Just how many bloggers can you find today with kids frolicking in the snow?

Anyway, even with as much fun as we've had, I'm ready for #TheSituation2010 to be done since I drank my last Diet Coke and we can't quite get out of here yet.

More obligatory snow pictures:

(Note: While I don't believe in Photoshopping the snot outta pictures, yes, I'm lazy with color correction, and yes, those are Christmas wreaths on the house. The roof pitch is insane and we've had rain or snow every time we've had time to get up there):

Why no, I don't care that this isn't "real snow" compared to where you live, grew up, fought in the war, went to school or did time, but thanks for asking!

Anyway, what kind of blogger would I be if I didn't post pictures of my kids and my pets in the snow?

Not a very good one, I'd say. In fact, I think union rules state that I have to do this.

So, yeah.

American Gothic plus one:

You'd better duck:

Callie dog remains unimpressed:

Abercrombie ad:

Lean into it!

Edward laments the fact that his black fur shows everything:

We desperately need a new mattress and box spring as well as new bed linens, especially a bedspread or comforter.

I really have no idea how long I've been bitching about both those things here on the ol' blog (you probably do, though), but I'm pretty sure I should be embarrassed.

I should hold a scavenger hunt on here, whoever finds the oldest entry about me complaining about this gets a prize.

Anyway, fact remains that we still haven't gotten either one.

The mattress and box springs, while not outrageously expensive, will require a bit of financial planning, but we just can't seem to make monetary time for it, I know not why.

The bedspread/comforter thing is a combination of inertia and indecision, mostly.

However, both items were procured around 1986 (comforter might be slightly newer), so it's past time.

Yes, I know.

The comforter doesn't look quite as bad as it sounds, but the mattress and box springs are starting to feel as bad as it sounds.

Part of the bedspread thing is that I kept thinking I'd get a new bedspread when I go on my girl's trip each year since we spend a lot of time at the outlet mall, but the linen place closed 2 years ago, so I have no excuse.

I'm also kind of picky about what I want, and nothing has really jumped out at me, and Busy Dad would have to like it, and it all sounds like too much trouble so, let's go out for coffee.

However, I think it may be time to do something, though because I had one of those realistic dreams last night that a rabid raccoon was sitting on my legs in the bed, and no one would help me.

I even woke up kinda mad at Busy Dad,

When I was all the way awake, I realized the "raccoon" was the weight of part of the comforter where the inside stuff (batting? whatever it is that makes a comforter puffy, but isn't down-filled) has bunched up.

Yeah, it might be time.

Busy D. was 8 months old, and also had a 6 and 8 year old. That's kind of wild.

I think I write about why I started a blog every year on this day, so I'll spare you (Reader's Digest version: because I could.)

By the way, if you look at the archives over there ===> it says April, but I had 2 other urls before this one. You'll just have to take my word for it.

I guess my blog is ready for chapter books and sleepovers.

I always feel like I should say something profound on this day, but why start now?

We had a lovely time, though we all agree it's been hard to wean ourselves down to 3 meals a day.

I've also come rather rudely face to face with "Back" at home and at work.

As in, "Oh, I'll worry about that when I get Back."

Seems that no one broke into my office while I was gone to do the tasks I've been putting off, nor did they deal with the years old stacks of things screaming to be dealt with around the house.

Hmmph.

I guess I'll need a few more weeks to really ponder those tasks, don't want to rush into anything, ya know.

In other news, this time of year sure is full of people wanting money for future events.

Like way in the future.

The first round was in October when we had to register for Spring soccer (the fall season was still going on), basketball and summer camp.

What ever happened to the good old days where you registered for something a couple of weeks before it happened?

I know, I know, these places can be dealing with huge numbers of people, I get it, but it's really getting obnoxious to have money for summer stuff due at Christmas.

Now we're into the school registration fees, summer sports camps and summer vacation, plus various volleyball fees (14 hotel room nights this season. Four-Teen) and miscellaneous Confirmation, First Communion and Graduation expenses.

We should get bonus points somewhere for having an 8th grader and a 2nd grader this year who are receiving 3 Sacraments between them.

Translated: 3 separate parent meetings and 2 new suits.

But, at least this time our 8th grader is a boy, so we don't have to launch what I called "Dress Season", when Busy Girl was in 8th grade and had to have a different dress for each of 4 back to back events.

Oh, by the way, if you are going to wail on me for having gone on a beach trip when I have all this money due, the trip is free (only required expenditures are share of gas and food).

Next week, we register Busy Boy for high school (and they want...go ahead...guess...Money!).

High. School.

That's wild.

