UPS- moving at the speed of business

I'm nicely rested today, after sleeping for about 15 hours last night. It felt great. Unfortunately, my Golden Gopher football team was not rested, and lost the bowl game today. Hopefully the hockey team fares better this evening. BS has procured some tickets for us, and I am hoping for a win.

So funny story. Two years ago, MS and I lived about a mile apart. We had the same UPS guy, which we discovered because he asked if I had a sister who lived nearby. It was a little creepy, but we thought maybe he was just being polite. We both moved since then, but she moved back into the neighborhood in August, and the same guy still has the route. She got a package yesterday, and he asked her if she was the same girl. So we laughed a hearty laugh. Ok, it's really not that funny of a story, but I was amused.

Tomorrow's New Year's Eve. I hate New Year's Eve. No, I hate going out on New Year's Eve. It's the night when all the idiots crawl out of the woodwork and feel the need to drink themselves into oblivion. I'm just not that excited about the night. So that's my opinion. Now, I'm being evicted from the computer because it's BS's and she wants to check her email. Happy Friday!

Argh...cold germs

I'm officially sick again. I blame MS. She was hacking all over everything all last week, and I spent four hours in the car with her yesterday. At least she waited until after Christmas to infect me with her germs.

So that's pretty much it from me today. I'm watching Jeopardy and doing some tidying up from the Christmas/Hanukkah/Festivus party last night. It's been a low key day, and I'm pretty excited about that.

It's just my holiday weight

Welcome back, faithful readers. JenY is fresh off the holiday break. It was an exciting one.

BS picked me up on Friday. Miracle of miracles, I was ready to go at like 10 am. We sat in lunchtime traffic for a half hour, then I realized I'd forgotten my overnight bag, so we had to go back and get it. BS and I were having a delightful ride home, singing along with the radio, until we got about a mile from Mankato and ran out of gas. I'll take the blame for this one, because BS's gas gauge doesn't work, and had we not had to double back for my bag, we'd have made it home. So we call up DadY...he was having lunch, but he came and got us. He's the best Dad.

So the rest of Friday was fairly uneventful. On Saturday, the entire Y family went to church. We were sitting up in the balcony, and I spied Miss School Teacher sitting downstairs. Since I thought she was leaving the next day to visit BF Jeff, I went down to return her belt after the service. I hurried down the stairs in my attempt to catch her, and gravity nicely helped me down half the flight. As I picked myself up after falling down, I realized about fifty people had witnessed my less than graceful descent, but since it was church, no one was laughing. Except Miss School Teacher and Nurse Nissa. Oh well. I've got some carpet burn and a nice bruise for my trouble.

Christmas was family filled, and General Christmas (aka MomY) really pulled out all the stops. We ate, ate, ate, opened presents, ate more, and watched football. Perfect.

I've just come back from lunch with KenBecky and LouisPhil. We went to Old Chicago, and I just remembered I've left my leftovers in the car. Hmm. Guess I'll have to make another trip downstairs. Anyway, I'm super glad I got to see them before they leave for Madison. Ok. I think that's all from me for today. I'm going to digest lunch.

JenYule- The Christmas Edition

Since I'm headed home today for FOUR fun filled days of family togetherness, this is going to have to be the Christmas edition.

First off- my thoughts and prayers are with the Dungy family in Florida. I always liked Tony Dungy when he was here, and would have preferred he stayed. It must be heartbreaking for any parent to outlive their child. I can only imagine.

Second- Bethmania could also use a hug. I don't think she slept last night working on her family Christmas present. I don't believe she's moved in about 18 hours. I stand corrected. She slept two hours.

So, in the spirit of the holiday season-

I have always thought of Christmas time as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely.
-Charles Dickens

Merry Christmas!

I have nothing to put up here because I am boring and not feeling creative at all today

Congrats to Chele for getting yesterday's movie quiz. You get a big HO HO HO.

Today's herculean tasks include getting my laundry together (and quite possibly sorted) and finding the Il Divo cd. Since I'm more excited about the CD than the laundry, I'm headed out as soon as my hair dries. I know, they make hair dryers, but that's work.

