. I went to Chuck E. Cheese, Taco Cabana, the Sun Bowl, the movies (Sherlock Holmes--it was GREAT!), and other places.

I also crocheted. Here is a tease picture:
You'll get more on that in another post.

All in all it was a nice vacation. I am SO not ready to go back to work tomorrow. How many days until my next vacation???

OH!!! And to end the vacation on a SUPER HAPPY note.....the COWBOYS ARE THE NFC EAST CHAMPIONS! They opened up a can of whoop-bottom (hehe) on the eagles today. HOW 'BOUT THEM COWBOYS!!!! AND....the redskins lost! Nice!

A New Year

I suppose I should say "Happy New Year", since that is the "PC" thing to do. It technically isn't the new year here, yet, but it will be soon. I'm not feeling all that happy, though.

Don't get me wrong. It isn't that I had a bad vacation. I so did not. I actually had a wonderful vacation, truth be told. It's just that, at this time of the year, you tend to start thinking about things better left, well..un-thunk. (yes. I made up a word. I can do that because it's my blog, not yours.)

I am about to almost be close to middle age in a few months. I am not liking that at all. In fact, it quite depresses me because my life didn't turn out like I had planned. Isn't that a funny statement? I mean, who gets to have a planned-out life, anyway? Stupid type-A personality that I am...I expected that my life would follow the plan that I had for it. and...wait for it....POW! Right there is my whole up-bringing slapping me in the face. I don't get to plan my life. Ok. I can deal with that (as my nervous tic begins tic-ing). You know what really ticks me off, though? Glad you asked...happy to tell you.

Why is it that some people get to do whatever they want and still come out on top? They could fall into a pile of, well, you know, and still come out smelling like a rose. Then there are those people who do everything they are supposed to. And I do mean everything. Shouldn't those people get something that they want? Notice that I said something, not everything.

Those who know me know what I want and I don't think I am asking for too much. I really don't. I know all the right answers and all the right little sayings. By now, though, they are trite. By now they sound like platitudes that people say because they don't want to say anything to "offend".

Sometimes I want to just say "screw it" and do whatever I want. I pretty much don't, though, and it isn't always for the "right" reasons. Fear is a powerful tool and it does much to keep me in line. Fear of losing my job, fear of disappointing the people I love, fear of pushing just a little too much. Fear is a powerful motivator for a type-A.

So, a new year. We'll see.

Oh--and lest you think I sound bitter...well, maybe just a little. Generally not much. Sometimes. Like tonight. But not so much bitter as just sad.

Not Me Monday...again.

I have not gone for many weeks without blogging simply because I didn't feel like it. I am dedicated to my blog and my (ahem) 4 followers.

I have not blown my diet to smithereens. I have not comsumed LARGE amounts of tamales, pizza, ice cream, and whatever else I can get my lips on simply because I can.

I do not eat when I am stressed out.

I am not stress-eating because I am currently VERY, EXTREMELY worried that I am going to lose my job.

I am not worrying away my vacation because I am VERY, EXTREMELY worried that, when I get back, I will not have a job.

I am not worried about getting my paycheck on Wednesday.

(sigh)

Not me Monday...and then some...

Ok..it's been a while since my last post and since I have been scolded, errr, gently reminded that I need to blog again....here I am. I know you've missed me. All four of you. :)

So, to start off, let's have some Not Me's:

I did not semi-yell at the TV on Saturday night when the Heisman trophy winner was announced and it was NOT (really not) Colt McCoy. Really? Seriously? Again?!?!?!? I did not root for the washington redskins to beat the oakland raiders. I hate the redskins and would never, ever cheer for them. I don't feel the least bit sorry that they suck this year.

I did not bake five hundred million different types of cookies this weekend. Included in that total is 300 million butter cookies and yes, Matthew, I did not burn some of them. You know, for old times sake. ;)

I do not feel the need to bake five hundred million more cookies, including four hundred million semi-burnt butter cookies.

I am not completely unfazed by the fact that I have gained TEN FREAKING POUNDS since Thanksgiving. I mean, I totally eat healthy all the time, so why would I need to worry about that?

I am not to the point where I am ready to count down the MINUTES until Christmas break. I love my job and never, ever want to be not at work. Ever.

