Good morning from overcast chilly California! This is almost our holiday weather. All we need now is some rain and it is total holiday weather!!

I did some schoolwork last night and I did some scrapping, too. I spoke with both girls on the phone and they will box up their books when they are home for the holidays. I have to go buy the boxes (book boxes) but they will do the work. They both agreed they need to go through them to see if there is anything they can get rid of, too. I can go through lots of other things (my stuff) so I can keep myself plenty entertained without worrying about their books! We have games up there, my books, and tons and tons of stuff I have squirreled away over the years. There are some journals that are Terry's that he can move into his office (or toss) so overall, there is plenty to work with!

Last night, I tidied up my scrapping area as well as I could and then covered one of the journal books I am giving away to one of my colleagues. I ordered personalized notepads for each person and then am adding a journal to each of them as well. I think it will be a nice gift. I plan to take them in next week when I am going for my TB test. I think I need to do a total of 3 or 4, but I have about 8 books altogether to do. For this one, I trimmed the cover a bit close so it looked kind of ragged, so I found some quotes to put on the front to cover the ragged edge. Whew!

I have several projects in different phases and when I get some more bookshelf space I think I will assign each project a shelf. That way, when I want to work on that project, it will be relatively easy to find all the parts and pieces of that project.

Tomorrow, my housekeeper comes, so much of today will be getting ready for her. I know that sounds crazy, but I hope you know it's the picking up of the junk that we haven't put away. There is all sorts of stuff waiting to go upstairs; and laundry to take downstairs; and laundry to put away; and stuff like that. I have my school stuff spread out in the guest room and even that needs to be straightened up because she likes to keep that room very neat! There is a desk in there and I might just move my stuff to that desk and stack it neatly.

We are going to be getting new family room furniture this week, I think. I have offered the old furniture to her, but she said they do not have a truck to move it. I don't know if our little pick-up truck would hold it or not. I kind of doubt it, so I'm not sure what we will do with the old furniture. It isn't in the best condition, but someone could likely use it. I suppose once I find out if she will take it, I can call around to see if any of the charities will come and get it.

Paula, I wish Serina were here....I have quite a few blankets to give away. My sister had made some nice throws for us and I no longer want them in the house. I am giving them away. Actually, I gave quite a bit of linens to the city animal shelter and they use them for bedding for the animals; but these are nice, large blankets which would be nice for humans. I just don't have the willingness to do much more than donate them to the shelter as well.

I have to chuckle about something at school! I've been keeping close track of my students' homework and just casually announcing who has missing assignments. Of course, they will say, "No, I turned that in." And, I reply, "Well, here's the stack of assignments. If you can find it, bring it to me." I point to a stack of papers and they look and look. A day or two later, they hand me a paper and say, "Here's that ____ homework." Sure enough, bit by bit, those blank spaces on the homework turn-in log are getting filled in! And, sure enough, rarely is it in that big stack of papers!!

I wish I were going to your Christmas parade with you, Rhonda! I love parades, and especially when I know someone who is in it! Our little town in NC used to have an annual parade for Christmas and it was so much fun to go to it. Not here, unfortunately, even though we have three high schools that could march in it, plus several dance schools and all sorts of other organizations! Boo on them!!

Well, I'd better get moving. Here's my to do list for today:

--tidy kitchen

--tidy family room

--take stuff upstairs

--laundry downstairs

--organize schoolwork

--finish another schoolwork task

--put laundry away

--accomplish something recognizable (in terms of purging) in bonus room

I'll be back later to give an update. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Hi friends....

I haven't had any problems typing right into the message box here..although I probably should knock on wood!

Here's my list with a full report on my progress:

--tidy kitchen

--tidy family room

--take stuff upstairs

--laundry downstairs

--organize schoolwork

--finish another schoolwork task

--put laundry away

--accomplish something recognizable (in terms of purging) in bonus room

So, I didn't put the laundry away, nor did I even darken the entryway of the bonus room except to put more stuff in there. There is always tomorrow!

I did, however, clean out a cabinet in the family room and toss some candles and other items in it. I then cleaned off some shelves in the family room. I'll pass on flogging myself today for not making any progress in the bonus room since I did some purging downstairs!

It is late now and I've got to get to bed. My housekeeper is coming tomorrow and I've got to be up for her. Bad mistake, I fear, to stay up so late.

good morning all..
Lizzy, I also think you did great on your list. Today is a new day and you can "darken the doors" of the bonus room.

Rhonda, WTG on the cards. Have fun today on whatever you decide to do. Maybe some of everything. I am making a Chocolate Caramel thumbprint recipe I got from a cookie exchange website. It sounded yummy and different. Glad the parade didn't dis appoint. This weekend we are going to the Scottish Walk in Alexandria. We have gone for many years (but not every one). Being a Scot, I love it, and the grands LOVE all the dogs.