His path through the next 4 years will be totally different from Busy Girl's, so in a way, it will be new for us, too.

In case you're wondering I've got my fingers in my ears about Busy Girl being nearly halfway through high school.

Lalalalalala.

I can't hear you.

I'm deliriously tired from (get this...) exercising (I know!) and I have no idea how to end this.

Oh, remember the Shiba Inu Puppy Cam craze about a year ago?

Kika had a new litter of pups last week, so there's a brand new Shiba Inu Puppy Cam to suck your productivity dry.

Oh, maybe that's just me.

I trust all of you had plenty of room in my suitcase on the ride down here.

We got in about 2:30 am, and I didn't get to sleep until after 4am.

That wouldn't have been so bad, except the house next door (and right under my window) is perpetually being worked on, and the stucco guys set off some car alarm around 7:30am.

One year we were here, however, they started the day blaring the Grease soundtrack, so it could have been worse.

We got up this morning, went to eat lunch and shopped for a bit. Came back to the house to see the sunset, fixed dinner and watched TV.

HGTV is just the kind of wild and crazy time you expect from women out of town and carefree, huh? All the guys on House Hunters tonight were rather douchey-looking, so we mocked them and felt downright raucous.

I'm trying to figure out how to use Whrrl, so here's what we've been up to so far:

Get some sleep, we have more shopping in store tomorrow, and there's so many of you, you're going to have to apply to go with me in my purse.

Those of you who aren't accepted to the shopping outing may convene on the deck and look at the ocean until I return.

They are so hard to get hold of, ya know?

Let's see, where did we leave off?

Busy Girl's face didn't rot off, she is healing nicely, though a certain plastic surgeon is suspicious she was playing volleyball sorta kinda against orders.

That suspicion may or may not be actually be a bit founded, I'll never tell.

Volleyball is getting geared up again, which for the uninitiated, means I have time on my hands 3 times a week to regale you with tales of the gym and of the road.

I know! Isn't it grand?

Savor this, my little digital pumpkins, for she will have a driver's license by the time the next season rolls around, and I will not have to drive the 60 miles 3 times a week.

Speaking of driver's licenses, she's doing well with her permit, though I have my doubts (she will disagree,and may even do so on here because I'm pretty sure she and her friends are reading. Hi, guys!) that she understands all the physics of a motorized vehicle.

Guess what tomorrow is?

My annual girl's trip to the beach.

Get a travel buddy and be in my suitcase by 9am tomorrow if you want to go. We have to go to work first, but we'll leave in the late afternoon.

Those of you who are old hands at this, tell the new guys what they're supposed to do.

I have a boatload of stuff I need to do before then that is obviously not gonna get done, mainly because I can't feel my fingers.

She's at a new volleyball club this season, and, holy honkers, this place is cold!

Dang, I shoulda brought my little TV, I want to see how Ellen does on American Idol.

Starving, I'm also starving.

More later, but like I said somewhere else, secure your breakables, I'm gonna start exercising. More on that later, but I'm in an exercise challenge, so I gotta, you know exercise and eat right and stuff.

Only 2 months and 30 days to go.

I'm sitting here, and can't get past that because, I've been blogging 7 years this month and things sure have changed.

It used to be that a blog entry could contain newsy stuff about you or your family and people would read and respond and maybe share something about their lives and you'd go to their blog and find out what was up with them.

Now, as I think I've said before somewhere, it seems things in blogging have to be a performance of some sort: people trying to out-wise each other about the latest controversy in the community, or out-angst each other about this, that or the other thing, or they have to be an event in the Outrageous Olympics.

Wait, now I sound like some "back in the day" fogey, that's not really what I meant, there really are lots of great thing in blogging that have developed over the years.

(You kids, get offa my lawn, someone bring me my cane.)

But, fact is, other than my record breaking attendance at funerals lately (five in the past few weeks, and my dad's best friend died a couple of days ago), my life is pretty normal and I suppose I'm mostly well-adjusted, though there may be are people who would disagree, and I can't compete.

Yes, I know it's not a competition, that's just a saying. Work with me, here.

I like to write.

While I don't feel I possess a particular talent at it as many of you do (that's OK, really), for some reason, that has made me hesitant to write blog entries like I used to do.

Well, I'm done with that.

From now on, you get what you get here. You have been warned.

So, with that...

Our New Year's Eve was not quite as expected.

Busy Girl had a large, nasty cyst over her eye that we thought a couple of weeks ago would be sliced and drained (you're welcome) in the doctor's office and she'd be on her way.

Well, two doctors said, "No way I'm touching that", (since it was over her eye) and we found ourselves at a fancy pants plastic surgeon on December 30th.

