Trees and "Smell that Dairy Air!"

Ahh- It took me a little bit that night, but I came to a decision. My decision was that I was not making a decision that night! The partially assembled tree went back into it's tub, and was stashed into the space vacated in the entry way. I stopped at a tree farm that I pass on my way to and from work every day, and I think I'll stop back tomorrow and actually get a real tree. The visit solidified it. So, tomorrow I'll be driving 30 minutes on the freeway with a Christmas tree strapped to my car roof. I have my doubts about the wisdom of it . . . . they'll use twine. I really wish I hadn't loaned my rope to my dad to haul away that mattress, but I suppose it's better than still having the mattress!

I think I'll take the fake tree to my classroom. I've had visions of my kids creating duplicate ornaments every year with the year, their name and their picture. One will go home with them, and one will stay with me to decorate the tree in years to come. Otherwise simple generic decorations. That's the way I'm leaning, anyway- which was my original intention for the tree(the classroom part). I'll have to double check with my building principal. I like the idea of pulling out all the old ornaments as a memorial for years down the road. I'm sentimental like that. We'll see if my ambition keeps up with my lofty aspirations.

I had hoped to spend time tonight getting my kitchen in order so I could bring the tree home, but instead I went out to eat at a Chinese buffet with my good friend Ang, because we love Chinese, and because it's her golden birthday! Happy Birthday Girl!

As an extra special treat on her birthday, I arranged to have us seated by a large, drafty window, and then to have some farmers come in wearing their barn clothes for some aromatic enjoyment! Seriously though, that was an addition we could have lived without! Upon their being seated at the table directly beside ours (in an otherwise nearly empty restaurant!) we looked at each other and whispered "there is no good way out of this, is there?" The smell overpowered our peanut butter chicken and anything else the buffet had to offer. We thought we were stuck. If we asked to be moved, or even just got up and reseated ourselves, we would completely offend these people (and you really don't want to tick off a farm girl! No offense! Oh yeah- we didn't want to be rude or hurtful in general, either), but if we remained in our current location out of politeness, our enjoyment of the evening would be seriously shot. As I sat, nearly convulsing from the cold, I decided that this may be our way out of this situation. I began to lament just how cold the window was, and the draft, and how I was starting to shiver. Oh yes, it sure was cold, Ang continued. I wonder if we could move away from the window, I said? She agreed. I made her ask the employee, who promptly began speaking loudly to another employee across the near-empty restaurant, who agreed that yes, we could move away from the window. How about here? says the first man. Oh no, over one more, right there, it's under a heat vent (and one more table away from the barn smell!) says the second man. I lamented again about the cold temperature, put on my scarf, shoved my hands up my opposite sleeves, and declined the ice cream that I normally love for dessert, all because of the cold . . . we came away looking like a couple of wussy, whiny freeze babies, but the rest of our meal was oh-so-much more enjoyable!! And more importantly, (I hope) no one was offended, except the busser who had to clean 2 tables instead of one! I can't help but think that they understood our plight! Only in Wisconsin!

Help! I'm Drowning!!

Help! I'm drowning! My little apartment is full to the brim with stuff! In the chairs, on the couch, on the kitchen table, on the counter, around my bed! I can't walk because it's so full! I finally got rid of my old queen size bed from my storage closet in the entry way, but it's too cold out there and I'm too indecisive to put something in it's place tonight. Part of the problem is that I have no room to move anything to. Another part of the problem is this fake Christmas tree I have in the middle of my kitchen floor. It belonged to my grandparents and the same parents that took away my bed brought it to me, at my request. I'd planned to bring it to my classroom and decorate there, but I'm teetering and tottering about keeping it at my apartment and sinking to the cheesy fake Christmas tree merely out of convenience and cost.

I'm overwhelmed, and perhaps you could help me make a decision? I'd appreciate it ever so much! Do I sacrifice having a real tree? Putting it together here or in my classroom? Paying for the real tree smell and the pine needles and cutting it up to drag it to the woods in June because I missed the darn truck who picks it up? The convenience of not having to water it? Having a sparsely decorated classroom? I really only have one set of decorations anyway. Grrr.

I need your help! Calgon, take me away! Someone help me make this decision!

A

My Thanksgiving . . .

I came down with the stomach bug that my loving family previously infected me with on Wednesday. I woke up feeling grim, and it just got worse. After nearly losing it during my doctor's appointment(NOT for this darn bug) I motored through the grocery store, knowing what was coming and needing Sprite and popsicles. NEEDING!! I rushed in, found those 2 items and rushed out. My manners to the cashier were sadly lacking, as were my manners to my doctors, the nurses, and the people who changed my oil earlier in the day. I spent much of my doctor's appointment with my eyes closed, fighting the nausea. He, the wonderful doctor that he is, agreed to finish the appointment by phone on Friday, and home I went. When he called Friday, I'd made it to my parent's and my cell service was lacking and so my phone chose not to ring. He called again later, and commented that he'd had visions of me laying in a heap on my bathroom floor dying. I LOVE that guy. I felt better after Wednesday evening and by early afternoon Thursday determined to head the the family even. I managed to eat a minimal turkey dinner, and spent that evening and all day Friday glued to the couch and cable television. My mom has since gotten this bug, as has my dad. Gross. I'm not entirely recovered, but promptly back to 85%. Can't really complain . . . well, maybe a little!

