Less than 3 months!

Until Spring!  Whoo!  I hate winter with a passion, and after Christmas, count down the days until Spring arrives.  Even though sometimes Winter likes to stick around, it's never so bad once Spring hits.

Christmas was good.  We went to our family homes up north, and got to spend some much needed family time with our respective parents.  It was good.  Luke got almost everything he wanted, except that he didn't tell Santa until 3 days before Christmas that he wanted a Fidget Friend.  And by that point, there wasn't one to be found.  At. All.  Oh well, he didn't seem to miss it, and if he's still talking about it come his birthday, we'll revisit that issue. 

Everything else seems to be chugging right along.  I'm ready for the New Year to arrive, 2012 will be better than 2011.  :)  I swear!  :) I'll be working this weekend at both jobs, trying to bank some extra money for the spring, when we're moving.  No, we haven't found a place to live, but I'm working on it. 

Housing Woes

I know, definitely first world problems.  However, when you live in an 800 square foot cracker box, you start yearning for just a bit of space to call your own. 
The lease on where we are renting right now is up in just a few months.  So of course, I'm stressing out about finding another place to lease.  It's the perfect time to move, because Luke is in kindy, so it's acceptable, and not too stressful to move before first grade.  But, that leads us to all sorts of other problems....school district vs. school district, public vs. Catholic, that school vs. this school.... do we stay at our home school, or do we not worry about that, and just move where we find the best deal? 
We've pretty much decided to move to another community, or at the very least, not stay in our home school.  The principal of Luke's current school made some crappy comments regarding my son, and I found out about it.  And the PTO/parents are way too 'holier than thou', which makes me want to vomit.  Really.  It just really irritates me, and know that I'm doing my best to raise my child, and that no one can tell me differently.  And, I don't take kindly to others telling me that I'm doing something wrong or whatever. 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We've got the tree up after a lovely Thanksgiving weekend dustup, I purchased supplies for making candy/cookies, and I've started purchasing Christmas presents for my family.  Dave's family can suck it.   LOL!!  No, it's his turn to buy presents for his family.  I told him that last year, and I've stuck by it. 

My parents are done, my one brother is done, I haven't figured out what to get the other brother.  He's so hard to buy for, which irritates me.  My middle brother got a gag gift from me, he loves Hannukah, even though he's not Jewish.  So I found a Menorah ornament for him.  Which, hello, a Menorah on a Christmas tree?  Wha?  And I'm honestly not trying to be offensive in any way shape or form.  I just know that he will enjoy it.  So I bought it. 

Luke is almost finished, I'm hitting the Scholastic book sale tomorrow, to see what I can get there, and then I'm done with him.  He's got a book, a game, pajamas, and well, he doesn't have a need, but that's fine.  He can go without his need.  Although, I might have to pick him up some underwear.  ;)  But, if I don't, it's not a huge deal. 

Whoo hoo to Target!  When I went shopping this morning, I forgot my $10 gift card coupon.  So they are giving me the gift card!  All I have to do is bring in the receipt and the coupon.

I feel so disjointed in this blog post.  I've got the beginnings of a migraine, so that might be why.  I'm just so damn tired because of work, and what seems like my entire life is just stressing me out. 

11 cents!!

Seriously?  I looked at my paycheck online today, and I'm 11 cents short of the next dollar.  Couldn't you have just given me the extra 11 cents?  LOL!! Oh well, it's all good.  :) 

I was supposed to go to our friends' house tonight, but I am too tired.  So I'm playing around on Pintrest and trying to relax enough to go to sleep, as I only got 3 hours this afternoon, and I have to work yet again tonight.  Oh well, only 3 more days, and then I'll be good for one whole day. ;)  And I still have to work both days.  So we shall see how exhausted I am by Christmas.

Lying....