Poor thing, she had just had a hip arthrogram last week, and now this.

As for me, let's just say I am no longer lamenting having had a huge deduction taken out to fund the ol' FSA.

Anyway, we thought finally she'd get some relief and a bandage, but, instead, she got a slot on the surgery schedule for December 31.

Like, actual surgery with general anesthesia, as my Twitter peeps became painfully aware of when they had to keep my jumpy ass calmed down all day.

We waited all day at home for them to call us to the hospital for her case (she was last), and finally got there around 4:30.

Though I tried to tell her, she really didn't get that she was having (in her words) "legit" surgery, so she was kind of surprised about the whole IV, holding room, operating room and recovery thing.

My dad came down to wait with us, so New Year's Eve was really rocking around these parts, though I will say we had a lovely view of the city from our suite.

It all went well, and we were even able to go out to dinner and visit a friend briefly afterward.

The real fun began when she had to keep ice on it for 48 hours, as her definition of "keep ice on it", and my definition of "keep ice on it", weren't them same.

She's got stitches and is probably on the way to a scar, but they are darn good stitches as this doctor is surgeon to the elite of the area who apparently demand perfection in their eye jobs.

The doctor kept apologizing for having to make the incision where there'd be scarring, and I kept telling her that was fine, since we'd rather have scarring than have Busy Girl's face rot off.

I daresay she wasn't used to that kind of flexibility, because she sure LOVES us, now. We are totally bestfriends, now.

So, now we have to wait for the culture results of what was in there, and the probable results are a bit of a little concern (a bug, not cancer or anything), and she can't play volleyball for a bit, but we'll deal with it.

She's working on a story about her New Year's Eve to tell at school on Monday. It most likely will involve an evening of getting knifed after getting IV drugs and not remembering anything and waking up in the hospital.

With that, I leave you to go clean out the pantry because I'm an organizing fool for 2010, y'all.

And, indeed, everything got done.

Busy Girl wrapped the presents and did the Santa assistance. That was kind of a milestone.

My beef tenderloin kicked ass.

Or, should I say, "kicked loin"?

Whatevs, that stuff was good even though my recipe is turn on the oven and pray you don't overcook it again.

Busy Girl was a trooper at her MRI, but was mostly fired up because she got to use a wheel chair.

We did find out she has a small labral tear in her hip, dunno what (if anything, yet) we're going to do about it.

But, now she's got a cyst thing over her eye that needs draining and we went to the fancy-pants plastic surgeon (no one else will touch it since it's above her eye) today thinking she'd do just that, but nooo...it's gotta be done in surgery! Tomorrow!

Poor kid, an invasive MRI for Christmas and surgery for New Year's Eve.

It shouldn't take too long, though and she's still planning to go to a party (we'll see about that).

She will have stitches, so she's concocting a story for when she goes back to school about how she got them on New Year's Eve when someone took a knife to her, but doesn't remember getting them because she was unconscious.

Maybe you had to be there, it was funny.

She's an add-on to the schedule, so we have no idea when the surgery will be, but she can't eat after midnight, so she stuffed herself to the gills earlier this evening..

I did the same thing, but my reasoning isn't quite as air tight.

Christmas was nice enough, like many people have said, it wasn't anything outstanding or unusual, just sort of garden variety.

We got Rock Band and I pretty much suck at it which makes me mad because I can play a real guitar and I can also play real drums, but I'm working on it.

I also got a pair of Ugg-like boots.

I know I'm old, and I live in fear of being "that" woman (you know her, she wears "current" stuff because she thinks she looks hip and cool, but she really looks like she's in costume. Or denial. Or, even a costume of denial.), but I love them.

I especially love them because now that makes 2 pairs of shoes that don't render me cripple.

Actually, the ol' heel and knees feel pretty good, but I'm still sort of limited on shoes I can wear, but I'm working on it.

Busy Girl promised me she wouldn't let me be "that" woman, and I think I believe her, but still harbor a fear I'll show up as the topic of some Facebook joke group, so I will watch how often I wear them.

As if that would help.

No big plans for New Year's Eve here, we're crazy like that.

You got any?

I mean, I am a mom with a blog and I suppose that makes me a mom blog, mommy blog or whatever.

Fine by me and all, but when my own entries make me fall asleep, then I tend not to write anything.

Christmas is nigh, and like most people I gots stuff ta do and, like a lot of other people, I ain't finished doing it yet.

My kids are going to be shocked when they grow up and find that it's not a "thing" to wait until the middle of the night on Christmas Eve to wrap gifts.

Other that that, I don't have anything out of the ordinary to do, in fact, I have a little bit less to do since my MIL isn't coming here this year. We'll go there either Saturday or Sunday.

