Foto Friday

My furbaby, Cosmo (fondly known as MoMo, or about 2 dozen other goofy names). He's my "firstborn".....the first cat that was ever officially mine. Sure, growing up we had cats .... but they were family pets. Never really specially bought for me.

In November of 1996 my boyfriend at the time picked me up from school and put a box on my lap. Inside was a black ball of fur, with booger bubbles coming out of his nose. Poor thing had an upper respiratory infection and my mom and I had to force feed him pink liquid medicine (have you ever tried giving a cat liquid medicine?). He was the cutest little furball ever, and he's still my bestest little bud 11 years later.

Just recently I had a moment where I was petting him, and realizing he's already been in my life for a good portion of his kitty cat years and I started to cry. When my good friend, Melissa just lost her kitty, it tugged at my heart strings, not only because I just got to kitty sit this summer and Lucky and I had a special "bond" over cat treats, but because it made me realize that someday I'll be in that boat, too.

Throughout the years, I've gone through the loss of 5 cats. A couple (Wubs and Caeser) of them were when I was much younger, so I don't really remember the time (though, I remember the cats). I remember when my buddy, Binky, crossed the rainbow bridge. I came home from school, and he was gone. I was so incredibly upset that they took him away before I could say goodbye. Then, Tommy, our tabby (the three previous cats were all black), who could do tricks. He got really sick, and was pacing and pacing, just walking from one side of the apartment to the other. We knew something wasn't right; that it was his time, too. And then, the most recent was a few years ago. Our part Siamese, only female, Stephanie (because she had nice "software" (movie Short Circuit where Johnny 5 says "Nice software Stephanie!")) had a cyst by one ear that got bigger and bigger (it didn't seem to bother her, so the vet said it wasn't likely serious) and then it started oozing, and her ears started oozing....I remember driving my mom to the vet, Stephanie in a box on her lap because she was oozing so bad, we wanted to keep her contained (and she wasn't fond of car rides either). She was trying so hard to get out of that box, meowing desperately....it broke my heart.

And now as I write this, I've got tears streaming down my face....missing those 5 kitties like crazy. Longing for one more snuggle. And it kills me that my adorable little furball, MoMo is happily bounding around the house, and I know that someday he's going to leave me, too.

The Things Kids Say

We're at the mall tonight sitting down in the food court and a rent-a-cop walks by.

B: Uh-oh! A police man just walked by!

Me: He's probably coming to take you to jail. For disturbing the peace.

B: Which piece??

No Mo' NaBloPoMo

This is it! The final day of NaBloPoMo 2007. I made it!

Of course I've got a crazy work day ahead of me, so this is gonna be short, and I'll have to get you the Foto Friday later....

Happy Friday!

Thankful Thursday

This week, I'm thankful for my new employee, who is fitting in nicely, and adjusting quite well. Tomorrow will wrap up her 5 consecutive day training period, and she's doing very well.

Hopefully we'll continue to see improvements, increased efficiency and productivity.

Wisdom Wednesday

Running too quickly on an icy sidewalk in front of a neighbor's house, you slip and break your leg. Would you be likely to sue the owner of the house if you were confident you could win the suit because of his negligence in shoveling the snow?

Depends. Which neighbor is it? If it's one we really like, then no. If it's one that minds their own business and is respectful, likely not. If it's the one that allows their dog to shit on our lawn, plays beanbags loudly in the backyard at 11pm on a work night, smokes pot outside so that we can smell it through our open windows, revs the car engine at 5:30 in the morning (I could go on), then YES, probably.

Revenge is a bitch.

Call 911, I'm wearing myself thin

By the time Christmas rolls around, I'll probably be hospitalized....or committed. Every year at this time, I start getting just a little bit frazzled by the amount of things I have to do, and just how little time there is to do it.

I thought I was ahead of the game; my Christmas cards arrived in people's mailboxes today, *most* of my Christmas shopping is done, I just finished making 15 goody bags for my son's birthday party (could potentially have to make another 7) and I just completed an order for 90 personalized candy wrappers - not to mention the work load at my nine to five. So why do I feel like I've got more than I can handle?

I can probably guess why. I'm the type of person that when I know there are things to be done, I like to get them done NOW.

I really hate my impatience sometimes, but it's who I am (and lucky you! You just got another random confession for True Confession Tuesday .... yes, now you know, I am impatient.)

So, while I'm sure you're reading this and thinking to yourself "What is she bitching about?! Seems like she's got everything under control to me! Heck, her "I-took-it-myself" photo Christmas cards are already in people's possession!" But have I mentioned the boxes and bags and piles of presents that need to be wrapped? My count - I've currently got 65 gifts to wrap. And then there's the 800+ cookies I'll be helping to bake. And speaking of, there's the cookie exchange that I'm hosting with my mother. Scratch what I said before; I have 66 gifts to wrap because I forgot about the grab bag gift for the cookie exchange, too.

