how do you live so happily while i am sad and broken down?

Day 27: This month, in great detail

December 28:
Slept in, had lunch with Mom & Dad. I went to Wal Mart while Dad went to the doctor's - he's come down with a bad sinus infection/bronchitis thing. :( I picked up all the things on their list, and bought the birthday/anniversary cards for tomorrow's dinner, as well as a pastry brush for my mom for her birthday because she mentioned this week that she'd had to throw her old one away but kept forgetting to get a new one. Never say stuff like that around me, it tends to get you that thing, no matter how silly it is. Also, I almost bought a jigsaw puzzle set because for some reason I've been really wanting to put one together over this vacation, but I talked myself out of it because I knew my sister wanted to play cards tonight. Maybe I will look for it on sale at my Walmart when I get home. Anyway, I was wandering around the store, killing time waiting for my dad to get done at the doctor, and I saw the craft aisle so I looked at the yarn for a minute. Then I saw that Electronics was nearby so I thought I'd see how much a small TV would cost as I want one for my office. Then this happened:

My Internal Voice: "Damn, this cart has a wonky wheel."
Part of My Brain That Actually Pays Attention to Life: "Um. Wouldn't it have been wonky the entire 45 minutes you've already been shopping? Why is it just now bad?"
I look down, see the yarn that is quickly winding its way around one of the wheels. "SHIT."
I pull into an aisle and start tugging uselessly at the yarn.
My Internal Voice: "Ugh, it won't come off. Ew, I'm touching wheel grease, this is gross."
Part of My Brain That Actually Pays Attention to Life: "Um. The craft aisle was about 8 aisles back. Have you been trailing yarn this entire time like a dumbass?"

For the record, I had not. I had only been trailing about 15 feet of yarn like a dumbass. I had to get TWO Walmart employees to help me, one of which I asked for assistance and the other who FOLLOWED THE TRAIL OF THE MOVING YARN TO SEE WHAT THE HELL WAS GOING ON. This is my life.

I managed to not have any more accidents and Dad came and got me, and we went to the pharmacy to get his medicine. We chatted with Emory Melton, one of the few people I recognize in town these days and I helped find batteries for his hearing aid because the pharmacy was packed! Then we came home and I got on the internet for a while, then I helped make soup, and then we played cards. My sister and I won three games in a row - we were unbeatable! So we stopped to buy lottery tickets on the way home in case our good luck continued. We then learned that you cannot buy lottery tickets after 10 PM in Cassville MO. We are not sure if that was a state law or a gas station rule. I kind of lean toward it being a "the lady in the back didn't want to teach the new girl how to do it" rule, but that's just me. So we bought 4 scratch off tickets instead. Then my sister had to teach me how to play because I had never bought one before (still haven't, as she paid for them) and didn't understand. 4 tickets at $2 each, and they were all a bust except one, where we won the $2 back. No free money for us! :(

December 29:
Met my best friend's mother in town for lunch and caught up with her - she seems much happier than she has been any time I've seen her post-divorce. Then I went to Springfield with my parents and went to Best Buy. I am going to get a new radio for my car, because I am tired of messing with FM transmitters. Oddly enough, replacing the radio is not that much more expensive. Okay, it's 2-3 times more expensive, but has less chance of me dying in a fiery crash because the damn thing went staticky. Coming soon: Free to good home, one FM transmitter. Works well if you do not live in a major metropolitan area. Ugh. Anyway, I selected the radio I wanted only to find out that they couldn't install it that day, so I will have to do it on Friday after I'm home so that I don't miss the sale price. Also, may have talked my dad into getting a wireless router by telling him it would make us all want to hang out at their house when we're home. True, and sad, I know. I miss wifi. I miss internet. But I love my family. Speaking of which, we then went to our annual Birthday/Anniversary Extravaganza at Jimm's (first time at this restaurant - I realize that made it sound like we do this annually at Jimm's but I'm too lazy to fix it.) I was not expecting Jimm's to have two M's. But the food was decent and it was good to see everyone one last time before I have to head home in the morning. I came back to my sister's after saying goodbye to my parents (sniff) and packed everything up. I am definitely leaving with more than I came with! My mom gave me a knife tonight because I commented on how sharp it was when I was slicing veggies at her house. So far, I've nearly stabbed myself in the foot with it; perhaps I should not have sharp things.

