happy Wednesday!

[Deleted User]

how is everyone today?  what's going on?

I am sitting here at work, sipping a cup of coffee.  I've been here since 6:40 and it's as dead as can be!

I wrapped all of our Christmas presents (except a couple that are still in the mail!) and it all looks so pretty under the tree.  it took me 3 hours!  that is all I did last night after dinner.

I'm supposed to hear today from someone about a PM job!  I get my certification Monday and then on Tuesday I get a call from someone who'd like to transfer me over to work under them!  it'd be a much better contract OR if we can finangle it, a fed job.  really hope it works out!!

Dignity100

@CocoBellaF - So exciting to have news on the job/career front already!!!

I'm just trying to make it through this week.  I've been beat up by work.  I took Monday off to relax and do nothing (seriously pajamas ALL day), so yay 3 day weekend!!! 

I just ordered H's Christmas gifts!!  I think I did well for my limited budget

[Deleted User]

@Dignity100 - thanks!!  I can't believe it would happen so fast, but I really hope it works out.  I would LOVE to work with this lady and get with a better contract or a fed job.

taking a PJ day sounds WONDERFUL.  I hope you enjoyed it!  what did you end up buying for your H?  I need to get one more thing for mine.

[Deleted User]

@CocoBellaF Good luck with your job, and congrats on your certification! Nothing like fast-tracking toward that career! I'm sure everything will go swimmingly.

I HAVE OFF TODAY! I feel like this never happens. I get one day off a week and I'm so stoked to finally have made it here. I've got a beef stew cooking in the crock pot and a coffee at my side, and I'm gonna sit and play video games and happily do nothing all day, basically a 24 hours identical to @Dignity100 's Monday. I'll see the SO for a few hours before he has to work, then the bestie tonight for American Horror Story (we are not digging this season but we watch anyway). Maybe I'll haul said SO back over tonight, even though he hates AHS. He hates a lot of things that are good. Like seafood. Pfft. I love him anyway.

Peaseblossom55

@cocobellaF good luck on the job front!

I'm beyond exhausted today.  I just want to curl up and go to sleep.  Xmas carol opens on Friday.  I better not get sick I seem to get sick every year around this time.  I'm taking lots of emergen-c to help.  I can't wait until my day off Monday, although I have a lot to get done.  I hope the work day at least goes by fast today.

[Deleted User]

@peaseblossom55 - get lots of sleep/rest to help you feel better.  soup always seems to make me feel a bit better, too!

lmcooper86

@CocoBellaF - Good luck on the potential new job!

@Dignity100 - I am hoping to get a pyjama day sometime while I'm off over the holidays, I need a good lazy day!

Last night FI and I looked at a few houses and 1 of them has potential. I'm not fully sold on it and I think we'd both like to keep looking, but our agent is going to call theirs today to find out how much interest there has been on this place. Then we went home and watched hockey and I made 3 batches of cookie dough that are now in the fridge ready to bake. YAY!

Tonight I am going straight to the mall after work to try to knock out most of the Christmas shopping for my family. I'm gong to try to finalize my list at lunch so I'm not there for hours. Then home to bake some of the cookie dough I made last night so I can bring cookies to work tomorrow. I also have to wrap the gift I'm bringing for our office gift grab, since that's tomorrow (which is why cookies feel so necessary!!). If I have time I might wrap a few other things, especially anything for FI so he doesn't find his presents; there are no good hiding places in my tiny apartment!

Peaseblossom55

Thanks! @cocobellaF I'm thinking I'm not officially sick right now I'm playing defense though, my cold usually start out with a sore throat, but I am so tired.

[Deleted User]

lmcooper86 said:

@CocoBellaF - Good luck on the potential new job!

@Dignity100 - I am hoping to get a pyjama day sometime while I'm off over the holidays, I need a good lazy day!

Last night FI and I looked at a few houses and 1 of them has potential. I'm not fully sold on it and I think we'd both like to keep looking, but our agent is going to call theirs today to find out how much interest there has been on this place. Then we went home and watched hockey and I made 3 batches of cookie dough that are now in the fridge ready to bake. YAY!

Tonight I am going straight to the mall after work to try to knock out most of the Christmas shopping for my family. I'm gong to try to finalize my list at lunch so I'm not there for hours. Then home to bake some of the cookie dough I made last night so I can bring cookies to work tomorrow. I also have to wrap the gift I'm bringing for our office gift grab, since that's tomorrow (which is why cookies feel so necessary!!). If I have time I might wrap a few other things, especially anything for FI so he doesn't find his presents; there are no good hiding places in my tiny apartment!

we don't have a big house either, so I had to hide H's stocking-stuffers in my old air-boot that I wore after my foot surgeries.  surely he won't look in there!! 

