...

Jesus, I just sat down to look at any email that might be important... 2 hours ago. I was exhausted when I started, and am moreso now. I'm in total zombie mode, and there's no good reason I'm not in bed right now.

OK... so all you guys just need to SHUT THE FUCK UP for a couple of days, because you're all entirely too interesting, and I get sucked in. Fuck personal responsibility, I blame all of you for my mindless and fanatical addiction. Clearly, all those months/years of working so much I didn't have time for LJ were the so-called "dry time"s. Being away from the computer for a couple of days doesn't help at all.

Ummm... I think there's a bed in my house. I'm going to stumble around until I fall down on it.

Christmas Meme (from profundis

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Depends on the size/shape of the gift. Some stuff is just hard to wrap, and I'm happy to go the bag route.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Did the real tree thing once. Was nice. My mother finally came over in February and insisted that we take it down NOW, which we did (I'd already removed the lights and ornaments... it was just sitting there, being dry). The next year, my parents bought me a really nice artificial tree. Which I lost a couple of years ago in the Great Storage Fiasco. We now have an artificial tree we got from Freecycle. (Note: I lived in the apartment where I had the real tree for about 3 more years. When I moved out, I was still finding needles from that first tree.)

3. When do you put up the tree?
After Thanksgiving, as soon as possible

4. When do you take the tree down?
Ummm... ideally, January 6... in practice... who knows?

5. Do you like eggnog?
Adore it. But very picky about it.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
Probably a bunch of Barbie stuff.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
My father. He has everything, and wants nothing.

8. Easiest person to buy for?
I dunno. I suppose someone I don't know that well, so I can just get a generic "just-about-anyone-would-like-this" kinda gift

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Like every good pagan household, we have a nativity scene and 3 Bibles. Seriously, though, I looooooooved this Nativity Scene of my mom's when I was growing up, so she gave it to me when she got a new one.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
I can't remember the last time I sent Christmas cards in any capacity. I'm a slacker like that. I used to be awesome at cards.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Probably a chia pet.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Not sure I have a favorite movie. I like the TV specials - Rudolph, Grinch, that sort of thing. However, "Love Actually" is one of my favorite movies, period, and it happens to be set at Christmastime.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Entirely too late.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Don't think so. I'd be too worried someone would figure it out.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Hmmmm.... probably the cookies. We have our own traditional ones that we make. When I'm around, Mom and I usually spend a day making them.

16. Lights on the tree?
As in yes or no? How could it be no? The more the better!

17. Favorite Christmas song?
O Holy Night

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
I travel to Indiana to be with my family.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?
Yes, but I don't feel like typing it out to prove it.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Don't really have a preference. Whatever strikes me.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?
One on Christmas Eve, the rest Christmas day.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
"Jesus is the reason for the season"

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?
Not sure I have a theme, per se. My ornaments were also lost in the Storage Fiasco, so I'm trying to build up a new set. What I really liked most about the ones I had, were the ones from my childhood. Ones that I made, or were given to me. I liked the history of them. I don't have those anymore, so I have to make new traditions.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
I'm not sure I have a favorite. My family has filet mignon for Christmas (I can't remember what it's called when it comes in the big long roast thing), and I stopped eating meat a couple of years ago, so I don't really have a new fave.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?
Besides jobs for both of us, enough to support us and then some? New phones (ours are dying), new tennis shoes (the gym basically said not to come back till I had better shoes, lest I hurt myself), and a Cat Genie. And cash. Cash is always the best thing.

Overwhelmed

Well, I'm almost done with the Thanksgiving thing. BlckwngdOrcl has been sick since the day before Thanksgiving (although at the time, we thought it was a fluke), so I've been making all the rounds without him.

First was dinner at the in-laws, which was nice enough. Followed by a carpool to his niece's for dessert, also good. I like all his relatives, so it's not like it was the whole OMGscaryinlaws thing. There are some I really like a lot, and would love to hang out with a lot more, in fact. I made this vegan broccoli "cheese" casserole thing (can't find the link). It did NOT turn out well. Only one person besides myself was brave enough to try it, and I don't blame them a bit. It still seems like a good recipe, and other than using a different soup and tripling the broccoli (and it still seemed way skimpy), I can't figure out why this wasn't good. Mostly 'cause the cheese didn't melt, I think, but I used the EXACT cheese the recipe called for, so I don't get it. *shrug*

Then it was off to a friend's house, where I got to see Spy_Isis, ToguSpyder, Dai_Syn, LuneNoire, and another frequent visitor, whose name I think is Hillary, and I don't think she has an LJ. For that, I made African pineapple peanut stew, which I thought was pretty tasty. I left it there, partially for them, and partially so we'd have an excuse to go back to get the dish, to override our usual laziness. :) Much fun was had by all, and I finally got to play Rock Band, which was fun, and which I'm apparently good at, for someone who's never played before.

Yesterday, I worked 7a-7p in Douglasville, on very little sleep, and had no time to make anything for the Day-After-Thanksgiving get-together at The Reef, plus I was exhausted, plus I got out of work an hour and 20 minutes after I was supposed to, so I was just planning on skipping it... but then I remembered that I was supposed to give Isarma the money for using her and JupiterCornwall's tickets to Decomp, and then BlyssMouse reminded me that I was supposed to also be picking up the Beastie's coat (among other things), that we'd left there from the Art Party. So, I headed over. I was much pleased to find that Isarma really hadn't left, so I could give her the money. I gave opportunistic hugs (by which I mean that, if you were easy to get to, I hugged you, but didn't go out of my way), and got a fabulous hug from tyme while I was there, and was directed to try some.... ummm.... something that was jokingly called something with "lizard" in it... shoe lizard pie? Anyway, apparently the real name is less pronounceable... It wasn't bad, and I grabbed a truffle on the way out. Part of me wanted to stay, just 'cause there were friends there, and I love hanging... but exhaustion at that point had translated into a state of frenetic energy that kept me awake, but doesn't make me good company, especially in such a mellow setting. When that wears off, you get the zombified state that I was in when I made last night's entry, and it doesn't make for good driving. So, I figured I'd better get home, so as not to subject anyone to either extreme.

Today, I'm headed over to GrizzlyDan and Sugared_Redhead's place, which is far away, for a bonfire. I ended up making Thai red curry with pumpkin, and it's way fucking yummy. I need to get in the shower soon to get my ass up there. :)

Tomorrow, I work again, same place/hours as Friday, and Monday, I blessedly have no plans. Except the option, if either of us feel like it, of putting up the tree/decorations. Next week is a fairly benign mix of work, friends, and leisure, which is nice (y'know, except for that part where I don't have much money, obviously).

So, that's it in a nutshell for now. A few deeper posts in the making when I'm not feeling overwhelmed with my life.

Till then...