"Why is this not in the candle aisle? This BELONGS in the candle aisle!"

Well, we played the Wal-mart game again. Once again, awesomeness ensued.

We arrived at 1:00 AM. It was me, Liz, Kris, and Lex against Jackie, Jimmy, and Zack. It was a close competition and we were almost defeated by a reed diffuser, but in the end it was some incense from the impulse buys and some green maraschino cherries from the baking aisle that were the undoing of Jackie, Jimmy, and Zack.

Excellent job finding the location of the dog snuggie, Lex. I can't wait for the next one.

I love Christmas vacation

I have decided that I will be staying in pajamas today. All day long.

Don't judge me.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Also, Gooturducken!

If you get it, you get it. If not, carry on.

"Donkey!" (said in Scottish ogre voice)

So, it's the shortest day of the year, which makes me think with fondness of Gram and how this day would have made her more cheerful than a day in August, because now we start building up to longer days as opposed to losing increments of light with each passing day. Oh, Gram.

As for me, I'm taking some time today to make a cardboard donkey for one of my colleagues. Don't judge me. My friend at work sent this tidbit to me in an email:

December 21st, the shortest day (longest night/Winter Solstice) of the year, is dubbed St. Thomas Day. In parts of the Sauerland (in Germany), whoever wakes up late or arrives late to work on that day is issued the title "Thomas Donkey." This person is given a cardboard donkey and is the subject of numerous jokes throughout the day. But this gentle abuse ends deliciously with round, iced currant buns called "Thomasplitzchen". In other parts of Germany the day is called other names such as Durchspinn-Nacht or Durchsitz-Nacht. Traditionally a lot of alcohol is consumed and the next day is often called Kotzmorgen (hangover morning).

So, of course we had to make a cardboard donkey and present it to our perpetually late colleague. This was my template:


I love December.

Snowed in and loving it!

I love being snowed in. Right now I'm listening to Christmas music, watching the snow fall through windows lined in lights, eating Christmas candy, and I'm about to wrap some presents in shiny foil wrapping paper. Everything is sparkling and glowing and the ground is covered in fluffy white snow. I'm pretty much full-up on contentment.

This makes me happy

Look at those windows. I wonder if I could do this in my sunroom...