I've been thinking about this a lot recently.  I tell Luke ALL. THE. TIME, I hate liars more than thieves.  How can you teach your child not to lie, when you lie?  And I'm not talking about 'Oh, your hair looks fine', or 'That skirt doesn't make your butt look big'.  I'm talking about 'I have a college degree' or 'I've swum the English Channel' type of lies.  When neither one of those are true.  The college degree one really bothers me. I've got a degree that I worked my a$$ off for, and am still paying Sallie Mae for 10+ years after graduation.  For someone to just blithely say 'Oh, I have a degree' when they don't, makes it seem like anyone can get one, it's just super easy.  When it's not just super easy. 

And how do you tell your children not to lie when you're lying yourself?  Apparently, it's do as I say, not as I do.  Which how hypocritical is that?  And that shows the kids that it's ok to lie as they grow up.  They're the kids that when they're adults aren't going to think twice about lying and saying they have degrees or higher degrees than they actually have.  I've tried to teach Luke that even if you're going to get in trouble, it's better to not lie and be honest, because once I find out you've lied, I will punish you more for that than I would have if you'd told the truth.

I read this book last week, and I'll be danged if I can't remember the title.  It was all about lying and why people lie.  His basic premise was that people lie to make themselves feel better about themselves.  Which makes sense.  Why would you lie about something that really, no one cares about.  To make yourself seem more important than you really are to others. And really, who cares if you don't have a million dollars and a horse?  If you say you do, and we find out you don't, then it makes people judge you poorly. 

Monday, Funday....

Although, really, not so much.  It's cold and dreary here in Central Indiana, and I've heard the dreaded word 'snow' in the weather report already.  Yes, we've already had snow, but every time it snows now, or even mentions snow, I dread it- knowing that one day soon, the ground will be cold enough for it to stick, and cause slippery roads.  Ugh. 

Tomorrow, technically, is St. Nick's Day.  So today, I have to wrap the present my mom gave Luke and get it ready for him.  I should also dig out a present that I bought a year ago for him, and completely forgot about!  I was going to run to Meijer, but just remembered the book/game, and that will work for me.  I still need to get the scooter out of the truck though.  I wish I still lived at home, my mom and dad would give me something.  I don't know- I'm missing my family really badly right now.  They only live 3 hours away, and I just saw them a few weeks ago, and I'll be seeing them this weekend as well.  But I am missing them a lot right now for some reason. 

What in the world??

I went to work today, expecting it to be a normal day, yes, I had to watch my hours, but that's not too bad.  I come in, and my boss is walking out.  WTH?  Talked to another girl, and found out he got fired.  Because he was on final warning due to our 'productivity'.  Even though he's not doing the hiring, and there are really slow people that were hired.  And we're down several team members.  But it's his fault, so he had to take the fall.  Whatever.  Who fires someone 3 weeks before Christmas?  Well, apparently, my job does.  So I just need to keep my nose clean and just put my head down and work as hard as I can.  I ended up staying 40 minutes over today, and the big store manager was upset because I didn't want to stay later than that!  Um, you schedule me until 8am, that's the time I want to leave.  Unless you ask me to stay later.  Just don't expect it.  Ya know?

Cookbooks, oh how I love thee!

Several years ago, I started becoming very interested in local cookbooks, which led me to Junior League cookbooks from various cities around the nation.  I love them because they are 'home grown', meaning members 'donate' recipes, they are triple tested, and then accepted into the cookbook.  So you've definitely got the best of the best from each area. 

Last night, I signed into Association of Junior Leagues, International's website.  Honestly, I was just looking around to see what kind of stuff they had, bags, sweatshirts, whatever.  BUT!  I found the cookbook section.  Oh Yes, they had cookbooks from all over the nation, direct from their respective Junior Leagues!  Momma is one happy camper.  :)  I know what I'm asking for for Christmas/my birthday.  And when I want to treat myself to a cookbook, I don't have to scour Half Price Books or Paper Back Swap to just wait for a copy to become available.  I am so excited!!  It totally just made my day!

Beyond all that, I am getting my butt kicked from work.  I am currently on day 14, and will be working 21 straight days without a day off.  At least the paycheck will be really sweet.  And just in time for Christmas shopping!  Yay!