One very good side effect of being sick over the holidays: I actually LOST WEIGHT over Thanksgiving. I am *this close* to officially having lost 100 pounds. I doubt I'll be able to keep it up as both my appetite and my tastebuds have returned and the house is full of nommy holiday items, but if I can at least maintain things until January, maybe I can get those last few pounds gone at long last.

I saw another raven today.

I spent some money today. I bought what I thought were sweater dresses (at Last Chance, so I didn't try them on), but they appear to just be tunic-length sweaters. Pretty, though, so I'm not unhappy with them, they just will need leggings to wear (or pants). I did not finish the laundry. I got some of the Christmas decorations up. My cat is certain I'm starving him to death. I finished my writer's critiques.

Trader Joe's is NOT carrying the sublime chocolate-covered graham crackers this year. *sob*

Finished reading American on Purpose. I now understand (at least a little) why Craig has such a grudge against cats...

I'm actually hoping there will continue to be overtime this week; it makes me tired but the extra money comes in very handy this time of year.

There is a BLIZZARD warning for north and central Arizona tonight. I'm somewhat skeptical of the promised rain in the Valley, though, since they always say that and I haven't seen rain in months. Of course, I did wash the car windows today, and there are clothes out on the line still (it takes longer to dry when it's this cold), so maybe it will rain.

I am happy that my two favorite shows this last season not only weren't canceled, they aren't even on the bubble. That never happens to me! Of course, they are finished for the winter season, and Flashforward won't be back until March, but at least it will be back, and I won't wonder forever what happens (like in The Nine).

Everyone's getting/giving snowflake cookies and I don't know where to get them...

* * *

I've done similar memes before, but I can't resist...

( The Big Read reckons that the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books they've printed. )

I went from posting like every second to not posting at all. Oops.

Things that have pleased me lately:

Yesterday at work when I went out on the grounds (and discovered it was FREEZING, I tell you, FREEZING), amidst the ordinary city pigeons clustered on the grass there was one that was pure white. It was pretty. (It's cold in Phoenix. The high today was barely 60. Seriously.)

Today I made a wrong turn on our way to Trader Joe's and got to see a beautiful big raven landing in a pine tree.

I have found a goodly number of stocking stuffers. Now I need to get the stockings out and put them up.

Today was the annual Chicano por las Causas holiday party, which I have been the coordinator for our company's volunteer work the last two years, and it went very well. I handed out hot dogs to the underprivileged kids of South Phoenix for four hours. The rental place was on time both arriving and leaving. I forgot my camera but other cameras were remembered.

My cold/infection is about gone. I finally went to the doctor, who was out of the office so I spoke to one of the nurse practitioners and she put me on Nasonex and antibiotics. On the other hand, I seem to have given it to Barb (bad me).

There has been some overtime this week, which I need because we're so poor.

For anyone who is wondering what to get me for Christmas...

I actually made a list of things I still need to get for people. Many things have already arrived, but a few are still in transit. I just ordered some DVDs for my mom (she asked for these) and I have to get her a gift card from Macy's not just for Christmas, but to thank her for a wonderful time in November. I should also get something for her friend, who was mucho good to me while I was there. (Mom called the other day all apologetic. She found my birth certificate. She'd looked in the wrong file.)

I have some crochet projects to finish and I need to think of something good for my friend Shelley.

For anyone who wants to see the pictures from Kennedy Space Center, check out my Photos (album "Trip to Florida") here. (It's easier to load a lot of pictures on My Space than it is here.)

I have to thank evil_little_dog for introducing me to the group Straight No Chaser, a very awesome acoustic group whose Christmas album I have now downloaded.

I can't seem to catch any of the new dragons.

I did finally get a cheese dragon, though:

* * *

I managed it. 50,102 words.

Whew.

I can't even let my brain rest, since I have to actually try and focus on my writer's critiques, which I am very behind on. Still coughing. *hack, hack*

Throat's hurting a little this afternoon. Tired, draggy, made it through a busy day at work. Two of our morning people will be on vacation for the next two weeks. Whee.