Paula, how did the cookie class go last night?

I need to get busy here.. I want to vacuum the upstairs and tidy up here as well. Then I am going to tackle the craft/laundry/play room. Plan is to have that one done today.
I will be back later..

Hello ladies!

Lizzy, sorry you're having issues with the MB. So far I haven't encountered that.
Nice job organizing the books. Sounds like they are getting in order.
How much longer are you going to have class in the outside classroom? I am sure that limits the space you have available.
How are you doing on your list today?

Pat, DS and I took a boat to Alexandria when we were there. We ate at Bilbo Baggin's. Besides that we pretty much just walked the town.
Your ornament is so very pretty!! I did not realize how detailed it is. You sure are going to have a lot of work in them but they are going to make a nice gift for those fortunate people who get them. :)

Rhonda, nice job having your cards done. I have not designed one yet. hmmm.... I may be shopping for cards.
Glad you enjoyed the parade last night. It sounds like fun.

Last night was just baking the cookies. We have to take them to class Thursday to decorate.
We had a great time. Had dinner together and then made 5 batches of cookies. In order to put the sticks in them they have to be thick so you don't get as many from a batch.

Today I cut out some more letters for another box for the blanket drive and started another little project. I am going to make little purses from TBB&M for the girls when I am their travel companion for tour on Dec. 22nd. I am going to put the little bottles of hand sanitizer from B&B Works in them. It's that germy time of year.

OK, going to watch Survivor.

Good idea, Paula...hitting the back button. That never even dawned upon me!

I never made it back up to the bonus room to do more purging. I did, however, make it back up there and made another altered journal. I still have to trim it. I picked out paper for the next one and picked out paper to make some cards, too. I was contemplating making some cards for my daughters for Christmas, too, for them to keep on hand to use for whatever they desire...not putting any words on them at all and letting them use them for whatever they want. If I do that, I will probably use my photos on them. It's just a thought. It would be a relatively inexpensive gift...but meaningful.

I like the idea of the hand sanitizer. I read somewhere that grocery carts (Walmart, Target, etc.) are some of the dirtiest things one can touch. When analyzed, there were germs from the common cold, bacterial infections, and even fecal matter. When I read that, I wanted to throw up and now I never touch one without first using a "wipey" on the handle. It totally grossed me out. (And, as a public service to all of you, I have now grossed all of you out as well.)

I will put my to do list here:

To do for today:

--laundry I only did one load

--schoolwork (just one thing) I didn't do anything yet and probably won't

--bonus room YES!

Well, I'm going to go and probably read for awhile!

I'll check in tomorrow. I have an appointment at 9:00 in the morning and I may just be gone for awhile...perhaps go to Starbucks and work on school stuff afterwards. Take a chill pill and relax. I'll check in later, friends!

Good morning!

I am so sorry I have been MIA! I tried to get on one day and never finished typing.

RHonda is this potential employer a different place than the one that contacted you shortly after you found out your business was closing up? I hope it goes well. That is nice of you to go with your friend today so she is less nervous.

Lizzy it sounds like you are making some progress on your lists! WTG. YOu didn't gross me out about the carts, I already knew that. I am already really aware of that and am always washing my hands, using those wipes and using hand sanitizer when I am at any store.

Paula a cookie decorating class? Sounds like fun. I am with you on my Christmas cards. I know what I want to do I just don't know if I have the time this year. We'll see how it goes.

Pat those ornaments are gorgeous! Very pretty! Did you get the room done you wanted to? The Scottish walk sounds like fun! It always seems like there are so many fun things where I don't live, but I am sure the things around here would be interesting to people that are not around here. We just get used to them.

I just got that crazy error thing some of you have had but I was able to just hit the back button.

I have been busy with the holiday, the kids, Christmas shopping (which is done except getting gift certificates to the bounce house for my daycare kids and niece and nephew. I guess I need a small gift card for my boys to put in their stockings too.) Now to wrap them!

Carter also passed his road test so he is now a licensed driver. I am not really ready for that but I guess that is the way it is! I have to let him grow up!

I need to make a list of what I need to do because I feel like I have a lot to do but just don't feel organized enough to get it done. I don't know why that is.

Well I better get moving for the day!

Have a great day everyone!

Well, boo! I lost my post! Even the "back button" didn't save me!

I misled everyone about my progress in the Bonus room. I only made a tiny dent in it. My cheering was merely cheering that I got started. So very sorry! I have much more to do. I will continue to cheer each time I go in there. Ignore minor cheering. I will let you know when I am totally finished!

