Yawn~fest 2008

Howdy! Yes...it's been a yawn~fest here in the life of Aunt Nub since I last posted...what....oh lord, has it been a week? I think I can officially call it "Yawn~A~Palooza 2008!"

Nothing much has happened here. I've still been fighting this dang bronchitis or whatever it has morphed into ~ 2 weeks & counting. I've been in & out of work this past week ~ mostly out though ~ just kinda snoozing, laying on the couch watching TV or reading...that sorta thing. I haven't showered since Leap Day & am now feeling truly disgusting because of it. I am, however, starting to feel better, but the energy level is still pretty much in the gutter. At least the nose/chest congestion is letting up a little & my temperature seems to have stabilized back at normal.

I still haven't done anything about the mess that goes on the garbage shed, but that's only because I don't have the energy to care right now. I will do something soon though! In the meantime, something has stolen our 3rd bird suet feeder off our back deck. I know it's not a human, because our deck is at the equivalant of the 2nd story back there because of the way the land slopes to the side & behind our house. No human would bother with it....just a waste of time & energy. However....I can't figure out how maybe a squirrel is getting on the deck (no trees close enough to it) & then it's not just like the dang thing has been knocked onto the deck or over the railing & onto the ground below. The dang thing is G-O-N-E! It's nowhere to be found! Is a squirrel actually knocking it off the deck & then dragging it off into the woods???? WEIRD! We've replaced it again today ~ let's see how long it lasts (thankfully, they're not expensive).

The picture above is from the snow storm that I last posted about ~ it's taken me this long to upload it to my computer & post it here. Although I thought the snow looked really pretty on the forsythia bush in front of my house, I'm ready for Spring. I really don't know what else to tell you.....I've been that friggin' boring. Can you forgive me?

By the way, I'm open as usual for questions & suggestions of what to write about! Also.....I've added a new widget in my sidebar (in case you haven't noticed).....so pop on over there & mark your spot on my map!

Snow Day & Bronchitis

Today was a snow day for Skip...no work for him...HOORAY ~ I had him home! We got at least 5 or 6 inches of snow & some freezing rain is due in. As much as I dislike winter, the cold, the mess, etc, I must admit that it's awfully pretty out there ~ a virtual winter wonderland. I snapped the picture above really quickly on my cell phone from the opposite end of the carport from where I park (that's the rear bumper of my 11 year old "soccer mom" minivan down there). Skip asked for at least 1 decent snow this winter...so now you've got it, honey!

And why is it a snow day only for Skip & not for me, too? Well....if I didn't have a raging case of stupid bronchitis, then it would've been a snow day for me, too....but.....well.....I was staying home anyway. I saw my doctor yesterday & he said that if I had waited much longer, he would've been sending me home with walking pneumonia. I did get sent home, however, with a prescription for Leviquin...some heavy duty (750 mg) antibiotics & the size of horse pills. I must say that I'm very good at taking pills, but these I nearly have to choke down. Thankfully, I only have to take them once a day. Then I got the curse yesterday on top of it all. Shoot me now & put me out of my misery. I'm hoping that by this time next week I'll be feeling like a new woman!

Thank you so much for the couple of ideas so far with the garbage shed. I still haven't done anything yet, but I'll let you know what I end up doing. As for the Grand Central Terminal prank, yes, Phinney, it is by a group called "Improv Everywhere," & yes, Becky, they were the ones who had about 100 men take off their shirts at a NYC Abercrombie & Fitch. Check out their link in my sidebar for more videos, etc. I got on their mailing lists...I'd love to be involved in something (as long as I don't have to take MY shirt off & scare everyone to death!).

