The first day back from a 10-day hiatus is such an inexorably looooong day.
Christmas was nice. I cooked for two days straight and made everyone fat and happy with turkey, ham and tamales. For the first time ever we had the entire family together at our house. We did all the regular things families do on Christmas and then we played cards … for hours … and although a few folks went home with lighter wallets (well coin purses anyway), a good time was had by all.
New Year’s was a bust … and that’s all I have to say about that.
The events leading up to the holidays were nearly as much fun as the holidays themselves this year. In particular, but in no particular order … knowing I would have TEN consecutive days off of work over the holidays was ab-fab … decorating the tree … having dinner with Stu, Julie and Andrea and catching up with one another’s goings on … getting surprised with gift cards from two of my bosses that gave me the ability to actually Christmas shop this year and make a nice Christmas for the family … having drinks and appetizers with Stu at the Hard Rock café the Friday evening before Christmas … getting a Christmas bonus … Stu coming by the week before Christmas to watch “Wicked” and giving me that and pink stuff for my HooHa (uh, suddenly that sounds like impolite conversation - but seriously, a pink heart seat cover and steering wheel cover that I’m dying to put on the car as soon as I can kick Fred out of it) … having Diane overnight for chili and small talk just before New Year’s Eve. Good things with good friends made the holidays nicer than usual this year.
And in other news …
- I’m almost 50 and I just figured out that cats have fingerprints. Sheesh! Motown likes to sit on the desk when I’m on the computer and when the sun hits the glass surface of the desk just right a million tiny, tiny fingerprints become visible all over the place. I have to admit, the first time I saw them it took me a minute to figure it out. Doh! Now where’s that Windex?
- Watch out world for I’ve passed the exam to become a Notary Public. I stamp them! <$1 to Renegades>.
- I’ve found out I’m a mere $650.00 dollars away from an actual legal driver’s license so THAT is the DEFINITE January focus. Seriously it will be a stretch but sometime in February I should be driving legally – well until Tehama County figures out that I missed a court date anyhow – but hey, eat the elephant one bite at a time, right? Just think, using my newly obtained legal driver’s license, I’ll be able to drive my legally registered HooHa right up the front of the Tehama County courthouse steps for a court appearance where they will probably suspend my license. And the world just keeps on a-turnin’.
- Somehow passing the Notary exam gave me a much needed kick in the keester and was the motivation to finally go to the DMV and get a printout and to finally, finally, finally, go to the doctor and get the TB test that I’ve been procrastinating taking since I started teaching last September … oh and the TB test was negative so I can cross TB off my list of things that might kill me BUT had to add high blood pressure to the list when my pressure reading was 142/90 … wtf? I just came off a hellish physical endurance test called “drum corps season” and am now walking a mile a day as a “commuter”. Where did this reading come from? It’s God’s crazy sense of humor at work on me again. No worries though. According to the doctor it’s not “high”; it’s just “highish”. What? I don’t know which is more confusing: the reading itself or the word “highish”. So we’re supposed to “watch” it. How? Who’s watching it? Me? What am I watching it with cuz the most high-tech piece of medical equipment in my home is an oral thermometer and I don’t think that’s gonna’ help me here! I hate the way they fake you out with that “watching” stuff. Just be honest and tell me it’s a serious problem that’s just not serious enough yet for YOU to wanna’ do anything about it but that it will be serious enough eventually and THEN you’ll do something about it. Future anxiety! Sheesh!
All things considered though, I made pretty good use of my days off. Besides relaxing like a big dog and playing hours and hours of the Sims I also managed to squeeze in tying up some serious loose ends and as a result I’m that much closer to living like a real white girl. Well, at least a real white girl with “highish” blood pressure. Whee!
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