Today I joined Gold’s Gym down in the Fan. I’m very excited because now I won’t be fatty-fatty-fat-fat. The people down at the gym were very nice and I even got a good sign-up deal because I work for Chesterfield County. So that’s good. I even went for an hour tonight. I like there a lot because the people seem not-lame, i.e. not super intense and if they are, they’re quiet about it. They even have a room called “Ladies’ Gold” where, you guessed it, it’s just for ladies. I went in there so I could figure out how to use some of the equipment without looking like a jackass in front of everyone. Another, you guessed right again, lady was in there. She seemed more concerned with getting the TV to work and putting her hair into a ponytail than with exercising. I, on the other hand, was a focused and hard-working gym member and can’t wait to go back tomorrow.
I mean, I had the wonderful Christmas miracle as mentioned earlier, as well as a good day at school during which some of my kids gave me presents that I will actually use (including Bath & Body Work Brown Sugar and Fig scented lotion-mmmmmmm).
The gloriousness all continued when I got home. I had a nice nap and woke up to my hubs telling me that dinner was ready. He fixed fish sticks and macaroni, which was my most favorite thing to eat when I was little. Ross has been refusing to fix fish sticks since we got married, so this was all very exciting. While we ate we watched Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and I fell in love with Robert Downey, Jr. I was proud of myself for being in love with him because he is perhaps the most grown-up looking man that I’ve ever fallen in love with. Look:
Can we say handsome? Yes, we can, Mr. Downey, Jr., and you. are. it.
Along with that, tomorrow is my last day of work before winter break. I am very very excited.
Today one of our little girls in 5th grade got a huge surprise. Her father is on his second tour in Iraq. She and her sister had been told that he wasn’t going to be able to make it home for Christmas. But today she got called up to the office and found her daddy standing there waiting for her. Then they called her little sister up. When the little one saw him she said, “I asked Santa for you to come home for Christmas!!!” Both of the little ones just started sobbing because they were so excited. And of course we all were crying, too. It was beautiful. After seeing two of our babies so happy, I don’t really need anything else this year.
1. I get up and go to the bathroom about 5 times before I finally go to sleep. I don’t know if this is from being terrified of wetting the bed or from hating to get up the middle of the night. Either way, it’s annoying.
2. People accused my of being anorexic all through high school.
3. I have never been west of the Mississippi River.
4. When faced with gross things in real life, I have no reaction whatsoever and remain very calm and collected. But if you tell me about them, I will moan and scream like I’m going to vomit.
5. I have never broken an arm or had stitches (wisdom teeth don’t count).
Friday evening: Had dinner with the hubs and his dad at Mexico where I ate lots of chips and drank a margarita. Went with hubs to MattWhite’s house where we met up with him and Shelley. Drank some lemoncello or whatever the mess it is out of tea cups. Went back to our house and beat Justin Morgan at Trivial Pursuit. Fell a little bit more in love with Shelley.
Saturday morning: N/A I was in bed
Saturday afternoon: Stopped at McDonald’s on the way up to Fxburg. Discovered that this particular McDonald’s was the worst one on earth. Drove up for Maura’s graduation part-ay. Talked to Maura’s mom about what it was like to be a nun. Ate lots of chocolate.
Satuday evening: Drove back down to Richmond. Tried to get dressed for Nic and Kate’s Christmas party. Nothing fit because of my science fiction boobs. Decided to wear black pants, white button-up shirt, sassy red shoes, and one of Ross’s ties. Was a little nervous about how I looked. Apparently it was a hit. Had an awesome time at the party and saw a lot of people that I really don’t hang out with enough. Fell a little bit more in love with Jennifer Murphy.
Sunday morning: Excercised (yes, it’s true!)and took a shower before 1pm.
Sunday afternoon: Made piggies in blankets. Went to church. Partook in after-church potluck/Christmas party. Poked at Georgia-With-Child’s belly, trying to get her unborn daughter to move. Failed.
Sunday evening: Spread a little Christmas cheer in the form of taking Remus his Christmas present. Went to Target. Cursed the fact that any idiot can have a child. Bought some hamster food and Christmas odds and ends. Came home and ate peanut butter toast. Gonna go snuggle with the hubs and go to bed.
Hearts and Happy Holidays!
My hair is now EVEN SHORTER. What with my short hair and tattoo, Ross is in hubs-heaven for serious.
