back to work

Well, I've been back to work now since the 3rd, and I must say that having a job where I get a winter break is remarkable. I got almost nothing accomplished, though on New Year's Eve, I did spend the whole day completing the Herculean task of cleaning out the 'fridge (which had not been attempted in six months or more, perhaps as long as a year, GAG ME!!!). Instead of doing all the piddly tasks I had assigned myself, I laid up in bed, ate bon-bons, petted cats, watched lots of t.v., and drank up most of the booze in the house, save for the Biohazard (tm), which is similar in color and taste to gasoline, and is hotter than the law allows. Among its many uses are tool cleaner, wormer, and a rub for sore joints.

Christmas was fairly uneventful in that there were no fires and no blood. In my book, that's a good thing (to steal a phrase from Martha Stewart).

Weyland had his faith in Santa Claus renewed, though, by receiving a "crabitat" complete with four hermit crabs. (Unfortunately, three have already died, so I'll have to go to the pet store this weekend and replace them.) My best friend, Herbie (aka Esther), generously donated the aquarium tank and most of the supplies after hearing that Weyland was "going to give Santa one more chance". So I ended up spending a lot of time surfing the internet, learning about hermit crabs. I ran across one pretty funny website. Scroll 2/3 down the page at: http://x-entertainment.com/articles/0815/ to see info on a parade held for a hermit crab.

Brighid was thrilled by receiving a Yu-Gi-Oh! "duel disk" from her brother. She is fairly obsessed with anime' in general, and with Yu-Gi-Oh! in particular. Personally, I don't care if I never hear another word about the whole subject, but at least, it is piquing in her a desire to learn Japanese.

I got Logan an old fart gift for Christmas, a device I called a "pecan picker upper", but which is listed as a "nut gatherer" on this website:

http://www.4thebestpecans/NUTGATHERER.HTM

Logan's was red, btw. Also, the kids and I had found The World's Largest Coffe Cup (tm, patent pending), which we gave him, filled with espresso flavored cookies and candy. Earlier in the season, I gave him a pre-Christmas gift of a red & white "fargo" type hat with "bah humbug" embroidered on the flap above the forehead. LOL

He surprised me with a smoothie machine which makes great margaritas. The kids have even amused themselves making odd creations in the device. Weyland took the cake with chocolate ice cream, strawberries, and rootbeer blended together. It tasted terrible to me, but he loved it.

So Christmas was pretty good, and then we got together with my siblings and the cousins on the 1st at Golden Corral for a gift exchange, where I received two CD's, a Robert Earl Keen, and a Lyle Lovett, from my brother-in-law, Jack. Logan got a good cigar and a gift certificate to Starbuck's (Starbucks'? Starbucks?), which seemed to please him. The kids got various gift certificates which they used to buy toys & DVD's to their liking, along with some clothes from their Aunt Louise, and some books & toys as well. So not everyone has resorted to "just giving gift certificates". I mean, it's kind of pointless, isn't it, when my kids get $10 Target gift certificates from their uncle, and I give his kids $10 Target gift certificates. LOL, great minds think alike, eh?

Well, lunch is now over, so like I said, back to work!