Take into consideration that I spend 10 hours out of the week commuting, and 43 hours a week working. No wonder it's just now 10pm and I'm feeling that it's well past my bedtime.

True Confession Tuesday

So, have you seen the movie A Christmas Story? Do you recall the 'tongue-stuck-to-the-pole' scene?

Boy, do I have my own story for you!

It was a cold, winter evening and my mom, dad and myself went out grocery shopping. This was something we did together, every Friday. So, we do our shopping and head back out into the blustery night with our purchases. As my parents are walking ahead of me, pushing the cart, I decide to test out that theory I saw in the movie.

So, I found myself a shopping cart at the cart corral and lick the metal cart handle.

In the meantime, my parents realize, "Hey, where'd Sarah go?!?"

And there I am, stuck, frozen tongue, to the shopping cart.

Movies and television really do influence our youth, folks.

Our House

Yep - that's our house this holiday season.

Menu Monday

Since this is the season for baking and cookies, I figured I'd present you with one of these best chocolate chip cookie recipes I've come across. I tested these bad boys out with different pudding flavors and they were a huge hit with family, friends, neighbors and coworkers.

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 (3.3 oz) package instant white chocolate pudding mix
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Stir together the flour, baking soda, salt and instant pudding powder; set aside.

In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Blend in the eggs and vanilla. Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand using a wooden spoon. Scoop cookies using an ice cream scoop or by heaping tablespoons. Place cookies at least 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until lightly golden. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely.

How can it be? Say it ain't so!

The weekend is over?!

So much for weekends being down time. I swear my weekends are busier than my work weeks.

I did get all my Christmas cards finished, and they are in my purse to mail from work tomorrow (if I remember ... I have a tendency of forgetting mail in my purse). My shopping is just about done (need to pick up a few gift cards), so I can get started on the wrapping any time now.

I printed out the personalized candy wrappers for my son's family birthday party, so they just need to be cut, wrapped and glued.

We got a few more RSVPs for the munchkin party, but there's still just under a dozen left that didn't respond. I did type up a letter to go home. If it was just a few kids, I wouldn't bother. Since it's so many, it could definitely play a part in not enough food, and not enough goody bags, and I'd hate to see any I-didn't-get-a-goody-bag-and-now-I'm-going-to-cry-until-I-throw-up drama. I like to be prepared, and I can't be with that many kids not responding at all. In normal cases, I'd take the no-calls as regrets. But when we're talking 1/2 the class; it's a lot harder to assume they all are NOT showing up. At any rate - my son is over the moon about the friends that are coming. He is so totally stoked to be turning SIX! (HOLY CRAP, really?!? Six? (sigh) I thought 5 was a weird age last year. Now we're even closer to ten!!!!)

But there I go rambling...... So.

Tomorrow starts a whole new work week. The new office girl starts tomorrow. She'll be in every day this week for training. Hopefully she'll adjust and ease in nicely. I'm a little nervous, but anxious to just have someone reliable and hard working in the office.

I've got plans to hit the stores tomorrow evening to pick up some goody bag stuffins and possibly finish off that Christmas shopping.

Oh! And wait! I just remembered I have to tell hubby to take my car and go put gas in it (yes, 80% of the time he goes and gets gas for me .... besides, it's too cold out there right now, and he's not entirely crazy when I come to bed with a frozen ass ..... that happened every weekend last year while we did Santa's Landing ... that's no fun -- even with long johns, my butt was still like a popsicle each night when I came inside).

Okay, goodnight blogworld! See you tomorrow to finish off our final week of November and NaBloPoMo 2007!

Stargazing Sunday

Are there a such thing as elves?

Because I'd really like one. Or two. Maybe three.

There's always so much to do this time of year, and not enough time to do it. I stayed up late last night and wrote out 90% of my Christmas cards. I just need to do the last few, stamp them all and get them in the mail.

The plan is to head out today and do a bit more Christmas shopping. It'll get me that much closer to the finish line.

I'm still holding out hope that a couple elves will show up on my doorstep to help out.

Snarkalicious Saturday

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz.........

I'm ready to drop. Up early this morning to hit the mall for a round of Christmas shopping (though I have to say, I'm almost done!), then back home to decorate the inside of the house, and put up the trees.

We just finished our tree a few minutes ago. There's about two dozen ornaments for the kids to put on, but other than that - it's done.

Our Christmas cards came in the mail today (earlier than I expected, but that's a plus!), so now to get those all addressed and in the mail.

The first round of baking will be done in a little over a week for our cookie exchange. I do still need to make a decision on what type of cookie I'll be baking.

At some point I need to start wrapping presents. And of course we can't forget about my son's 6th birthday or his two birthday parties. And while we're on that subject, there will also be thank you cards to write out and mail.

