New Year's Eve

It's that time of year again, time to come up with a list of resolutions that will only be broken by mid-Feb. Actually, the one resolution I made last year (be less judgmental of my fellow co-workers) I did keep and it made me a better person. I am both less critical and cynical at work now, two things with which I was hoping the resolution would help me.
Now it is a new year, and I still don't have any resolutions. I'm thinking of one that involves the boy, but I'm not yet ready to commit that one to paper.
How about you - any suggestions? What resolutions did you keep/break and what new ones are you making for 2007?

The Table

If you come visit my home, you'll notice a lack of coherence in furniture styles throughout my home. We like to call it eclectic, but others say we are indecisive which isn't altogether true. Hubby and I are very decisive on the type of furniture we like, we just can't find it for sale anywhere. So our lack of style is due to picking up a piece of furniture here and there to "make do" until we find the right piece.
We've found that Ethan Allen seems to mesh well with our style, so when we are in the mood to furniture shop, we usually end of there. This is what we did last September, and we found a kitchen table that really worked for us. Unfortunately, at the time it did not really work with our budget, so we decided to wait a bit. Right after Thanksgiving, we decided to return to the store to get the table - it was to be out gift to each other for Christmas. It would be something both of us liked and also meant no running around looking for gifts. A win-win situation.
Once we arrived at the store and perused the furniture we noticed the table was no longer on the floor. After walking around trying to find a sales associate who was not busy on her cell phone, we finally went to the front desk to get some help. I pointed out in their catalogue the table we wanted, and a sales clerk was ready to show us the table. When we told her we didn't need to see the table, that we were ready to buy it, you could see her eyes light up. We sat down to do the paperwork, and as she typed away on her computer we heard her make discouraging noises. "Hmm, that's odd, we don't seem to have any in stock, let me check our warehouse, nope not there, let me check the other computer, hmm, not there either". This went on for a bit, until she finally broke the news to us - there were no more of these tables available since they were discontinued and there were no floor models available anywhere in Texas. She tried to steer us towards a different table, but it was one that had already said no to. We consider some bedroom furniture they have, but decide not to get anything that day. We left the store, rather discouraged and faced with the daunting task of having to figure out what to get each other for Christmas.
Well, a week before Christmas, my husband tells my son to get my gift out of its hiding place. I'm handed a wrapped book-like package, which is rather puzzling - why do I need to open this before Christmas? J is having a panic attack, insisting to hubby that I shouldn't be opening it yet, and I'm agreeing. Finally, hubby forces me to open it. It is an Ethan Allen catalogue. My heart skips a beat, I look up at hubby "What?!? How?!?!" Back to the catalogue, there is a sticky note in it - you guessed it, he found my table!! It was being delivered that Saturday, so he figured I had to open my present early since I would notice a new table in the house.
It seems that for the past few weeks he has been calling stores trying to locate this table. He had one that was literally sold out from under him as he was talking to a sales associate. Then he found mine. It was a floor model, so there was a scratch in it, but he didn't care (nor did I). He had them hold it so he could check it out. The scratch could be buffed out, so he got it. The second part of my present was the cost of it - because it was scratched, because it was a floor model and because it was a discontinued model at that he got it 70% off!
I knew there was a reason why I married that man!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone! Since it is the holiday, we wanted to capture our memories, so that meant we bought batteries for the camera. As you can see above, that is my new and improved short haircut. I was going to post a side-by-side comparisson of a long-haired version of me, but there doesn't seem to be any around. Must be because I'm the one who takes the pictures during special events.

Our Christmas has been low key, with just the three of us enjoying our day together. To quote the boy, "this is the best Christmas ever, well at least until next year". That's my boy, always looking ahead to bigger and better things. The weather has been raw and rainy, but that is OK, since J got so many toys, we are having an adventure just putting them all together.

What did I get? Well, it is a long story, one that I should do justice by telling you of the troubles that went with it, so I think I'll hold off on telling you exactly what it is until I have time to sit down and write the whole story out. I'll just say this, Hubby gained multi-points with this gift.

I had been not feeling in the holiday spirit up until yesterday, when I realized what I was missing. It was quality time with my family. Work has been so hectic that I haven't had time step back and appreciate what I have. So yesterday, J and I made gingerbread cookies (with an amazingly easy recipe) for Santa, then we all watched some holiday classics and read from a book my mother-in-law had written for all the grandkids some years ago. Ahh, now I could feel the spirit. So, to those who've thought that I'v ebeen a bit "grinchy" this season, you are correct. However, I'm back on track to a more positive outlook.
Happy holidays everyone! May your hearts be filled both with joy and laughter, and love and friendship.

fa, la, la,la,la,la,la,la,la

'Tis the season to be cranky, fa la la la la ,la la la la la,
Down we come with colds and flu, fa la la la la, la la la la la,
Lose our voices, no song for you, fa la la la la, la la la la,
Wish that we could take the day off, fa la la la la, la la la la
Hid under the covers, fa la la la la, la la la la
Sleep all day, fa la la la la, la la la la
Instead we go on running errands, fa la la la la, la la la la.
Wrapping presents, tying bows, fa la la la la, la la la la.
Soon it will all be over, fa la la la la, la la la la.
We'll finally rest once again, fa la la la la, la la la la.

Excuses

You know it is the holidays, right? That this time of year is incredibly hectic. Of course, my work also picks up the pace at this time with extended hours for me. And the weather is yucky too. Plus blogger keeps eating my posts. Yup, all excuses as to why I haven't posted in a week and probably won't post for another week. Just thought I should prepare you.

Other news - I cut my hair. Lost a pound in the process - who knew hair weighed so much. Plus, some of my tension headaches are gone as well. My hair was so heavy that it was pulling at my scalp, leaving me with a headache almost everyday. I still have to mail off the hair to Locks for Love, but I am very glad I did it, although I probably won't do it again. I should take a picture of the ponytail to show you just how much was cut. The hairdresser was very reluctant to cut it all off; he didn't believe me when I told him it was OK to cut it to just chin length. In fact, he refused to cut the back extra short - he told me to go home, think about it for a week and then if I still wanted to do it he would cut more at no charge. He didn't want me making any decisions that I might regret later. He's a good guy.

Brrr

Here in Texas, we get about 3 weeks of cold weather for the entire year. This happens to be one of them. Now I know that anyone who lives in the Midwest or anywhere north will scoff at this, but we've been cold enough to get frost on the ground. Brrr. Do you realize this means I actually have to dig a coat out from the back of my closest? It's like going into the wardrobe from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe - it keeps going and going with no sight of the jacket I'm looking for. Plus, I have to run at 4:30 am in this weather. It is tough to dress appropriately for a run where you see your breathe when you begin the run but are soaked in sweat at the end of it.
I know you all have sympathy for me now, especially after the week the midwest has had. So, once you get in from shoveling snow for the umpteenth time this season, do think of poor little ol' me getting a chill here in Texas.