[Deleted User]

Hi ladies! I feel like I've been MIA latley. I miss you gals!

I need to be more like @CocoBellaF and get on my wrapping! I have to mail packages to MD this year...so I need to get this done so they get there on time!

Work has been crazy. Oil prices have dropped significantly in the last couple weeks and our entire industry is suffering. Since my company already had layoffs and all, we aren't seeing any big changes but it's had an impact on our business. I've been working longer hours and honestly when I get home I just want to sleep. All.the.time!

Today baby is 20 weeks! I can't believe we're already halfway there. We have our next ultrasound on the 19th and we're so excited to see baby again. We're still planning to not find out the gender until delivery day...so we'll have to wait for that. We've started cleaning out the guest room to convert it into a nursery. Exciting times!

KeptInStitches

@cocobellaf, crossing my fingers for you!

Ugh. Today I'm dealing with the aftereffects of tequila. I used to be able to have a margarita and not suffer - what the hell happened to me?

Tonight FI and I have church. Supper is soup and rolls, and since the secretary is cooking, it's going to be REALLY good. She's a wonderful cook.

Swazzle

@Dignity100 - I'm jealous of your day off! 

@ourladyofpotato - I am also jealous of your day off! I am quite a few episodes behind on AHS, probably 5 or 6 now at this point.

@Peaseblossom55 - I'm super tired today too. I could have used an additional 1-2 hours of sleep this morning. Sending you don't-get-sick-vibes!

@lmcooper86 - What do you like and dislike about the house? What kind of cookie dough did you make?

@allusive007 - 20 weeks already?! I can't even believe that! Do you have names picked out?

@KeptInStitches - Tequila is the devil. FEEL BETTER!

******************

I am tired today! H and I had a Devils game last night (they lost, again) and by the time we went to bed it was 11:30 so I got about 5 hours of sleep.

I'm out with work tonight for our Christmas party and I'm mostly looking forward to seeing @hummingbird125 and eating all things. I planned the menu and we're having: deviled eggs, wedge salad, baby back ribs, pulled pork sliders, cheeseburger sliders, skirt steak skewers, boneless buffalo wings, bbq wings, and mac and cheese. Can you even?!

[Deleted User]

@allusive007 -WOW I can't believe it has already been 20 weeks! It's flying by!

I'm feeling kind of eh....today. I think it's just because I've been so overwhelmed and busy at work and then I come home and I have 1000 other things to do that I haven't had much time to rest and just take a breather. I need a vacation soon. I'm taking this Friday and next Monday off but I have sooo many things to catch up on those days that it really won't be a vacation. I feel like I might cry all the time.

After work I'm going to crossfit and dinner is in the crockpot so I might find time to finish cleaning and get to bed early.

Ollie08

@allusive007 - NO WAY! 20 Weeks already? How's your bump? I bet you're adorable.

@KeptInStitches - Ouch. I know the feeling. I used to be able to drink shots of tequila and bounce back the next morning. Now, not so much. Feel better.

@swazzle - (PS this auto-correct thing keeps correcting your name to swizzle) Sorry you're so tired, and that the Devils lost.

I feel like I'm in this perpetual state of exhaustion right now. I have no desire to do anything remotely productive. I work all day long, then go home and edit all night long, and edit when I wake up in the morning. Don't get me wrong, I love that I'm busy with photography, but right now I'd just like to be focusing on my family and getting through the holidays! I haven't even really started Christmas shopping yet except for the handful of things I ordered online. And I'm totally bummed about that.

labro

@Swazzle Your work party sounds so amazing! I hope you and @Hummingbird125 have fun!!

@allusive007 20 weeks!!! I hope baby is doing well!

@lmcooper86 Your spelling of pajama hurts my eyes!! WHY? I want to pronounce it like PIE-Jama.

@CocoBellaF I hope the job transfer works out!

Nothing exciting for me today. I'm so boring. All of the exciting Christmas party stuff happens next week so I have absolutely  nothing happening this week. Yesterday I called my SIL and told her about the "Christmas present" H and I would like to give her and her H. We offered to babysit the kids for a day and also treat them to dinner. I wanted to tell her ahead of time so she could pick a good day for them while we're visiting. Hopefully there's snow on the ground so we can take the kids snow tubing as part of their day with us!

Dignity100

@Swazzle @CocoBellaF @OurLadyofPotato- My PJ day isn't until NEXT Monday - but I need it so bad I'm already bouncing around waiting for it!!  I really didn't want to have to take another day off this year because I wanted to roll over some time for my January extended weekend trip (Disney again!) so I wouldn't be touching my 2015 vacation time, but I gotta take care of myself!

