A Day of Rest

My cold is still in force, and tho I intended to go to church today with the fam (we had a special presentation today, so I didn't have to coordinate it), i fell asleep, and missed it!
I have made an effort today to rest. I think the commandment most often broken is the one to take a day of rest.
We finally unpacked the Wii and played it a bit today -- the bowling game, and the Mario Brothers Galaxy. I'm going to try the Boogie game pretty soon. Sure glad this house doesn't have big picture windows....

Saturday

We went looking at new Chargers for DH. I'd called ahead to say we were coming, but apparently the salesguy I'd been talking to doesn't work there anymore, whoops. The new salesguy's a bit of the old school, left us sitting there for over twenty minutes while he went and got a price, etc., so I started calling other dealers on my list, which he didn't like too much...
Salesguy was pushing hard for us to buy one of his 07 Chargers, but it was white. Bleugh. I hate me some white cars.
So, we are discussing which options we want, and which we actually NEED, which can be widely divergent.
I went to Debbie's in the afternoon for some scrapbooking, but my annual Christmas cold has come upon me, so I left the scrapbooking gathering early...

Meh

Went to see "P.S. I Love You" with Debbie yesterday, which was...ok. Had some funny bits, but ultimately disappointing. I really wanted to like it, but for one thing it was too long. After about 90 minutes, I kept checking my watch -- not a good sign.

Changes

I don't think I've mentioned this yet, but I've changed churches in the past couple of months. This was a Big Deal. I have attended Champion Forest Baptist Church since July of 1994 -- basically since I moved to Houston. I met DH there, got married there, and made many of my Houston friends there.
My church attendance during chemoland was sporadic, and once I started feeling better, and I started going regularly, I just felt...restless, as if CFBC was not where I was supposed to be. I would think about volunteering to be a SS teacher in DD1's class, and God would say, "Are you sure you want to do that?"
So I started visiting other churches. I visited Mark Shook's church in Hockley, that the girls detested. So I was praying about where to go next, and God put Cypress United Methodist Church on my heart. This is where DD2 went to preschool last year.
So we visited, and I walked in to the worship service, and recognized the worship leader as a friend of mine. I work with him at the quarterly marriage events at CFBC. I'm the producer and drama person.
So after the service, which I really liked, I went up to him and hugged him, and he said excitedly, "Are you coming here now? Because we need a production leader and a drama person!"
I told him I would pray about it, and God led me to commit to CUMC.
It's been very nice, because CUMC is a scant 7 minutes from my house. After ten years of the half hour trek to my old church, it's nice to be able to zip to church.
Farewell, CFBC. You are an awesome church.

Merry, Merry Christmas!

I woke up at 7, tidied the house, put the frozen apple strudel in the oven, got the video camera ready, set out film for the camera, and made a plate of goodies for everyone to snack on while we opened gifts.
DD1 woke up just before 8, as did DH. We woke up DD2 after that.

My brother-in-law is single, and works on computers, so he often wraps presents in spare boxes he has around. My favorite quote from the morning:

DD1: (taking the paper off a box and reading the printing on the box) A data modem!

Merry Christmas!

The secret to having your children sleep late on Christmas Day is to exhaust them on Christmas Eve. DH took DD2 shopping, as tho the dear man had had my Christmas list since the 10th, he hadn't had the chance to go shopping till yesterday. I wrapped gifts, and then DD1 and I
* mailed 2 gifts and bought stamps
* went to the kolache shop for breakfast and put stamps on the Christmas card envelopes while we were eating
* mailed the cards
* went to Petsmart for some gifts for the pets
* went to Linens and Things where DD1 picked out her gift for DH
* went to Dillard's to get new robes for the girls. By God's grace, they had them so we didn't have to enter the chaos of the mall itself.
* Target for film and baseball cards. The digital camera is still broken, so I wanted to make sure I had plenty of film for our camera.
* swung by James Coney Island for a hot dog on the road
* La Madeleine for a jar of soup as a stocking stuffer for DH
* Honey Baked Ham -- it only took 30 minutes!

Came home, dropped off one daughter, picked up the other. We got her bangs cut, got groceries, went to Target so DD2 could pick our HER gift for DH.
Came home, printed out the production grid for church, the girls changed clothes, and we went to church. I had to be there early as I'm the production leader (or whatever), so I had to make sure everyone had mikes, and we got sound checks, and so on, and the people lighting the Christ candle in the Advent wreath knew when to come on and what to do.
The 5 o'clock service went well. The DDs sat by my friend Tamra as I was up in the crow's nest, and she took them to her house afterward for a Christmas party.
I sat with the lady in charge of running the slides that show the lyrics, and we made sure they matched what the band was going to sing at the 7 p.m. service.
Then I had to run home, pick up the gifts I'd bought for Santa to give to the girls at the party, drop them off at Tamra's house, and run back to church.
7 p.m. service went well, a few minor hiccups, but nothing major. I talked to the pastor and the band leader about a few things, ate some food, and went to pick up the girls.
I'm sure they would have liked me to stay for the 9 p.m. service, but I told them family comes first.
I got to chat to some nice people at the party, and then the girls and I went home. They put on their new flannel nightgowns, set out cookies and chocolate milk for Santa, set out reindeer food, and went to bed. DD1 had wanted to make cookies last night, and I just laughed at her.
I was in bed and asleep by 10:30.

