The obvious post on Dec. 31/06

I've been thinking for the last week or so about some resolutions. Some are big, and some are small, but all of them are an attempt to make me a better person one way or another. (picture is of me thinking... and Halia when she was a puppy...) Here they are:

Keep going to the gym - Billy said last week to me that the hard thing about going to the gym is not starting, that's easy, it's continuing to go. He's so right. I'd actually like to in good enough shape to feel confident in a bikini by May. In hand with this of course is eating better, more veggies, less chips, and lose weight. 20 lbs... lofty...

I will make efforts to be a better wife. More fun to live with, more spontaneous, (can one make an effort to be more spontaneous?), appreciative, and attentive. I have the best husband in the world, and he should feel like it everyday.

Sell at least a house a month. Sell smarter, with less work. Learn to weed out the wastes of my time, and be a better listener to my clients' needs. Keep in touch with past clients, and ask for referrals.

Take more pictures. I've always love picture taking, and now that I have an awesome camera, I have no reason not to. Post a picture everyday, that's fun...

Keep my car cleaner. It drives me nuts to have a messy car, yet it happens so easily.

Dress nicer. I have some nice clothes, I should wear them more often. At home, I'd like to wear nicer loungies, (perhaps not bright orange joggies with a baggy non-matching sweatshirt).

Speak better, swear less, and stop sounding like an uneducated redneck.

Read a classic novel every month. That doesn't sound too tough, unless you know how painful these books can be... Also watch more classic movies. (Funny that some of my favs are classic, but I rarely make the time to watch ones I haven't seen)

Spend more time with family and friends. Be a more active, positive part of the kids' lives.

Kayak at Point Pelee. Perhaps invest in a kayak.

Wear make-up more often and do something with my hair. In general, I need to make more efforts with my looks.

Recycle more, (if possible) use less and tread lightly on the world.

Be more careful with money. Stop spending money on things I don't need like Tim's coffee, gossip magazines, and groceries that we won't eat.

Break 85 at a reputable golf course. Practise putting, go to the driving range and work on pitching, chipping and sand shots every week. Also buy real golf shoes, (sandals are limited by the weather...).

Don't judge people, stop getting caught up in other people's drama, and learn to ignore bad behavior. I think it'll make be more carefree and happier.

Of course there are more that I can't think of right now. I've read that people that write out, review and share their goals are exponentially more likely to succeed. We'll see. If you ask me how I'm doing with my list, you'll only help me succeed! Happy New Year Everyone! (the three of you that read this...)

Good things about the holidays

This time-in-between Christmas and New Year's Eve is a holiday for me. Luckily I have chosen a profession that allows me to continue enjoying this childhood luxury. (Sadly this profession also doesn't always pay very well... however...)

There are some great things about the holidays that you don't find any other time of the year, (at least not with any consistancy...) Here are a few of my favs:

Charlie Brown Christmas - This to me is the absolute best Christmas program ever! It has a great message, (appearantly over-commericialization of Christmas existed in the 60's as well as today...) great music, (yes I know that the dancing is added in as fluff to make the show 22 minutes long...) and enough cheese to last the whole year. When the Charlie Brown Christmas show is on, you know that Christmas is near, and you can recall your childhood anticipation. Wonderful!

Christmas movies - I love the simplicity, the cheese, and the warm happy endings. Favs include: Christmas Story, White Chritmas, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, (TV show and movie...) It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, and Sound of Music, (that may not qualify, but it is always on this time of year...).

Christmas music - lovely in small doses. Adds to party and festive atmosphere. Favs include: White Christmas, Little Drummer Boy, Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Christmas Wrapping, Baby It's Cold Outside, and of course more...

Satellite programing - At no other time of year, can you regularily find movie marathons. Christmas Day I saw that there was a Star Trek marathon, (Oh, I seriously wish I saw that... I've never seen the entire 'Search for Spock') James Bond marathon on SpikeTV that lasted for days, (I finally saw the beginning of 'You Only Live Twice'...). It reminds me of the year my dad received the Godfather box set, and for 2 Christmases in a row we watched all three movies in one day... (hey, red is a festive colour, blood is red... you see the connection...)

