All Through The Year

I'm still in the blue funk. I didn't see the point of posting anything to just ruin the spirit of the season. In a way I'm glad I'm not going out on amateur night. The increase of drunken drivers and recklessness of at least one idiot shooting guns in the air to celebrate is enough to keep me off the streets. Like other holidays that are overrated at least one couple will break up tonight somewhere because tonight didn't live up to the hype.

As far as resolutions go it's the usual mix in an added dose of getting 4.0's this year. I am truly grateful for the blessings of this year.

May all easy readers have a happy and fun New Year.

Chestnuts Roasting Over An Open Fire

Here it is Christmas Eve and I just can't get into it the spirit. I don't care if I have to watch It's A Wonderful Life over and over. Part of it is because I stepped over to the dark side yesterday. I went into a Macy's. Now before I get called to the carpet on my disdain for Federated Stores I had to go under duress. B.J. told us to get Minnie a gift card from there. Actually his first boy suggestion was to get her French perfume. Um, you don't know what her signature scent is but because I share the same girl gene I'm supposed to automatically figure that out. It wasn't as bad as I thought. I saw some cute Coach boots way out of my price range. It killed me to see Frango mints with a Macy's box on the cover. So I picked up a different Frango Mint box. I would have splurged for the Godiva but no one was at the counter. The saleslady was very nice and patient. Parking was great. I just stopped in the middle of a parking lane and waited for anyone to come to their car. I waited about five minutes and poof a spot opened up just for me. I almost went window shopping but I thought why bother. Everything is going to drop to half price on Tuesday. That's where the real mania will begin. But I won't get to join in the fun because I'll be with Ethel at p.t.

Jeez sometimes men are so much easier to shop for. B.J. just tells me what colors he wants and unlike me doesn't change his size. Fred always gets pajamas. For the first time in eons I found Ethel a gift she finally liked and would use. A flannel housecoat. But she didn't want me to wrap it up she wanted to wear it now. She doesn't even want me to wrap Zach's gifts just to hand him a bag. Gee where's the fun in that?

I'll be wrapping tonight so I won't have a repeat of last year. Sometimes it's good to prepare in advance. Part of me wishes I didn't have to go out for the faux love fest. It makes me miss Ethel's sister who always brought joy whereever she went.

In the relative department, Fred touched base with his brother who back in the motherland. When it came time to talk about me, instead of telling him about how I got into grad school and the awesome grades I earned all he could say was, "Starla is still fat.". WITW was he thinking? I am more than just the excess weight. It realy hurt me that's all he could say to his brother. What a mean thing to say!
I cut his time in half today at the Jewel by introducing him to the self-checkout lane. Then Fred went on about how his great nephew is going to be a multi-linguist. It's not that he's a genius. In Europe, they are teaching children multiple languages in response to the global economy. Instead of No Child Left Behind, Bush needs to focus on introducing the a,b,c's of different countries at the little red schoolhouse.

At least, Ethel let me know what I was in for tonight. Cousin _______ is pregnant with baby no. 3. I'm happy for her and pray that the future baby is happy and healthy. Part of me wonders what difference my degree will make to the world? It's one of those slippery slopes where the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

I'll Be So Blue Just Thinking About You

I miss my hat. Yep, I said it. On Monday, when it was that combo of warm/cold outside, after grocery shopping I left it in the front passenger seat because I thought "eh, why bring it in, it's nice out". Stupid, stupid, mistake. The next day I go out to the car and it wasn't there. In its place was a Wal-mart bag. The kicker is that I hadn't been to that store in weeks. My blue and white speckled wool hat that I knitted by hand has been absconded by the great beyond. I'm pissed off. I've had that hat for over four years. I started knitting it when my mom was in the hospital. I have ripped the inside of the car and the trunk looking for it. Now I'm going after my place. I don't know why it would leave me. I loved that hat. Granted it went with nothing I wear but it didn't matter. It was unique and a starla original. I grow more frustrated each day passes by and it is not found. You know that I loved you, right? We went everywhere together. You're immortalized on film because of that picture I had taken with everybody after class. I'm sorry if I ever did anything wrong to hurt you. Please come back. I've heard of people stealing car radios, hubcaps, engines, tires, but a hat? This is so whack. I'm totally buggin' over this.