Bethmania made a love soup for us last night. Chicken wild rice, with extra chicken. Then we got to decorate our own Christmas cookies and eat them. I ate all my cookies like the good little girl that I am. Yummy.

Ok- I'm off to find this CD.

A not so cheery morning

I was awakened this morning by a noise. If a train and a cow were capable of mating, I'm pretty sure their offspring would have made this noise. I have yet to discover what the noise was. Maybe a smoke detector or a fire alarm, but no one was rushing out of the building. I'm no fire expert, but I'm pretty sure the building in not on fire, and therefore I do not need to evacuate.

But I'm up and moving around now. Thinking about running the vacuum. I found a peanut M&M in the couch this morning. Does anyone else ever find food on their couch, or I am the only lucky one?

I watched Ken Barlow's last ever newscast in Minneapolis last night. I might need to move to Boston so I can continue watching him. Kare-11 is really disappointing me. First they lost anchor god Paul Magers, then Frank Vascellero, and now Ken Barlow. What kind of idiots do they have running that station? I may give up watching the news for another 20 years, until I'm old enough for WCCO. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it. No more tv news.

Well, that's pretty much all from me today. I'll leave you with a name that movie.

George: Now, come on, get your clothes on, and we'll stroll up to my car and get... Oh, I'm sorry. I'll stroll. You fly.
Clarence: I can't fly. I haven't got my wings.
George: You haven't got your wings. Yeah, that's right.

Happy Birthday DadY

Today is an important day in my life. It's DadY's birthday. If DadY wasn't ever born, then I wouldn't be here, and y'all would have much less interesting lives.

Yesterday was Cousin DanY's birthday. He's getting so grown up. I remember when he was born, and now he is old enough to drive. I'm really getting up there. Oh, wait, no. I might be able to drive a car, but I still can't rent one. That's still more than a year away. I think that's the only age related thing I have left to look forward to. Renting a car. By the time I'm old enough for social security, it won't exist anymore, so I've crossed that off my list of things to come. Maybe that's why people have children. So they can look forward to their children being old enough to do things. Yes? No? I don't know.

I think that's it for birthdays. Um...let's see. Bethmania is cooking dinner tomorrow night, which means I have to clean up my horrendous mess today. The apartment looks like a Christmas tornado blew through. I'm a very good present wrapper, I'm just not neat about it. So I have to pick up all the little plastic pieces from the backs of bows, and all the wrapping paper scraps, and all the price tags. I love Christmas. Back to Bethmania, I'm not sure what she's cooking. I guess I'll be surprised. But Marea the Huntress is coming (I think) and I haven't seen since the great moving trip in August, so I'm pretty excited about that.

BS and I are trekking all the way out to Eden Prairie tonight to have a birthday dinner with DadY and MomY. We're going to the Lion's Tap, which I love. The only problem is that I have yet to make it to there without getting lost. Everytime. Bethmania and I once wound up in Norwood Young America. BS seems to know where she's going, so hopefully we make it there on the first try. I'll keep you posted.

I'm having the BEST WEEK EVER!

If I was some sort of famous person, I'm pretty sure I'd be having the BEST WEEK EVER on vh1. Since I have not yet achieved my goal of becoming famous (mostly through sheer laziness and a lack of talent in any useful field), I haven't yet made it on television.

I went home yesterday to surprise DadY for his birthday. He was very surprised, and pretty excited about his fish fillet kit. ( I'm still a little unsure if he remembered picking it out three weeks ago, but I suspect he was just acting surprised.) While I was home, I got to see GrandpaY too. He's always a good time, and has lots of good stories. Yesterday's included some of Great Uncle Ernie, and the new porch being built next door.

MomY had some shopping to do, so off to Target we went. While attempting to survive the toy aisles, we ran into RedNic and her mom- also out shopping. I don't have a story about this. We just ran into them, chatted a bit, then risked our lives for a Angelina Ballerina doll for my cousin.
If I ever have children, I'm not buying them toys at Christmas. They're getting car parts, and things from the aisles that don't have people in them.