I should mention that people are more likely to get off their couches and visit people. People have time off work, Christmas bonuses, and are generally in good moods. Some anxiously await the promise of a new year to make a change within themselves.

I'm only sad that this season is ending, and soon it will be back to reality. I'm still working on my resolutions.

OCD and me

I really don't have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Well, maybe just a paired down version - undiagnosed of course.

Today's plan, as most Fridays, is to clean the house. I have to clean the house on Friday. I can't leave any part of it until Saturday, and I can't start on Thursday. If I have something I have to do on Friday, then I won't clean the house until the next Friday.

I also have to walk the dog in the morning, (if it's not raining, and if she's here and not at Billy's mom's...) and get to the gym before 8:30 am. If I can't get to the gym before 8:30 am, (except Saturdays and Sundays, my OCD takes a break...) I won't go. Simple as that.

So this morning I drag my butt out of bed and take the dog for a walk. Right on time, lots of time to walk the pooch and make it to the gym.

On the way to the gym, I decided to stop at Home Hardware to buy hangers, new headphones (to make cardio more bearable), and a small recycle box. My mentality was avoid sweating all over the store, so go there first. All good, only 8:15 am!

On my way out, I bumped into a guy that I used to see around town a lot, (a time when if you wanted to find me on a week-end, check out a local watering hole...). He talked and talked and talked as I stood outside the car, nodding politely and occasionally throwing my 2 cents in. Ahhh, doesn't he know I'm on my own personal insane self prescribed schedule? Ahhh!

At 8:45 am I headed home with my new headphones that have yet to see a gym...

Good stuff

I want to now talk about some good stuff. Christmas was awesome and I totally made out like a bandit.

Some of the highlights include:
A new digital camera - I no longer have to run next door to borrow my mom's.
A new Odyssey putter - I no longer have any excuses for putting poorly.
Miracle perfume - I love that Billy can go and pick out perfume for me.
Dance Dance Revolution - Good God that game is fun, and yes, I am 33 (Billy plays it too, and he's 40!)Also Leisure Suit Larry for PS2 - that game is wrong on so many levels!
Some great clothes - Awesome outfit from Ricki's.
Golf balls and club organizer - We now need a garage organizer...
Wine decanter and aerator - no longer have to use a ziploc bag and kool-aid pitcher.
Some decorative things for our backyard.
Tanning gift certificate, bath and shower items and more!

Obviously it was a great Christmas

I also was brave enough to hit the mall on Boxing Day. It was busier than any day during the Christmas season. The sales were great, but I had to stay focused. I only wanted to purchase a party shirt for next year. I ended up at the Bay and in the designer dress area I tried on a few dresses that appeared to be on sale, as well as a party shirt. There I found a nice 3/4 length purple dress (usually purple is not my colour, but this one was really nice. When the clerk checked the price for me, it was only $9.99 - needless to say, it is hanging in my closet... In the men's department I found jeans and a shirt for my brother regularly $49.99 and $29.99. I picked up both for a total of $15.49! It was definitely worth fighting the crowds! (the Bay was empty!)

We're trying to get something going on for New Year's Eve, although Billy is on call, and we would prefer to stay at home. A couple of friends over would be perfect. A nice dinner, some interesting snacks, good wine or fun cocktails... what a way to begin a New Year. I've been thinking hard about resolutions. If anyone is looking for some inspiration, check out this site. I'd love to hear your resolutions - I think it really provides insight to who you are, and who you'd like to be!

Review part two

One of the attendees at KP's annual Christmas party is a wife of a friend of ours. I like this woman on many levels. I think she is intelligent, interesting and a bit strange. She stated at least 4 times that night that she is very open and sees no need to censure herself. Well, that is great, but she can come off as a complete b!tch.

That night, I wore nice dress pants, fancy high heel black party shoes and a red blouse with spaghetti straps that is low cut and at some angles can make me look pregnant. (you know the type) It is a party, and like I mentioned earlier, I want show effort and I want to look festive.

When this woman arrived, I was seated at kitchen table. She walked in greeting everyone and when she saw me she stopped, looked me up and down and said with a pissy look on her face,

Stupid comment #1
"You look cold."

