I have a Christmas tree

It is made entirely out of lights.

I can't find a picture of it anywhere, though.

Wait - found it!.

I'm pretty sure it was more intended for the outdoors.

But it's in my living room.

As for ornaments? Paper cranes.

It's a good tree, and nobody will eat it!

Even when she's wrong, she's right.

Had a brief discussion with my mother last week about decorating for Christmas.

I want a tree of some sort. Not a real one, just a small fake one. My issue is my cats. They eat things they shouldn't. A cheap fake Christmas tree is just begging to be gnawed on and regurgitated in the middle of the night.

Mother suggested hanging it from the ceiling. I thought, "That's not what I want to do!" but I thought about it for a moment. It would definately be unique. I could still put lights on it and stuff; it would be different and cutting edge!

But I just did some looking around, and apparently the upside down tree is "in" this year. Also, it is apparently a tradition in central Europe - so it's not "cutting edge." Fine with me, I just have to figure out how to attatch it to the ceiling.

Experimenting in the kitchen

I made cookies tonight. Toll House recipe, right off the back of the bag of chocolate chips.

Turned out pretty well. I've got a little problem with the actual baking - I know they cook for a bit once you take them out, but I'm not sure what they should look like in the oven when they need to come out. "Golden brown" is subjective.

And I took the last bit of dough, mixed in some mint extract, and made those.

All around, very good. Not a failure.

And now, here's Craig Ferguson talking about the new James Bond and the witchcraft that is microwaves.

Enjoy!

Two things. Okay, maybe three....

1) I have been told I am a crafty gal. I agree to an extent. I have made scarves, afghans, glued pieces of paper together, purchased a sewing machine, done some cross-stitch projects, etc. in my lifetime.

It's in my blood. You should meet my mom. She's the one that started all of this. Well, actually, one could argue that it's her mom's fault, and then blame her mom (we still have doilies from my great-grandmother somewhere).

Anyway, I'm trying to put it all in one pile. I live in a one bedroom apartment and my art supplies are scattered everywhere. So that is tonight's goal - get shit in one place. Not put away, but all together.

2) Organize the paperwork. I need to buy more storage (cardboard boxes will work just fine).

3) Tom Skilling is predicting some shitty weather for the next 24 hours. Best thing to do when weather gets shitty - bake. Again, in my blood. Mom didn't do it every time the weather got bad, but I do remember the weather being shitty and it smelled awesome in my house.

So I gotta stock up on food. I'm running low anyways. But do I do it tonight at the 24-hour Jewel or tomorrow morning? We'll flip a coin later.

Screwed.

I've been living all by myself for about a year and a half now. And when you live on your own it's good to have a little tool box with a few essentials - hammer, pair of pliers, box of assorted nails, couple of screwdrivers. These things have been a great thing to have around. You never quite know when you're going to put something together and you'll need something. And of course, any kit you get will give you a few extra screws and whatnot, just in case.

The amount of screws I have amassed in this short time is astounding. And of course, when I need screws to hang a shelf, I can't find one in the right size.

Kind of a pain in the ass.

New Year's plans

Yep. Discussing them already. I was invited to one on Halloween, and that one sounds fun.

The other night, I was out with some good friends, and we discussed a New Year's party.

Tonight, a friend of mine said something about doing something for New Year's.

The first party is a costume party, and it sounds fun. The second one is with people I know and love who really, really rock. I mean, they really, really rock. They rock so hard, that people who suck disappear. The third one really isn't a party. So that means its flexible. Or something.

I think I'm just ready to be done with 2006. I think everyone else is, too.

Couple of things

Watching Chicago Tonight. Well, more like half-watching, mostly listening and tidying up.

They mentioned an interview. Didn't hear who it was. Walk past the TV and stop.

*squint*

Huh, that dude looks familiar.

*squints harder*

Ooh, he looks real familiar. Kinda like our lawyer. For some reason I'm feeling ten years ago.

*squints real hard, tilts head to the left*

Holy shit, is that Richard Marx?!? Dude! It is!

So, Richard Marx was on Chicago Tonight.

I was also made aware of an organization in Chicago called The Enterprising Kitchen. It's a nonprofit organization that helps women get back into the workforce. They market spa products, and if you know me, I'm a sucker for smelly soaps and the like. I'm in love with this idea.

Election day today!

Which means, that as of 7:00 pm tonight, NO MORE NEGATIVE ADS! I'll be honest with you, when all of this started I was all gung-ho about it, but now, I'm just damned sick of it all.

