It's beginning to look a lot like......

While I am one who loves Christmas....I can't get in the spirit this year. I am trying and trying. I have my list of who to buy for and it looks surprisingly long and the money just isn't there this year. I don't even have the energy or desire to put up a tree....so I know I need like an IV of hot cocoa and some Bing Crosby on the IPOD stat. I was at Kelly McGill's tonight for bunco and her house looked so cozy and warm and inviting...mine still has mums and pumpkins out front. I am going to try to go to the Hanging of the Green...where a great friend of mine will be ringing her bells....thinking that may get me in the spirit. Some great Christmas music and smelling pine needles. I miss having a real tree. Every year as a kid we would go up to Wisconsin or Michigan and go to some obscure "Cut your own Tree" forest and walk...kinda like the Griswold's in Christmas Vacation...which has to be the best Christmas movie....sorry random switch there....and so we would walk in the snow and find the perfect tree. I mean like beautiful...no angels shining down on it...but pretty good. I miss that. It just isn't the same to put up a fake tree. No sweeping up needles and stabbing yourself while you decorate, dog drinking out of the tree stand....things like that bring me back to my youth. So I just reread that paragraph and good God it is random.

Tomorrow is pics of the kiddos. I really want to include the dogs in the picture. Not sure how that will work...but am going to attempt it. I am sure Janet will love that :) Not sure if my kids will match to her standards...but Meg is a bit old to match with her brother. Meg's boyfriend has been coming over alot more. He is a good kid. He seems to have a great affect on her attitude towards school and home really. The big dance is coming up and I have been getting busy trying to make appointments for hair, nails, etc. I just think I will die on that night. I can't believe my baby is going to a formal dance!! With a date no less. Jeesh she will be graduating in like 3 years....How am I going to get through this. It was just me & her for so long I don't know what I will do when she goes off to school. Okay again with the random thoughts.

Did I tell everyone that my favorite store in Chicago, Marshall Fields, was bought out by Macy's a freakin' New York City icon. How in the world did anyone let that happen. Marshall Fields on State Street holds so many great memories for me. Going downtown and looking at the windows then inside to see the beautiful huge tree in the center of the Walnut Room...damn, which I have never eaten there...which was a goal of mine...random. I remember sitting on Santa's lap there. I don't know if I can handle going to Chicago and seeing that store as a Macy's. So this Christmas...I am trying to buy them out....their Christmas ornaments at least. I know I have a few already ordered but Jimmy & Aim...if you see others....buy and I will repay. Also definately need a box of Frangos for Christmas...maybe 2. There is your hint Aim.

So I guess I better close now. I must be tired...because none of this makes sense. Oh yeah, Thanksgiving...pretty much sucked. Way to much family time. Loved to cook but leave please!! Besides them not leaving and me having to serve them twice on Thursday...they were back on Friday for more!! Come on people. One funny thing is my family, my mom, grandma and Aunt all got the hint and left. The hint was me laying on the floor with my eyes closed....no one else got it. Not sure if I am having Christmas....but I am sure I will. I sure do like my cooking better than Chris' mom's. Okay so now I am really going to close...check ya later!!

Ridin' the Range

Thanks Kim...I finally have a good title!!

Hope all is well everywhere. I am actually having a pretty good week....even though it is only Tuesday. I had a great weekend. Went to a scrapbook crop on Saturday and even though I had to leave a bit early, it was well worth it. I never have time to just sit and devote to my scrapbooking with no kids coming in and stuff. I will definately have to do that again. We have been helping Marc & Mari paint their new house. I spent the day on Saturday pulling off wallpaper with about 60 kids....oh wait it was only 3. Then on Sunday we spent the whole day painting. I am so happy for them and their new house. It is really nice. I wish they hadn't bought it because it wouldv'e been perfect for my sister when she moves here. But I am sure another will come up.

Work has been crazy. It is amazing though how much more money comes in when I am able to be here more....imagine that!! I am getting sick of working though. My housework is lacking. Thank God we have alot of clothes because doing laundry once every 2 weeks is about all I have been able to do. I need a maid. Man that sounds bad. Its amazing how your views on life change. I used to be a penny pincher and now my views have changed. I guess I have changed a lot in the past 6 years that I have been with Chris. I have grown up some and I also think that I have lost a little bit of my former self there too. I used to love to dance and go out to clubs and I guess when you get married you stop all that. My friend Jamie wants to go out and I mentioned it to Chris and he said "like to a club?" It was almost like he didn't want me to go. Why when you have taken vows with someone...does the trust not always follow? Is that how all men are? Are they insecure? I wonder about that sometimes.

I have been listening to some new musicians lately. One is Ray LaMontagne and the other is James Blunt. I love Ray. He sounds like a old blues man, but I think he is like 25 years old. Really great. Check out "trouble" by him. Then James Blunt is a folksy kind of singer. He is good too. Great songs by him are "You're Beautiful" and "Goodbye My Lover". I love music. It brings back sooo many great memories and some painful ones too. There are numerous songs that brings me back to a moment in my life. "louisiana Saturday Night"......is one that makes me smile. Just a good 'ol country song. Something made me think of that just now....

Sushi Friday night!!! Woo Hoo. My teeth finally don't hurt...so I will be strapping the feed bag on!! Martini's for everyone!!

Jimmy...so glad to here about your dad. I knew everything would be okay. Let me know if we win the millions!!

Amy....you sooooo get mom when she is old and feeble. I am DONE!!

Kim...please sing me another song. Backyardigans is getting old :)

Jeri....can't wait to crop at your house!!