Told ya...

I'd be back.

;)

Not much to report...I'm so lame!  Let's see....I went to dinner with a friend last night.  We had a good time...she is one of those friends that I can totally be myself with.  She knows me and doesn't care about my imperfections.  I love that in her!

We went to an Italian restaurant and I think I did ok, food wise.  I had a salad, with the dressing on the side; penne caprese, which was AMAZING...I shouldn't have eaten it all but I did; and one slice of garlic bread, even though they brought me two.  I also had a cup of coffee and a LARGE glass of water (without ice).  I have to tell you, I was pretty proud of myself for drinking the water.  I drank the coffee because the night before I ended up with a really, really bad headache from lack of caffeine.  I didn't want it to happen again last night so I drank the small cup of coffee at dinner.  Um.  And then another one when I got home.

We had a half day at work today.  We were supposed to have professional development this afternoon, but our wonderful principal, sensing how badly we needed a break, held a brief meeting and then let us go.  WOO-HOO!!!!!!!!!  That was so wonderful!  I was able to go to the bank and then to the post office.  I needed to mail a package to my niece and nephew (because I am an awesome aunt!), a package to my BFF (because I am an awesome BFF), and a package to my most recent swap partner.

I know, I know.  I kvetched about the last swap and, truth be told, I am VERY unhappy with the moderator of the swap and how impolite she was to not respond to my message to her.  She pretty much called me out in the swap, accusing me of lying about the package that I got (the one that was full of dollar-store items and reeked of smoke).  Anyway, someone recommend the group I am in now so I figured I would give it a try.  Ironically the woman I was assigned to had mailed my package earlier this week and it was waiting for me when I got home.  I was pretty much pleased with what I received.  The only downside with the package was that, once again, it came from a household with a smoker.  Fortunately the smell wasn't quite as awful as before, and I am hoping that spending some time with some fabric softener sheets will do the trick.

Let's see....oh yes, my sock class...the one I was freakishly excited about...was cancelled.  :(  I am so bummed out about it!  The shop had offered to let me take another sock class in March, but before I could respond to the e-mail, they contacted me again to tell me THAT class was cancelled as well.  The kknitting gods seem to be against allowing me to learn how to knit socks which is the whole reason I learned to knit in the first place!

Sigh.

Other than that, not much else to report.  miss raven has a new growth on one of her back legs, further pushing me towards pushing the vet towards having her tested for Cushing's disease.  All I hear are little cash registers ringing.  It's a good thing I love her so much.  :)

Verizon is currently rewarding me for being a "loyal customer" by granting me free HBO until the end of May.  I wish they would show their gratitude in a more monetary way...like cutting my bill down some.  I am taking advantage of it, though, and watching some pretty cheesy movies.  Back to the Future II, anyone?  McFly?  McFly?

Goodnight!

:)

it's more blessed to give...

than to receive.

i'm repeating that to myself over and over.

i participated in a Christmas swap on Ravelry again this year.

this is the fourth swap i have participated in and the second Christmas one.  i have been pretty much pleased with the other three swaps.  this one, though...not so much.

i was already disenchanted with this one because the person that i was supposed to be sending to posted little to no information about her likes/dislikes.  i did the best i could and, in my opinion, sent off a very nice package today.  i came home from work to find my very own package waiting for me.

i was excited.  i LOVE getting presents and being surprised.  i couldn't wait to open it and find out what goodies my person sent me.  i had spent a lot of time making sure that i answered all the questions posted and had all my information up-to-date.  i just knew this was going to be another good experience.

w.r.o.n.g.

the first thing to disappoint me was the unbelievable smell of cigarette smoke that assaulted me when i opened the package.  i'm not kidding when i say that it literally made my eyes water.  pretty much everything was wrapped, which was nice, and i decided to try to get past the smell and open the presents.

sigh.

it appears as though much of what i receive was re-gifted.  there didn't seem to be much thought put in to my "gift" and, i have to say, my feelings are a little hurt.  there were three redeeming things in the package:

1. a small jar of vanilla bean pods (useful because i do love to bake.)
2. a tile Christmas coaster (it is cute and i do like it.)
3. two stitch markers (i think they are handmade but am not sure.)

the yarn i was sent reeks of smoke and right now i have most of it placed in a ziploc bag with a dryer sheet.  the "homespun" i was sent looks like someones first attempt...i don't mean to sound ungrateful, but my feeling is, if you are going to send someone something handmade, make sure it looks nice and is useable.  there is NO WAY i can use the "hand spun" i was sent.  even if it wasn't a "first attempt" there isn't enough there to make anything usable.

needless to say, i am very disappointed with this swap experience.  (i can STILL smell the smoke on my clothes three hours later and it is giving me a headache.)  i wish people would think before they send things or even before they sign up to participate in something like this.  i know this is the Christmas season and i probably shouldn't gripe and complain, but right now i am just a little sad.

i did send a message to the moderator of the swap to let her know about these issues.  i made sure she understood that i wasn't seeking another package, just wanted to let her know about the lack of consideration in the one i received.

anyway.

the kids did a great job today at their Christmas program.  i was SO proud of them, as usual.  :)

only SIX more school days until VACATION!!!!!

time to knit!

have a HAPPY FRIDAY!  :)

Good things come to those who...

don't complain, moan, kavetch, scream, yell, stamp their feet...

I have been neglectful in the picture taking uploading of late but I finally got my behind in gear and got everything in the camera on to the computer.

Now you can be entertained without having to read through all my blah, blah, blahing.

Here is an update from the weekend:

Saturday--felt great.  Met a parent at Starbucks, mailed my swap package, went Christmas shopping for the niece and nephew, came home.  Around noon began to feel like crap.  Tried to talk the cold out of invading my body.  It didn't work.

Sunday--moaned, complained, kavetched about my cold.  Watched football.  Rejoiced that the redskins lost. Rejoiced that the giants lost.  #*#$(#$( that the Cowboys lost.  Rejoiced again (and more emphatically) that the giants lost.

Monday--went to school.  Worked very hard at not ripping fourth grade heads off seeing as how it isn't their fault that I am sick.  But wait...it probably IS their fault that I am sick.  Oh well, too tired to care.  Have a raw nose due to all the blowing.  Opened swap package.  Took the following pictures:

 miss raven received a t-shirt that says "Cookie Taster", a squeaky toy, and a rawhide bonie.

I received a hank of Malabrigo silky (in wisteria) and a cowl pattern, two dark chocolate mint bars, two notepads, two candles, a crocheted birdie, a crocheted snowflake, and a handwritten note on a handmade card.

Finishing post.  Drinking coffee, making English quiz for tomorrow.  Still 6 scarves left to crochet.  Can't do any tonight.  Too tired........

More pictures.....

 My favorite Chihuahua and her big ears.

 My Halloween pumpkins.  Yes, I know it is December.  I'm late.

 The ginormous puzzle that my students put together (almost) all by themselves.  We were studying birds in science.

My BFFF.*

Good night!

*Best Furry Friend Forever.