Ok- "knitting" tonight at Cossetta's. Mmm. I think I must have been Italian in a previous life. Good food, good wine, and good atmosphere.

I shopped until I dropped yesterday. Literally. I came home and collapsed into a chair. I have finished all of my holiday shopping, so I guess it was all worth it.

Rednic, Miss School Teacher and I didn't quite make the sledding yesterday. By the time we all got to one place, we were hungry, and then it was getting late, so we went to Uptown. We went to Famous Dave's in Calhoun Square- they had a band playing- The White Iron Band. The White Iron Band was pretty good- I enjoyed the music.

We discovered a man sitting at a table several tables over. This man was noticeable because of his red and green plaid sportcoat. It looked like he'd been to the casting call for Caddyshack. So naturally curious girls that we are- we made Miss School Teacher go talk to him to find out what the deal was with the coat. It turns out he only wears it to holiday parties, and Miss School Teacher tried the coat on, and got his phone number. I hope he's not sitting by the phone, I'm pretty sure she's not going to call.

Since Miss School Teacher was brave, I wasn't going to be shown up. I'd been eyeing another guy (and driving Rednic crazy with my analyzing) since we'd arrived. So I was very brave and went over to talk to him. I got the scoop, and we ended up talking for awhile, and he's got my number. So I'll keep you all updated on that.

So it was a good night. I even managed to arrive home wearing Miss School Teacher's fun green belt (in addition to the rest of my clothes, you dirty readers), so I've got a new belt...until I see her again to return it.

On today's agenda- knitting and wrapping, and probably some football. Toodles!

Anyone wants to challenge me as the moodiest person ever...I'll take you out!

It's amazing how quickly my moods can shift. I went from being crabby yesterday morning, to ecstatic yesterday afternoon, to having the worst headache I've ever had last night. I hope I'm not getting the bird flu. After yesterday's emotionally draining day, I'm feeling recharged, and am headed out to the mall today! I know...the mall. What's more exciting than a Friday before Christmas at the mall? I only have two presents left to buy, and am hoping to get them taken care of today, so I don't have to go shopping anymore before Christmas. I'm going to call up MS and see if she wants to brave the mall with me.

I think RedNic, Miss School Teacher and I are going to go sledding today. Plenty of snow, not too cold- it's a perfect day. I haven't been sledding in...well, a year. I went last winter. I really like to sled. In all honesty, I'm very fond of outdoor activities in the wintertime- I just get so cold I can't stay outside very long, and then everyone gets annoyed with me. Oh well- I'll just get out my long johns and buck up.

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to shop I go.

Who's crabby today? It's JenY

Ick. What a morning. I have a lot to do, and no desire to do any of it. It's one of those days I just want to crawl back into bed.

But there are only nine more shopping days left before Christmas, and BS has not yet sent out her Christmas list, so I might have to get creative. Or, I'll buy her something I like, and then steal it back for myself. I know, that's not very sisterly of me, and normally I'm a very good present buyer. So she's first on my agenda.

Speaking of BS- we went on a lovely date last night with bethmania and natpot. We watched our beloved Golden Gophers beat UAB in basketball. It's the first basketball game I've been to in awhile, and it was a good one. Neither of the teams played particularly well, but a win is a win.

So if there are only nine shopping days left until Christmas, there are only four shopping days left until the second most important holiday of the year. The most important holiday of the year is, of course, Father's Day- followed closely by DadY's birthday. The penalty for missing the birthday is death, or an excommunication from the family. No, I'm kidding, but DadY gets very sad if we don't see him on his birthday. So now you all know where I get my love of birthday celebrations from. It's all DadY. MomY likes birthdays too, but she's not so hardcore on birthday attendance.

I'm not quite sure I have the strength to tackle both the roads and the malls today. It's messy, I'm crabby, and I don't think I have the patience for it. I'm not sure Job would have the patience for it today. So Christmas and DadY are just going to have to wait another day.

