I shopped for 7 hours?

Yes, yes I did. I am still a bit awed by that. It wasn't my plan for the day. The plan was go to the furniture store and get an idea for what I think I want in my bedroom. That's the one room I plan to make mine right away. Pick it out, sign the papers making the house mine, then go back to the house and make sure the furniture would really work there. Yeah.....not so much. Due to the blizzard last week the mortgage company is behind and thus no closing today for me. So no new house no need to leave the store and I got the whole plan for my bedroom down.

I am supposed to be on a plane to California in the afternoon. So I told the mortgage guy this has to happen early because at noon I am leaving. Did I mention that I have some of the worst luck ever? Guess what - tomorrow night there is another blizzard in Colorado....stop laughing at me because I always brag about how great the weather is here. The irony is not lost on me :)

Timing should be interesting tomorrow. I don't have the final amount I need to bring to closing and apparently I have to bring a cashiers check for the amount. So add to my to do list a bank run for a cashiers check when I have a final number. Now from what I hear, the lady I am buying the house from already signed over the title to me. The closing is in Aurora, then back to the Ranch to pick up KK, and then on to my new place to meet the roomie so she can take us to the airport.

Thank you to the person who called tonight and let me be as snarky as I needed to be in my stressed out state. You sometimes amaze me with your ability to know what I need and when I need it.

Thank you to the person who called and reassured me that everything would be fine because that's how she sees the world. I love that your glass is always half full and I hope some day it will spill over into mine. Thank you to the four of you who knew that I needed a vacation and didn't let me talk myself out of it.

Thank you to my old friends from college while we don't always see eye to eye we will have each other's backs. I can't really walk on water but to hear them tell it I could if I just believed it enough. I miss college, it was the best time of my life. The people on 2nd Mick will always make me smile just thinking about them. I got nothing but love for them.

Thank you to the people who read this page and give me a place to put my thoughts. Thank you to everyone who considers me a friend.

Merry Christmas

Christmas has always been one of my favorite times of the year. No, it's not the presents it is the people. People are just nicer this time of year and happier. They are more happy to let you in when your merging and that's just one of the reasons that it is my favorite time of year.

I could have gone skiing today with the roomie and her family. She called a couple nights ago to see if I wanted to reconsider and go with them. I told her that due to Murphy's law that I would undoubtly break something just in case I have to move this week and if that were not enough because I am going out to California with the wee one. It wasn't the original plan but it is what needs to be done, taking the baby that is. I can't wait. I am very stressed out and I won't find out until tomorrow if I really get to close on the house due to nothing I can control which is very frustrating. Anyway I decided that instead, I would set up a feast for the orphans who didn't have anyplace to go on Christmas.

The Christmas party for work last week was a very good time. It was a very un-Jackie like evening and that is all the details I will share in public :).

So now I am off work until Jan 4th, and I haven't been in the office since I was sent home last Wednesday. I did work from home ( the consortium) on Wednesday and Thursday. Can I just say that there are few things better than being able to do conference calls in your pj's. It just feels so naughty!

I am hopefully closing on my house in two days, and if that falls through then I am just going to get an apartment. Then I'll try again after things have had time to settle and the thing I have no control over is taken care of.

It's a white Christmas here in Colorado and I waiting to hear the news say how rare that is. I remember being in South Dakota last year and it was so flipping cold and in Denver it was 60. This year it won't be as nice with highs in the mid 40's. It's probably a good thing though considering how much snow is still hanging around.

So anyways Merry Christmas to you and yours. May the day be all you could wish for.

Quote of the day

I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.

-Laura Ingalls Wilder

Quote of the Day

One never notices what has been done; one can only see what remains to be done.

-Marie Curie

House pics

Ok so here are some photos of the new digs if everything goes well.

Quote of the Day

You know what we can be like: See a guy and think he's cute one minute, the next minute our brains have us married with kids, the following minute we see him having an extramarital affair. By the time someone says, "I'd like you to meet Cecil," we shout, "You're late again with the child support!"

