What Struck Me

Colored my hair, wrapped the gifts, cooked the shrimp, made the baked ziti, mopped the kitchen, vacuumed until it started smoking! But I called Pat and he brought home new vacuum, with bags this time. I just don’t get the appeal of bagless vacuums, all that dust just flies back into the air when you empty it.

Andy and Pat both walked in the door sick, both went to bed early. Tomorrow 14 inlaws arrive at 4pm. I’m having an Absolut Citron on the rocks, andI’m going to find the stupidest funny thing I can on TV to zone out to. Too tired to even attempt an entry any more interesting than this, so sorry.

I’m about a day behind where I should be with all the Krissmess Krap (spelling altered to avoid using the name of the day in vain…) But hakuna matata, ready or not, it’s going to come.

I can’t wait till Christmas morning. All the stress will be history at that point :dance:.

Good news- the thing from Sharper Image has arrived!

Scary news- 4 gifts are rambling around in the possession of UPS with no info as to where they are right now. 4 gifts for the youngest of my giftees. At least they’re not hard to find items and I can probably run out to get them at Toys R Us on Christmas Eve :horror:!

• Got all the Christmas cards mailed.
• Finished the baking, including a batch of my toffee cookies specifically for Nick’s class at school, mostly baked by him and minus the nuts.
• Made a decent sized dent in the wrapping.
• Deep (well, not really deep) cleaned the carpets despite the fact I had to use the hand tool because the main part won’t squirt the cleaning fluid out.
• Ordered most of the rest of the gifts I need from Amazon in time to only have to pay standard shipping (and all have been shipped or so I’m told!)
• Got a postcard from Sharper Image informing us that a Big Gift will not be here on time :shakehead: (no link for you, SI!).
• Made a list of the other gifts I need and found it’s not as bad as I thought.
• Dusted the seriously dusty living room, even though I know I need to do it again in three days.
• Remembered at the last possible moment that the Tooth Fairy was scheduled for a visit here last night (she made it!)
• Ran 20 forgotten stuffed snowmen to CCD teacher Mr. B. who forgot them here at home, arriving too late for them to be distibuted to his students (although the kids waiting to be picked up in the parking lot were rewarded!)
• Said a few prayers for a friend with cancer who had surgery scheduled.
• Made a gingerbread house from a kit with Tim that didn’t collapse, thanks to Engineer Dad to the Rescue!
• Figured out exactly how many people will actually be here for Christmas Eve.
• Started making lists for food for Christmas Eve and concluded that once again we will have less than 7 fishes unless FIL provides the bacala and eel.
• And best of all, read nearly half of The Stupidest Angel.

And thus, in my own way, I’m finding some Christmas spirit.

Yet another truck lost control coming down the very steep hill that leads to a major intersection near my house and smashed into an SUV. I was headed to the mall but my way was blocked, so I just came back home then walked over to watch. Trucks aren’t even supposed to be on that hill, there’s a 4 ton limit with signs and flashing lights warning of this all over the place. Yet this happens at least once a month, some worse than others. I’ve actually moved into the left turn lane when I needed to go straight when I’ve sensed a truck behind me might not stop. I use this intersection at least 2 times each day, so I guess I have a vested interest in all this.

This guy took out the street sign overhang and landed in the landscaping around the flag pole at Pizza Hut. He seems fine (was still in the truck when I took this shot.) The SUV driver apparently got himself out but they ended up strapping him into a gurney and taking him away.