Cascading downwards

I went on a little spree at Amazon, and I have now purchased presents for everyone on my list except my mother and father. Mom claims she doesn't want me to get her anything, but I can't do that - though I might break down and do a gift card, which I generally do not do. And I'll just get Dad a sweater or something.

I have next week off, and there are one or two things I want for myself, so I'll force myself out on Monday when most people still have work and the stores aren't too bad.

I'm determined to get myself at least one nice cosy sweaterdress while they're "in" - anyone know who has cute ones? With shape?

Today, I am off to my mother-in-law's, to help her decorate her tree. Normally, she holds off until after Thanksgiving, but she's thrown out her back, and we'll have to do it all for her, so this is more convenient.

Bright side: we will definitely get fed well. And probably go home with leftovers. Mmmmm.

I have a tree! Ok, we have a tree. For the first time in at least  three years, we put up a Christmas tree,  and I am just so happy to see all my ornaments again.

We had Rich's mom over last night and she and I set up the newly purchased fake tree, and hung all the ornaments. Rich pointed out bare spots from across the room. And hung the stuff at the very top.

I forgot how nice it is to come into a room and see a Christmas tree. Now I just need a good picture.

I'm wearing my vampire teeth to work today. Along with a lot of black, heavy eye makeup, dark red lips and no blush. I'm going for a subtle, modern vampire.

So far, everyone is pretty amused. I can't wait until the kids get here.

So, I guess I should try to start writing in here again.

Christmas was pretty good. We spent the day with Rich's family, which was nice, and meant no driving at all (we actually live across the street from his mom's apt building. His grandparents live in the same building as her). It's kind of a novelty to be the youngest person at the Christmas celebration.

Presents were pretty good, nothing spectacular. Mom got me a nice mouse with lots of buttons on it, which I am now using with my left hand to give my poor right hand a break (since I'm getting closer to carpel tunnel syndrome all the time). And a coffee-table book of the most beautiful libraries in the world, which makes me drool.

Rich got me Buffy DVDs and chocolate, cause he's a good boyfriend. And my grandma got me the softest sweater, which fits divinely, though if she saw it, she'd probably think she should have gotten the next larger size.

I called my family on the day, but I couldn't really go see them, because I had to work both the day before and the day after. So did Rich. Sometimes I hate public service jobs.

My presents all seemed to go over well. Dad loves his nautical watch, my brothers love their shot-glass chess sets, and mom likes her blowtorch (mini one for creme brulee). And Francis is very enthusiatic about the Cowboy Junkies CD I got him, which just seems kind of funny for some reason.

I have Friday off, so I think that will be returns day. There's always something, isn't there? That's the nice thing about books - you can return them to any bookstore, not necessarily the one they came from. Standardization is wonderful.

I do love Halloween. I went all out this year, and it turned out pretty well, even if the last part of my costume never came (a mini-corset). And the hat just didn't work with the outfit.

( Aaarrgh )