I had remembered, vaguely, I thought to wax a little poetic about sights I saw outside of the airplane window while flying back home, such as the horrible brown spots all over Florida (they aren't kidding about the drought there -- when you're on the ground, it doesn't look nearly as bad as it does in the air), or the way I thought San Antonio was all these empty blank spots before I noticed little sparkles in the dark squares and realized I was seeing populated neighborhoods -- almost completely hidden by TREES. I need to actually SEE San Antonio before I write about it again, methinks.

According to the scale this morning, I actually LOST WEIGHT over the Thanksgiving weekend. There is something to be said for being sick, I guess.

49,684 words. I have to blather out another 400 words by tomorrow night just to win NaNo, and then I can put this baby away for a while to simmer. I think there's the bare bones of a good story here, but because my brain hasn't been working the last week, a lot of it is really, really, REALLY bad. There is a lot of telling rather than showing and a lot of gloss. I'll have to let it sit for a good long while to see if it comes into anything (like there's any reason, since no one wants to buy my work anyway).

I have spent today mostly sitting here watching the ID (Investigate Discovery) channel, which I discovered while staying with my mom and have now adopted as yet another way to waste my time. I rarely explored the digital channels I was paying for other than the ones I knew I wanted (TCM, BBCA, etc.), never occurred to me there was a True Crime All The Time channel.

I think I'm recovering. I'm fairly certain I had something worse than a cold, because it occurred to me today that I've had it for more than a week already (gad, has it been a WEEK since I came home??!?), but of course now by the time I talk to a doctor I'll be completely recovered so naturally I don't see the point of making an appointment. (Unless, of course, it doesn't continue to improve.) Between the shortness of breath and the sore throat, it was probably strep or bronchitis or maybe a weak strand of both, but hey, I'm on the downslope now. (Whee.) In any case, it was a sucky way to spend the Thanksgiving weekend. And every time I cough I scare Cairo (world's most nervous cat).

Turtles! (This is the view outside my Mom's living room window.)

I have watched Craig Ferguson episodes all day long and am finally caught up completely.

( some pictures )

I hate being sick. I can't think at all.

Yesterday we wandered through a few places looking at televisions -- we could replace our old 32-inch for less than $500, but for only a few bucks MORE, I could get a pretty 40-inch LCD (I don't want plasma) HDTV; CostCo has one for not much more than $600 (Sony or Panasonic, a good one), so if I can bite the bullet and deal with tiny tv for a while, we can afford the better television.

Barb noticed the other night that the thieves also took her secondary laptop (the one that miertam gave us), so I have to gather up some proof we owned it and add it to the claim. Since the 32-inch flatscreen cost about $500 or so, that was exactly our deductible, and the repairs to the doors were completely covered, so there was no problem there, and my mom is helping us put in new security doors. Barb's mom wants us to put in an alarm system, which I don't really object to. After all, we're two women living alone, blah blah blah.

But in shopping therapy, I found a pair a REALLY cute boots at Ross for $16. As a plus, they're mid-heeled and comfortable as well as cute, so I think I'll wear them a lot instead of just admiring them.

I think my Tivo only deleted a couple of Craig Ferguson episodes (I was a week behind when I went on vacation). I spent a good part of today watching episodes from the week I was gone. I just knew Peter Sagal was a Ferguson fan. It was fun seeing him on the show. Also been reading Ferguson's autobiography, "American on Purpose" -- he's a good writer, and he tells all, but somehow manages to leave a great deal out, as well.

I have to upload my pictures. I may not have gone on a cruise, but I DID take some good pictures of central Florida. Was I fascinated driving by a landfill? I was, because there were literally hundreds of vultures wheeling around in the sky above it -- and I was likewise delighted by turtles sunning themselves on the sand, tiny sandpipers running up and down the beaches, terns shining bright blue in the rising sun, seagulls screaming "mine!" at me outside of a delicious seafood restaurant (they really do, you know), delicious drinks up and down the Treasure Coast, pelicans and sea breezes -- maybe not a cruise, but I DID have a good time and this cold has made me too draggy to remember that I did.

I have about five thousand words left to write.