Thirty Minutes of MyLife I'll Never Get Back

so i call Home Depot, because this girl at Home Depot keeps calling me and telling me my special order is in and i need to come pick it up. i naturally assume this is the laminate we ordered for the living room and kitchen BACK BEFORE HALLOWEEN. the gal at HD (a different one), after some research, says the call was in regard to the putty for the laminate, not the laminate itself. which is odd, because apparently the reason it has taken so long is the order was put on hold because the putty was on back order, and finally Deandre at HD ordered the laminate separately from the putty, since the putty wasn't supposed to be available until January.
so i call the installer, and after being on hold for over 20 minutes, they tell me i'm responsible for getting the laminate to my house, and it has to be IN my house for 3 days b4 they can install it.
so i call HD back, and the lady checks and discovers that the laminate is NOT in, just the putty. Sure, let me come pick that right up. Because I have all these uses for laminate putty.

Progress Is Made

Woke up, made banana bread batter, filled up 5 mini tins and put them in the oven. Took DD2 over to a friend's house, came back, packed up the freshly baked banana bread, and jars of chocolate-covered peanuts with attached ornaments (made by my mom) in a picnic basket, and went to the Christmas party at DD1's school. DD1 had a great time handing out candy, ornaments and bread to her 2 teachers, the assistant teacher, the para, the librarian, the nurse, the 2 art teachers, the receptionist, the principal, and the 2 gym teachers. I miscalculated, and the music teacher got left out. So I told DD1 we could make her something for when school starts back up.

I'd post a pic of the goodies, but DD1 accidentally dropped the camera 2 days ago with the lens open, and now it won't work. Sigh. DH is going to try to take it apart and fix it.

Came home after the party, and DD1 helped me assemble photo books for the grandmothers, and wrap gifts for assorted relatives. We mailed 7 packages, and then it was time to pick up DD2. We went to lunch at Lupe Tortillas, and then dropped off DD1 at her SECOND party of the day. I picked up the Christmas photo cards at CostCo, stuffed them in envelopes, picked up DD1 from the party, swung by Pizza Hut and ordered pizza. The pizza lady said it'd take 30 minutes, and there was a nail salon next door, so DD1 got her nails painted, and I got a pedicure while we waited for our pizza.

The envelopes are now addressed, but I still need to print out the Christmas letter and stuff that in there, and buy stamps. Still! Progress is made.

Oh, can I just tell you? The lady in front of me at the UPS store was mailing a box of gifts to Wyoming, and wanted it there by Christmas. UPS doesn't count Saturday or Sunday, so she had to send it two-day and paid ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY TWO DOLLARS to ship the box.

Zumba

I have discovered a class at the gym that I like. It's called Zumba, and it'a a Cardio/Latin fusion class. The first time I took it was Friday, and it was funfunfun, with lots of dance moves like the sprinkler and the lawnmower, body rolls, and so on.
I took it today, and it was still fun, but not as much. The class on Friday was taught in the gym by a fun girl, who was just enthusiastic, having fun dancing. Today's class was taught by a drill sargeant, who kept exhorting us to lift our knees higher, move farther, jump higher! Plus, her moves were more those you'd find in an aerobics class. Plus, the class was taught in a smaller room with a MIRROR.

Loyal Supporter of My Local Grocery Store

1:30 p.m. Sunday. Go to grocery store to buy a basket of flour, sugar, etc. for a local charity.
7:30 p.m. Sunday. Go to grocery store to buy supper, lunch meat, and sugar-free candy
6:15 a.m. Monday. Go to grocery store to buy bananas, flour, sugar, etc., to bake banana bread for the staff at DD2's school. (I'd forgotten the deadline was that monring.)
6:15 p.m. Monday. Go to grocery store to get fruit tray for DD1's Brownie Christmas party.

And? I'm out of tub butter and getting low on a few other things....

Party Animal

I went to a playwriters' Christmas party last night. We each had brought a 2 minute play that was read, and then we voted on our favorites. I tied for second and won $8! It was between that or a book on playwriting, but I know I would NEVER read the book. I have all these books on parenting and the like that I buy, fully intending to read them, and I start them, and never finish.
I sat next to a dear man who is coming out of treatment for colon cancer. Unfortunately, he tends to be somewhat of a melancholy disposition, and much of his conversation at dinner focused on people he knew who'd had cancer and DIED. Finally, the lady -- who is legally blind -- who was sitting across from me said, "I think she wants to talk about something else."

PhotoShopping Around

I got PhotoShop for Christmas and have been experimenting, to wit:

it's supposed to look like an impressionist painting.