I'd rather go there on Sunday since I hold out hope (cute, huh?) that I might get to see my own friends or relax in my own home the day after Christmas. But, whatever happens, happens.

I still have to go to the grocery (ya'll are going to have to help me with the beef tenderloin like you do every year because I never remember what to do) and get a few odds and ends today.

First, though, Busy Girl has to have an MRI on her hip, she's had trouble with it since volleyball. It's not going to be fun since it has to be an arthrogram.

I'll just be glad when it's over. She may need surgery, but I'll obsess over that later.

Busy D. is all TechDeck all the time, and Busy Boy just called me to the den, "Mom! Come here!".

I responded as directed as it sounded sort of urgent. He went on, "Look! I'm warm and my hands are free!!"

He was wearing his Snuggie that my MIL got him over Thanksgiving.

Annnd...apparently that's going to be the last pleasant conversation we're going to have today.

#teenagers

Something about naughty or nice goes here.

1. Name someone with the same birthday as you. Greta Garbo

2. Where was your first kiss? On my lips, duh.

3. Have you ever seriously vandalized someone else’s property? Define "seriously"...

4. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex? Not that I can remember.

5. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people? No, and there's a very good reason for that.

6. What’s the first thing you notice about your preferred sex? If they really listen when you talk.

7. What really turns you off? Arrogance.

8. What do you order at Starbucks? Usually, it's Black Tea Lemonade. Coffee is Pike Place with room for cream. I order a Vanilla Latte on occasion.

9. What is your biggest mistake?Not taking more of the antiques from my grandmother's house before it was sold.

10. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose? No.

11. Say something totally random about yourself I can juggle.

12. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity? I always had to be Mary when we played Little House on the Prarie as I allegedly looked like Melissa Sue Anderson.

13. Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows? Yep.

14. Did you have braces? Oh, yes. Seemed like forever.

15. Are you comfortable with your height? I'm a bit short for my weight.

16. What is the most romantic thing someone of the preferred sex has done for you? I'm not sure I can narrow it down to just one thing.

17. When do you know it’s love? When you can get mad and act like an idiot and they're still there when you regret your behavior.

18. Do you speak any other languages? No, other than the ability to order a beer in a couple of languages. And ask where the bathroom is.

19. Have you ever been to tanning salon? Yes, yes I have.

20. Have you ever ridden in a limo? Yes.

21. What’s something that really annoys you? A messy house.

22. What’s something you really like? A clean house.

23. Can you dance? Sure, I think I can. Busy Girl will disagree.

24. Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room? Nope.

25. Tag 5 people! OK, you, you...you and you, and you over there by the coffee pot.

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Listening to: The dishwasher, the dryer, Busy D. and his ever present Tech Deckcollection.

Glad to be listening to the dryer, though since we just bought a new motor for it because nothing says, "Merry Christmas, kids!" like a new dryer motor.

Today's Mental Jukebox Selection: "The Little Drummer Boy".

I went to a friend's dad's funeral yesterday and this was the closing hymn. It was his favorite song, and apparently he sang it year-round.

The funeral unexpectedly tore me up. Don't know what that was about, I had only met him a couple of times, but that was not a good look for me to take back to work.

Thinking: Busy Girl just left the house for the first time with friends driving. She's going to be driving away herself before we know it.

Also, I need new black pants. I never remember to do anything about it until I'm putting on the black pants that so desperately need replacing. (See also: area, crochital, worn out.)

Reading: Amazon,since I've lost momentum on that whole Christmas shopping thing.

Wasting time: Hard to narrow that down to one offending activity, really.

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Miscellania:

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Use the Wedding Paper Divas Discount Coupon Code BUSYMOM and get 10% off your order.

We did, however actually start our Christmas shopping online, which it totally not like us.

I hope this isn't one of those things where I feel all smug and satisfied for starting the shopping and then end up not resuming it until December 22nd or something.

I'm still not convinced that it's a "thing", but I'll check out Cyber Monday stuff at Amazonanyway, since I'm on an online shopping roll.

Do you have any favorite places to peruse on Cyber Monday?

Other than that, today has been spent cleaning the house before Busy Girl's literature group came over to film The Cask of Amontillado for school.

We have a very Edgar Allen Poe-vian dirt basement, so our house was the natural choice.

However, some of the outside scenes they shot have cars zooming by in the background, so I'm thinking it may have reduced it's authenticiness.

I can make up words if I want.

I blog for meeee! This is my space!!

Holidays ought to come with a bonus Un-Day to get ready for the next week because I've done nothing to prepare for real life today.