@CocoBellaF - I ended up getting H a stovetop Expresso maker and some little expresso mugs and a regular coffee cup that he's been looking at.  I really didn't know what to get him this year as I'm on a tight budget.  I WANTED to get him a wakeup/sunrise alarm clock but just wasn't in my budget.

@Ourladyofpotato - I'm jealous your PJ day is today and I have to wait a few more before I get mine!!

@Peaseblossom55 - Get your sleep, take your vitamins and try not to stress. 

@Imcooper86 - Hopefully you guys find a house soon.  I was playing online and found a house I love on paper (and in picture) but it's far out from both H and my work and we're not really ready to buy yet... and it might be slightly out of our price range.

Almost forgot - My little Newfie Puppy is 5 years old today!!!!!

Peaseblossom55

@allusive007 yay 20 weeks!!!!!! Time is flying by!

lmcooper86

@CocoBellaF - Maybe I should hide FI's presents in my pots and pans since he doesn't cook!

@allusive007 - Glad you and baby are doing well so far! What size fruit is the little one this week?

@Swazzle - Liked: really high ceilings on the main floor, lots of windows (need to be replaced, but lots of existing window space), we could easily knock down one wall and open up the entire main floor, decent sized backyard. Disliked: fairly small bedrooms, we likely couldn't make the master bigger without losing a bedroom (from 3 down to 2, not a good idea for resale), very small lower level so that would probably all be lost to FI's studio. It's a split level, which I'm not crazy about to begin with, so it means that all 3 "floors" feel sort of squished together. I'm concerned that we would have bedrooms directly over FI's studio, which could be really inconvenient. FI didn't like that there was no ensuite but I don't really care about that.

And I made sugar cookie dough and shortbread dough. The shortbread dough has Earl Grey tea in it (trying something new this year) and it was flipping delicious...there's no egg in that one so I did not feel bad at all for eating cookie dough!! I'm making 2 other kinds of cookies this weekend (ginger with chocolate and chocolate sables) but those can't really be made in advance.

Also - HOMELAND!?!?

@LaPeanut1018 - Hahaha sorry! That's the British spelling, so that's what I'm used to! I agree it looks weird though

eilis1228

@CocoBellaF Wow! That's amazing that your job opportunities have grown so quickly after taking the test! Congratulations! Also, you should post a pic of your tree with all the pretty presents underneath!

@Dignity100 I really hate how rough work has been for you lately. I'm glad you were able to find some time to relax!

@ourladyofpotato Enjoy your day off!

@peaseblossom55 I hope you stay well! Definitely load up on the vitamin C and zinc this week.

@lmcooper86 I watched the episode of Downton Abbey last night where your GIF is from. I saw the scene and was like, "That's @lmcooper86's GIF!!!" and FI looked at me like I was crazy. :-P

@allusive007 20 weeks already? Where has the time gone? I hope work calms down a bit for you so you have time to rest and relax

@KeptInStitches I know them feels! Alcohol wipes me out for a looooong time now. Getting older sucks. It sounds like you have a great dinner to look forward to though. I hope you feel better soon!

@Swazzle Pardon me while I wipe up the drool on my desk. Holy crap that menu sounds fantastic.

@southernpeach89 *hugs* I had similar thoughts yesterday. This time of year is difficult. I hope life calms down for you ASAP!

@ollie08 How much more editing will you need to do? Will you be able to return to normalcy soon? I'm sorry you've got so much on your plate and haven't been able to enjoy the holidays thus far.

I feel like today's theme is exhaustion and stress. We're all feeling it apparently. :-\

I've been really crabby with FI the past few days. I feel like I constantly have to ask him to do things around the house and then check up on him to see if they were done. I hate being a nag. I know he's super stressed at work and has been working all kinds of weird hours lately, so I don't normally mind picking up the slack and running a ton of errands after work. I think it's just that I don't feel well because of my sinus infection and just want to go home at the end of the day, and instead I'm running around dealing with traffic in the afternoon and come home a lot later than usual. Plus by the time he gets home, he just sits and doesn't help around the house. We have a ton of Christmas-related events coming up this weekend that we need to cook for and help prep for, and we're supposed to go see his grandfather, and FI hasn't even called his grandparents to let them know we want to come over. I told him he can't wait until the day before... they need to have some time to prep too since his grandfather is so sick and has more chemo on Friday. So, ugh, too much on my plate when I feel like crap most of the time... but this too shall pass!

