(no subject)

Well, no more work for me for the next two weeks--can you tell I'm happy about this proposition?

This is also, believe it or not, my first day alone in the apartment, since Corb is working and the kids are at school. I'm already feeling guilty, because I've basically spent the morning sleeping in bed and dreaming about buying presents.

The cat has been freaking out for the past hour, and has been attacking the decorations on the tree with a vengeance (Corb would be doing a bit of freaking out, himself, if he were here, right now.) I just placed the cat in the little bedroom, for his own good. On occasion, I'm hearing strange crashing noise and a melancholy "meow."

On Monday, I was at the computer, and the cat sprang from on top of the bed and latched on to my neck. I totally freaked, and Thumbkin was so scared of me that he hid under the bed for a half an hour. That night, I dreamed that a vampire was chasing me through a bunch of dark alleys. I wasn't able to get away, and just as my neck was being bitten into, I woke up. The first thing I felt were the two scratches that the cat had delivered to my neck. I remembered what the cat had done after a few minutes...but for a minute there...I was seriously nervous...

Okay, enough of this stuff. I have major presents to buy, today, and a whole paycheck to blow!

btw, we just worked it out last night, and Christmas eve will be spent at the big house. That's right--all of us at the big house. I'll be sleeping over, and Corb will be showing up after he gets out from work at 11:30. As Josie says, it's nice to see things work out and to see our family--rather than diminishing or subdividing--simply becoming extended. I felt wonderfully warm, at the dinner after the funeral, sitting at my side of the table, surrounded by Corb and Josie and the kids, everyone interacting and getting along and just being a family. I think it sent a solid signal. More on that later--that's a big story that's sticking in my head.

But, right now--PRESENTS!

(no subject)

I returned home from Christmas shopping for the kids just in time to help Ashley study her explorers for a test in the morning. Can I have LaSalle for $200, Alec?

Getting to go shopping with Josie was an absolute juggling act. Before she arrived, I had my buddy Pauline calling me to go see Shaun of the Dead tomorrow night (who woulda thought it was still playing?), the task of trying to figure out what my Mom had already picked up for everyone, I had Corb asking me to run to the store to pick up two more cans of stew for supper, Ashley asking me to pick up last minute stuff for her, and Tiger jumping on everyone's back.

Finally, at seven thirty, we were off to our annual pilgrimage to Toys 'R' Us. Oh, and Target, too! (Didn't some glittery floozy who traveled in a green bubble say that all the time??) We spent an ungodly amount of money tonight, but at least I got Josie to buy me the extended version of Return of the King to complete my collection.

Tomorrow I'll get the day to myself again, until the Corbster returns home. I think I'll take it easy, maybe do a bit of finishing touches shopping tomorrow, and the head to Game Stop to pick up some games for the Tiger Boy.

Josie called her new guy while we were at Target. They seem to be getting along really well. She said it was nice to be able to talk to him with me there and not have either one of us pissed of at each other. I'm so glad she's no longer with Alix. He truly was the patron saint of assholes.

Sleeping arrangements Christmas night will be interesting, and have been the topic of great discussion. Obviously Josie and I can't sleep together, so it looks like I'll be in the master bedroom with the kids, Josie will get the couch, and Corb gets Tiger's room. Talk about a full house! (Ah, Bob Saget never had it so good...)