Christmas Memes & Snow Storms

Aloha! My brain may be wishing it could blink me away to Hawaii right about now, but in reality, my body is still in the NYC metro area & in the middle of a big snow storm. People in upstate NY or Colorado or Minnesota or other similarly cold/snowy places may be laughing at us southern New Yorkers with our forecast of about 8" or so of snow, but to us this is a lot. I get nervous on days like this...like I'm trapped or something...even though it's beautiful when all is said & done. Crazy as it might sound (since I talk about it a lot), I'd rather have the depressing, gray, sunless days than too much snow. At least I can get out & do things. Anyway...I always make the best of it & catch up on stuff & be lazy with other things. Soooooo....here goes a Christmas themed meme that I found on both Phinney's & Martha's blogs. How about you 2 ladies get over here & have some hot chocolate with me? We can build snowpeople later!

1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate? I'm really not a hot drink drinker, but I'd choose the hot chocolate.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa definitely wraps. What fun is it if the he just sits the presents under the tree?

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Colored lights on everything but the wreath outside. We lit it up for the first time this year & used white lights.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No

5. When do you put up your decorations? We usually put it all up the first week of December, but with working so damn much, we've kinda be doing a little here & there, so it has taken a little longer this year.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Anything but fruitcake.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: I remember the joy and wonder of Christmas morning. It was all just so magical to see the tons of presents & the great big giant stocking my grandmother hand sewed for me practically bursting at the seams. My parents really made sure I believed in Santa & that was special.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I have no memory of learning it, and it doesn't matter to me. (Ditto to this ~ in fact, I still like to believe:D)

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes, but only at my mother~in~law's house. We celebrate & open gifts with Skip's family Christmas Eve; Christmas morning is for Skip & I; that afternoon is with my family here at my house.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Lights on first & then some special ornaments. I make sure the non~breakable ones go around the bottom portion in case Lucy (our doggie) or Stella (our kitty) decide to investigate.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I think I already covered this above.

12. Can you ice skate? Yeah...but I'm not that good...can only stop by crashing into the walls of the skating rink, so forget about skating on a pond. LOL

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I've had so many favorite gifts over the years. Last year, Skip got me Sirius Sattelite Radio.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being with my family, counting my blessings.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Bananas Foster.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Probably the stockings! Not sure if Skip & I will do this year, though.

17. What tops your tree? A really pretty light up star.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving of course!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? O Holy Night ~ gets me every time.

20. Candy Canes? Sure...why not. Rather have chocolate though.

21. Do you feel Christmas is too commercialized? Or is it still magical for you? It has gotten too commercialized, but I'm trying to keep it as magical as possible.

SNOW!

AAAACCCCCCKKKK! It fuckin' snowed while we slept last night!!!! It wasn't supposed to do that until later in the day! Skip & I have been so busy working 6 days a week & not getting home until around 7:00 pm, that we were going to put up our Christmas lights outside this morning. Now everything is covered in about an inch of snow & rain is possible later! YUCK! I really, really, REALLY wanted to get my Christmas lights up today!!!! Maybe...just maybe...we can still get them put up since the snow isn't too heavy. Keep your fingers crossed! Hooray! We were able to put up the lights in front of the house! The lights & the big inflatable Santa can wait for another day this week ~ those are the easier ones to do.

I'm just not ready for winter; not mentally at least. I love Christmas & all that, but the long winter months really get me down. I started dealing with S.A.D. (seasonal affective disorder) a long time ago, but last year it was really bad ~ so bad that I got myself one of those lightboxes that simulate sunlight (but without the bad UV rays) to help combat it. I got it late in the season & it helped, but the real test will be this winter. Just need to have it near me for about 15~30 minutes in the morning on gray days.

I wish I had more to write about. I get here to my blog with a ton of things on my mind that I want to say, but then my mind goes blank or I get distracted & I forget about what I wanted to say. Just getting old, huh? I'm going to start the new year off with a journal jar, suggested by a good friend, Becky. But....in the meantime...if there's anyone out there actually reading my blog (Hi Phinney & Becky! I think you're the only 2!).....why not ask me a question...any question...& I'll answer it here. Either leave the question in the comment section or e-mail it to me at my montaukny address.

PS I mailed out all 120 Christmas cards (yes...you read right...120!) late on Friday night so that they'd be in the early mail on Saturday, December 1st! That means that if you're on my Christmas card list, you should be getting a card from little ol' me any day now!