Finally Friday Conga Line

[blessedw2]

we will give you permission to say no next time d twins... sending you lots of organized energy to finish the job at hand (dinner will be beautiful)

heading to work!

[Harriet]

Loved the video. Guess I must be lucky. We've never had a cat who had interest in ornaments.

I just finished boiling eggs. Letting them cool and cooling my heels now, before standing at the counter a long while to prepare the deviled eggs.

Have been puzzling over ways to get 19 presents to fit into some cardboard boxes to be carried. Only a few have had to have bows attached in advance (dd34's will not have bows at all), but even a few are inconvenient enough to make it a puzzle. Sigh. I can't decide which is better. To attach at home and DARE my menfolk to crush one on the way, or to appear rude at the event attaching bows rather than socializing.

Had some fun making some unusual bows with some instructions I'd found and posted in the Holiday thread.

Haven't been able to get in touch with ds (and Harmony, I don't know how he's doing his hair). I wouldn't be surprised if he hasn't bought all gift cards this year. I'm sure he did something easy. Just want him to have noticed the most recent email from his aunt, which moves the timing of the party up.

We found some black walnuts - haven't seen any in a while - and I am brainstorming whether I will try baking up some type of treats using them, to carry tomorrow.

[Harmony]

blessed, I hope dmil is ok and won't have another fall. I guess she usually lives alone?

Twins, enjoy that satisfied feeling when the dinner and work is all over. Then determine to remember how hard it was to be in charge when the year rolls around.

I've slept in. Down blanket is so much better than the other blanket I was using. I am warmer and sleeping better. We have another fire going and the room heater and we got the house warmed up again.

Phone calls done.
Dailies done.
Addressed a stack of post cards for DH who is having his small part of the youth group (jr. high boys) for a bonfire the first week in January. I will have to be part of it and be social because he's invited the parents too.

Was waiting for customer to come pick up her garage door openers for the electrician. She was just here so I will attempt to go out into that racetrack of traffic and finish the last Christmas gifts. 3 seperate places, including the big Mall - shudder - but if I am successful I will be all done.

[blessedw2]

D mil lives alone and she wants, and insists on, her independence - we have a life alert type thing but she said she pressed the button but I think in her condition she probably pressed the top of the holder and not the button. She has bronchitis which is worrying but is on antibiotics. We have wonderful family all around and are now with her at home. Everyone will take turns but I still worry. She is in bed resting. They want to get security camera's to let her have her freedom but a fall is a fall. I wish she would have called to say she was weak but she probably didn't realize how weak she was. She is a lovely lady.

I am working in dd youngers room as I haven't had a chance (esp. with d young cousins coming Monday)

I pick up dd younger at the airport tonight!

okay back to work! I am facing a bit of a panic as I see things that must be done but I am not sure I have the time.

d helia so happy you had such a nice time.

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Got up a bit late, but got to bed late so that sort of balances out.

I've made a double batch of candied almonds so I have them to put into pretty plastic bags as hostess gifts (need one tomorrow.)

I went to make the nuts and bolts and realized I'm missing 2 ingredients. So measured out the ingredients I did have and put the project on hold.

The kitchen is tidied up and the dishes done.

Bought the boys Christmas present - tickets to Beethoven Lives Upstairs. It is in the big concert hall with the full orchestra. Their mom cleared the timing. They'll come to us after bowling, we'll feed them lunch, drive down to the concert (cheaper than 5 bus fares) and then meet the parents for dinner at a restaurant. Bonus, it is the Dad's birthday so she'll take her husband out for a nice afternoon lunch and time alone.

Next up is to walk to the store to get the three ingredients.

Things are very frosty here, inside and out.

[lucylee]

Must post and run... must color hair before dgs arrives...
But just had to send some (((HUGS))) to Twins and (((blessed)))...
Twins, for the huge stress...
Blessed for your dmil...

I have to
[ ] color my hair
-- do a few errands
[ ] bank -- get cash for gifts
[ ] drug store -- find out if they can recommend SOMETHING to stop this coughing!
[ ] dollar store -- gift boxes, stocking stuffers
-- phone call
[ ] bar-b-que place

There. That's 5x5. Also need to call dmom and see what's the latest w/the crazy family drama... Will duncle and daunt show up at Christmas dinner?