Story abruptly stopped working, along with my brain. Two days left of NaNo and I can't come up with enough pointless drivel to finish. I have been piddling for two days. Am still sick. Do not want.

I have watched two weeks' worth of V, Glee, Ugly Betty, Criminal Minds, and a bunch of other stuff, and have mostly caught up now, but I have about ten or so Craig Fergusons here and some other shows; I'm saving Castle for when sillymagpie is here, and I haven't started watching the new The Prisoner yet. And I still need to watch Waters of Mars.

One good thing: I haven't gained any weight.

Man, when my brain stops working, it REALLY stops working. I'm full of phlegm. Two days left in November.

Ack.

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!

I got the pecan pie done on Wednesday night, then considered the amount of pumpkin we had; the sugar pumpkin was rather small. However, neither Trader Joe's nor Fry's had any pumpkins AT ALL left, so we bought a sweet potato instead...

I then fell into bed for the worst night of the cold yet, as it slammed into my head with a vengeance and Nyquil wasn't cutting it. Gasping and wheezing, I finally got a little rest, and managed to toss and turn my way through the night. (My poor wife!) Got up Thursday, cobbled together the cooked pumpkin and sweet potato to make the pie, finally got this VERY deep dish pie cooked through, and the turkey was in. I collapsed in front of the television to see Santa arrive at the parade finale and started watching the dog show. I saw the German Shepherd win the Best of Breed in the Herding Group, then the start of the terrier group, and when I woke up they were showing that holiday classic, Eddie Murphy's "Dr. Dolittle." (?) I'd slept for almost two hours. The turkey was about done and the yams needed to get in the oven. Amidst much bustle and haste we got the dinner ready and on the table, Barb got her mother, and all was definitely delicious.

Being sick, I completely forgot about mashed potatoes and making the rolls, but we had plenty as it was, so it was okay.

Now this morning my cough has settled into my chest and I sound like a frog, but I feel somewhat better.

Hope all had a lovely day!

It's a full-blown cold. DAMMIT. I felt it come on overnight as the little annoyance crept from my chest into my head, and I sit here poking at the computer and weighing the pros and cons of calling in sick. Pro: get some rest. Con: Viewed by suspicion in an already strained unit, calling in the day before a four-day weekend. Pro: Maybe improve by Thanksgiving so can enjoy self. Con: Still-full-from-vacation work queue haven't cleaned out yet with another day of work added coming back the Monday after Thanksgiving (that's my most compelling con, really). Pro: Don't have to get dressed and drive in. Con: Oh, GOD I have a lot of work on my desk!

I know it's just a cold and I also know that since I've been hauling minor symptoms around for a week now I'm hardly likely to be contagious anymore.

I need to replace the filter on the refrigerator water line. The light has gone completely red because I've been putting it off in hopes I could find someplace where they sell it so I didn't have to order it (that and I was totally broke up until November 20). But it means I now view the water with some suspicion because of that red light (which makes me wonder about myself, since our water is actually fine right out of the tap, and I do drink it that way).

The main thing is ice cubes, which are in great need for this afternoon I must get the turkey in the brine. Since we don't have enough space in the fridge, I'm thawing Mr. Tom in the sink full of ice. I'm pushing the automatic ice maker to the limit (plus a bag from the grocery store, which I'll also use to keep the brine cold overnight tonight).

I also want to make at least one pie, preferably pecan, which I haven't done in a while.

But I feel crappy.

Well, Nyquil taken, and I'll actually try work. I can't bear the thought of leaving that queue still full (they were apparently SWAMPED the entire week I was gone and no one could take care of any of my work, sigh). (Oh, and it's also that lovely time of the month. Blah.)

I don't want a cold on Thanksgiving! WAH!

Words: 41,439

Morning drive by:

On the five 1/2 hour flight, I went from the previously posted 33,673 words to 40,243. I just need a couple more stretches of uninterrupted writing where people give me snacks and drinks and I think I can do it.