Hope your Thanksgiving Days were less eventful and healthier!

A

Another heartbreaking headline from cnn.com

Death toll rises to at least 2,000 as Bangladesh assesses cyclone damage

KOLAPARA, Bangladesh (CNN) -- Cyclone Sidr, one of the worst storms to strike the impoverished country of Bangladesh in recent years, has killed at least 2,000 people, a number that is expected to rise as the South Asian nation continues to assess the damage.

The Category 4 cyclone raked Bangladesh's southwest coast on Thursday with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, destroying fishermen's hamlets and villages.

Thousands are still missing, while an estimated 280,000 others are unable to return to their homes which were wiped away by the storm.

Update: Reuters International now puts the death toll at over 2,300.

Reason #679 that I'm glad I'm single . . .

AKA Are you putting on weight?




This is Uncle Tom. (Note the hat: I'm Old School, HA!) He's not my uncle. In fact, I'm not sure that he's anyone's real uncle. He isn't technically related to my nephew's Dad, but somewhere along the line, his Mom, Coreinne acquired Tom as an "uncle", hence the "Uncle Tom". Coreinne died a few years ago, and Tom is now the main family that her children have in this area. He's kind of a crochety old man, a little awkward, but family nonetheless. Today was my nephew's birthday dinner. His family, coming together to celebrate him, and of course, shower him with gifts.

Uncle Tom, my nephew and his Dad had only walked in the door and were saying their hellos when Uncle Tom looked at my older sister and greets her with, "Hey, are you putting on weight?" Now, I'm sure many of you know that this is poor form, incredibly poor, in fact. I concede that you may not know this if you are over 30 and blogging from your mother's basement(and if that's the case, no offense, but here's your lesson!) My sister is famous for her poor life choices, her insecurity, and her attitude. She promptly got upset, began ranting, and retired to the living room in tears. I would have just ignored it if it had been directed to me, but I felt obligated to chide and give Uncle Tom some grief about starting a family gathering like this in the hopes of regaining the peace in a quicker fashion. It was a pretty tacky comment, and I told Tom that I'd thought he was old enough to know better than to comment on a woman's weight. He responded with a comment about how he thought that in this day and age he thought that it was okay and that no one cared about weight(I think he even said 'hip and groovy' with his hands waving in the air). Yeah, did I mention that I thought maybe he's always been single? (. . . shocker!*) I don't think that he'll make that mistake again . . . I think he's truly lucky he didn't get slapped. It seems that in past times he might have been. He did have his age working in his favor, I guess, I mean- how much grief can you give a crusty old curmudgeon? It brought the whole event onto par with a three ring circus in a real hurry. My sister and her boyfriend left for home a few minutes later. She'd been working all day and needed to run home and change and pick up the ham. What? You're leaving us alone to entertain his family? You'd better hurry back!

My thought for the day is that I'm glad I'm single. I can hardly, quite simply, deal with my own crazy relatives without importing another family!

May all of your family holiday gatherings be more civil, and well- joyful!

Happy upcoming holidays!

A


*A While You Were Sleeping reference for Sarah.

Home at last . . .

I'm home at last. I must confess to an odd feeling of detachment from my apartment, though. Their home felt so much more like home than my little apartment. I think apartment living is for the birds. Probably about the same size as their cage, in proportion. It's weird to come back to a place that doesn't seem like mine. As weird as it is though, I am so grateful to not be driving back and forth, to not be torn between here and there. The Bible talks about a house divided against itself not being able to stand. A true statement, even if meant in a different context. I certainly wouldn't have been able to stand much longer.

I fed the cat, left the sheets drying in the dryer, grabbed my stuff and headed back to town tonight. I was going for pizza with some friends, and wouldn't be able to get my food unless I did it tonight, before pizza. A very busy day indeed. I even have most of my clothes put away now, and stuff seems to be organized enough to make the morning routine run fairly smoothly. I should go to bed now, because now that I'm back home, I'll have to get up earlier, to accommodate the longer drive to work.

Back to apartment living in a college town. Ahhh, the sounds of traffic and neighbors stomping(and doesn't it all seems like stomping when it's above you!) . . .

G'night all.

A

Technology day . . .

Ahhh, I'm sitting in a technology day conference. The session I'm in right now is "Exploring free online programs" and one of the programs is blogger! I thought I'd do a quick post to say hi! The presenter gave us the freedom to play around and explore the links that interested or applied to us. A dangerous freedom to give us bloggers. I'd already checked my email and checked my google reader page. I realize that I need to put more of the blogs I frequent on their so I can get to them quickly from anywhere!

House sitting will be finished in 4 days. Our missions team will be home from India Wednesday. What a tough transition for them! It was hard enough for me to transition from my house to theirs! It will be great to have them home. I hope that I'll have more time for blogging when I'm settled back home.

I'd better run, I'm eavesdropping on a conversation someone is having about blogger. Maybe I can help . . .

A