Wow...it's a winter wonderland

Well, I have no idea how long it's been snowing, but it doesn't show signs of stopping. I've got a foot on my balcony that I get to shovel off. I'm going to shovel because I'm the woman of the apartment, I'm home, and I have a shovel. At least it will be some activity.


BS just called- I get to crash her and Bethmania's double date tonight. Actually, I think I'm the date for one of them. I wasn't real clear on the details. But I get to go to a basketball game, so I'm pretty excited about that.

It's been a really slow week. I finished Rednic's brother's hat, so I'm starting on the rest of the knitted items my relatives will be receiving for Christmas. Maybe I'll even sew the zipper on my sweater. I'm in possession (why is that word so hard to spell?) of the traveling sewing machine, and I think I remember how to use it. If I happen to sew my finger to the sweater in the process, then it just makes for a better story.

Well, I had quite the fun weekend. Awesome wedding on Saturday- Becky and Ben looked so happy, and the reception was a lot of fun. I met a lot of new people and got my groove on. I even busted out the Electric Slide.

I also got to see KenBecky and LouisPhil. Now that one Becky is married, it's time to start planning for the next Becky to get married. I'm really excited about this wedding too, but since it's not until October, I've got some waiting to do. Anyway, I was really excited to see my Kentucky peeps, and am glad that they came. I miss my KenBecky...

On a sadder note, happy trails to Senator Eugene McCarthy. Although I was not alive during his heyday, I very much respect what he did for politics- both in Minnesota and at a national level. He was very much a man who stood for what he believed in, and had the courage to openly criticize a president about the Vietnam War. It is people like Senator McCarthy that make me proud to be a Minnesotan.

Well, it's Monday, which means it's knitting time! I'm just about finished with the hat I'm knitting, and then will start on some Christmas presents. Hopefully they'll be done by Christmas.

Happy wedding day, pizza, and a scarf.

I think today might be the first ever day I've updated my blog before Chele. It's almost 9am now, and I've been awake about three hours. If you think that's going to make for a more exciting blog, then boy are you wrong. I'm just killing time before I get to get ready for Bride Becky's wedding. Only two more hours to kill...maybe I should decide what I'm going to wear. That's always a chore. It's cold, but I want to look cute. One of life's greatest dilemmas.

Had dinner with Rednic at the CPK last night. Yum. If I ate nothing but BBQ chicken pizza and hot fudge brownie sundaes for the rest of my life, I'd be a happy woman. I'd be twice the size of what I am now and die of a heart attack at 35, but I'd be happy.

So funny story...Rednic and I were gift shopping for Bride Becky (because we're really on the ball about this) last night, and while we were waiting to have our present gift wrapped, a woman asked me where I'd gotten my scarf. I was wearing my pride and joy, the Burberry scarf my parents gave me for Christmas last year. I told her about the magic of the BigO, and in the ten minutes it took for our present to get wrapped, she reminded her husband four times what the website was. LOL- the poor husband was like, "I can remember a website." They were cute. It really made my evening.

Ok- I'm off to decide what to wear, and then go have fun at the wedding! Hooray!

It's FRIDAY!!! YES!

Finally, it's Friday. I thought it would never come. Well, I knew it would come because Friday always comes after Thursday.

I did some more volunteering today, and met quite a few interesting people. It's an international meet, so I made a new friend from Croatia, and one from San Luis Obispo. I know, California is not a foreign country, but it's 80 degrees there today...and it definitely is not 80 degrees here.

Then I took Mom and Dad out on the town for a little shopping. I bought MS's present. Three down, three to go. Wow. I'm really on the ball. Maybe this year I'll finally have my shopping done before Christmas Eve. I think maybe last year I didn't buy some presents until January, so my goal is to beat that.

Speaking of shopping- Rednic (that's fun...her hame is Nicole and she has red hair...) and I are going to buy a wedding present! Not sure what we're buying, but the thought makes me happy.

Ok- I'm going to make like a banana and split. Happy Friday and probably Saturday too.

It's almost the weekend!

