Awwww... Clark is damn cute (and congrats on tenure).

I love the reponse to my stalker. I think I was too confused to respond but if it happens again.... well, if it happens again I will surely wonder how I can turn off the freak beacon.

I start my new work schedule tomorrow 7am-2pm. It should be interesting since 7AM is a ridiculously early hour. But I'm going to be biking to work again (woo hoo!) so hopefully it won't be too bad. Sunrise is at 6:46 AM and I'll leave the house around 6:30 AM so I'm a little nervous about biking in the dark. I have all the lights but I still feel a little weird.

Jessica, I've been biking in the dark for a few months now. I got to adjust to it gradually though as the season changed, so that was nice. I highly recommend a *good* headlight. I started out with a cheap one from target that was pretty useless, but then got a really nice one on clearance at a bike shop. Wow, what a difference! It's almost as bright as a car headlight.

I've also got a day glow yellow windbreaker that makes me feel a lot safer.

It's crazy the amount of people I see biking and jogging ninja like around here with no lights or reflective tape or anything.

You know Jess, I was just looking at your pic and thinking that if you roam around target with that big smile on your face it is no wonder you attract the lost and deranged.

I remember now working at the mall and while on duty at my store you smile and nod at every idiot you pass, but then when I would go on break out in the mall I would forget and smile and nod at all the random freaks wandering in the mall - I was always making eye contact and catching myself - good way to get stalked for real.

Those of us that worked in retail in the past need a stint at the DMV to deprogram our drive to serve. LOL.

So is everyone ready for the holidays yet? I'm almost there - just a bit more grocery shopping for the fresh fruit and veggies etc. and some wrapping to do

I'm really looking forward to spending time with family and friends

Not ready - but better since started vacation today! Yeah!

Food shopping done but I have to go out today and finish up hubby, stocking stuffers etc. Just us this year so pretty low key.

Strangely, I'm pretty much ready! I need to make a batch of rum balls today, to bring over to the folks this weekend. Other than that I'm golden. Well, I wanted to clean up my deck for a Solstice fire tonight, but since it's been pouring rain for 4 days and doesn't look like it's giong to let up any time soon, I think it's going to be an inside celebration tonight

i'm ready too. got my presents wrapped, cookies baked, groceries purchased. just gotta chop veggies for roasting, make mashed potatatoes, and remember to thaw out the roast and ham (i'm so taking help from honey baked ham this year).
only think that's not prepared is me, mentally, for pain with inlaws. *LOL*

I am done, bought, wrapped, stuffed - save cooking but "when you are a lady of leisure, cooking is a diversion, sigh...."*fay raye? more dramatic the better*

Allen is bringing home choc chips so I can make cookies = havent made choc chip cookies in ages and ages.

Did I tell you guys about the tree falling over? I hate to repeat so let me know if I didnt.

Just about to head up to the cabin for a couple hrs while I flea bomb this house and what is worse is that we are having a warm front - it has been 50-65 for a week, every since the snow hit Portland, we have been nice and warm - Sunday yeah it was Sun - it was 28 when I got up sun and it was 55 when I went to bed - freaky. All week it was warmer when I got up at 6 than it was at noon and then it would warm up again at night - I think the humidity was greater at night with clouds and fog so it was like a wetsuit full of warm body water. Sheeesh what an analogy. Anyway the fleas come out when its warm and pour little dot has such bad skin that they just attack her - I swear she bathes more than me - JK!

Hello all!

Well, I came down with a mild flu on Sunday and have been laid up in bed a lot since. Luckily, the worse is over and I am on the mend.

Thanks for the compliment, ajandpj. Yes, I definately walk around smiling a lot. It can be HIGHlarious. Old men fall in love with me at restaurants. I know I open myself up to crazy future stalkers. However, I once read an article about a guy who threw himself off the golden gate bridge. His psychologist went to the apartment with the family and he had taped to the mirror, "If one person smiles at me on the way there, I won't do it." It devestated the psychologist. And it made me think about how simple it is to just smile at someone.