-Cynthia Heimel

Quote of the Day

Since when do you have to agree with people to defend them with justice?

-Lillian Hellman

Whirlwind Weekend

I'll start with last Thursday night because it was one of the most adorable things ever. I was invited by Katherine a couple weeks ago to her first grade show. Thanks again to Margie for reminding me that day :). I had KK so I took her with me, and oh my I could have overdosed on cute. The first graders were adorable too, but here's my baby standing on a chair so she can see them, and she is dancing, clapping, trying to sing with them and cheering. She of course doesn't know when the cheering is and is not appropriate so, well I could tell who around me were kid people and who were not. A couple behind me asked how old she was and remarked that she is ready for her first show.

I didn't have anything planned on Friday night which I was a bit bummed about until the roomie called at lunch and said I was going out with her to a Nuggets game. She had free seats and I should meet her and the girls for supper. The seats were 12 rows off the court and really good seats, which is kind of redundant now that I say it like that. The court looks so little from where we were. It was easier to watch the players on the court then the jumbotron.

Saturday - Oh Saturday - Slept in and then got up and took the roomie dress shopping. We found things I liked but nothing I couldn't live without. I had to leave an hour and a half into shopping to go back to the townhouse for the inspection. After the inspection, I called Margie and had her take up the dress shopping reins. It was quite a bit more successful than the previous trip. And can I just say dress shopping is frustrating for women who actually have breasts! Only Calvin Klein understands me and my needs. Thanks Calvin. Anyways, after the shopping which went late I then had to hurry back to the condo and get dressed for a party of a co-worker. It was a subdued night but fun.

Sunday - Tried very hard to sleep in but it didn't work well. Decided it was probably time to start going through things at the casa and picked my closet as the primary target. Hours past......3 full trash bags of clothes - 1 to throw and 2 to donate later and my closet is done. I also packed I think about 7 boxes. Roomie called to see if I wanted to do dinner and a bit more shopping - sure why not. Have I mentioned that the rum coconut shrimp at Red Lobster is damn damn good? We got home late and crashed.

This week -- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday I have KK. Wednesday night I have plans and then backup plans in case those fall through. I can't wait until Friday though! I took my dress to have it hemmed today and will get it back in time for my party on Friday. The hair appointment has been made also for Friday. The people from work got together and decided after the party there is to be a trip to the comedy club and then after that dancing. I just have to find some undergarments for the dress and then I am all set! It should be a hoot!

Quote of the Day

Don't be discouraged by being average at some point in your life.

-Lt. Gen. Claudia J. Kennedy

A Bunch of Random Questions

Top 5 things wrong in my field of vision right now:
1) The Hanukkah ribbon on my monitor.
2) I didn't rinse my hot chocolate mug out from yesterday
3) Is my desk always this messy
4) Rubber bands from people walking by and taking shots into my cubie.
5) I haven't torn my daily calendar pages off all year and the calendar is all lopsided

Name four things you wished you had:
1) More time
2) More money
3) More patience - or would that be some patience?
4) A new car

Name four smells you love:
1) The smell of the earth right before the rain in South Dakota.
2) Clean sheets - towels - fresh laundry
3) Chloe Narcisse
4) chocolate - something chocolate baking in the oven

Name four things you are thinking about:
1) What to do with the third bedroom in my new place
2) Having to move and that I am not packed
3) The turducken we are having for lunch
4) The fact that I am putting off working on some Canadian tax stuff I should be doing.

Name four things you did today:
1) Glazed the strawberry cheesecake for the pot luck today
2) Sat through a boring meeting
3) Gave someone directions
4) Tried a new food

Top song of the right now:
mmmmm....not sure. I have been trying to listen to some Sheryl Crow but KK hates it and throws a fit.

