Frame of Reference

I know that not everyone celebrates Christmas, but does it really matter? It's the holiday season and I love the feeling. Everyone sort of comes together this time of year. Even if it is coming together to AGGRESSIVELY shop at the mall and places like wal-mart. Hey, at least everyone is grumpy and stressed -together-. I'm having a great holiday though. I am so excited about tomorrow, I cannot wait!!! My mom is making a breakfast casserole and for dinner we are having salmon. Not the traditional fare, but it works for us. I like it anyway. Does anyone else have trouble focusing on blue/purple Christmas lights? For some reason they make my eyes feel wonky and they are all blurry. *shrugs* Probably just me. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL! Be safe, have fun, celebrate, keep the fighting to a minimum and I hope everyone sleeps really well.

We've all seen them standing in front of the department stores. The incessant ringing and the sometimes shady characters. It's a staple of christmas though. You know the day is getting closer the moment you hear the bells. Have you ever watched the people's reaction to the bell ringers though? You should try it sometime, highly amusing. Especially if you have just dropped someone off and are circling the parking lot or calmly waiting outside for them to come back. This provides a GREAT opportunity for people watching. Anyway, you get the people who: Smile and nod Say "I'll catch ya on the way out!" Wave Completely avoid ALL eye contact Pretend to be completely distracted by something in the store or someone you are -supposedly- looking for Start wildly ruffling through your purse to give your child (who is hopping up and down) a dollar or at least some loose change so they can excidetly and proudly drop it in the bucket Say "Merry Christmas" Actually...

My aunt threw a book on my desk this weekend called Glass Houses by Rachel Caine . It's a young adult book so it only took me a day in half to read it. It was pretty entertaining. It ended with a cliffhanger though. *grumbles* Vampires are always fun though. Good weekend read. As soon as I finished that I picked up Life of Pi . I've been seeing it everywhere and I hear it's really good. It's started out VERY good. From the back it's about a young boy who gets stranded on a life boat with a Bengal Tiger and must overcome some pretty huge odds. But he survives. I think it might be based on a true story too. I could be wrong though. I will look into that to make sure. On Saturday morning, it was like any other morning. I woke up and was stretching in bed. All of the sudden I hear a 'wet' pop in my neck and I suddenly can't move it!! Now it happens on occasion that I will turn my neck wrong and get a sudden sharp burning/pain sensation..but it goes away f...

So, I just finished reading Dark Heart by Tina Daniell. It's part of the Dragon Lance saga. I was told it was very good and that I would like the main character Kitiara Uth Matar. I did in fact like it very much! There was a minor character (well, relatively) named Colo that I REALLY liked though. She was spunky, courageous, smart....and she gets killed. It figures! But overall, good book! Work has been crazy this past week. The flu season has officially begun it seems and this year it's pretty bad. For some reason we are seeing flu coupled with strep throat. Nasty stuff if you ask me. I'm glad I got my flu shot! *knocks on wood* We had one poor kid that had the flu, strep, croup, scarlet fever, AND an ear infection!! So everyone, drink LOTS of fluids, wash your hands as much as possible and if you are sick, STAY HOME! Don't infect everyone else. *lol* It looks like it's going to be a bad winter for sickness.

Another dumb conversation I had today. Part of my job is to call insurance companies to check eligibility and doctor assignments. I had to change a doctor on a policy, check it out: Operator : How may I help you? Me : I need to change the doctor on a patients plan, please. blah blah, I give her all the information. LOOONG silence. Me : We called in June to change this, but it looks like it was never done. Operator : Silence Me : Hello?! Operator : Yeah!? Me : Is there a problem? This is where she starts giving me eligibility (Something I didn't ask for) Me : I just need to change the doctor, please. Operator : It looks like it was never done. Me : (Trying really hard not to lose my patience) I KNOW! That's why I'm calling. That's what I am TRYING to do here! Operator : Oh, I see, okay. I can't do that from this terminal, let me transfer you. Me : (Bangs head on the desk) But on a lighter note it's snowing!!!! Yipee! I love the snow. If only it would stick to the...

Saturday morning started with a major cleaning of the office. I went into work and was pleasantly surprised that J was coming in to work with me. I might have mentioned it before, but we really work well together. It's like we have this unspoken understanding of how one another works and we just sync. I met the aunt for lunch and then we were off to Gatlinburg to celebrate mom's b-day. Oh my gosh! We had so much fun. First of all we had to brave the aunt's driving and TRAFFIC! Of course we wouldn't have been stuck in traffic if SOMEONE would have been a better navigator. After we found a parking space we went to this restaurant ( I can't remember the name ) but they make VERY good appetizers and drinks. Then we walked to the CELTIC shop and the restrooms followed quickly by the EARTHBOUND store. It's one of the COOLEST stores. Very zen! They have fountains, jewelry, statues, rocks. It's all natural stuff. Then we walked back to the car which seemed a whole...

I can't believe it's already here. I'm so excited! I -LOVE- the holidays. To commemorate this event (the beginning of December), here is a song. I LOVE the movie Anastasia. I love the soundtrack even more! This song pops up during the movie a couple of times and for some reason it always reminds me of my grandma. Her little nik-naks she had on the shelves. I remember I would get them down and play with them as a child and she would just let me, telling my mom not worry about it. "She's fine, leave her alone." She would say. And sometimes if we were alone she'd turn on the stereo while she would clean and sing a long with the music. "Once Upon a December" Dancing bears, Painted wings, Things I almost remember, And a song someone sings Once upon a December. Someone holds me safe and warm. Horses prance through a silver storm. Figures dancing gracefully Across my memory... Someone holds me safe and warm. Horses prance through a silver storm. Figures...