What I wanted to say, "hmm, you look fat."
What I said after a pause, because everyone turned to look at us, "no actually, I'm quite comfortable."

Now she was dressed nicely, and her shirt was actually more revealing than mine, but hers had sleeves. Later she said to me many times that I looked great, she wishes she could wear a shirt like that, and that she 'admired my confidence'. Whatever.

I also should mention that she announced that she was too busy to prepare a snack, and tossed a wrapped wheel of Brie (with the price tag) on the kitchen counter. Great, what are we going to do with that?

Later that night I was talking and must have been gesturing with my hands, because she interrupted me and said, 'oh, let me see your nails..." I told her that I'd rather not, as they were acrylics that were put on weeks ago for the gala, and they didn't look very good. She insisted and pulled my hands to her and said,

Stupid comment #2
"They wouldn't look so fake if they were painted a better colour, like mine, look I have a nice French manicure done"

What I wanted to say, "yes, they are the only nice thing about you."
What I actually said, "yes, you're right, but this is the only colour I have." (a very, almost white, pink)

At another event, at Billy's old hang out, I was talking with a woman who has been friends with Billy for years. I commented that they have a crazy time approaching, and asked her if she was ready, as her 'husband' told me the day before that they were having 23 people seated for Christmas dinner, and 15 staying the night.

She looked at me with a little disgust, and said,

Stupid comment #3
"Jesus! Has fu(king 'Bob' invited everyone to our Boxing Day party?

What I wanted to say, "I don't know, but he invited us because he likes me, and incidentally thinks I'm hot."
What I actually said, "oh, no, I was talking about your huge Christmas dinner."

She kind of faltered a bit. Do people think before they speak?

At the girl's Christmas get together which Billy and I crashed for an hour, there was a few jokes about us being there not invited. It was funny, and I even joked about it myself. The fact of the matter is that we weren't going to be there all night, imposing on their conversations, drinking their booze or eating their food. We made it known we were just going to be there for a few minutes. They thought it funny that Billy was hanging with the girls.

I was seated next to a woman whom I don't know very well, but Billy always has had really nice things to say about her. I noticed that she had on really cool, colourful socks, (I'm a big fan of stripped and patterned socks of late) and I commented that I really liked them. I then asked the woman on my other side if she was a fancy sock kind of girl, and if she had seen 'Barb's' socks. She said that she is not, and had not seen Barb's. I then, just trying to make conversation and be nice, leaned over to 'Barb' and asked her to show the other woman her socks. She leaned in close to me, and quietly, and evenly said, before turning away from me,

Stupid comment #4
"I'm not here to talk about my socks."

What I wanted to say, "oh, obviously you are here to be a b!tch"
What I actually said, "oh, of course, sorry."

I was so stunned by her rudeness, I sat there until Billy noticed that there was something wrong, and asked me if I was ready to go. I was.

I realize that the above comments are not a big deal in the scheme of things. I know that these people probably did not intend to be rude or single me out. I just don't get why some people behave poorly. Just because it may be one's nature to 'call it as they see it', doesn't mean that they should say anything. I am a bit sensitive, which means that I take some comments to heart, but it also means that I try to be considerate of others.

Some people suck. Oh well, lessons learned and cynicism gained. It will only make me a better person. I guess, we'll see.... more holiday posts to come...

Let us review...

So much to discuss, ponder and deliberate, (especially with my ability to over-analyze). I should first mention Christmas was awesome. I hope everyone had a good one!

Okay, let us start at the beginning, (a very good place to start). Below is a quick overview of 3 of the parties that I attended of which become the background for future posts... I should have started this weeks ago, so there shall be multiple parts, addendum's and appendixes, if time allows...

Christmas Party Background

The Christmas parties in general were fantastic. A great opportunity to see friends, co-workers and family at the most lighthearted and fun time of the year. Everyone is kind, generous and considerate of others... or not. Perhaps they are petty, jealous, and shallow. (Rude comments in the next post DD, I'm so happy you lurk...)