Nancy, it is so good to hear from you. I have been thinking about you quite a bit lately...have you been feeling me sending you good thoughts? I completely understand your not wanting Carter to start driving...but it is inevitable. I hope you get a break pretty soon and can get some time to relax.

Rhonda, that is very good news about the possibility of a job. I hope the employer and you can come to an agreement on salary and benefits! They have to know you will be a gem of an employee! (Tell 'em to call me!)

Pat, you remind me that I desperately need to get my hair done. It's too long and worse, needs to be colored. I'd like to wait a bit longer, though. Wonder how much longer I can wait?

I had a bad case of insomnia last night, so I am taking it easy right now. I imagine I will take a nap soon. After Terry finishes his work for the day, I will go up and work in the bonus room. Ruby whines too much when I am trying to work upstairs and disturbs him while he is working. It's only a problem when he is on the phone like today and yesterday (and maybe tomorrow). I am rarin' to go, though. While down here, though, I plan to work on school stuff. I've got it all with me.

On that note, I am going to bid everyone goodbye...I'm off to try and get something accomplished. I'll check in later.

Hello ladies!

Happy Friday!!

Yes, Nancy, glad to hear from you. Good to know all is well.
Congrats to Carter! Milestones like that make you stop and think...what??? how did we get to this point already??!! They grow up so fast! (and yet we aren't that much older....are we??)
You have done really well preparing for Christmas!! I guess I should sit down and figure out a shopping list.

Lizzy, I just love having you around more!

OK, I have gotten that crazy, send you off to some error page notice twice already...hmmm..

Anyhow, Lizzy, every little bit of progress counts. You just keep moving forward on that!! :)

Rhonda, have you met with that possible employer yet? Hoping the details work out.
How nice that you could go with your friend to her appt. Nothing like support from a friend!
The cookies we made were a sugar cookie recipe but for a nice sturdy/non-spreading (when it bakes) cookie. I got it with our "things to bring" list.

Cookie class was fun. Never enough time but we enjoyed it. I haven't made the arrangement yet because they had to dry first. It was more work than I expected but I guess most things great are. Not sure when I will arrange them or what I will do with it but I will take a pic when I get to that point.

Make that three error messages...

Laurie, what are you up to out there??

Today is pretty much open. I need to get some things done around here. Stuff is starting to pile up. I still have two coffee tables stacked in the corner of the living room that I haven't dealt with. I wanted to sell one but no takers... (they have been sitting there since we rearranged our furniture...hahaha...do you think it's time to find a place for them??) That tells you how jammed packed our house is with junk-no place to stash them. I keep thinking DS is so close to needing things like that ( or my nephew ) but at some point it has to go.
I am meeting up with a friend to chat this afternoon.
I need to run to Niles to pick something up and she will ride along and we may stop and chat over a coke or something. (it's pretty bad when you are so busy you plan to visit while driving somewhere haha)

OK, I think I will post this before I really lose it...

Hi friends!

Thanks, Paula, for telling me you enjoyed having me around more! That made me feel very special.

Today, I've not done much except clean up the very dirty kitchen and finish straightening up the pantry. Actually, that was a big job I undertook yesterday. My husband is into buying protein bars and he buys quite a few different types/brands. Some time ago, he bought plastic storage boxes to keep them in. To make a very long story short, he is the guilty culprit to the pantry being a mess most of the time. He buys these protein bars, brings them home, and stuffs them into the pantry wherever there is space. Sometimes he puts them into his plastic storage boxes, and sometimes he doesn't. Over time, it becomes a MESS! To top that, since he is the primary shopper of groceries, he does the same thing with staples that go into the pantry. No organization at all. It drives me nuts!

Yesterday, I tossed out all of the expired food and then organized all of the food, including his protein bars. I gave him a huge amount of space for the bars, including putting all of the bars into those storage boxes. I then labeled each box with the type of bar that goes into that box. It took awhile...but IF (very big if) he keeps the system going, it will work really well.

The biggest piece, however, was getting rid of all the expired food. HORRORS!

So, today, I am babysitting Ruby downstairs here. Next job...more schoolwork. Then, hopefully I can work on purging later today or this weekend.

Will, sayonara friends...I am bound and determined to finish my lesson plans this afternoon!
It's raining again today....LOVE IT!

Well, I'm hoping that we hear some good news from Rhonda today about a job for her. In the meantime, Paula, I'll be looking for those cookie photos from you! I bet they were very nice. I once saw some beautifully frosted and decorated some cookies...of course, I wanted to do some myself until I realized how much they entailed. It was similar to paper piecing, except it was with frosting. Each section was done with a different color right onto the cookie. The thing is, then you eat it. And, it's gone.

