Oh, and I found this really fun if you like bubblewrap. Thanks Pam....


http://www.7fire.com/flash/bubblewrap.swf

Dear Diary Friday...

I am SO thankful that I did not have to go to work this morning! What a crazy blizzard. I woke up to more snow than I have seen for three years AND the largest branch on our gigantic pine tree in the front yard was half cracked, lying across the sidewalk and my front yard. Unfortunatley, it is so large and so heavy that my brother and I could not budge it a smidge! So, it is going to stay there for awhile....

Christmas was wonderful. I honestly can not remember everything that I got, but one of the most beautiful gifts I received was a diamond and ruby ring in white gold from my parents. I think it is a tradition to get me a ring every year now. I got clothes, lots of gift certificates, more perfume, books, etc. My mom managed to collect a LIBRARY this year...21 books! Most of them she had picked out when she and I went shopping, but everyone knows she likes books so that is what they got her. My father got tons and tons of stuff for his new greenhouse. The siblings made off rather well also. I made a fabulous ham dinner and then went to Dylan's house for ANOTHER ham dinner and got his mom toasted on Amaretto...we both had a very good time with that. I also had the most enjoyable time getting to know Dylan's cousin's 3 year old son, Kurt, who LOVES ME! Out of everyone he said good-bye too, he gave me a hug AND a big, wet kiss on the mouth. Okay, I know I don't like kids, but there are some that are so damn cute you can't help falling in love with them and this is one of those! All in all, I was thankful for absolutely everything I received, but more importantly, was thankful for the beauty of my family and my in laws that I got to spend time with....the energy and love with them meant more than anything to me.

Today was fun, but also a disappointment. I spent all of today shoveling and snow plowing and unfortunately, did not get to spend time with Dylan at all and we had a full day planned. Our neighborhood is so bad that the plows have not even managed to make it through yet. I have used our snow blower on many of the neighbors driveway and sidewalks, as well as the street, so people can manage to get through. I just came inside from snowblowing the street in front of our driveway so that if we have an emergency, we can at least get out! Yes, I apparently live in the Bermuda Triangle for snow, because we either get socked in or don't get anything. If you are going out this weekend, please be careful.....

Dear Diary Wednesday...

Happy Christmas Eve!

We celebrated last night over at Dylan's and it was a very wonderful evening. His mom made delicious enchiladas and hot spinach salad. Honestly, probably the best enchiladas I have ever consumed. We then opened gifts, and I was very blessed and very spoiled! Dylan's mom and dad gave me the most beautiful dark wood cabinet to hold my cd's and dvd's that they got from the Bombay Company, one of my favorite stores. It is still over at Dylan's as it is so big we did not dare to try and bring it home last night with the ice! I also got many a gift cards to Lane Bryant, Barnes and Nobles, Media Play, and Coldwater Creek. Two books, cd's, perfume, lots of smellies (lotions), and other stuff. Believe it or not, this is the first year Dylan and I have not given each other some kind of clothes!!!! Oh, and Dylan got me the new dragon by M. Pena (Windstone) and it is beautiful!! It is red with 24k gold horns.....I am truly with the best man in the world.

Today was HELL day at work. I came in with a very sore neck (stress) and in a "I don't want to be here" attitude. Right before I left work yesterday this BITCH who is on vengeance because she thinks she DESERVES to have all week off because she has a KID (Largest pet peeve of mine) and so she took on the task of getting our year end stoploss pend reports done...and taking it out on everyone. Well, right before I left, she came over and informed myself and my research team what we are GOING to do to make sure SHE GETS THE TIME OFF. I looked at her, told her I was leaving to which she informed me that I WAS NOT! I believe the word of "Get out of my way or I will make a way through you" came out of my lips and she moved. Well, it carried over to this morning. She did decide to come visit and the moment she opened her mouth, I gave her a look, her lips closed, she walked away. The pend reports look great, we had a meeting before I left for the day and she graciously thanked everyone, and I quote, "I am even going to thank Lorene for helping me as much as she did, even though she is a bitch." Well, I guess I should be mad, but it was honest and I can respect that. I am a bitch to her because the last time I checked, ALLOWING A PARASITE TO SIT IN YOUR WOMB FOR 9 MONTHS AND FEED OFF OF YOU DOES NOT MAKE YOU MORE SPECIAL THAN ANY OTHER HUMAN BEING IN THE OFFICE OR MORE DESERVING OF TIME OFF. But that's just my opinion......