I'm soooooo sleepy right now. It was a very productive day, but I ache. Actually, I'm wondering if I'm not coming down with something for how achy I feel. Oh how that would suck. This is just not the right time to be ill. I've had a cold, and it's gotten to the point that I can deal with it, but for a bit it was really kicking my ass.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz........

Off to bed I go before I start drooling on the keyboard!

No time

I don't have enough time for a good post right now.

Christmas threw up in our house, and we're trying to get it all organized and decorated around here. Right now it's a great big mess of storage totes, boxes and strings of lights.

Itty bitty

I was just googling some images, when I came across this photo. Found that the artist's name is Camille Allen and her work is just stunning. Such realistic, adorable little babies. Take a look!

Foto Friday

4 weeks! I haven't bitten my nails in four weeks. I love the way they look, but I am noticing them when trying to complete daily tasks. It'll take some getting used to, but I'm lovin' it! The desire to bite isn't there anymore, and I hope it stays that way.

(Side Note: I love that there is a piece of lint on my sweater, and that you can see residue from my last polish color....nice)

Thankful Thursday

What a perfect day for a Thankful Thursday!

The first half of 2007 was not a good year for us. From health problems, to losing a parent, job loss and unemployment that stretched on for 6 months. It was a tough time.

I'm thankful that we made it through all that. I'm thankful for my family, especially my mom and dad that are the greatest grandparents ever; my 2 adorable little children that even when they make me crazy, that I still would give my life for them. I'm thankful for my job, and the opportunity that came to me in August. I'm thankful for my friends, always able to provide a laugh, a smile when it's needed, or just a listening ear. I'm thankful for all the superficial things that we don't need, but are blessed to have anyway. I'm thankful for our health; there were a few health scares this year and recently. I'm thankful for my faithful furry companion, who loves to snuggle with a fleece blanket on the couch to watch TV with me.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Wisdom Wednesday

What things are too personal to discuss with others?

It depends on who these 'others' are. Random strangers? Acquaintances? A new friend?

First and foremost - it all depends on the individual; their personality and how they roll.

For me, I'm pretty open about a lot. Those that I have known a long time, or are very near and dear to my heart, there really isn't a subject that is off limits. As long as it's spoken about tactfully.

Hell. Who am I kidding? We had a girl's weekend in August in which we discussed landing strips, ball gags, and PVC pants.

Yes, truly some tactful ladies. Squeak, squeak, squeak!

Droopy Mind

I'm picking up Chinese food for dinner on my way home from work tonight.

So, I jot a quick note so I know what I need to order when I phone it in.

I jot 2 orders of egg rolls. Check.

An order of pot stickers. Check.

It was all fine and dandy until I jotted down egg droup soup.

Have you ever eaten egg droup soup?

Mommy Tip

A week or so ago I was looking for a contact through our school district's website, and I happened to find a link to a website that the kindergartener's use. I played around on it for a few minutes, and thought, "Hey, I really should let Braeden play this at home. He's always asking to go on hotwheels.com and such, so this would be perfect!"

Time didn't allow for computer play since then, so when Melissa posted about it on her blog, I made a mental note to make time for Braeden to use it.

He was excited to be able to play on Mommy's computer, and when I brought up the website his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree!

"HEY! That's what we have at school!" he exclaims.

And he proceeded to play on it for an hour and half. I sat by him and watched for a bit, and it's really neat. Easy for them to navigate, and it's got all sorts of fun pictures, animations, sounds and music.

If you've got preschool/kindergarten age kiddos, check it out!

Birthday Party Dilemma

Okay fellow bloggy friends....I've got a question for you all.

My son is having a party strictly for friends next weekend (not this weekend, but the first weekend in December). He invited his entire class and a couple kids outside of school.

So far we have only gotten a response from about 5 kids in his class. The RSVP date was November 25, so people do still have time to call in but I'm starting to get a little concerned.

Last night my son tells me that so-and-so said her dad told her she could go, but that they don't have his (my son's) phone number. I tell my son - well, it was on the invitation.

He tells me "Well, maybe you forgot"

Well. No, I didn't forget. Getting back on track ....

I was thinking about typing up a letter for each child and sending it to school on Monday with our phone number and all the party info again. Perhaps make reference to the conversation between my son and his friend, and that I may have inadvertantly forgot to write our phone number on the invites.

What do you think?

It's just that the class is like 19 kids - so there are over a dozen children I haven't heard from. I make goody bags up for the kids, and this leaves the potential of having kids goody bag-less and upset, or I spend extra money to fill all these goody bags and end up with a dozens of extra play-doughs, stickers, candies, and glo-bracelets than I know what to do with.

Plus - the party isn't cheap. It's nearly $300 for up to 26 kids. Obviously the more kids, the more you "get your money's worth". I'm really not too keen on spending $40 a head for 5 kids to show up - but it's not likely that I'd cancel the party anyway, so I guess that point is mute.

So, what do you think? Is sending home a note inappropriate? I don't have phone numbers for all the children, so this would be my only means of contacting them.