Pat, you are such a busy person. I imagine as much as you enjoy the times together, it is frustrating that you don't get things finished!

Laurie, yoo-hoo, where are you?

Nancy, I agree with Paula, while our kids get older, we stay the same!

Oh my goodness, Paula! Those cookies are absolutely adorable!! Those gingerbread men are so cute! You need to make them your picture for the holiday season. CUTE, CUTE, CUTE!! What talent you have, my friend! What are they nestled in? At first, I thought a flowerpot...but now I'm not so sure.

Well, I have done quite a bit on my lesson plans, but am not completely finished. I need to go get ready to go out to Ikea, so I don't know that I will finish today. We are finally going to get our new furniture for the family room - I hope. I have all but made the final arrangements for the old furniture to be picked up on Monday morning so I don't know what we will sit on unless we get something else! LOL

So, I may try to finish it up later today. I should be honest here and say I won't be able to completely finish everything until after a meeting this upcoming week about this new unit we are doing in January. Three of my grade-level colleagues are doing it now and I'm meeting with them to get the latest scoop on how it's going and exactly how to do it, etc. I'm leaving time each day for that but I still need to do the rest of the plans except for that. I will fill that time in after that meeting.

At any rate, I am making slow progress here....not to worry, I'm still taking it plenty easy! Lots of TV watching, chatting with Terry, reading, etc.

Oh...by the way...I have good news about Sarah: she got a job! She will be a lab associate working with a Professor/Clinical Biologist who does research in neuroblastomas which is a form of cancers in children. They are trying out different methods of treating these neuroblastomas, but are apparently relatively successful. She will be doing a variety of different things with him...helping to do research, work in the lab, etc. Her start date is about 2 weeks which is how long it takes for HR to do all they have to do...make sure she actually has a PhD, make sure she actually can be employeed (can be legally employeed), make sure she is alive, etc. I told her to relax and not to get too worried about all that stuff...it's all normal these days.

I'm very happy for her...it's very close to the type of job she wanted...she did not want to do a post-doc position; she doesn't want to eventually teach in a college or run a lab like most PhD science people do. She would be happy to work in a lab for someone else, but she doesn't want to deal with all the politics that come with running a lab or vying for tenure (I can't blame her).

Terry has not been the most supportive of her which has been a bone of contention between us, but I've held my ground and my position which has been "accept her for who she is and what she wants."

Alrighty, friends...going to go here despite the fact that Stanford and UCLA are starting their football game and I'd really like to watch it and hope Stanford beats UCLA again!

Lizzy, I took your advice and changed my avatar. :)

Hurray for DD getting a job and one she likes!!! Wooohooo... Tell her congrats from Michigan.
I guess being her dad, your DH wants the very best for her but you realize that has to include what she will enjoy while she it doing it. You can have the best job in the world but if you are miserable doing it, it isn't worth anything. Good for you supporting her and what's in her heart.
That's my two cents on that, hehe.
I sure hope you find some furniture you want/like. I guess having nothing to sit on will motivate the slection process.

RHONDA!!!!!!!! HURRAY!!!!!!



I am so happy for you!! It's wonderful that it was a very good offer!!
And you start Monday! Wow! So....tell us about what you will be doing.

Ha ha on the cookie orders. While we were making them we commented on how much harder it was to do than we expected. The instrutor said "now you know why they charge so much for them". We were like "right now we would pay $100 not to have to do this". haha

Thanks for the comments. They are kind of cute but I have no artistic ability whatsoever so I can't make things even. When you put it all together you don't notice it quite so much but I would never try to sell one.

It sounds like a good fit Rhonda. Plus the bonus of being a bit familar with them from your old job. That's great. I am excited for you. It's nice that you can train under the current employee too. (well, I guess that could have some positives and negatives) It does give you the chance to see how things are done and then take what you need from that.

CONGRATULATIONS, RHONDA!!



Well, we went to Ikea last night to get the furniture, but to make a long story short, we have to go back today. In fact, I am going to sign off and come back later because we should go right now.

Hello friends...

Lizzy, very fun times at your house. New furniture - love it. Would love to see pics of your altered journals. I know your friends will enjoy them.

Pat, I enjoyed to the link to the music at the parade. I love bagpipes. How is the cookie baking coming along?

Laurie, enjoy the movie. I like to watch it at least once each season.

Paula, what have you been up to today?

Looks like Carrie is having a good time in Florida!

Nothing new here today. I think I may try to get the tree up tomorrow. Today I was working on making a desk calendar for my friend. I am using the coasters Laurie gave us in MI. Then I will try to work on pages for my desk calendar.