Dear Diary Sunday, Part Deux.....

Well, I can now OFFICIALLY say that I am through with Christmas shopping AND Christmas wrapping. I finished all of the little things I wanted, came home, and wrapped them. And in the midst of doing all of this, my mom and I ran into my cousins at Valley Fair Mall who were coming up to see us. They have been here about two hours and I have been in my den wrapping and cleaning the basement. Doing all the little things that have been driving me a little nutty, nagging at me in the back of my mind. Oh, and I am doing just a little bit of laundry so that it won't get out of control this week. Oh, I hear the cousins leaving.....

Anyways, I have just a couple of more things to do this week. I am getting my hair done tomorrow.....I think I am going to try something new. And I have to find time to get my nails done. Tuesday I am going to Dylan's for our Christmas get together, which we unfortunately can not due on Christmas Eve as his father has to work. All in all, I think it might be a pretty relaxing week. And I know by the time Christmas Day actually gets here, my Christmas spirit will be gone. I am exhausted!!!! And I want to start planning out what I am going to do for New Years....Something nice, low key, and relaxing...Maybe going to bed really, really early.....

Dear Diary Sunday....

What a weekend! I have not accomplished nearly everything I wanted to do, but the day is not over yet!

Friday they let us leave at 4:00, but since I was in there at 6:00 it was not really leaving early for me. The X-Mac party was nicer than I expected. They had the luncheon catered by Honey Baked Hams and the company gave each of us a $50 gift certificate for Target, which I thought was very nice. After I left there, Dylan and I met up with the Netzlers for dinner at Tony Romas, which was a whole bunch of fun. The Netzlers then drove with us over to Furniture Warehouse to pick up dealing gift for his mom's Christmas....A beautiful bookcase. We then delivered it to dealing house and I was finally taken home....I had succeeded in getting a micron through dinner.

Saturday Dylan and I got together earlier than normal to go see "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King". Our movie was at 11:00 and we got there at 9:30 and they were already seating us, which was nice. The movie was awesome in every aspect, but you sure do feel like you are sitting there for 3 1/2 hours. We then did a little bit of Christmas shopping and then went over to Chet and Shane's for dinner and to see their beautiful new home...And I believe that "beautiful" is truly an understatement. Shane and Chet have built such a magnificent structure that is decorated as if you are walking into a showroom or a catalogue of great taste. The difference is, you feel the love, the warmth, the joy emanating through this home. It was wonderful.

Today, I am delivering packages to my family, doing Petsmart shopping, and some cleaning when I get home....I hope. I have just a little bit more Christmas shopping to do, which should be accomplished today. It is just odds and ends and if I don't get the gifts, I won't be too heartbroken.

One thing I have noticed over the last couple of weeks has been irritating me, so here I am venting again. I have discovered from talking to a person at great lengths over the last couple of weeks, how totally involved and self absorbed this person is. If I mention a group I am listening to, they have to give their criticism and a "I can't believe you like them, they are such a rip off of such and such group." If I discuss a book, they have to give a criticism of the author. The discussions never really involve me or my thoughts or my opinions, unless I am totally prepared to be criticized for them. Oh, and god help if I mention that I have a headache or something. This person can not understand what it means for others not to feel good because it is a huge inconvenience to their schedule. I guess that is what is bothering me the most...how nothing I say is important to this person, nothing I do is important to this person UNLESS it directly effects this person in some way. I guess I am not irritated as much as I am saddened.