This time of the year is so busy, for everyone, not just me. My high school students are finishing mid-terms tomorrow and then they have MEGA rehersals for the Christmas program. The middle school students had a regular schedule but are going crazy as can be because of the upcoming break.

The weather is so unpredicatable right now. It was cold this morning but almost like spring this afternoon. By Friday the high, the HIGH, is supposed to be in the 30's. The HIGH. Oddly enough, though, my dad has had more snow in Texas than we have had here. Global warming being what it is an all. ;)

miss raven is doing well. Currently she is, ahem, snoring next to me. She has a full tummy and an empty bladder. What more can a girl ask for? She spent part of this evening under my sweatshirt. I think I should get a snugglie for her. Other women wear their babies...I could wear my dog. :) Seriously....

Thursday, Thursday, da, da, da, dadada.....

I am starting to kind of like Thursday a lot. Why? So glad you asked. I'm groovin on Thursday because it is one day before Friday. EVERYone LOVES Friday because, well, it's Friday and all. Thursday get a bad wrap sometimes, I think. No one likes Monday, that's a given. Tuesday isn't all that bad, and Wednesday is kind of ho-hum. Everyone likes Friday and Saturday and Sunday, but Thursday is kind of always skipped over. So, I've decided to kind of like Thursday. not as much as Friday and Saturday and Sunday and I am sure that Thursday understands that and all, but I have grown rather fond of Thursday.

Tomorrow there is a baby shower at work. Just another reminder that it isn't me that is having a baby. Of course I will go and of course I made/bought a present, but I will spend the whole time trying not to be jealous. I am happy for her, I really, really am, and I know she will make a good mommy, but it isn't me and that is a huge bummer.

Anyway. Work wasn't awful today. That's good. I had a meeting that laster longer than I was hoping it would and I couldn't read to my K5 class like I usually do but other than that, it wasn't too bad. Only one more day.

C'mon, sing with me....Thursday, Thursday, da, da, dadadada..... ;)

The weather outside is frightful...

Well, ok. It isn't TOO frightful. It IS yucky, and rainy, and damp, and wet, and icky, but I guess it isn't frightful. It COULD be worse, I suppose. It could be snow, or ice, or sleet. I can deal with rain. Especially when I am in my warm and cozy bed with my warm and cozy dog with a warm and, ok, not really cozy, cup of peppermint coffee. Yum. :)

Today went well. Hump day is over and I only have two more days this week and then it is the weekend! Yea for the weekend! After this weekend I only have ten school days left until Christmas break!! :)

I found out on Monday that Miss H does NOT have the pox! Chicken or otherwise. Apparently her body was just stinking tired of the flu germs and the strep throat germs that it freaked out in a weird chickenpoxlike rash. Yea for no chicken pox, boo for having to go back to school looking like you have the chicken pox. She is such a good kid, though, and I am really glad she didn't miss that much school. Her teacher is rather a bonehead and I worry that, when she misses school, he isn't going to make sure she gets caught up. I know it isn't all that nice for me to call him a bonehead, but really, he is. I speak the truth. I only met the guy once but I really think he may be a little scared of me. Hehehe. That's a good thing. ;)

Two more days until the weekend!!!! :)

So.....

I got my pictures today! You know...the ones with me and miss raven! Awwwwwww......they turned out so well! I would have bought the picture CD (apparently they don't sell the proofs at J.C. Penney) but it was, HELLO, a HUNDRED DOLLARS! I love miss raven, but really...a HUNDRED DOLLARS?!?!?!

Anyway, I am trying to figure out a way to get some of them online. I suppose I could take pictures of the pictures...let me try that.

Hey...what do you know? It (sort-of) worked! The pictures aren't the best...pictures of pictures and all that, but you get the idea. :) Isn't she so adorable? :) I think so. The first picture is my favorite but LOL!!!! don't you just love the "demon dog" face in the last picture???

I went out for dinner tonight to Ruby Tuesday's. I love their salad bar. After dinner I spent an obscene amount of money at Target. I didn't mean to, but there was a ton of stuff I needed and then gifts to buy. Happy Holidays and all that. To cheer myself up I got a Peppermint Mocha Frapp Light. Yummm. Happiness in a cup. :)

One final bit of happiness...me and my BFF shopping on Black Friday. :)

Note the snow falling. ick.