On a happier note, my engagement pictures will be delivered today. I'm excited but also terrified that I will hate how I look in every single one of them. Eek!

I'm getting my allergy shots during lunch today, so I'm betting I'll feel awful by the end of the day. Good thing I have my pics to look forward to.

I hope you all have a better day!

AlPacina

I have a lot of responses today, apparently:

@CocoBellaF – Oooo, get a fed job! Them’s some lovely perks!...... I really need to get my act together and start wrapping all my presents. The hard part has been finding boxes for the oddly shaped ones.

@Dignity100 – I love taking those days off just to “not be at work”. It’s so worth it, every single time.

@ourladyofpotato – That sounds like a great day! I also don’t like seafood, but I LOVE AHS.

@Peaseblossom55 – Push the liquids! I am sending “don’t get sick” vibes your way!

@lmcooper86 – I have been keeping my BF’s presents in my car, on the floor in the back. He hasn’t asked about the bags sitting there. And then when I buy new stuff I just throw it in there!

@allusive007 – 20 weeks already? I can’t believe the time has flown by!

@KeptInStitches – I am not excited to reach the point where a margarita hurts the next day. For now, I’m still in the  two big bowl cadillacs with my Mexican food phase.

@Swazzle – I don’t even want this breakfast sandwich anymore. It’s so blah compared to that awesome menu.

@southernpeach89 – Yes, it definitely sounds like you need a vacation. Are you taking multiple days off for Christmas? Hopefully that would help.

--------------------------------

I'm in a great mood today. A lot of things came together yesterday and put me in a great mood. BF and I were both in awesome moods (it's been hit or miss lately) so we had some great conversation, made fajita bowls for dinner, got physical a couple of times, then took the dog for a late night walk. I even got a full night of sleep, so I can drink a Caramel Apple Spice today instead of a latte. The best news is I found out I don't have to spend Christmas Eve with his SIL's Uncle, who is a crazy old stoner that I genuinely dislike being around. He invited all of BF's family over for a potluck. Fortunately BF's dad decided to decline, which gave others more of an excuse to do so.

My cross stitching is almost ready to be outlined! I have to fill in the entire top portion, where I put the name, and that will take a few hours, but I'm getting SO CLOSE!

ETF: randomly added formatting code

Ollie08

Thanks @eilis1228! I have 2 sessions from this past weekend to get to, and I still need to finish the wedding from Thanksgiving week (I'm more than halfway). I have my last pre-Christmas session this Friday and then hopefully I'll be able to finish everything by the new year. I'm just in a bah humbug mood this year.

Eeek! for engagement pics! Are you going to post some? Have you seen sneak peeks yet? 

[Deleted User]

@AlPacina -I get Christmas Eve, Christmas, and the day after Christmas off. DH has a couple weeks off so that will help with him being at home to take care of some things that have been needing to get done.

Swazzle

@lmcooper86 - Sounds like it's not a good fit for you guys. On to the next! I would really love all of your cookies, please and thank you. They sound incredible. HOMELAND. MY GOD. I can't. I cried. Did you cry?

@eilis1228 - YAY for e-pics!!! I'm sure they're perfect! 

lmcooper86

@Dignity100 - Thanks, me too! I just want us to find a place and not be stressing about where we're going to live after the wedding. We cannot live in my apartment (it's WAY too small); we could live with his parents but that's not ideal. Just have to keep looking.

@eilis1228 - Haha, awesome! If I mention TK, FI says something along the lines of "oh, your invisible friends?"

@AlPacina - I am loving the creative hiding places!

@Swazzle - Yeah, after sleeping on it I don't think I'm very interested in pursuing it. We shall keep looking! I will send you cookies if you send me some of your party menu because NOM. And yeah, Homeland, there was crying and shocked exclaiming and it was just way too much for me, I was tense through the whole episode. I want Monday to get here so FI and I can download Sunday's and see what happens!!

eilis1228

@lmcooper86 FI just says I'm silly for talking to strangers on the internet, but I've made internet friends on other sites in the past. I even flew out to Seattle to visit one earlier this year, so he's gotten used to me talking about internet strangers. :-P

@swazzle and @Ollie08 I definitely can post a few It's 2 hours worth of photos, so I feel like there's going to be a mountain of pics to choose from. I'm also really nervous I'll hate all of them. :-\

@Ollie08 Holy moly, woman! That's a lot of pics! Sounds like you're making a ton of progress though-- maybe you'll be finished by next weekend? I hope you're able to get it all done ASAP so you can enjoy the holidays with your girls and H. 