I'm super excited about this weekend. Bride Becky is getting married, Bex is coming to visit, and I do love a good wedding. I'm uber pumped for Bride Becky- she picked a winner, and she's happy. Becky, I hope your married life is filled with the same joy you're feeling now.

Speaking of weddings, Happy Anniversary to Mom and Dad...27 years of wedded bliss, and three perfect daughters. Congratulations!

So I've been volunteering for the Paralympic Swimming meet, and I am continually in awe of what people are capable of doing. They are determined to succeed, and nothing is going to stop them. And, they're the nicest people ever. Of all the swim meets I've seen in my life (and that's probably more than the rest of you combined), I've never met a better group of people.

Ok- that's a lot of sentiment for one very short blog entry. I have to go blow my nose.

Ok, done with the heavy stuff. I'm pretty bored right now, and am amusing myself with quizzes. I took one to find out which movie star I was. Is anyone surprised by my results? I always did think it would be cool to be the Godfather. Except for the killing part, and the horse heads. Anyway, you all should go check it out and see who you are. Watch out for me and my mafia code.

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

I'm pretty sure the neighbors are stealing my heat

It's so cold in my apartment. I've actually busted out my long underwear. It's toasty...but unfortunately doesn't cover fingers and toes. I had to take my mittens off to type. It's been a pretty quiet day. Hopefully tomorrow is a little more exciting. I'm volunteering for the Paralympic Meet at the pool, at the request of BS. At least it will be warm at the pool. Ma and Pa are coming up for a visit tomorrow. Family fun all around.

That's really all from me today. Not an exciting day at all- I'll try and do better next time.

Hooray for me!

So I was a big girl today and went to happy hour with cute geeky tech boy. It was super fun, but unfortunately confirmed presence of live-in girlfriend, who apparently doesn't care that he wears the same thing every day. But...he has a brother. I was not able to learn anything other than the existance of said brother. I'm seeing tech boy on Friday, so I'll learn more then. Thanks to Smellen, Chele and Brandacious for all the advice last night. So, as sad as I am about the girlfriend, I'm pretty proud of myself for actually talking to him. Maybe there's hope for me yet. So that's my story about that.

We had our holiday potluck at work today. I made ham and cream cheese wrapped dill pickles. Yummy. There was so much good food. I love the holidays. An excuse to eat all day. Since everyone else is eating, no one else knows how much you're eating. So no one can accuse you of being a pig.

I've got some work to do on resume and cover letter so I can send them out tomorrow in hopes that I will someday have a real job. And maybe figure out why I post, and it says I post two hours earlier.

Liberation of a meme

I'm stealing this from Chele, who I think stole it from someone else. All's fair in love, war and blogging.

