Tricky vs. Shifty

It's so strange how I can feel like I'm so busy, but really I'm not doing all that much. Just work and some exercise, and some cleaning, and some Christmas organizing. Oh well.

Yesterday I felt like crap, so I skipped out on a friend's cookie swap. Which I feel bad about, but I figured feeling gross and being around people and the food that they'll take back to their people would be a really bad idea. There's a work cookie swap coming up, so I won't be entirely cookie swap-less.

Plugging away on my nephew's Christmas present - I'm knitting a blanket. Nothing fancy, just garter stitch squares of different shades of blue that I'll sew together and then trim with a border of another shade of blue. I just have three and a quarter more squares to go, then I can start on the trim and sewing. Must remember to check my needles, I don't think I have a yarn one. If not, then a stop at Len's Mill will be in order. I love that ridiculous store. It's like a craft store, fabric store and dollar store all smashed together in one place. And I'm sure at Christmas it will be even more insane than usual! A couple years ago my friends and I joked that we should all meet up there one day, and give ourselves 20 mins and whoever can find the best Christmas present (the tackier the better!) for $10 or less would win (what they'd win, I dunno. All the presents?) - we never did it, though. I should see if anyone would want to do that this year or next.

Earlier this morning I came up with my own Christmas list for Scott's family's gift exchange. I kind of hate coming up with lists, because I feel like a greedy jerk and like people will think I want everything on the list. I'm just giving options! And then the present will be a surprise. I should really get over that feeling. I know that anyone would know that I do not expect everything on the list (especially because you can't buy everything within our price limit) and I really should stop feeling bad about the things that I do, especially when someone else asks me to do them! Ah, self esteem issues. Awesome.

Okay, how much more random can I get? Perhaps that's a sign to stop here, and come back another day. Hopefully before a full week goes by.

Lately, I've been on a LOST kick. I didn't watch any of it when it actually aired on TV, but I've borrowed Season 1 and Season 2 from Nat. And totally flew through those seasons! I'm thinking I might rent Season 3 when I have my week off in January, and hopefully that would get me caught up in time for Season 4 to start, whenever that is. It's totally crazy! But so interesting. I love seeing how all the characters are connected (although when I tried to use that special feature in Season 2, it didn't work as well as I thought it should have. Le sigh).

Anyway! Christmas presents are almost done - I have a little bit more baking to do, and then I'm set! Except that I keep forgetting I need one more present. Must remember to get that! I should write a list of everything I need to do still. That would make sense.

Other than that, not much is going on. I'm actually at work today (le sigh). It will be quiet for another 15 minutes, and then my annoying coworker will be here. Ugh. But she may actually go home on time, which is exciting (she usually stays at least an hour longer than she should), as she's leaving for Florida tomorrow, and hopefully has a bunch of stuff to do today. I can only hope.

So I should probably do some actual work now, since I've been here for an hour.

Nat and Brad's Yule party last night was fun. And for the first time in my life, I sang two Kareoke songs! I do not sing in front of people usually, so that was very weird for me. It helped that most people were playing a game and not paying attention to me. It was an '80s-themed video game that I do not recall the name of, and we did the duet version; I sang "Come On Eileen" with Heather (and found out there's a part that Save Ferris does not sing - the only version of the song I actually know - which of course, ended up being the part I had to sing), and a song that has completely left my brain now, which I sang with Amy, the person who has had years of vocal training, and I surprisingly beat her on it! It's really bugging me that I can't remember the name.

And Amy and Chris gave me Scott Pilgrim 1-3, which is super exciting! I'd gone in to the Dragon the other day to order 1-4 from Amy. Hee. And Nat, Brad and Caleb gave me a sock monkey hat (he has a green tufty-mohawk!). I will eventually take a picture of myself in the hat and make that my facebook profile pic.

I'd forgotten how ridiculous Zoolander is. It is currently playing the walkoff. If only all fashion shows were this kind of ridiculous - I'd actually pay attention! So it's probably a good thing they're not, because, really, I don't care.

I have indeed been baking up a storm! I made the oatmeal chocolate chip cookies and chocolate biscotti last night. And right now I'm waiting for the dough for the sugar cookies and gingerbread cookies to chill.

We also finally decorated our Christmas tree. Perhaps while I'm waiting for the dough to chill, I'll start making some record bowls.

I also want to go to the mall briefly, to pick up some reusable organic cotton bags that some store is selling, with a festive print on them. They'll be perfect for packing all the goodies in.

I have no idea what else I'll be doing today...although I should probably try to finish the scarf I'm working on, for Scott's family's present swap. I got his cousin again this year, so I'm trying to do something really different from last year. I have her a Sephora gift certificate last year; this year I'm making her a scarf (red, which I believe is her favourite colour), a basket of goodies, and I'm not sure what else yet. Maybe I'll see if there's anything left on her wedding registry that might be okay. I don't know, but I'll figure something out.

I like getting mail. I also like sending mail. If you'd like me to send you a card for the holidays, fill out this poll.

[Poll #1084245]

Happy holidays, y'all, whatever you're celebrating.

Today is the start of much driving around. But it will be fun, and nice to see all sorts of family and friends.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

HOW IT WORKS

Step One

Make a post (public, friendslocked, filtered...whatever you're comfortable with) to your LJ. The post should contain your list of holiday wishes. The wishes can be anything at all, from simple and fandom-related ("I'd love a Snape/Hermione icon that's just for me") to medium ("I wish for _____ on DVD") to really big ("All I want for Christmas is a new car/computer/house/TV.") The important thing is, make sure these wishes are things you really, truly want.

If you wish for real life things (not fics or icons), make sure you include some sort of contact info in your post, whether it's your address or just your email address where Santa (or one of his elves) could get in touch with you.

Also, make sure you post some version of these guidelines in your LJ so that the holiday joy will spread.

Step Two

Surf around your friendslist (or friendsfriends, or just random journals) to see who has posted their list. And now here's the important part:

If you see a wish you can grant, and it's in your heart to do so, make someone's wish come true. Sometimes someone's trash is another's treasure, and if you have a leather jacket you don't want or a gift certificate you won't use--or even know where you could get someone's dream purebred Basset Hound for free--do it.

You needn't spend money on these wishes unless you want to. The point isn't to put people out, it's to provide everyone a chance to be someone else's holiday elf--to spread the joy. Gifts can be made anonymously or not--it's your call.

There are no rules with this project, no guarantees, and no strings attached. Just...wish, and it might come true. Give, and you might receive. And you'll have the joy of knowing you made someone's holiday special.


So, here we go.

( All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth... )

Y'all should let me know if you've posted yours.