Home is a lovely place. There are cats who missed me (well, one of them certainly did, since he won't let me out of his sight for more than a second and spent most of the night making sure I'd pet him), a wonderful wife, and Tivo DID indeed gather up all my shows (although it did get rid of some old Fergusons I hadn't watched yet, so I'm glad I did back those up on my computer -- gonna take a while to catch up on everything; think there are some repeats I can just get rid of, though).

We carried the old TV out to the living room and hooked it up. ACK! It's so TINY!!! And blurry! (Old fashioned 20-inch box with a convex screen... took two of us to carry it.)

Got all unpacked, copious Christmas gifts unloaded, stacked in bags hither and yon. Some of the locals made out better than others this year, possibly because of the places I went (and since he doesn't read this stuff, I can say that Steve made out like a bandit--but then, karma's been kicking his butt, too, so maybe he deserves it!). I may hand out a giftie early to everyone, as the usual "stuff from trip," but a lot of it's going into stockings. *g*

I still don't feel right; I have that high, dry cough (acerbated last night by the trek through the airport; I was coughing and wheezing all evening, but it seems to have settled down this morning), headache, and weariness. I hope it does something or not and figures it out before Thanksgiving.

Oh! Better get that turkey out of the freezer!

(And race off to work)

Here I sit in the Orlando airport. My plane is delayed. Lovely. I don't want to go back to work tomorrow.

( The rest of my vacation )

Looks like they've actually opened the doors. I hope this flight isn't full. At least I have an A boarding pass. So, so tired.

It will be good to be home. I haven't petted a cat in a week.

Day One:

The flight to Houston was uneventful, if very full; I got stuck sitting between two older guys, one of whom had jonesed the window seat and then promptly closed the blinds (sigh). Houston does not have free wi-fi (although a sign claimed it was “coming soon”), so I did not log in. I wrote some more, got in some serious word countage, and then entered another very full flight the rest of the way to Orlando, where I sat next to a lovely young Indian couple who eventually noticed and asked if it were Lord Ganesh on my ring. I was vaguely embarrassed but told them I was very interested in Eastern culture and religion and admired such things and they seemed very pleasantly surprised to find such a thing, and were not at all offended that I was wearing their god on a ring.

Orlando was crowded but it was late; we got my luggage and headed for Vero. It’s a pretty good distance, and we didn’t get to Mom’s place until around 2 am (about midnight my time), and hit the hay.

Day Two:

Today we went down to the beach and took a good long walk, which was lovely; we ate lunch at just about the best restaurant I’ve ever eaten at, and talked a lot with Mom and her friend Bunnie, a fun German lady who actually has lived in Jersey for many years (giving her an interesting Jersey-German accent). Then we went to have a mani/pedi at Mom’s favorite salon, where we were pampered to within an inch of our lives with every treatment known to man. Then we met Mom’s uncle Joe (my great-uncle), who will turn 100 on February 15 (the second-oldest WWII vet in Florida, apparently). He’s sharp as a tack and quite the pistol. We ate at Ruby Tuesdays, which is surprisingly good for a chain restaurant, then dropped Uncle Joe off and went shopping for Barb’s Christmas present. (She is surpassingly hard to shop for, although she will deny that.)

Then we came home to get ready to leave tomorrow, whereupon I made this realization: I have forgotten my passport. We’re not sure what that means, so I’m now on hold, waiting to talk to the travel hotline, hoping that they will still let us sail tomorrow, because there’s no way to overnight it, since it’s past seven in Phoenix on a Saturday night, and even if Barb could magically GET it to a FedEx office tonight and get it sent, it couldn’t get HERE before we have to leave tomorrow by noon to get to Ft. Lauderdale. Mom has a clear copy of my passport, which was used to book the tickets, and I have all the rest of my ID, so...

We sat on hold for about eight minutes and Mom said to give it up, she’d rather face ‘em. Barb called and said that framefolly had once gone to Canada without a passport and the only trouble was coming back into the country.

Day Three:

Drove to Ft. Lauderdale. Not a bad drive, although Port Everglades is not nearly as well-organized or easy to get around in as Port Canaveral. Were not allowed on ship due to new security handed down by Homeland Security caused by one wacko in Fort Hood. Am waiting to get our luggage back so we can go home to Vero.

It’s all my fault, and I suck.