The Real Estate Gala at the beginning of the month was fantastic. The event was held at the best hall in our area, and it featured excellent food, a top band, a champagne fountain, and of course a cash bar, (hey, at least they free-pour...) I wore a gown that would decidedly look better on me if I was say 15 lbs less. However, I have decided that I am only 33 once. I have looked back on my life and thought, 'why didn't I wear that bikini? Why didn't I dance at that party?' etc. I don't want to look in my closet in 20 years from now and wonder why I didn't wear that dress. So I wore it. I taped up the girls, sucked it in and put it on.

In the coat check line, I stood with an older lady that I know slightly on several levels, (of course she was wearing a heavy wool jacket, (in fall colours...). When I took off my coat, seriously, the entire line was quiet. It was like a scene in a movie. I was the only one that moved forward in the line, everyone else stood back and stared at me. Really, I'm not exaggerating.

You have to know that this dress is dark gray with glittery thread throughout. It is full length and sits quite high on the chest. It is totally backless, (only two little straps at top) and dips down just above one's ass crack. In addition, it woos in a bit just above the waist. If I was looking at you head on, you'd see a bit of skin on each side of my waist, wooing back out just in time to cover my boobs. I also should mention that it is not my gown, but KT's. It is very dramatic.

So needless to say, it (I) attracted some attention that night, which was not my plan. I'm happy I wore it, and I even garnered some compliments, also not my plan. The point is that I wore it with confidence, and more importantly - and this comes into context later - I'll never regret not wearing it. Also I have learned never to look at a woman and think, 'she shouldn't be wearing that!' and instead think, 'good for her!'

Okay moving on...

Our friend KP has a Christmas party every year. I believe I mentioned before in an earlier post, that she goes all out. She has every inch of her house decorated. It is a huge social event for Billy's group of friends. Now, days before the party I called and asked what I could bring, if I could help out in anyway, etc. Apparently I was the only one who did...

At the party, which was great, only 2 other people brought food. Nobody brought a 'hostess gift' or card, (only 2 people mailed cards to them previously...) and nobody acknowledged KP's birthday which was days before, until someone said, 'oh my God, we forgot your birthday!' and then sung an impromptu HB. One girl showed up in joggies, (not cute ones either, more like your husband's gym clothes). The one woman that brought some snacks obviously stopped at Sobey's on her way and bought pre-made dip and a loaf of bread. No effort, no consideration. This is a Christmas party where the hosts go all out. I don't get it!

And lastly

Billy's group of friends always meet at this one bar. The girls in this group were going to have a 'girls' party at one of their apartments. I was not invited, although it was discussed right in front of me. That's okay really, as like I've mentioned: these are Billy's friends. Billy and I were out visiting that night, and we thought it would be fun to pop by for a drink. It was fun. Billy was the only guy among 12 women, and we stayed for two drinks. Lots of laughs, but a bad ending for me...

I'll be back!

The final countdown

We are officially on the down slope, heading directly for Christmas. Here's the stats as so far as I can recall them:

Alcohol consumption: 50-60 units
Total parties involving said consumption (including when people 'drop by'): 7
Christmas shopping: Completed and wrapped!
Merriment level: High
Weight gained: 0 lbs (Although I'll see at the gym this morning....)
Visa Bill: Um, decidedly more than I would prefer
Stupid comments by morons/times I was insulted at parties: 4

Those are the numbers.

So much to talk about, so much I could discuss. When I have more time I'll properly reflect on above mentioned statistics. Oh oh resolutions coming soon!

Christmas miracle

Wow, I am truly blessed!

This morning I was working in the office and I could hear a little rustle from the next room. I entered to find Halia tearing into a Christmas present.

Halia can read!

Out of about 30 wrapped gifts under the tree, Halia picked out the only one addressed to her to open! It wasn't even a smelly gift that she could sniff out, just a stuffed toy with a squeaker in it! How brilliant!

Okay, maybe not quite a miracle. Really Halia probably can't read, and perhaps when I was wrapping it yesterday I shouldn't have been squeaking it, and bouncing it off her nose....

But still - how funny!

Traditions

With Christmas approaching fast I think of my childhood. This morning on my walk with the pooch, it was cold, (it has been in the 40's lately...) and there was frost on the ground. It felt like Christmas was near, and it made me remember.