I had jury duty again today. Like last week, I went into the big room where they wrangle everyone, then went and sat in hallway for 90 minutes. I was then told to go home because the case I was being called to had been settled. So, lucky me, I get to go back next week. Oh well, I got a day off that didn’t take from my personal/sick days.
The how has been Christmasfied. Normally I’m finished decorating by 10am the day after Thanksgiving. Ross and I have both been Scrooges this year. But I decided no more. I put on Elf and decorated the house, dammit. We are both in a much better mood now that Ross’s childhood is splashed all over our Christmas tree. I only had like 4 ornaments to contribute to our collection because my mom must not love me as much as Ross’s mom loves him.
I am done with my Oceanoggraphy class that I was taking for recertification. So I don’t have to take another college class for 5 years. I finished all of my work tonight. And let me tell you, I did my last article summary on this, and I know my professor will love it.
I have spent so much money on Christmas presents. I’m terrified to look at our bank balance. Sigh.
Friday night: Ross’s/Mark’s Birthday Extravaganza. Much beer drinking and chips eating and Queen singing ensued.
Saturday morning: Nothing I was still asleep.
Saturday afternoon: Cleaned up the house in record time. Ate some peanut butter toast. Did some Christmas shopping at Lane Sanson in Carytown (seriously, the most crowded place I’ve ever been in my life) and at Ben Franklin (also known as my heaven).
Saturday night: Joined my brother at Bottom’s Up for his birthday dinner. Saw possibly the most chubba baby in my life and my head seriously almost blew up from the cuteness of it all. Went home and went to bed.
Sunday morning: Went to the Salvation Army for “Loaves and Fishes” with our church. Prepared large quantities of noodles, sauce, vegetables, garlic bread, and fruit salad.
Sunday afternoon: Served said food. Went to Barnes and Noble and Target and spent over $100 in less than an hour on Christmas presents. Went to church and then had snacks, including the best chocolate chip cookie ever.
Sunday night: Got the customary Taco Bell dinner. Wrote an awkward but necessary email. Puttered around the house. Currently watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and periodically crying.
Only 1 1/2 weeks until Winter Break!
I ended up missing my school’s annual Christmas party (which I just realized I haven’t been to once in my four years there) because we needed to throw Ross a birthday party. Ross is the more extroverted of the two of us and LOVES hanging out, but for some reason, we’ve only had parties for my birthday. So, it was overdue.
I must say it was the easiest party we’ve ever thrown because all it involved was sending out a couple emails telling people when to show up and that they better bring beer because, for God’s sake, the Catrow family was not going to be buying anymore beer for anyone, especially when it’s Ross’s birthday. Our friends listen very well (or hate being places without beer) because come with beer they did. Lots of it. And we revelers drank it all. Actually, I think Jennifer Murphy drank most of it, but hey, who’s counting.
Let’s just say my stomach still hurts from spending the entire night laughing. So many people that we love so much were there (not all of them, for sure, but lots) that it almost didn’t matter that our downstairs is only slightly warmer than the blustery outdoor air. There was lots of Wii playing, much singing along to Queen, and Jake even went under our house for us to turn off the pipe that runs our house so it wouldn’t freeze. I’m not sure why he did this during our party, but I wasn’t going to argue because I sure as hell wasn’t going under there. And we all know Ross wasn’t.
Everyone cleared out at around 2:30am. I hadn’t seen 2:30am since college. But I went to bed thoroughly exhausted and feeling happier and more loved than I had in a long time. And it wasn’t even my birthday.
One of the ladies I work with found my blog! Don’t be scared, friends, I know she’s legit. She even put a picture of me on her blog and said some really nice things about me. Here’s the picture:
Be sure to check out her post about my school’s participation in the Red Scarf Project and think about participating in it yourself.
So yesterday I had jury duty. It was fairly painless, but I still need to call in every Wednesday of this month to see if I need to go back. I was excused before even going into the selection/courtroom because two of the cases on schedule were dismissed. So while that made for an easy, short morning for me, I still might have to go back.
Anyway, while sitting outside of the selection room, I got a glimpse of the people there to participate in cases. First of all, I think I hate lawyers. Or maybe I just know that they know that I’m not as smart as them, so rather than be intimidated, I just transform that into hatred.
Also, and I don’t mean to be rude, but, I mean, if you’re going to court because you have been charged with a crime, it might be a good idea to, oh, I don’t know, tuck your shirt in. Or maybe comb your hair. How about taking a shower? Maybe, don’t look like you spent the entire night awake smoking meth. But, again, I’m just making a suggestion.