Now that the weather is rainy yucky out, I will have to go back to the yarn shop and make another one. I don't want to get caught without a hat. On that cold day this week, I went outside without a hat. I ended up getting a headache and the sniffles. I wasn't planning on starting any project because OMG IT'S 4 DAYS LEFT OF SHOPPING 'TIL CHRISTMAS!!! but I refuse to have my head uncovered. I tried an old hat I had but it's a tight fit and that's not good for circulation. When I see the blizzard conditions in Denver it scares me. When I think of shoveling my way out to freedom I shudder.

I'm so excited that I get to watch another night of Grey's. Life is good. Thank you God and Jesus.

The Stars Might Lie

Yippee it's another Bears win. I didn't have the heart to watch another nerve-wracking game. I like that we'll have home field advantage during playoffs.

This weekend was touted by horoscopes as the one where Mr. Soulmate was to appear. Surprise, surprise when that didn't happen. I feel like I believed in the Great Pumpkin and got bupkiss in return. I don't know why I put my eggs in one basket. But with classes over I needed to find something to occupy my time. Why not, focus on the nonexistent lovelife?

The meet with mr. potential never happened. He called over two hours late and still expected me to see him. Um, no I don't think so. Then we rescheduled for the next day. Well fate decided it was not to be. We were ambushed by Uncle OG and his dvd of his excursion back to the motherland. Three hours later he was merrily on his way. But I was an hour late touching base with mr. p. Oh well.

I spent Saturday night at a small get-together in my old hood. I had forgotten what a pita parking was around there. My parking karma just sucked big time. Just as I thought, "I'll park by Green Mill and cab it over.", lo and behold a parking spot appeared. There might not have been alot of people because of the parking situation but I had fun. I surprised myself that I could carry on a non-school conversation. You just get into the mode of academic wordspeak and it's hard to shut down. I'm glad I just had one drink. Limits need to be put in place for a reason. One of A's roomates got schnockered. It was fun to watch. Even funner was when her one co-worker showed up. She claimed she didn't like him. Then why invite someone you can't stand over. Gee that makes total sense. The end of the evening turned into comedy because I couldn't remember which street the car was parked on. I had been driving down side streets for so long that I couldn't remember where it was. After some time, it was found and I was on my merry way. I almost went out afterwards but decided against it. Granted I could have gotten in the cheaper cover charge since it was after midnight and I looked the part but just didn't need it.

It Doesn't Cost A Thing To Smile

Woohoo!!! The semester is over. Papers have all been turned in and on time. I almost headed to campus in my jammies because it had been eons since I had done laundry. But that will be taken care of today. I was so happy to see Grey's Anatomy last night. I didn't even care that it was a rerun. It just means that I actually have free time on my hands. I get to read whatever I want for fun.

I really do believe that God doesn't close a door without opening a window. I received another rejection letter from a potential gig. It didn't even bother me. I was glad because I don't think I would have been able to get all of my work done with an additional yank in my chain. As far as I'm concerned it's all good. I didn't really want to head back into the black hole of retail anyway.

This weekend begins my way back to socialness. Tonight is a possible dinner date with a new mr. potential. Then tomorrow is a small get-together and a possible stop to one of my favorite places in the city.

Baby it's cold outside

Actually it's a whole lot of stuff. On the drive last night, I was priveledged to have one of IDOT's salt trucks escort me some of the way home. That sleet was no fun to drive. I thank my lucky stars that I got home before 11.

This morning I was awoken by the sound of thunder and lightening. They weren't kidding about the snow. I almost threw my back out twice when I was shoveling. Like everyone else I was out of practice. Luckily the snowplow came by or else I still would be shoveling. I have to share this part. Fred was so mad about what happened last year, he shouted to mr. plow. "Clean out the gates!!!". He meant to say clear the streets and I was beside myself laughing.

As with most snowstorms,our sump pump chose to die.I have to give alot of credit to the city and state for a super job of keeping the streets clean. Too bad I can't say that for certain drivers.

Hey Lady in the Lexus,

Every weatherperson and newsperson IN EVERY STATION IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS said proceed with caution when you drive today. That means you don't drive with your cellphone in your hand. The streets are bad enough without your phone call about absolutely nothing causing a pileup.

The grocery store was jammed with customers. I felt real bad for the cashiers. At least this time there baggers available. Fred pitched a fit because I refused to follow his route out of the Home Depot. I'm sorry but I'd rather take the long way out than go through a unsafe short cut. Hey there's always option B. Get to steppin'.


Everything was cancelled today. I wish I could say the same thing for this weekend. Le sigh.

Have a great month everybody!