Day Three, Part Two:

We are now checked into an amazingly posh Executive Suites in West Palm Beach. There are two lovely swans on a pond in the middle of the lobby. REAL drinks are served gratis in the bar from 5:30 until 7:30 (by real, I mean we were starting to have a good buzz after three, and then we went on to four). So I’m a little tipsy, and surprisingly (for a hotel that caters to business travelers) the internet costs $10 a day, so I don’t know if I’ll log in. But we’re a little drunk and much happier than we were (despite the “no refunds” policy), have talked to Barb on the phone, and we’re watching a gigantic plasma TV and I’m listening to my mom complain about immigrants. Well, I suppose; they can get into the country and I wouldn’t have been able to...

Mom could have gone without me. I suppose I could have done something for a week in Ft. Lauderdale with no money... (I love my mother, I really do). She could have gone, left me the keys, and I could have come back to Vero to hang out for the week. But she came back with me, and is not blaming me (perhaps realizing how much I'm blaming myself).

Am now watching The Simpsons, which makes me realize how early it really is.

Word count: 28,541

Day Three, Part Three:

Mom + too much bourbon = both entertaining and somewhat disturbing. Talking to a drunken mom about my deceased brother was... interesting. I never realized how mean Tim was as a boy. I always thought it was the drugs that turned him into a monster, but apparently well before then he could be quite mean and nasty. I didn’t remember him pushing me down the stairs, for example. It’s disturbing; I’d come to remember my brother as much better than the drugs made him be, because he really was a very sensitive person, very talented, and often I’d believed, much, much smarter than I, but having fallen in with a bad crowd, came to a bad end. But I guess... no one’s perfect, and he was seriously flawed, and maybe I wasn’t so bad when stacked up to him.

On the other hand, when I was on the phone with Barb talking about installing security doors, Mom was doing Danny Kaye from White Christmas, and kept asking “How much is wow?” and then kept going “Boing!” (Also from White Christmas) Which led me to realize she really was quite plastered. Not sure if I just hold alcohol better, or if I’m just as plastered.

Day Four:

Woke up late-ish (8:30) and went down for our complimentary breakfast, then hit the gym for about an hour. Watched some CNN. I washed up and then we went over to West Palm Beach, where we shopped on PGA Boulevard for hours and hours, had lunch, then came back up to the beaches, where we stopped a Tiki Bar for a drink and some snacks, walked South Vero Beach for a while, then finally came back to Mom’s place. They said that the Space Shuttle (Atlantis) was going to go up at 2:30, but there was no way to get up there by then, so we just stuck around West Palm Beach. Now we’re watching movies while I work on NaNo (28,886 words). We HAD to see "White Christmas" of course, and then I made her watch "Up," which she bought for me when she got me a new iPod (again, I have the best mother in the world; seriously, even when I gripe about her, she's the tops).

Day Five:

Today we got up early, but somehow didn't make it to the gym until nearly 10. Worked out, then Mom had to make a stop at Publix and at Target before we finally got home and picked up Bunnie for lunch. By then it was well after noon and I was STARVING, because I hadn't had breakfast for some reason while we were getting ready, although I had at least a cup of tea. We drove up a few miles to Sebastian, where we ate at a great little dive called Squid Lips, where the drinks and the seafood are amazingly good. I ate way too much, fried calamari, the best onion rings in the universe, bacon-wrapped scallops and potatoes, everything totally yummy. We came home and took a nap, then Mom and Bunnie went off to play pinnacle tonight while I get to play on Bunnie's wireless (I just don't get why Mom won't get herself a computer; I can tell all her friends have them -- you can see several wireless networks around here).

So that's where things are right now. Tomorrow we're going to go to Canaveral. Mom is doing her best to make this a good vacation anyway, even though it's my fault, and everyone is saying that "these things happen for a reason." Hmmm. I just wonder what I did that my karma is kicking my butt so hard...

Oh! I want to thank all the folks who posted comforting words on my last entry! You guys rock!!! {{{HUG!}}}

Usually Friday the 13th is a Good luck day for me. I've never had a problem with it before.