Last thing you:*
Did: Flipped my calendar to today.*
Read: Completely? Desert Heat by JA Jance
* Watched on TV: Iron Chef America! Battle chick pea

Who do you want to:*
Kill: I'd hate myself too much if I killed someone.
Hear from: Mr. McGlynn
Look like: Not sure but if it is me then me as a senior in high school :).
Be like: There's lots of little pieces of everyone that I'd like to be like.

Last time:
Last song you heard: Nirvana - Lake of Fire
Last movie you saw: Mulan
Last movie you saw on the big screen: Running with Scissors
Last thing you had to drink: Coffee
Last thing you ate: Crossiant
Last time you cried: Two days ago
Last time you smiled: Right before my meeting
Last time you laughed: This morning right after my meeting.
Last time you danced: I kinda danced last night
Last person you hugged: KK twice. It's her new thing for me when I drop her off.
Last thing you said: I hate everyone ( It was part of a joke and funny :)
Last person you talked to online: Lori on google talk
Last thing you smelled: The cheesecake as it was baking last night.
Last car ride: This morning to work.
Last CD played: Nirvana MTV acoustic
Last item bought: 2 toys for toys for tots

Albums playing on the regular right now:
Nirvana, Mary Prankster & a mixed CD.

Quote of the Day

Love is something sent from heaven to worry the hell out of you.

-Dolly Parton

Quote of the Day

When do any of us ever do enough?

-Barbara Jordan

Updates and Whatnot

I have been remiss in my posting duties but I beg forgiveness as between work, buying a new house, and a friend going through a breakup I haven't really felt like I had much time. I am trying to figure out the holidays and how to work a trip in so that I can use up my vacation time before the end of the year but there always seems to be some kind of catch.

Anyways, The week of Thanksgiving I dropped off the charity drive stuff at work at the shelter. I am usually a huggy person but I was caught a little off guard when the lady said she'd walk me out and then gave me a hug. It was one of those moments where you know someone has to be a better person than you are but they think your amazing too. Very odd. I felt so good after doing that.

House stuff. I have loan stuff to finish up tonight, and the inspection is on Saturday. I am not expecting any issues as the place is only 5 years old. You never know though and I'm a safety girl :).

I am looking forward to my Christmas party next Friday. The roomie was my date and she had to bow out so I have called in the backup date :). My group and I have decided to head to the comedy club after the party. We will be totally over dressed for it as the party is semi-formal. I haven't decided if I am buying a new dress or having one that I have altered. I am leaning toward the altering because that leaves me extra money to get my hair done. I could wear the one from last year without too much trouble but that just offends my sensibility. Yes I am sure that is a girl thing, and I want a longer dress this year so I can wear fishnet stockings under it and feel a bit like I am breaking the rules :). Sure no one will see them except for me, but it will still make me smile for no apparent reason to everyone else.

My Co-workers are funny -- they think so at least...

I am at work yesterday morning and surprisingly doing work when one of the people from my old department comes up to my cubie. He's a happily married man with two adorable daughters, so when he starts the conversation with, "So Jackie now that your a single woman now..." I wasn't filled with fear as I know there is going to be a punch line coming because he is normally quiet and when he is speaking up then well it's going to be funny. He continued, "I thought you could maybe use a little O." I blink for a second and then he pulls this out from behind his back.
It's a Big O' Tires stuffed animal, that they call little O. I think I liked it better when he was drawing me pictures of flowers and signing them, "With Love, Canada."
I did laugh because it was really funny.

Quote of the Day

Man is the only animal that learns by being hypocrtical. He pretends to be polite and then, eventually, he becomes polite.

-Jean Kerr

( Sorry Dave she's a writer.)

Quote of the Day

Tenderness is greater proof of love than the most passionate of vows.

-Marlene Dietrich

Quote of the Day

Principles only mean something if you stick by them when they are inconvenient.

-Senator Laine Hanson (Joan Allen), in The Contender