Random

I said I'd try to blog more regularly, didn't I? Well, needless to say it hasn't exactly worked out like I'd planned. Oh well. It's not a big deal. This blog is more about putting down all the random stuff that's in my head than really keeping people updated. I mean, it's nice when I know people read it but that isn't the sole purpose. So, today I'll just put down some of the random things floating around in my brain.

-Christmas is 2 weeks away and I am so not ready. Granted, I'm further along than I normally am but nowhere near as prepared as I'd like to be. It happens every year: I plan in my head what I'm going to get but still end up waiting to finish shopping. If I didn't have to wait for my husband to get his bonus I think I'd be almost done but that's the way it goes.

-Pumpkin Spice and Peppermint Mocha make me happy. I particularly like them in coffee but really, in any form they're good..... especially this time of year.

-I hate to be cold, it makes me miserable, and lately it seems I'm cold more often than not. I miss the days of summer. Of course, the shitty weather makes me appreciate the summer that much more but I don't like it when it's here.

-My brother-in-law and his "new" wife (the one we've only met once) are coming to visit for a week on January 1st. This is the BIL who said I "was an embarrassment to the family" at his wedding. HA! That will be interesting. He got married in June '08 but has been in Iraq for just over a year (he should be back next week) so this hasn't been dealt with. I assure you I was NOT an embarrassment. The entire family knows the story of the nonsense he was spewing about me to my husband and since they were there, they know it's not true. I could go on about this but I think I'll save it for another day. It gets me all riled up and I'm not in that kind of mood this morning. I will say I'm not looking forward to his visit.

-I love Trader Joe's and it's a good thing there isn't one closer. I stopped by there last weekend when I was staying with my in-laws and picked up some stuff I "needed." You know.... peanut butter pretzels, two bottles of 3 Buck Chuck, organic carrots, hummus, pita chips, a huge bottle of olive oil and Joe-Joe's. They have good prices on a lot of stuff that normally is $1-2 more at Publix.

-I have developed a good relationship with my bike trainer. I used to hate it but all it took was listening to an audiobook while riding to make it so much better. Although, right now it's set up in the garage and it's just too cold out there. I might have to make an appearance at Club Med today instead. I haven't been there in a long time so it might be nice to do something different.

-Living in the country does have its advantages. Last year I blogged about the presence of a Christmas tree in one of the other elementary schools and I wrote about how it was kind of weird that they can do it. Well, my daughter's school has gone beyond just having a tree. She told me every morning before school starts there is Christmas music playing over the intercom throughout the school. On the days they can't have recess outside they watch a Christmas special. Next week they're having a Christmas party and they're exchanging Christmas gifts. On the school calendar the school break is listed as the Christmas Holiday. It doesn't bother me on the level that we're Christian and celebrate Christmas but on the other hand I wonder if the kids out here are missing out on something by living in such a homogeneous area. Although, I grew up in a similar environment and I turned out okay (as did the majority of the people I went to school with) so maybe not.

Well, that's all I've got for now. I know there's more but it's getting bogged down by the running list of all the things I need to do today.