That ended today.

I rushed through my morning work so my desk would be clean before I left for work; I ended up working a little later than I'd planned, so I didn't get home until noon. That was okay, still had plenty of time...

NOT. I pulled into the driveway and noticed the back gate was open. Uh oh, I thought, Sam has escaped. No. He was inside sleeping on the bed, having allowed someone to KICK IN our back door and take our 32-inch flat screen television. Fortunately, apparently nothing else has been taken (including this laptop, which would have caused me Great Tearing Of Hair, since a) not paid for yet, and b) MY NANO IS ON IT!!!) However, only the television was taken, so there is that; we still have an old console TV in the back room which can be hooked up when I get home (cable, so no worries about the lack of HD), and I have to hope, pray, and trust that since the Tivo was apparently untouched (praise the Lord!), it will be recording my shows while I'm gone. I hope.

The TV was only three years old. We got it for our Christmas present the year before we had the house remodeled. *sigh*

I had to race around calling the police and TRYING to get hold of my insurance agent; fortunately the officer arrived to make a police report very quickly(and he was very nice), but I could only leave a message for my agent before Barb had to take me to catch my plane to Orlando.

So now I'm in the airport. I knew there would be a fee for a third bag, and I figured I'd suck it up, because, hey, I needed three bags coming home last time. I didn't realize said fee was FIFTY BUCKS. Yikes. So much for having any money to spend while I'm there. Fortunately, the ship basically gathers all your on-board charges and then charges at disembarkation, at which time my paycheck will be there so I'm not worried about that, and Mom usually picks up the tab for most everything else, and I'll have to be a leech this time out, because I'm so, so broke. Insurance will cover the broken back door and the TV, of course, minus deductible, but DAMN. Now I HAVE to stop putting it on the "eventually" list and get those security doors for the front and, apparently, the back as well.

I'll admit I know that Sam is a friendly, completely non-aggressive dog who would, of course, let anyone at all ransack our house, but I'd always depended on the simple presence of a dog to keep people out of our back yard. Bad idea.

(Seeing Jonathan in the bright daylight of the airport terminal tells me how dirty he gets sitting around the house... and my, I have greasy fingers.)

I didn't have a chance to eat before coming to the airport, as I planned, and I stopped being hungry anyway, after getting home and seeing everything; so I got here and was forced to pay for greasy airport food (speaking of greasy fingers).

Plus, while in the first week of NaNo I made impressive strides, this week I've done diddly squat, and my current word count is only 24,668. I also didn't finish my Writer's Group (or even start it, really) -- bad timing, having the deadline come in the middle of NaNo -- AND they just announced that the flight is completely full, and are asking for people to give up their seat. Why will airlines overbook like this? Sadly, I also didn't remember to check in online last night, so I'm in Group C, position 19 (and those who have flown Southwest know what THAT means).

So now I have to leave Barb to handle the insurance (I left a message for my agent and her the policy information), and I realized when I was standing in line at Security that in the midst of all the wackiness, I FORGOT MY iPOD at home. No music for me this trip (I have a few things on the computer here, but most of my music is on the external drive, at home). And thanks to the idiots who ruined liberty for all, my hands are all dry from being washed and my lotion is all in my checked baggage.

Whine, whine, whine.

At least the wi-fi at Sky Harbor is free.

( Picture of television )

I can't get Firefox to open.

Grrrrr.

I don't like IE.

And now I have to dash off, dash it all. Why must computers confound me when I'm in a hurry?

Word count: 22,461

Am too tired to write more tonight, although I want to.

Am also too busy and too feeling insane in preparation for vacation to focus on either NaNo or my writer's group, which technically is due this weekend, but I really, really doubt i'll be able to finish it before I leave. Oops.

I have one suitcase packed with all my fancy duds; I have to go buy See's for Mom and decide on all of the casual duds I need to bring (this, that, the kitchen sink, etc., etc.).

* * * *

I was tagged by nutmeg3, so I meme...