I am not done with my christmas shopping. I was debating what to get the cute boyfriend. It was either a frying pan (he has an all-clad obsession) or a GPS. I think I've decided neither. I'm going to make my own art print. I'm going to take one of the black & white pictures I took on our trip to Europe (there are about 10 rolls to choose from) and blow it up and have it framed for the house. He loved the trip and loved the pictures but we never took the time to frame any of the pictures. I'm going to Giant Photo today. The size I want (poster size) cost $72.00! Any then there is the framing!
I'm deciding between:
*windmill in the Cotswolds
*artsy shot of the Eiffel Tower (one leg, very contrasty)
*artsy shot of the London Eye
*castle turret

I think the windmill might win because it has a sweet story attached. Our worst day in England. We were in Stratford (birthplace of Shakespeare). Someone slammed my fingers in the car door, the Cute Boyfriend and I fought, got lost, etc. And then at the end of the day, I realized after finishing a roll of pictures that I had not actually LOADED film into the camera. I cried and cried. The Cute Boyfriend convinced our hosts to make a special trip in the opposite direction to photograph the windmill (I was obsessed with the windmill).

I hope the printers can accomodate such a last minute idea!

Jessica, Did the Windmill win? Enquiring minds 'n all of that What a great idea for a present btw, I'm sure he's going to Love it!

I hope everyone has a nice holiday weekend. I don't really celebrate Christmas, except that my parents do, so I kind of do by default, which always feels a bit weird. I'm am looking forward to brunch Mimosas by the fire tomorrow, though

ooh, mimosas.. what a great way to deal with the family. i am so drinking tomorrow! *LOL*
i am kinda in the same boat as you tani, i don't celebrate the christian form of christmas, but in my case i just love the whole holiday time and figure a lot of the traditions my family celebrates are pagan based anyway so i just go with it. i did once have a big party for the solstice and the whole family came it was great.
anyway, i am ready. all presents wrapped but the ones i'm getting (the boys did decide they would wrap those ones themselves. *LOL*). I'm down to the chore of making mashed potatoes and slicing a pre-cooked ham. Woohoo. This may be the best holiday spent with the evil that is the in laws.
I'm at work til 6 today which is kind of a bummer, but that's okay. i never really understood why the day before a holiday should be a holiday too. oh well.

Happy whateveryoucelebrate day!

Have a wonderful Holiday weekend!

Hope your holidays have been, are, and will be wonderful!!!

Clark thanks you all for your good wishes, and YES, he is a sweetie-pie!

Jessica-glad to hear you are feeling better.

HAPPY YULE EVERYONE!

Hope everyone is having fun with their families and friends

We had a great party last night and a quiet dinner with my parents this evening.

We had a traditional roast beef dinner with all the trimmmings and Yorkshire Pudding (the puds turned out great especially since this is only the 2nd time I have ever made them so I am quite pleased with myself )

My mum made trifle and we finished off the evening with deep discussions over a glass of Scotch

Tomorrow we are having some friends over for turkey and a gift exchange, Tuesday we visit DH's family and then Wednesday we are hosting a video game night with some other friends. Hmmm..maybe I will just sleep through New Year's

So what did everyone else do?

Hi Everyone! Hope you all had a safe and happy holiday.

Allen and I had very nice and quiet holiday yesterday. We had a small wind storm Sat nite so we woke up to a few downed trees and debris everywhere but nothing tragic.

After I got the turkey in the oven we went for a walk and fed the animals and checked out the storm damage. Then we went up to the road to chat with a neighbor that was clearing a tree that blocked the road.

My dinner was ready at noon (necessary to give Allen time to eat it all before leaving for work today - trucker on road for 3). We had turkey, stuffing, veggies, yams and I made a blueberry pie and choc chip cookies.

After we ate we took a short nap and then took the horse for a long walk and gave them a Christmas Brushing.

I made calls to all the family in Portland and the 2 of us just relaxed together.

It was really great that he had been off since my vacation started on Wed so we had 5 days together. And we definately made the most of it. *wink*

Many Blessings to everyone from whichever source you prefer to be blessed by if at all.