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!

SNOW?!?!

Already?  Ok, ok, it's already almost December, but STILL!  I hate snow!  It snowed 2x when we lived in Charlotte, it was barely snow- it was more like wet fat flakes, and I didn't like it then either!  And since I work early mornings, I always dread snow at night/early morning.  Since no one is driving at that time it makes it really super slick.  Although, I'd rather be the only one on the road, that way I don't have to worry about other idiots on the road. 

I'm finally finished with my overnights for work.  They kicked my butt, especially since my 'manager' decided to call in sick 2 days in a row.  Which, fine, whatever, even though he misses a lot of work, but he totally screwed us all over by doing so.  His manager ended up working 16+ hours, (which is why he gets paid the big bucks!), and then what should have been only a 5 hour shift for stocking turned into an almost 8 hour overnight shift.  UGH!  It's money, and I'm fine with it, it was just the entire idea of we've been working our butts off, and then people don't care, and will just call in since they don't feel like working!

But, in other awesome news- I sold an afghan on Etsy!  I've had them listed for a few days, and I'm just glad it sold!  Now, I still have more on there, but at least 1 is gone!!

Really??

I had to be at work on Thanksgiving at 11:30pm, and worked until 5am this morning.  Let me just say that I saw nothing to restore my faith in humanity.  OMG!  The crowds were nuts, and people were just mowing each other down!  I got hit 6-10 times by televisions because people were just pushing others out of the way.  And I'm not a small girl, I'm not Jennifer Nettles, and you CAN SEE ME!  But people didn't care, let's just run over people.  Argh!

But, that steels my resolve for shop local Saturday, and next year, purchasing Christmas gifts all year round, so that I can relax, and probably work instead of stressing out about what I still need to get.  I hate that!   It also makes me realize that we don't need as much as we get for Christmas.  I'm still resolved to get the 4 things for Luke, but that's it.  I'm not going bigger, I'm not getting more.  And,  we are all cool with that. 

Christmas is Coming

I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is in a few weeks!!  Then that means that Christmas is right. around. the. corner.  ARGH!  I have figured out what I'm getting Luke though.  We do "something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read" for presents, because it helps cut down on the vast materialism of the holiday.  And then of course a stocking, but that's a small stocking- just 1 small thing, candy, and an ornament.  For his want, I'm buying a Thomas the Train set or Sponge Bob Lego set.  For his need, I'm purchasing a dinosaur sheet set for his bed.  For his read, we are holding the school's book fair this week, so I'm getting  something from him there.  Of course, I don't know which book, but that's only because I don't know what they're going to have there on offer.  And his wear is a pair of pajamas, we do that as a tradition every year- we buy a new pair of pajamas to wear for Christmas Eve. 

I love that- it's 4 presents, and it's not obscene.  I know people who give their kids 10 gifts!  10!  Not including stocking stuffers or outside their immediate family!  Crazy!  But, these are the same parents who complain because their children are spoiled.  Really?  Gee,  I wonder why your kids are spoiled brats- you give them everything they want!