ETA: So, silly me. I didn't realize that my insurance coverage is 12/1-11/30, not a calendar year like it used to be. I'm now freaking out about my sinus surgery because I assumed that anything paid towards the deductible would be reimbursed, but now the deductible has turned over... good thing I'm getting that super secret bonus! I looked up insurance coverage, and it says I shouldn't have any costs for outpatient surgery, but I'm pretty sure I will... A coworker had the procedure done in October, so I'm going to bug him as soon as he comes back from lunch. The ENT is supposed to call sometime this week with more information (like cost and start time) about the surgery, but I'm really impatient now that I may have some unexpected out-of-pocket expenses... crap!

phira

Post and run because I've been SUPER busy, but it's going okay. I slept in but was first to work, so there's no evidence I was late. My PI was REALLY impressed/happy with my Western results, and he approved of my next steps.

AuroraRose41

@CocoBellaF I hope that you get the job!

@allusive007 Hang in there with your job. It sounds tough right now. But yay for 20 weeks! 

@eilis1228 I can't wait to see your pics!!!!!! Also good luck with the surgery; I'm hoping that you don't have to pay too much out of pocket! 

I was up until 11 last night working with people in China again, and came into work late this morning (fortunately that is no problem with my manager; he understands and lets us sleep in if we work late). I have very little going on today at work though, so I'm not entirely sure how I plan to keep myself busy. Maybe more studying for the LSAT and paying bills and such. It looks like I will be working with them again tonight too. 

I can't wait for this week to be over. I just need a vacation and to be able to sleep! I am getting excited for the wedding that BF and I are going to in about a week and a half. It's on the Eastern edge of Long Island at an aquarium! I have only been to the middle part of Long Island, so this will be an adventure. And a wedding at an aquarium sounds really fun too! 

Also I haven't had much time to think about this with work and all, but my friend who I have posted about before is getting on my nerves. I have been pretty hands off with her bridal shower (after NEY's advice), but we are still friends and we skyped on Saturday. She told me that her other bridesmaid designed the invitations for the shower and she was really excited and wanted to show me, so I agreed to look at the final proof, thinking they were already done and paid for. Then she drops this bomb on me: "The best part is that it will only cost each one of you (each bridesmaid) $20!". Umm excuse me? You have 8 bridesmaids, and only 3 of them have stable jobs (myself being one), and you are literally going to tell all of them that they each have to give you X amount for bridal shower invitations? I know it's $20, but it's still $20 that I didn't expect to have demanded of me to pay, and if she is doing this for invitations, I can only imagine what else she will do this with as the date gets closer. 

I tried to reason with her, and I think she is beyond reasoning at this point. She already had 1 bridesmaid drop out, and I forsee many more dropping out if she keeps this up. I will still be a bridesmaid because she is my friend, but I will put my foot down on things like this.  Also no way in hell am I going to be told that I must contribute X amount. I am also taking note of what NOT to do to my bridesmaids when the time comes.  

eilis1228

@AuroraRose41 Whyyyy is she even designing the invitations herself? She should have no hand in it at all... I can't believe she's being so demanding of y'all. That is just unreal. 

[Deleted User]

@AuroraRose41 - ugghhhhhhhhhh.  those are some expensive invites for a shower!!

AuroraRose41

@eilis1228 and @CocoBellaF I know. I thought they were expensive too and have no idea why this shower must be "perfect". You know how some brides have a "wedding vision"? Well, she has a "shower vision". I love her, but I cannot seem to get through to her on this front that it is not okay. I have told her many times that the bride should not plan this at all and that we can handle it, but it goes in one ear and out the other. This is also why I spearheaded it initially; to try to show her that she can relax about it and things will get done if she doesn't have a hand in planning. But that didn't work so I just gave up. 

I think she will only get the message when more girls start dropping out because they can't afford this and/or when we put our foots down and not agree to pay for these things. I also am seriously debating whether or not to even go, as it would require me to take time off from work and fly back to NY and I might be handed a bill at the event. I might just send a gift and say that "something came up" at work and I can't take the time off. 

lmcooper86

@eilise1228 - I forgot to mention, I can't wait to see your e-pics! The book store idea sounded so cute. I'm sure you will look great in them, stop being crazy

@AuroraRose41 - That's insane!! She has a wedding to plan, why is she adding to her own work by being super involved with her shower too? It's bad (and rude) enough when another BM sends you an invoice for part of a shower or bachelorette party, but it's even worse coming from the bride herself! I'm sorry that you're dealing with her craziness; I hope she reins it in before other girls back out, because if that starts to happen I'm betting the crazy might escalate. Glad you're turning this into a learning experience though!

ETF typoooooos