I Do This Every Year

I start getting ready for Christmas in late October/early November, and then I think I'm in good shape, so I take a couple of weeks off from Christmas preparations. A
nd then it's mid-December, and the letter isn't done, the presents aren't mailed, the decorations aren't done....
As I write this, my coffee table is covered with Christmas decorations that the DDs got out for me. The Christmas letter is written, but not printed, stuffed, addressed or mailed. There are no Christmas lights outside. Cute wooden cutouts, yes. Lights, no. Christmas shopping is about 2/3 done.
I looked at the calendar for today, and for the first time this week, there is nothing written on today's square! So i hope to get on the ball and get some Christmas stuff done. (Of course, part of me wants to just forget it and go see a movie...)

Style

I have at least 4 pairs of Target sunglasses, and I can't find any of them. So for the past few days, I have been sporting some very fashionable Barbie sunglasses I unearthed from underneath a car seat...

I spoke at DD2's school's chapel on Wednesday, which was fun. I wrote a little play for it, one angel explaining to another who'd been out of town about how Jesus was coming to earth as a baby, and the angel not believing him. A couple of high school students performed in the play, and then I spoke for a few minutes about how it was a sacrifice for Jesus even to show up, as He gave up all His power to become a defenseless baby.

If you want, I can post the script here.

Had my yearly appointment with the speculum today. Waited for an hour in the waiting room, but i expected this, as my OBGYN is very busy, and his patients are always having babies. So I made sure tobring along one of my novels of no redeeming value whatsoever.
OBGYN said everything seemed fine. I'm going to have a blood test to see if the menopause is here to stay or not.
I had Indian food for lunch, and then worked out. This was a mistake, as i kept burping as I worked out, and curry doesn't taste nearly as good the second time around...

Fancy Schmantzy

DH and I went to his company's Christmas party on Saturday at the Post Oak Hilton. This is a coat-and-tie kind of affair, with hors-d'oeuvres consisting of cocktail shrimp and other seafood served in a large ice sculpture in the shape of a ship, an open bar, a band, doore prizes, etc. Here's the menu:
*Roasted Butternut Squash Bisque with Cinnamon Toasted Walnuts served in baby pumpkins
*Poached Lobster Tail with Grilled Artichokes over Shaved Celery Root and Fennel with Microgreens and a Lemon Thyme Vinaigrette
*Lolla Rossa and Frisee Greens, Vermont White Cheddar, Granny Smith Apples Compote, Raspberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
*Filet Mignon and Roasted Stuffed Breast of Pheasant with Spinach and Pheasant Mousse Red Wine Reduction and Dried Cranberry Compote, Garlic Roasted Parsnips, Asparagus Spears and Baby Vegetables
*Miniature Fruit Tartlets, Cream Swans, Caramel Apple Lollipops-dipping station, Cinnamon Maple Apples with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
*Deluxe Coffee Station

I know, I didn't know what half of that stuff was, either. I basically ate the vegetables and left the meat, which ensured I had room for a small dessert or two and some coffee.

My Hair

is now long enough to be slicked back, should I so desire.

The New Reality Tastes Bad

So, all these nutrition books I have reading to ward off a recurrence of the cancer are unified in recommending sprouted bread. Sprouted bread is bread that has been allowed to germinate. And I bought some. If you want to know how it tastes, all I have to tell you is that the dog, who serves as our mobile garbage disposal, wouldn't even touch it.

My Bathroom Scales Are Possessed

Seriously. I stepped on them Tuesday. 184. OK, not great, but whatever.
I step on them yesterday. 175.5.
What? No way I've lost 8.5 lbs in A DAY, because I am certainly not on the Biggest Loser regime. So, I wait for it to reset, and step on it again. 178. What? I gained 2.5 lbs in a MINUTE?

M'gram

Had a mammomgram today. When will i find out the results? In a month.

Today...

...is a stay-in-your-pajamas-and-do-the-laundry day. lunch? a clean-out-the-freezer meal, consisting of eda mame and a couple of egg rolls.


Madame La Princesse dumped out her mouthwash yesterday, declaring that she wanted me to buy her a different flavor. She was summarily informed that a) fat chance would i buy her any mouthwash in the foreseeable future, and b) she is going to pay us back for the mouthwash she dumped out.

Not Much

DD1: (entering the kitchen) What's for supper?
Me: Leeks
DD1: Yuk.
Me: Why did you say yuk? You've never had them.
DD1: (peering into the pot) Oh. I thought you meant leeches.

Woke up at 4:30 Saturday morning with a hot flash, and decided to go clean the kitchen for a bit, which then morphed into tidying the rest of the house. I never did go back to sleep.
The girls and I went to a couple of craft shows Saturday morning, and then ate at Husky's, which! despite its name, features burgers with Angus beef, and your choice of white, wheat or onion buns. They also have a Reduced Fat Combo, with no-fat cheese, and baked fries. I think I have found my new favorite burger place...
We went to see "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" at Cypress Bible on Saturday night. The girls' favorite part was when the angel said, "Shazam! Jesus is born!"