1) Was 2005 a good year for you?Yeah, I learned a LOT about myself and my life. Whew. I've come a long way since January.
2) What was your favorite moment of the year?Standing in Edinburgh Castle and looking out over the city and thinking, wow...this is amazing.
3) What was your least favorite moment of the year?Getting my heart broken...not fun, but I'm a better person for it.
4) Where were you when 2005 began?Downtown Minneapolis.
5) Who were you with? A whole lotta people, most of whom I haven't seen since then.
6) Where will you be when 2005 ends? I'm not really sure, but probably with the maids!
7) Who will you be with when 2005 ends?With my maids- the best friends anyone could ever ask for.
8) Did you keep your new years resolution of 2005?I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions.
9) Do you have a new years resolution for 2006? Nope...still don't believe in them.
10) Did you fall in love in 2005? Yes
11) Do you regret it?Nope, it's one of life's lessons, and being in love is the best thing ever. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
12) Did you breakup with anyone in 2005? Sure did.
13) Did you make any new friends in 2005?Yeah! New people rock!
14) Who are your favorite new friends? They're all my favorite.
15) What was your favorite month of 2005? February, because of the big England Scotland Amsterdam trip, and July, because of the trip to Tennessee.
16) Did you travel outside of the US in 2005? Yes. It was quite the fun adventure. Amsterdam Airport=hard place to sleep.
17) How many different states did you travel to in 2005?Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Georgia. That's a lot. Nine.
18) Did you lose anybody close to you in 2005?Great Uncle Ray.
19) Did you miss anybody in the past year?Yeah, I miss Becky (she moved to Kentucky) and my dog died, so I miss her.
20) What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2005?Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
21) What was your favorite song from 2005? Umm, I think we're gonna go with "Dontcha" by the Pussycat Dolls
22) What was your favorite record from 2005?
23) How many concerts did you see in 2005?A bunch...
24) Did you have a favorite concert in 2005?Ryan Cabrera. Go ahead. Laugh. It was fun.
25) Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2005? What's alot?. More than some people, but definitely a lot less than others.
26) How many people did you sleep with in 2005? The last person I slept with was Miss School Teacher, in a hotel room. Get your mind out of the gutter.
!27) Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year? Sure. I suspect I said some pretty dumb things and blamed them on my hair color.
29) What was the worst lie someone told you in 2005? Umm...
30) Did you treat somebody badly in 2005? I try not to, but I'm sure I did.
31) Did anyone treat you badly in 2005? Yeah.
32) How much money did you spend in 2005?Too much.
33) What was your proudest moment of 2005?Proving to myself that I didn't need a boy to be happy.
34) What was your most embarrassing moment of 2005?Well, I embarrass easily, and then I forget it ten minutes later, so I couldn't tell you.
35) If you could go back in time to any moment of 2005 and change something, what would it be?I wouldn't change a second.
36) What are your plans for 2006? To live my life on my terms, and to get a job.

Ok, I'm making a dish to pass for my potluck at work tomorrow.

It's the most wonderful time of the year

Is there anything more glorious than a snowy Saturday in December with nothing to do? I'm going to lay around all day and watch football, knit and perhaps eat leftover pizza. I'm still a little full from natpot's dinner on Thursday. We had lasagna, and it was delicious. My favorite part of the dinner was the make your own garlic bread. I had to pick my own clove of garlic and spread it on the bread. Yum, yum, yum. We also had a build your own salad bar. Natpot makes a heck of a dinner. It's bethmania's turn to cook this week, and I'm a little wary. A carton of eggs has appeared in our fridge, and eggs are not a meal. At least not to me.

BF Jeff is doing very well. Thanks for all your thoughts. Miss School Teacher said everything went very well, and he's on the road to recovery.

Tomorrow we're going to pick out a tree for my favorite redhead. We're headed up to the tree farm where Kevin Garnett buys his Christmas tree. So really, it's like we're buying a Christmas tree with Kevin Garnett. Irrefutable logic. So my favorite redhead, Miss School Teacher and Bridal Becky and I are off tomorrow afternoon. It's doing things like buying a Christmas tree that remind me I'm an adult. Strange how that hits me sometimes.

Ok, the couch is calling my name. Toodles.

A quick morning blog

Send your happy thoughts, prayers, and general good wishes to BF Jeff (he goes with Miss School Teacher Maid.) No one should have to deal with cancer at the age of 23. (Or any age, for that matter.)

I'll be back later for more.

I get by with a little help from my friends

May have hit small snag in boy plan. My covert espionage turned up some not so good information. There may or may not be (GASP) another woman. That really throws a wrench into my plans. So I'm comforting myself with carrots and dip, AND I'm double dipping. That's right. I'm a rebel.

It's just been one of those days that nothing seems to go my way. I seem to have a lot of those. Just once, I'd like a day where everything goes my way. Has anyone ever had a day like that? I'd love to hear about it, and dream of the day it happens to me.

I have to stop eating now because Natpot is cooking dinner tonight. Not quite sure what she's cooking, but it's always delicious. There was that one incident with the pumpkin pie, but I'm sure that was all Sara Lee's fault. Also, I have eaten the entire bag of baby carrots.

Well, tomorrow's Friday. That's something. I guess. I don't have to go to work all weekend. I'm not going to do anything this weekend. It's all about the laying around. Sweet. Time for some quality knitting.

Time to find out what time dinner is. Peace.