[Sunny]

I am currently taking a coffee break while dh is having INR checked. That doesn't take very long, but he said something about stopping at W-M on the way home, so I'm not sure how much time I have here on the computer.

Wednesday dh's appointment with oncologist went well; blood test was good. Dr. H. is retiring the end of this year, so his next appointment in March will be with a new Dr. We had taken dgd12 to school at 9 am, dr. appt. at 11 am and right after that we started shopping and got back home just at suppertime. Doggies were really glad to see us! We got a lot done and yesterday finished up except for three more people, plus something for dh from me. Everything is done for the dfamily we have to mail out; I wrapped theirs last night. Dh has the dining room table covered with cookies thawing and we'll wrap those and pack those with gifts when he comes home, then run up to the p.o. to get the box in the mail.

Both our ddoggies are good about not snatching food from the table, even with our backs turned. We learned the hard way not to trust ds#3's lab Oscar. Dh had a tray of cookies ready to bake and was 6 ft away in the kitchen when dOscar cleaned off the whole sheet before anyone could get to him. Dson banished him to the doghouse (corner in the living room) for a couple of hours. He knew he was in trouble that time!

Echoing Happy Birthday Wishes, Ellyphant! from everyone. I'm sorry I missed being here yesterday!

Harmony, I'm sorry you had such a close call while driving. We've been experiencing the same thing since more northerners are coming south for the winter. In January, after the holidays, we'll have to be even more careful!

I'm adding my ((Hugs)) for everyone! Wasn't it just yesterday we had two weeks before the holidays were here???

Twins', Happy Hanukkah Wishes! I hope your dinner tonight goes smoothly!

Kathryn, I'm sorry the contract for dh didn't work out!

Can't remember any more from cuop....I know I'm missing lots more I could reply to. Dh is home.....back to work!

[lucylee]

I don't think I ever actually said Happy Hanukkah to Twins.

Happy Hanukkah!

I hope you can get time to relax just a minute and then enjoy the evening with your family and friends. Breathe... breathe... this too shall pass.

[Elizabeth]

Hi everyone! Last night DD12 wanted to go shopping for a Christmas present for her dad (gee, my favorite chore, getting gifts for the X). Successful mission though. She also gave my my gift - 12 pairs of really LOUD knee socks! Love, love, love 'em! After dropping her back off, I went shopping for a rotary sander and other ceiling fixing supplies, and proceeded to work on the ceiling. It looks much better, but I am still not sure I would recommend this company (Elizabeth's Own Ceiling Repairs). I will say though, the worker is always willing to work to my schedule and the price is right! Quicken updated too.

I cannot complete the task I wanted to get done at payroll today. It is pending a database release, and I am not the one who is the releaser. So I will start a task that came about from my demo yesterday. The clients were really excited about the Office Productivity reports. The people in charge were able to compare their own offices to those of others and they are REAL competitive. They want a measure for office ranking, basically for bragging rights. I foresee screenshots emailed back and forth among managers, with headers like 'neener neener neener'. I have a meeting that is slated to go until 5 pm. I normally leave for the train at 4:30. I have looked up train/bus schedules and should be able to take the next train, which will get me back in time for my evening plans.

Evening plans:
Bunco at church (don't really have time, but since I can't make Sunday's service due to the appraiser, it is the last chance before New Years)
One last in-towner gift (no good ideas, may do unexciting, uninspired gift card)
Ceiling sand, texture, and cleanup debris
Type up cage cards for my two foster cats

Brother is out of hospital, aunt is in. Brother is walking with a cane and will need PT. Aunt is having trouble swallowing.

[helia]

Went to WW. Weight was up, as expected. . .tutored R. Had lunch. Looked up recipe for choc. trifle dd19 has requested and have put ingredients on shopping list. I need to brave the traffic and go to the groc. store, possibly Walgreens too for more shoe gifts. We started our Sinter Klaas tradition last night and put our shoes by the fireplace. I checked the online menu of the noodle/sushi place from which dd19 would like her Cal. rolls ordered. I'll order when I get back.

I also picked up dog toys for the Roomba, which is now running.

OK, off to groc. store and Walgreens now.