Happy Holidays!

I finally took the time to edit my blog(s) a bit to make them a little more design-y. As it were. The thanks really have to go to Julia for pointing me in the right direction of how to do it.

I enjoy it. I'm going to edit Ryan's blog a bit more, since it's not my favorite design right now, but it was my experiment.

I'll add the couple of websites I used to find backgrounds and the instructions. And if you have more html knowledge than me (which, despite getting an A- in the stupid 4 credit class my last semester of college, I have not retained any knowledge of), then you could probably do much better.

Now what I need is a good graphic design program (like Photoshop) for my lappy. Actually, I could use a new lappy too -- maybe a slightly better Mac than the 4 (almost 5!) year old lappy I currently use to check email and hack the web. I could be doing that on my old Bondi Blue Original iMac if I wanted. That was the greatest Chritmas present EVER! (like that Lexus commerical, except I'm not getting a Lexus) Especially right before I went to college.

Jake is getting sick, mostly from working his partially sick body (as it has been all year) to the limit trying to shovel, mostly because I couldn't shovel. We really need a snowblower. Badly. It's probably time to try to find a used one from someone around these parts. We just don't have $350.00 to plunk down on the cheapest new one.

I'm not totally sure of what the exact plans for Christmas are, but I have a rough estimate of what is happening.

Dec. 23, 24: Me = off; Jake = worky work
Dec. 24th - going to my aunt and uncle's business in Brookfield to see them and my cousin, his wife and their kids with my parents for a while. Then, we'll probably come home and just hang out, open presents and such.

Dec. 25th - going to Mom and Dad's house for more presents, snack and I choice Italian food for Christmas dinner. Poultry has not been doing well with me and I figure that Dad probably doesn't want to do a terrible amount of cooking.

Dec. 26th - day off to rest and chill out; probably drive up to Luxemburg? Not sure.

Dec. 27th - Christmas with Jake's fam? Not sure the schedule for this either. Def coming home this night though.

Dec. 28th - Spending time with my other aunt and uncle and cousins at their house in Elm Grove; we usually do this every year, usually the Friday before Christmas, but this year, it's at the end, just because of the way that Christmas falls. This is usually just relaxing and hanging out. Which is good, b/c I will have to go back to work the next day (Jake too). Some day, I will have enough vacation to take off the two weeks at the end of the year.

I have to work Monday and then I am off the rest of next week. It will be AMAZING! I haven't had a vacation since July! Seriously. I wish I hadn't wasted sick time/vacation in May -- I took an extra day vacation (which I could have used for next week) and a whole sick day for no reason when Josh was down for the day. It was fun at the time, but now, when I could really use the extra time to carry over to next year, I don't have it. I just went off on a big rant there, and then I realized -- GET IT OVER!! Some women don't get jack squat. Be glad you get to take 6 weeks off with your new baby.

We have plans to Christmas shop today, but we'll see. I wanted to get out kind of early and it's 20 mins to 9 right now. I don't want to go out with all the crazies, esp. since it snowed yesterday and nobody was out.

All christmas'd up

First, I would like to congratulate Josle and Liz on their engagement! I am very happy for you both! :)

Second, we have, since my last post, which was a long azz time ago, Christmas'd up the house. We have our tree, sporting several shiny ornaments, stockings are hanging from the coat rack, the top of the TV is all decorated with holiday stuff. I also have my Christmas village out on the table and a small set from my Grandma in the bay window. I have pics, but I'm too lazy to post at the moment.

Snow, snow and more snow around here. It's ridic. Seriously. The pattern that we have from the beginning of the year hasn't changed one bit. Snow squall/storm after snow whatever keeps passing over.

We did put up Christmas lights on the front porch in the freezing cold on Saturday and put them on the deck today. It was slightly less cold, since it was cloudy.

We also have a Christmas present or two purchased. I didn't want to go crazy this weekend, since we're a little bit tight on money right now. We have to wait until I get a paycheck on Thursday to really purchase gifts. Then, we have to make sure we're going to make all our payments for the month. I'm not too worried about it, but there is always that concern.

St. Nick brought Jake a new coffee grinder. He really likes it. If you use it on the counter, it sounds like a jet engine taking off.