When I was very young, our family would dress in our Sunday best on Christmas eve, and venture to nearby Amherstburg to visit with my mom's friend's parents, (she spent some of her highschool years living next door to this couple and became great friends with their daughter - my sister's Godmother).

On the way there I would be in so happy to see all the Christmas lights and decorations. Sometimes I would count them. I also remember the decorations hung from light poles in the town of Amherstburg, (I was there on the week-end and I think that they use the same decorations as nearly 30 years ago...).

The Watson's home had a great view of the Detroit River, I always liked looking at the ice crammed up against the shore. Inside was always bright and cosy. The colours were very warm: burnt orange, yellow and brown. They had a fireplace that was always lit, and sometimes they would let me throw 'special' crystals into the fire that would make it burn red or purple.

The kids would sit quietly, (I think... although it is hard to believe...) while the adults had coffee and conversation. We would eat cookies that were either stale, tasted like rum (no kids like that!) or seemed okay at first only to discover a nasty marinated cherry in the centre. There was a crystal bowl in the hallway that had peppermints in it, and I always snuck some extras.

After a short visit we would go to my grandparents' house, also in Amherstburg, also on the Detroit River. I can't remember if we ate dinner there, but I do remember huge platters of cookies. I liked the chocolate ones that I called 'mudpies'.

They had the largest, fakest tree I had ever seen. Very 70's. I always tried to find and count all the Winnie the Pooh ornaments, (I am lucky to have 2 of the same ornaments on our tree today). They had a fire burning in the living room, and occasionally my grandfather would play a Christmas song on the piano. I recall being enthralled.

My 2 cousins from Ancaster would be there, (if they weren't skiing...) and I loved my Uncle Newman so much! He always paid special attention to me, maybe because I was the youngest, and they didn't have any daughters. My Aunt Mary was stern and I was scared of her. Still am... haha!

My Aunt Joan, (and later her husband Gino) was larger than life. She was loud, opinionated, yet classy in a big city way. She and my dad would get into serious political discussions and I knew not to interrupt.

I couldn't wait until we opened gifts, although I knew there would only be a couple. I'm pretty sure that whomever was opening a gift had to sit on a stool beside the tree and in front of the fireplace. I was probably going crazy with anticipation... The best thing I remember receiving was a Winnie the Pooh bag that was in the shape of the bear. It looked like a big flimsy stuffed animal.

I remember once going to Midnight Mass, (although I'm sure it wasn't midnight, and we're not Catholic...) it was snowing, cold and I looked in the sky for Santa on the way home, as the personality on the radio, and my Dad told me he was nearby.

Things change fast. My Grandfather died when I was 10, and Mr. Watson passed before him. My grandmother moved to a seniors condo a couple of years later, and Mrs. Watson eventually died as well. Now my Aunt, Grandmother, and Dad are gone (12, 10 and 7 years now), and we are estranged from the family in Ancaster. Our traditions are not nearly as formal or structured, but they are great. They involve family, friends and of course food. I hope that everyone can look back on years gone by and find warm memories. Sometimes nostalgia brings sadness and longing for the past, so be kind and considerate of other people's traditions, because you are part of their memories!

Smatterings

For some reason I've been busy. How did this happen? I'm so slow at work, it's painful. The tree is up and decorated, so what else is there to do? I've been over to my mom's a couple of times to help her out with the decorating... I've done some extra cleaning around here... I've been to 3 Christmas parties, (1 1/2 more to go) shopping a couple of times... and that's it! Where does the time go?

Today I'm drinking great home brew coffee, watching CBS News Sunday Morning, (one of my favorite shows...) I'll eventually shower, (already have been to the gym) visit Mrs. Grady and the pooch, (we're not having dinner there tonight, and I think that Billy will bring the pooch home later...) go to the mall to (hopefully) finish Christmas shopping, meet the girls at 2 pm for a late 'Christmas' lunch, and home to watch the Survivor Finale, (Ozzy better win, I like him best and I have him to win in the pool....) What a great Sunday. No couching watching football, (football is much less exciting when you forget to enter the pool for the 2nd week in a row, due to Thursday night games...) but it is the holidays, and I love it!