Oh, and my landlord... I called him yesterday, because the plumbers were supposed to come out and fix the wasteline so my sink did not empty into my downstairs neighbors' kitchens. I wasn't sure what time the plumber would be coming out, and I just wanted to know because I had a lot of dishes piling up. And I refuse to do my dishes in the bathroom (those drains are already slow, and yes, they were rodded about a week ago). I talked to him, he said the plumber would be there by 5, and he would call me when he was done.

I got no phone call. Went for my walk, and continued to wait.

Said, "Fuck this," at about 11, did some dishes, was very careful with my water usage.

Get a call today at about 9:30 am. It's the landlord. He tells me the plumber was out last night, and it's okay to use the kitchen sink now.

Am I glad shit got fixed? Yes! But he could have called me a bit sooner! Because, you know, I absolutely love it when my kitchen is overflowing with dirty dishes.

Oh. Emm. Gee.

I cannot get over how freaking tired I am.

Got to bed uber-late (early would actually be the appropriate term, since it was 5 a.m. the last time I looked at the clock). Ashe decided to have the coughing/sneezing fit to end all coughing/sneezing fits at about 7 a.m., so that kept me up. I have never heard a cat make such noise. Poor guy. Found some of his and his brother's leftover antibiotics from earlier this summer.

This is annoying as hell, though. Dragging both of their asses to the vet when all they need is some antibiotics seems a bit ridiculous. Tyler seems fine, but I wonder if they're both carrying the same bug and Tyler keeps reinfecting Ashe.

Anyway, so cat kept me up. Then, Riot Fest.

I think it's safe to say that I am not cut out to go through an entire day's worth of punk music. I was there to support my friends' band, mainly. They were great, as usual.

At 5 p.m., I called it quits, came home, fell asleep on the couch for a bit, and woke up tired.

I'm just going to quit while I'm ahead and go to bed now.

One day I will have a 100% good day

Today was close. It really was. Went to Ann Taylor Loft today. In my younger days, I avoided it, 'cause I considered it "yuppie." But I am sick of dressing like a 17-year-old in denial of her figure. I live on my own. I have two cats. I am a grown-up.

Anyway, got the suggestion off of a website/blog that I am a fan of. I don't frequent it every day, but I usually drop in and drool over the purses a few times a month.

**side note**
I own one - it's awesome, I've gotten tons of complements.

Anyway, so I checked out this store on her suggestion.

I bought only one pair of jeans ('cause that's the last one they had in stock), but I was so happy they fit and they didn't look like leggings (I have found that stretch jeans look like leggings) and they were just awesome. My ass didn't feel uber-huge.

Good times. I will be online purchasing one or two more pairs, and then redeeming the $25 off coupon(s) in a few weeks.

ROCK!

Then I get home, do dishes, hang out, mess with the cats, eat dinner.... get a call from the landlord.

He had been in the apartment under mine, and their kitchen sink was overflowing. Apparently there is a block in the waste line (presumably), and as a result, my kitchen sink drain was flowing directly into their kitchen.

Now, landlord has been out of town for a few days. I asked how long this had been going on, and he said he was just notified about an hour ago. I should mention that I called him 5 or 6 times and left messages regarding the heat in the last few days and he has not returned those calls.

I have a feeling this has been going on for a few days. I feel a bit bad, 'cause I have this tendency to wash my dishes in the middle of the night.

Imagine waking up in the morning to a puddle of ick in your kitchen.

I'm telling myself not to feel bad, 'cause it's not like anyone attempted to tell me anything. Hell, chances are they didn't know exactly where it was coming from.

Long story short, I can't really use my kitchen sink for a few days.

So the landlord thing has really been the only damper today. Yay!

Jingle bells, jingle... wait a minute....

Yep. They're playing Christmas carols on the radio.

At least they waited until Halloween was over.

But, still. Couldn't we have waited for it to be closer to Thanksgiving?

Well, I guess it's okay. I've decided to attempt to be "smart" about holiday shopping this year and do it via the internet or craft shows or whatever.

And to do that, the key is to start NOW.

Everbody is getting a unique gift from me. Maybe not expensive, but unique.

I would expect everyone else who is thinking of getting me a gift to do the same. And they can add practical to the list. I really am fine with getting socks. I wear socks. Laundry detergent would be amusing as well.

UGH!

People confuse the living hell out of me.

I thought that by not dealing with boys, it would get easier.

But now everyone confuses me!