December 30:
Driving, driving, more driving. I let the cat out to stretch her legs in Conway and she peed on the car seat. :( It wasn't her fault though; she was trying to use the litter box but just missed. After 13 lovely hours, many of which were filled with yowling cat, we are both happy to be home. And in anticipation of my New Year's resolution (more coming soon!) I have unpacked and put away almost everything. Then I stayed up far too late embracing the marvel of wi-fi. Oh, how I have missed it!



Day 28: This year, in great detail
Day 29: Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30: Whatever tickles your fancy

Day 27: This month, in great detail

December 18:
I got up at 5:30 am and started the trek to Missouri. 13 1/2 hours later, I arrived at my sister's house. Bringing the cat with me tacked on an extra hour and a half to the drive, as I pulled over twice to let her out of her carrier. And once because she let herself out. !!! I am going to buy a bigger carrier before we head home, probably one for a dog so she has room to move around. My sister was over at my parents' house so we had some time to ourselves to settle in.

December 19:
We got up and went to Mom & Dad's for lunch with my aunt, then my cousin and her husband came over and we played cards. My parents got a new TV on Saturday, so that was the big news, and we had to rearrange everything that was hanging near it. My sister and I went on a two mile walk, and then came back in time to have a quick bite of dinner before it was time to head to church to watch my dad sing in the choir for the Christmas show. I am not a fan of their minister - he's nice enough, but they used to have a fantastic one and this one is only so-so. And they changed it from a cantata, where everyone sings together, to a performance with a live nativity, which I find just awkward. Then we came home and played another game of cards and ate peanut butter fudge.

December 20:
Slept in, then ran errands - post office and UPS - then went over to Mom & Dad's. Helped decorate the Christmas tree, something I haven't done in years. Met my sister in Monett and then we all drove up to Springfield to have dinner and go shopping. I have now officially finished my Christmas shopping! I only had my nephew left and I bought him a sweater, and then I got my niece a book although I had something else for her as well but it didn't feel like enough. I got her Behemoth, the second in the Leviathian YA trilogy, because her mom said she wanted it and I have to say, I want to read it too! We saw part of the lunar eclipse, about halfway.

December 21:
We met Mom & Dad in town for lunch at Pizza Hut, then went for a bike ride with my aunt since today is supposed to be the last halfway nice day this week. My rear hurts! I don't really like riding bikes, it's so much more work than walking. My sister enjoys it though. Then we all went to dinner and came back to my parents' and played cards. My dad & I lost miserably, and then we had to carry the world's heaviest chest upstairs for my mom.

December 22:
Today we drove to Joplin because my mom wanted to buy a food processor. Exciting times, I know. We also stopped by my nephew's store and hung out with him for a few minutes, which was nice. My sister and her boyfriend drove up as well. They were going to shop, and I was going to take the parents home, but I wanted to look in one shop, and before you knew it, it was late. Mom was going to cook, but it was late when we got home so we went out for BBQ instead. I always think the local BBQ place is going to be better than it is, which is sad-making. Then I dropped my parents off at home and came back to my sister's and wrapped gifts. I am so excited to give people their presents! I hope they all like them!

