I'm dreaming of a brown Christmas, just like the ones we used to plan....

 I honestly don't know why I'm here right now.

I have a QUADRILLION other things to be doing, not the least of which is packing, and there's dishes, and some wrapping, and I should be looking for that missing paycheck in the drawers...

But here I am. I am... here. And I am going to tell you about two things on this morning. My mother would call it, pardon my language, "colder than a well-digger's ass in Alaska".

Yes, it probably is, Mom, aren't you glad you work at Minit Market now?

First thing:
 I have a wonderful husband. These are the exact words of the card he gave me in my stocking (we opened on Saturday, my only day off til we leave):

My wife, my partner in love, my companion in pleasure, my soul's truest mate through this journey of life.

(That was the front)

You are my refuge when the day is long, my shelter when times are hard. You are the sharer of my dreams, my support when I am challenged, and my very best friend on this earth.

Yours is the face I want to grow old with, and yours are the arms I want wrapped around me at the end of each day for the rest of my life. 

Merry Christmas.

"I Love You. If I was better with words I would tell you this. Andrew"

Yeah. That was my Christmas card.

I love you, too, Andrew.

Mine to him was not quite as sweet this year. It was cute, but not as sweet.

Second!

WE'RE LEAVING TOMORROW FOR ARIZONA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please excuse me for a moment. It seems I have peed my pants.

And I have yet to pack anything but a couple shirts and a pair of jeans. Now, this IS Arizona, and from the wonderful forecast I've seen... that's about all I'm gonna need. At least, according to most people here. I myself am going to need a couple hoodies and probably my fuzzy warm jacket, too, because I hate to break it to you people

FIFTY DEGREES IS STILL TOO COLD FOR MY LIZARDY SELF!!!!

Camp and Teresa are coming over tonight for the key to the apt. and their Christmas present that I bought last night because I'm a dweeb and thought I'd already gotten it and hadn't... Tonight is also the IMVU Christmas party that I'm hosting for my group. Everyone got presents, it should be lots of fun, as long as no noobs come in and spoil it. But I'm booting anyone that's not a packmate on sight... so we'll see.

And laundry. Today, I have to do laundry, so that everything I want to wear in AZ is clean, lol, because it's not right now... and shower, and shave, and wear that sexy little Santa outfit Andrew found in his stocking... O.O Did I say that out loud? Whoops.

AND I NEED TO PACK!!! I might actually go take a look-see about what I can stick in there right now.

OH OH OH OH.

 Pictures! I have to take pictures! Of the ride to and from work, and the area around here, and work itself, so I can show everyone there in Tucson and Hallmark, and San Manuel.

The next time you talk to me, I'll be in Tucson. Or maybe in an airport, lol, it depends.

I'm dreaming of a brown Christmas, just like the ones we used to plan, where the cacti glisten and children listen to hear the coyotes on the sand....

I'm dreaming of a brown Christmas, with every Christmas card I write. May your days be merry and bright... and may none of your Christmases be white...

Pioneer Woman: The Most Awaited and Glorified Part Three!

I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. And then, once my head is back on, and I sit down here at my computer like the happy go lucky not about to be dinner cluck cluck that I am, I'm too tired to bother with typing more than is necessary. I sit on my Facebook with my head in my hands, and pretend to do something productive on CafeWorld.

I am just so tired.

I also have lately had heartburn from God knows where.... and gas... and I'm constipated... and I'm freaking angry at the world.

I think I might be dying of a new strain of the Swine Flu. This one is worse, though, it doesn't go after your lungs or liver or anything else that's not important. It hits your hormones and your digestive tract.

But enough about me! I must tell you about the Pioneer Woman! I left off somewhere around the awesome pasta. After that, I just wandered around the mall a little more. I had several hours left to go. I stopped in the maternity store to look at stuff there... Don't look at me that way. I have several pregnant people in my life. Megan, and Allison at work, and Teresa was... (she lost the baby again, poor dear, 5 weeks this time, but I didn't know that yet anyway) I'll tell you more about the maternity store later, when I feel more prepared to do so.

After that, I went and sat around the bookstore for a while, and waited. Waited some more. Wrote in my new planner. Waited again, and finally, I called my new-found friend Judy! Judy and I met on Facebook after commenting on the same post from Mrs. Drummond, and we struck up a friendship and agreement to meet while we were at the signing. We ended up being some of the first people to get our cookbooks signed. I was the first to give her a present :D Yes, I am gloating, thank you very much.


So, pictures!! They're all really bad. I'll save my favorite for last.

Here's the table before...everything =D

This is Judy DiSalvo. She is awesome! And so, so pretty! Oh, and me, with bad hair.

This is Tara and Renee (from left to right, I think). They were really nice to Judy's daughter and me, and then asked if we could have their books signed for them because they were in the last group. We said sure thing =D

THEE cookbook of all cookbooks and the reason Andrew hasn't starved to death yet.

I was shaking too hard to take a good picture, so I do apologize for the blurriness... and the bad angle, too. Sorry, Ree!

No, that is not a wad of tissues in my hand. I was not quite that overcome, lol, but it IS tissue paper, in which was a cute little Basset Hound keychain, in honor of Charlie <3

Betsey and Hyacinth! I can't even tell you how fashionable and put-together, and just awesome, all three women seemed to me.

Look! It says, Enjoy, Helen! <3 Ree/PW <3

I got TWO hearts in mine. The certain other person whom I bought a cookbook for and had signed only got one. I can't tell you who that is yet. She might maybe read this O.o

And I got a free t-shirt!! The small would have been tight on Mattison, so I got a medium 8)

 

Look at the pretty details! I love it. By the way, that's the website for Ree/PW. Right up there on the back hip of the shirt.

And last, but not least!

*drum roll please*

My favorite!

Yes, I realize it's kinda crappy. The pic-taking guy had NO idea what to do with my camera. But that's okay, we look like we're in deep conversation. That works for me =)

Ta-Da! And Yay!

And now, I'm going back to staring blankly at my Cafe before I go to work and get tired again.

The Pioneer Woman: Part One of God Only Knows How Many

I am leaving for Nashville.

And I'm about to wet my pants. Yes, I realize that her signing isn't until like... 7 pm. But I'm unfamiliar with the entire area, more unfamiliar even than I was when we first moved to Tucson. Tucson... was like the attic no one ever goes in. It's there, you know it, you've been there a few times, but you never really explore it until you turn it into a bedroom! Nashville... is more like that creepy scary house down the street. You've passed by it, maybe seen the outside...but it's completely foreign on the inside, and the ghosts think your nuts for getting lost.

Now add freezing temperatures and a ridiculous amount of water falling from the sky, and you've got my present adventure.

Plus, I want to check out a mall that isn't a bunch of crap. You know, with two stories. And a Macy's. And probably a Subway, or a Panda Express. Holy Jesus....I didn't even consider.... THEY MIGHT HAVE A PANDA EXPRESS!!!!! Hello, you beautiful spring rolls, hello hello hello!! And I know for that fact that they have a Carrabas :D Paaaaaaassssttttaaaaaaaaaa.......

So, I need Matt's gift, Phil's gift, and another portion for Steve.

Dad's hat is at the PX, so that's easy.

Wish me luck, and dryness, and...well, yeah, more dryness.