Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Yes, that's right. I said Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

First, Merry Christmas. Because that's who I am, who I was raised to be. And a significant part of that is the line, "good will to all people." You know, the part a lot of people are forgetting lately. If you celebrate Hanukah or Kwanzaa or Festivus or the Winter Solstice or any other religious or cultural holiday at this time of year, I wish you the best one ever. And a Happy New Year to all too.

Instead of emphasizing our differences, I like to be reminded of sameness. I like to think that basically people are good with good intentions. Despite what you may see at the mall.

There are a lot of people hurting out there. I personally know that sometimes the littlest kindness can mean the world to someone when they are low. Sometimes a little spark of hope is all you need.

Last night at the candle store, I saw two ladies pay it forward. It was a simple, small act of kindness, giving away a $10 off coupon that they didn't use, momentarily bewildering the man receiving it. Maybe I imagined it, but when he left the store, he had a bigger smile on his face and a little more bounce in his step. Sure, maybe he just happened to finish his Christmas shopping too, but I will continue to think that the gesture made an impact. To me, ten bucks is still ten bucks. I've never won that much from the lottery, so to me that would be a big deal.

Anyway folks, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Pay it forward if you can and I hope you all find inner peace.

Welcome to CandleWorld

I think I like it.

Friday night I began my second job -- retail, at the mall, at Christmastime. So far, so good. The people are nice, there are only about a dozen prices to remember, and it smells good. Saturday was harder only because it was eight hours on my feet and it's been at least ten years since I've stood that long on a regular basis. Yes, I crashed yesterday, but oh well. I'm pretty sure that's a sign I need to be more active. Ten years at various desk jobs hasn't done me any favors.

The only reservation I really have about the Candle World job is about getting paid in a timely basis. I know I just started, so there will be some delay in getting the first check. The first day I started, a person was annoyed because their check was late. And it was brought up that someone else's check was three weeks late. What's the point of working Christmas if you don't get paid until after Christmas? I suppose we shall see on Thursday, unless of course it's later than that. Sounds fun (insert sarcasm here). Normally I'd say that surely it couldn't be that bad, but then I know better. Yes, Virginia, it could.

The cold is progressing slowly. I'm praying I'm not getting an ear infection and the extra vitamin C and Zinc may actually be helping. See? This is what I get for not eating my veggies. I hate veggies, but I hate being sick even more.

So, here's a lesson for you all. Eat your fruits and veggies. Or at the very least, take your vitamins.

So far, so good

I had an interview last night for the second job/part-time thing. Not a real biggie, just retail at the mall during Christmas, maybe longer. The interview went well, and with any luck, I scored well on the "personality" quiz. You know, the ones where it asks you to answer true or false as to whether or not you think it is OK to steal from your employer. I tend to over analyze, but I'm sure they don't want a psychological analysis over these answers. "Everybody steals." Well, I sure hope not since I don't really relish calling security every two minutes. But have most people walked off with someone else's pen at some point of their lives? I think so. That is technically stealing, though hardly worth spending twenty to life over.

See what I mean?

I think the store just wants to know whether or not I can be trusted with the cash drawer and not steal all our customer's credit card numbers.

Actually, my only fear is that The Ex will stop in to try and make things awkward. Nope, scratch that. Try living hell. I could really see her doing this. Oh, security ...?

Ho Ho ... (hack) *cough*

And so it begins.

I’ve been fighting this viral thing for a few weeks now and it can’t decide whether it wants to be bronchitis, a hacking chest cold or the sniffles. Last week it had the doctor thinking pneumonia, but thankfully it wasn’t that. All I know is that I’m tired all the time, so bear with me as I try to at least act like I’ve got it together over here.

DH and I went shopping last weekend to look for a new winter coat for me. My day job’s dress code is “business professional” so as much as I’d love to just wear my IU jacket all winter long, I probably shouldn’t. Plus I live in Purdue Boilermaker country, so that might make life just a little too interesting for me right now.

I used to love shopping. Now I’m in a stage where nothing fits and I get really frustrated with the whole experience. Let’s just say the coat shopping was a wash. 150 stores and only one coat fit. And it was too casual and probably not warm enough.

To the day’s credit, it was unseasonably warm and reached the 70s. This would normally be cause for great celebration, especially since it did not rain as forecasted. The bad thing was that all the stores had to fling the doors wide open because it was 100 degrees inside. Nothing like a little heat stroke while trying on winter coats.

And then there was the music. Christmas carols were played at full volume. I know they bring out the Christmas stuff earlier every year. I know it’s November and I really should not have been surprised. I mean, Thanksgiving is only a week and a half away. Still, nothing irks me more than Christmas music when I’m no where near being ready to even contemplate the holidays.

So we have Christmas music, unseasonably warm weather, sucky winter coat shopping, and furnaces going full blast in the stores. Grrrr. It was almost enough for me to start saying, “Bah. Humbug.”

What I probably should have done was gone to Cheeseburger in Paradise last. Cheeseburger in Paradise is a restaurant chain by none other than Jimmy Buffet himself. Kind of a family-friendly version of Margaritaville. For whatever reason, he decided Indianapolis needed one, and I won’t argue the point. Of course, there are a lot of Parrotheads in the area. Anyway, it’s fun and you actually feel like you’ve gotten away for a bit, or at least I do. And I hear the drinks are awesome (I’m still on my meds so no margaritas for me). Someday I will have a couple of those beach chairs they have in the lobby in my yard.

Livin’ on sponge cake …

Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into!

(Sons of the Desert, Laurel & Hardy)

I've had an epiphany. I have been shown a marvelous creation, one filled with unlimited possibilities, treasures to behold.

I have discovered ... EBay. Heaven, help me. Please.

And much to my d's amusement, I've also learned the heartbreak of losing an on-line auction. By a measly 50 cents. The bastard. I guess that's what happens if you go brush your teeth with 3 minutes to go. Sigh.

To be very honest, I was buying a new floppy drive for my new/ancient laptop. I think it's circa 1980. Very large, very heavy. But then I am very poor. I got the laptop for $15 in a garage sale. Come on, folks. For word processing, you can not beat that. And now it will have a new floppy drive. For $7. The auction I lost was for the all-important battery, which did not come with the laptop (come on, it was 15 dollars, people!). When I when to brush my teeth, the bidding for 2 batteries was $7, plus shipping bringing the total to a whopping 15 bucks. Can you blame me for getting a little excited? I was about to have a new laptop for under $50. Since the bargain got away, I am now faced with the prospect of paying $35 for 1 battery, plus shipping. Of course, the laptop is worthless without it ...

By the way, the hinge to the monitor broke on my old one. It's like trying to type on a bobblehead. But I have to say, I've done a lot more work on my MS with it when I stay at work for my lunchhour.

I did about 800 words on the MS yesterday. Not bad considering the DSS had soccer practice and I picked up the Crusie novel I had somehow missed, "Fast Women." LMAO at the smashing icicles scene. DH gave me these odd looks as I would cackle to myself.

BTW, the Millers on America's Got Talent last night? They are from my hometown of Lafayette IN. I have never had a harmonica give me chills before. That kid will go places.

Well, back to the grind ...