The Retail Excesses Awards, Friday night edition

What could it possibly hurt to go to Home Depot and Costco on a Friday night? I mean, I'm tired, I'll just get what I need and hurry home. Right?

Not so fast, my friend. You have to factor in the Payday Effect, plus the I Have Gift Cards To Home Depot paradigm, and it becomes a perfect storm of excess.

Home Depot was at least practical. A new, much needed lamp for the living room. A combination lock-box for a spare key. A timer for the porch light. All will improve my quality of life.

The Definitely Need New Lightbulbs Award

Costco? Not so much. Sure, there's the new rug for inside the front door. Economical, attractive and practical. Antihistamines, melatonin, a bottle of wine. No big deal. But then the madness begins...

The Grape Expectations Award

Four pounds of grapes. I'm pretty sure I'll eat them all, but still. Four pounds for one person.

The Holy Mormon Pantry Award

Six hearts of romaine. SIX. That's a lot of lettuce. Chances of this all getting eaten before going to Veggie Hell? 50/50 at best.

The I Promise To Take My Lunch To Work Award

Twenty-four sandwich thins. Pretty sure they'll all get eaten - this is not my first go-round with these. They must be filled with preservatives, since they keep a long time.

The Ounce of Prevention Award

Yes indeed, that's a lot of D3. I'm not going to let the shortening days kill my mood completely!

The Ulterior Motives Award

And last, but far from least, the full case of Coronas. That's what I use to lure unsuspecting men into my lair. But don't tell anyone...

Happy Freakin' New Year

For most people I know, 2009 was not a banner year. In fact, not even an acceptable year. I'm happy to see its taillights going around that far curve.

I'm tired. Tired of being played, tired of being lied to, tired of all the bullshit. This year, you may not like me. You may not like my attitude, you may not like what you hear. But that's okay. If you don't like it, you can just keep on moving and leave me be. Don't blow any sunshine up my skirt, don't tell me what you think I want to hear.

Seriously. 2010 may not be all that much kinder than 2009 was. But goddamnit, it will be a more honest year. Brace yourselves.

Things I Love Thursday

Can you believe it's Thursday again? By now you must know the drill - every Thursday we post a list of the things we love. This tradition was started by the adorable Tee Tee, and has been spreading like wildfire. Join us, won't you? It's a very positive thing to do. It's a really good way to remind yourself of all the good things in your life.

• I love my new toy! I'm hoping it will really give my creativity the kick-start that it so badly needs.
• I love that I have such wonderful and generous friends. One in particular just knocked my socks off by sending me a completely unexpected gift. (see previous item) But they're all such a great thing in my life, and I love them more than I can express.
  
• I love that my friend's kittehs have finally decided they like me. Makes cat-sitting much more fun.
• I love that someone is coming to fix my furnace tonight, even though I'm SO not loving the fact that it broke during the first super cold spell of the year.
• I love driving my Honda again. I'd forgotten what a zippy little thing it is! Probably better put a radar detector in it, too. ;-)
• I love that my friend is going to be so pleased to come home to a clean house. Clean dishes and floors - what more can a girl want?
• I love the classic rock channel on Comcast. It's been entertaining me all day.

So what are you waiting for? Post some things that you love. It's good for the soul.

Things I Love Thursday - Thanksgiving edition

I'm a little rushed for time, but it wouldn't be right to skip a TILT on Thanksgiving!

Today I'm loving all of my friends and family, as usual, but I'm particularly grateful for my best friend since high school and the fact that I'm spending Turkey Day at her little sister's house. Seven kids in her family, and each has reproduced at least twice. (Except for her, she's smart like me.) There's just nothing like a huge family dinner.

I'm thankful for a roof over my head, MORE than enough food to eat, two cars in the driveway, and the little bit of money that's still in the bank. It's been a rough year, but I really don't have anything to complain about.

I LOVE that I didn't have to travel anywhere on I-5 yesterday. Northbound was at a standstill for most of the day, for no apparent reason. It's good to already be home. ;-)

Even though it's capricious and cruel at times, I love Facebook for having let me reconnect with a whole bunch of people that had been out of touch.

And I must single out Tee Tee - she's the one who started us all on this beautiful habit of sitting down once a week to think of the good things in our lives. She's a fabulous, joyful parade of one, and I love her to pieces. Love you, girl!

How about you? What are you most grateful for today? Write it down and share it with the rest of us, won't you?

Things I Love Thursday

I'm following Tee Tee's lead and moving my TILTs over here to my blog page. Much easier and more fun that creating a note on Facebook and running the risk of losing it all when FB has a brain fart.

• I love quotations. I try to find inspirational quotes and post them as status updates every so often. Is this annoying? If you think so, too bad. Here's my new favorite resource.
  
  
• I love being snug and warm inside and watching the wind toss the trees around. Although, if the wind and rain would like to take a vacation for a few days, I'm all for that, too.
  
  
• I love being up here at my mom's, and most important, I love her caregivers. Each one of them brings their own special talent and personality into both of our lives, and I can't say enough how grateful I am.
  
  
• I love the new gravel in the driveway. Such a luxury to not have to worry about getting stuck, and not having to worry about tracking mud all over the damned place.
  
  
• I love coffee with tasty flavored creamer stuff in it, even though it's probably full of disgusting chemicals and unhealthy crap. That's probably why it's so tasty!
  
  
• I love my Sock Monkey.
  
  
• I love that I now have a camera, even if it is my old one that doesn't have all the fancy features.
  
  
• I love that I'm slowly but surely getting my creativity and mojo back.
  
  
• And of course I love all my friends, especially YOU!

New and improved

I haven't had anything of any interest to say for the last few days, but did feel the need to do some redecorating. So here's the new template and colors. What do you think? I really like the layout, think it's much more professional looking. I suppose for the holidays I could add some red for a festive touch, but I doubt that will happen. "Bah Humbug" is my motto, so why even pretend?

Day...what day is it again?

As far as this NaBloPoMoFo thing is going, I suck. I didn't even realize I'd missed yesterday until it was *graciously* pointed out to me this morning. And you know what? Just coughing up any old crap in order to say I posted a blog every day is stupid. So eff it. When I have something to say, I'll say it. I should post more often, because the writing exercise is good for my mental state. Plus I'm sure you're all just on the edge of your seats awaiting my next utterance.

*crickets*

Well then. Excellent progress was made today in my quest to clean up and insulate the shop. Finished the east wall, at least as far as I can until I do some rewiring. Got the computer and peripherals moved over to that wall, along with a bunch of boxes. And cleaned the floor up and put down a carpet remnant so that I have a place to do my Pilates DVD. I really, really want to get back into that - when I was working out I felt so much better and looked a lot better as well. I haven't regained the weight (yet), but definitely notice the loss of muscle tone. No more excuses!

Onward and upward, one day at a time. Thanks, FPBB. ;-)