The rules (copied verbatim!):
FIRST: If you've been tagged, you must write your answers in your own LJ and replace any question that you dislike with a new, original question.
SECOND: Tag eight sexy people. Don't refuse to do that like a pansy.
I tag (not in alphabetical order, and some because I know they, like me, are doing NaNo and have this much time to waste): cornerofmadness, sillymagpie, evil_little_dog, framefolly, tiirz (and anyone else who feels like doing it. No pressure).

( The Sexy Meme )

Word Count so far today: 13,672

Yesterday there was a lot of excitement at my office, as this fellow was spotted on campus:



Most everyone had never seen a Great Horned Owl in the wild, much less during the day, so everyone was coming out to see it -- I don't know when he came, or why he decided to spend the day in one of our palm trees, but there he was. Fortunately, my supervisor had a real camera, because the ones we were trying to take with our cell phones sucked.

This morning we were up bright and early (much earlier, really, than we'd meant to, because for some reason, neither of us could sleep much past 3 am) and headed out to Tempe for the Breast Cancer Walk. Pink was in abundance, and a lot of awesome guys defied tradition and wore pink, as well. It's not a strenuous walk, but I was glad when it ended. I stiffened up in the car on the way home, though, mostly I think because we spent 20 minutes in the car trying to get out of the parking garage. (Seriously, if you are EVER in a parking garage in downtown Tempe, always try to exit on ANY street but Mill. Every time we've tried to get out an exit that feeds onto Mill, it's hell. Fortunately, we managed to get out of that line and headed out the Ash Street exit, which took two minutes, and we were back in Phoenix in a shorter amount of time than we'd moved four feet inside the garage waiting to exit onto Mill.)

Then I went to get my hair done. I was going to stop at Bed, Bath & Beyond on the way home, but the parking lot was ABSOLUTELY FULL (all the way out to Camelback), with a dozen or more parking sharks circling, so I gave up and came home. A while later, after hanging the laundry, I went over to Target, which was much easier to get into, and found what I needed there. Every time I hear something dire about the economy, I go to a store and it's packed to the rafters with people buying things. To this I say WTF?

I forgot until just now I was going to go to Trader Joe's and get more Greek yogurt. Well, perhaps tomorrow.

Despite the too-high temperatures in Phoenix this last two weeks, I'm starting to feel the holiday love. I adore buying gifts (even when I don't like the bills!). *happy smile*

One week until the cruise! I'm starting to obsess about what I need to bring, what I want to bring, and what I really don't need. I will need to bring computer, a book or two (will be writing more than reading, but still, some places one is more practical than the other), and then the usual run of clothes, casual to elegant, etc. I'm going to bring my sparkly red gown, because I haven't had a chance to wear that one yet and I'm dying to, and I'm not sure which other one. Maybe the silver one again.

I have Mexican Wedding cookies in the oven, and dinner will be pasta with sausage.

This morning we said goodbye to Cuervo. In the last few days he took a serious turn for the worse and last night he was just barely able to walk, hardly able to eat, and just so draggy and sick we made the hard choice. *is sad*

It colored my day, and all little annoyances turned into big ones, and I had to take a time out for myself and go cry in the bathroom.

This morning they were talking to us about how FMLA (medical leave) works, and while the nurse was there, a brief mention was made of whether or not same-sex partners were covered; she "thought they were." Then we get a "clarification email" which contained this line:

“Immediate family members” (for Category A absences) include the employee's:

· Spouse - a husband or wife as defined or recognized under State law for purposes of marriage in the State where the employee resides, including common law marriage in States where it is recognized

Sounds like, for all my company's touting "diversity and inclusion," when it comes to brass tacks it's all bullshit. This also made me very unhappy.

Word Count: 12,115

I liked the first episode of V. Still loving FlashForward. (Ooo! Ooo!!! OOOOOO!!!!) Am filled with a certain amount of satisfaction that, apparently, the only team who can prevent the Yankees from taking the World Series are the Arizona Diamondbacks (at least, our 2001 team could).

Tomorrow is Friday. Saturday I walk the Cancer Walk with Barb and then I'm getting my hair cut because I want it to look nice for the cruise. Only one week away, and I have lost no more weight. At least I think I look pretty good, anyway; and I have a whole week!