Today and yesterday

Finally, the tree is up and decorated! It looks pretty sparse this year, I didn't put up as many ornaments as I normally would. I tried to just use the ones that mean something to us...

I usually would decorate the house after the tree. I just put out a few things. I think it's nice to switch things up once in a while. I don't have to have the collection of polar bears out every year do I? No, I don't think so...

Yesterday I popped by my friend Kim's house, (she is having a party on Friday night...) and her house is decorated to the nine's. Even the bathrooms are decorated. She has a great style, I'd say casual elegant when it comes to her seasonal decorations. It kind of depressed me that we don't have that look, but of course I realized that the things we have mean something to us, besides being pretty... (actually none of our decorations could be called 'pretty'...)

Last night Billy and I decided to go see Casino Royale. I really like James Bond movies, and this one was awesome. Daniel Craig did a great job, and could surely kick Pierce Brosnan's ass, and would laugh in the face of Roger Moore, (I can't stand Roger Moore!) and all others, except Sean Connery. I think that Mr. Connery would shake hands with Daniel and say, 'good job'. Not much of a plot, but lots of action, and enough character development to keep me interested. So that was good. I ate way too much popcorn...

The dog is driving me insane. It is raining out, and she is full of energy. I couldn't drag her outside if I wanted to. Billy is trying to nap (the show didn't end until almost 1 am), and I don't want her wondering around... today she was not further than 1 1/2 feet from me as I decorated the tree. She sniffed every ornament. Ugh!

Better go, the couch is calling... as long as Halia allows me to it...

Post week-end thoughts

What a great week-end. On Saturday morning we ventured out to Sloan's in Bothwell for a Christmas tree. In record time we found a great tree. I took a picture to see how it looks before and then after it's decorated.

On Saturday night we had Billy's work Christmas party at Beachgrove, and it was fun! One of Billy's co-workers and Dave came over for a few pre-party cocktails. He brought wine from a winery in Aylmer. One of the wines is a chocolate-strawberry. The smell is pure chocolate, the taste is strawberry and the after-taste is chocolate! Very good. Unfortunately I drank entirely too much and spent all day Sunday in bed, or on the couch. Ugh...

So today's plans include starting to decorate the tree. I have to run into Windsor for an oil change, and a quick trip to the mall. I have to stop by a friends' house whose birthday was yesterday. It will be another good day... thank God I'm feeling human...

Grocery time

Here's my grocery list, just in case you care:

- Celery
- Christmas cards, (not as brilliant as I thought I was, as I did not purchase nearly enough cards during the Boxing Day sales last year...)
- Nachos
- Dishwasher detergent
- Dog food
- Diet Pepsi
- Grape flavoured water
- Kidney beans
- Processed cheese slices
- Coffee

That's about it. We're not going to be eating at home on Friday, (Deb's birthday at Mrs. Grady's)
Saturday (Christmas party at Beachgrove), and Sunday (dinner at Mrs. Grady's). I was going to try a new recipe on Sunday, and invite the 'moms' over for dinner, that I saw on Everyday Italian, but it has not been posted on the internet yet. Rats!

Okay, better start my day. It's a good day.

Evil be gone!

That's it, I'm done! In the spirit of the season I'm through with the negative thoughts, gossip, as well as talking and thinking poorly of others... (most of my guilty pleasures that I enjoy).

There was no event that spurred this new found feeling. It's just taking too much of my energy.

I however will listen intently (or read voraciously) when good gossip is being spread...

Still a little evil, but not as much...

Funniest! Christmas! Card! Ever!

Okay, I have a ton of things to do, write ads, write Christmas cards, fold laundry, etc... but I have to take some time to talk about what I received in that mail yesterday.

Oh, how excited I was to get the first (non work-related) Christmas card! I eagerly tore the envelop, anxiously anticipating holiday cheer.... What is this? A vacation photo? A sunny day, a pool 2 kids, their parents and a cartoon snowman? I recognized the faces immediately, but was confused as to why I received a vacation photo in the form of a Christmas card.

Hmm, the inside reads like a Christmas card, but they were sending warm holiday wishes from Mexico. Strange, they live 5 kms away...