December 23:
With all the going, I was determined to take today easy to gear up for the big weekend. So my sister was heading back to Springfield to shop, but I decided to just go to my parents' to wrap gifts and relax. On the drive over, my mom called - she'd forgotten about a funeral of one of her friend's sister, and my dad was out doing some volunteer work with the church so could I please take her. So I sped up, since it was 1:15 and the funeral was at 2. We were about 5 minutes late but we snuck in quietly, signed the guest book and took our programs and sat down in the back as the opening prayers concluded. And then we opened up the program and discovered.... WRONG FUNERAL. This funeral home has two locations and my mom just assumed it would be the one closest to where the family lived, not the one 10 minutes down the road. So we left the complete stranger's funeral (of a 40 year old lady who died of a sudden illness, v sad for her family) hopped back in the car and went to the right one. I may have giggled the whole way about the mix-up. It was very sit-com.

Day 28: This year, in great detail
Day 29: Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30: Whatever tickles your fancy

Back online after an almost nine day absence. This may be the longest I've been away when I wasn't actually out of the country. It was kind of nice. I had to think for a minute to remember my password.

So far I have 152 emails on AOL, 32 for work, and I can't even get gmail to load. It's possible that the free wi-fi at Panera is a bit crappy. My sister dropped me off, so this is also the first time in 9 days that I am not around any of my family. Also kind of nice :) Not that it isn't great to be home, but it's good to take a break sometimes too.

My vacation so far:

Saturday: Got up at ass o'clock to go to the airport. Landed in NW Arkansas at 9:30 am. Met up with family to kill time until my brother and his wife got there, much delayed. They live in Boston, and were flying through Chicago. Of course, there was a giant snowstorm, of course. While at the airport they ran into my best friend's dad, who was trying to pick her up on her flight in from Maine. She was supposed to be there by 1pm, finally made it in at almost 10.

Sunday: Went to Rogers AR to go to an open house at the gallery my sister works at. Went to see my dad sing at the Christmas cantata. Accidentally said "OH MY GOD" in church. In my defense, they were having birthday cake for Jesus. I think anyone would have been surprised.

Monday: Day out of shopping with my two best friends. Met Deb's baby boy, very cute.

Tuesday: Rainy day trip to Eureka Springs, AR to show my cousin Christen's new boyfriend around to such sights as the haunted Crescent Hotel, and the creepy Christ of the Ozarks. Good times.

Wednesday: Annual panicked Christmas Eve shopping with my sister. Then we cemented the new family tradition of going bowling at the Christian bowling alley I accidentally took everyone to last year. Dinner at Olive Garden, got locked out when I went out to get something out of the car for my brother. FYI, Olive Garden has fucked up policies. Sat in car to wait for my family to be done (only ten minutes or so, we were leaving anyway. Mom got the flu, had to go to the emergency room. She was fine, just a 24 hour bug.

Thursday: Christmas! :D Also, went to see Marley & Me, cried buckets. Am not a dog person, but that puppy running down the beach for all he's worth with four grown people chasing after him was awesome.

Friday: My sister-in-law made Boxing Day dinner, had 30 people over. Then had high school reunion-y type dinner. Saw some people I hadn't seen in a good 15 years, mostly my brother's friends. Was fun, though.

Saturday: Slept in. Dad now has flu. I drown myself in Airborne. Took my brother and his wife to the airport, where they had just as much trouble leaving as they had getting in. Chicago is a great city, but not a good destination from November to March. We were going to go to a movie, but since we weren't sure if their flight was going to be cancelled, we just shopped instead.

And then today I had lunch with my college roommate and her family. She has two little girls, super cute. Another family shindig tonight, to celebrate birthdays (my mom, my brother, my aunt) and anniversaries (my parents, my brother and his wife, my aunt and uncle) in January. Tomorrow's plan? Sit and do nothing! For serious, y'all.

In the year 2007 I resolve to: Have at least one orgasm per hour. Get your resolution here.

Hey, I won't make it, but this is one time failing would still be a lot of fun :)

I'm back from the Black Hole of Technology™ - a.k.a. southwestern Missouri. I had a great Christmas with my family, very low-key. I got back to Atlanta in time to celebrate New Year's Eve with David, which was lovely. They say that whatever you do on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day is what your year will be like... let's hope!

Anyway, (  a look at 2006 in retrospect: )

( And now on to 2007! )