Oh, I get it! The person that made the card obviously wants to remind everyone in their social circle that they had a great vacation in Mexico! This also may infer (if you have an evil mind like mine...) the following:
- they have the money to vacation
- the husband loves the wife more than any man has every loved a woman, as he easily whisks her and their kids away several times a year to exotic locales... just to show her love...
- this picture is just an average snapshot in their everyday lives
- remind the recipient that the sender has recently lost weight, and obviously looks fabulous!

Sound evil? Jealous perhaps? Vindictive? If you think I'm any of those things, you don't know the sender of the card and her motivations... hehe, life is soooo good!

Smarter every day

Here is something that I learned only today:

Do not attempt to write more than 2 Christmas cards with Sharpie markers. You will catch a huge buzz.

The buzz will not go away after writing 10 Christmas cards.

The buzz will intensify after 15 Christmas cards.

After writing about 20 Christmas cards with lovely, new and festive green and red Sharpie markers, you will have to cancel all plans for the rest of the afternoon and evening, as the resulting hang-over equates to a deep need within your body to lie on the couch for several hours and stare listlessly at the TV...

Brilliant!

Oh yes, here's a picture of Halia - not the Christmas card one... but very cute!

Confounded

We have new neighbors directly next door, (which is about 130 metres from our house), as of August this year. I sold Mrs. Liebsch's house, which was tough, as she lived there for over 30 years. This young couple from the city purchased it. They can't be over 25.

Initially I was concerned that they were going to be partiers, and because they have a phone line that rings outside, and can be heard from a distance of up to 500 metres, I dreaded the constant annoyance.

Well, I couldn't be more wrong. They don't get any calls, and I think that they must have disabled the outdoor ringer, because I never hear it ring. They also never have people over. Besides 2 cars there on Thanksgiving, I've only seen 2 other cars there in total, beside their own since August. Definitely not the entertaining couple.

They have a dog, which I rarely see or hear. I assume from their car activity that he works midnights, and she works steady days. Here is where my nosiness confounds me:
- Sometimes both cars are gone all night.
- Sometimes both cars are there all day.
- They never seem to leave for work at a consistant time. Sometimes her car is gone by 7am, sometimes she doesn't leave until 8:45am.

Now, you have to understand that we can see their driveway perfectly from our bedroom. Everytime I let the pooch out, walk out of the bedroom, or pretty much even look outside, I see their driveway. I am by no means a nosy neighbbor, or a stalker, (I have however busted out the binoculars a few times...) I just don't get them, and it is annoying...

The couple that lives across the road are both retired. They have this creepy wood statue on their driveway of a man. Very creepy.

There are constantly people coming and going from this house. I have seen in a single day up to 15 cars pull in for a few minutes then leave. If the guy was not known to be a highly respected conservative figure in our community I would swear that it was a crack house. We can see their front yard anytime that we are in our kitchen, (our kitchen overlooks our front yard). Even Billy has commented on the constant traffic, and he does not normally pay attention to those type of things...

I wonder what people think of us? I guess we are the partiers in the area. (except the punk kids about 4 houses away...) What do the neighbors think when they see me coming and going, while Billy's truck is gone for more than a week? What do they think when they see Davey's car in the driveway overnight almost every week-end last year? Do they care? Hmm... I should just mind my own business and get to my Christmas cards...

Gala la la la la and etc.

I should mention that on Friday night I attended my board's Christmas Gala. It was fun. I don't know many of my co-workers very well, but it was great to see how many of us attended the event. Some offices only had a few people there, and we had almost 30, (our office only has about 40 agents...) My sister was there with her boyfriend, my friend Lisa with her new boyfriend, and I spent some time with an agent whom I like and respect, but have never met. Very cool. The volunteers that put the party together did a great job. I saw some agents that I have worked with over the years, and some agents that I used to work with at other offices. A few agents I avoided like the plague, but it is good seeing that these people can have fun.

Billy is in Buffalo. He called me when they arrived at the hotel, and then later from a local bar. Very lucky man! I hope that he is having a great time, he's been a little stressed lately, and life is about these little side trips. It's what you remember down the road. Rarely does one look back at a long week of work and think, 'yeah, that week was great, what an adventure...' You've got to do these things while you can...

It's a little strange being here sans Billy and Pooch. Usually I'm with one, the other, or both. Not last night! Needless to say that I sleep like a rock...

So let's see, my mom is visiting her brother in Michigan this week-end, and my brother Dave is working today. That means I have to go let out the dogs a couple of times. When Dave called last night to ask me, (my mom already did...) he laughed pretty hard when I told him that I have an open house today, and he realized I have to take the Riverside Elevator truck. Not very professional. I thought that I would just park around the corner, but then potential attendees think that nobody is there.... Rats! Oh well...

I have to start thinking about Christmas cards. I usually send out about 200-250. Oh yes, each personalized, handwritten, (I love getting all cards, but it bugs me when they arrive with only a signature,) and hand addressed. It usually takes me an entire day. I love Canada411.com for finding addresses, much easier than flipping through a phone book, then busting out a magnifying glass to find the postal code... I had enough forethought last year to purchase a pile of cards during the Boxing Day sales. Brilliant! In order to get started I have to almost empty the Closet Under The Stairs. Never an exciting prospect.

I should start thinking about making some flyers and preparing for the open house. I have to run to Sears this morning to buy a gift card, and dinner at Mrs. Grady's tonight. I think at the open house I'll make a Christmas list, and add some names to my Christmas card list, (if I don't do it before I start I will be sending out cards to forgotten friends and clients until December 24th...) Do you find yourself becoming better prepared and organized over the years? More efficient? If I could just get the Closet Under The Stairs more accessible...

4 funny things about Die Hard 2

I've been very lazy today. Just splayed out on the couch channel surfing. It amazes me that with hundreds of channels to chose from, the best thing I could find on was Die Hard 2. That's pretty sad. It's also more sad that I didn't remove myself from the couch and do something productive...

After the movie, I checked out IMDB, one of my favorite website. If you search for Die Hard 2, you can find pages of mistakes that this movie made with regard to continuity, plot, and facts. Very fun indeed!

The things that I find most funny have nothing to do with the VERY cheesy story, but rather how much things have changed since this movie was made in 1990.

Let's review:

- The main character, John McClane, strolls through the airport, smoking away. Not only is smoking not prohibited, it appears that there are not even any designated areas. Smoke 'em if you got 'em!

- No security checks, anywhere. Apparently not a priority in 1990.

- The old lady that sits next to John's wife, Holly, on the plane has a stun gun in her purse. Sure, that could happen today...

- There was a huge line up at the payphones. When was the last time you saw a line up at a payphone?

Oh I love a good laugh. Long live the cheese!

More random thoughts

I'm still working on Mrs. Grady's house. Today is the day where I put the room back together, clean up my huge mess, and generally make the place look shiny. Thank God she was gone this week, because her house is in total disarray.

The weather is bad! Rain, cold, and dark. Tonight is also the Christmas 'Gala' for the Windsor Essex County Real Estate Board of which I'm attending. The bad weather makes me want to stay at home. I'm not at all excited about dressing up, doing the hair, etc. to get wet and blown around. Ugh, if I don't go I have to pay $60. (Funny, it's free if I attend...) We'll see...

My friend Tania has either had her baby last night, or will be induced today. 4 kids under the age of 3 for about a month, with no twins. I don't know how she does it. I hope everything turns out well!

The dog is driving me crazy. I know that she has to go outside to do her business, but she hates the rain, and even if I trick her, and get her outside, she just stands beside the door, with her head down, looking quite sad. The last few days, she's been trapped in Mrs. Grady's house while I ignore her. Not a good dog's life...

I was watching the local news, (the Canadian local news - yes, it's a first...) I saw that London has a ban on selling spray paint and some type of markers to kids under the age of 18. Brilliant! London has a huge graffiti problem, and other cities should follow suit.

So tomorrow Billy goes to Buffalo for 2 nights, tonight I'm supposed to attend this 'Gala' and Monday night, I'm going out with the girls. So I won't really see Billy until Tuesday night. Hmm, when will life slow down a bit?

Well, I should get started on the day. (I was at Mrs. Grady at 7:10am, as Billy had to help me move some furniture before he went to work...)