Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope you are all able to celebrate (if you do) with your family and friends. I am going to be spending the day (if I ever get over there!) with my parents. My dad is doing the majority of the cooking--he does the turkey every year. My mom makes the mashed potatoes (and every year I ask that she try not to have lumps!) We also will have apple and pumpkin pie--with cool whip--for dessert!

This year I am thankful for many things. I'm thankful for some time off work, that I have my family and friends, for the new friendships I've found this year and some old friendships that have gotten closer. I'm also thankful that people have put up with me the past few months considering how crabby I have been and that I've had to make some big decisions.

I am going to be moving in Dec. This was not an easy decision for me and it's one that I'm not 100% excited about yet. I really like the apartment and the area. It will just be different. I'm looking forward to a new adventure and looking forward to starting somewhere. I just wish it didn't mean I would have to move again. I really am tired of packing and moving. The thought of doing it again makes me want to stay in bed all day. I have so much stuff. So this weekend I am going to be going through my closets (yes, all of them!) and figuring out what I don't need and getting rid of it. This will be a challenge for me as I am a huge pack rat...but I am determinded. I need to down size to be able to have a reasonable move that does not drive me insane (or to drink!)

Tomorrow is my shopping day of the year. Most people think I am crazy for shopping tomorrow but I try to get all of my shopping done that day so that I don't have to go again in this crazy shopping world! I usually succeed at this or I just need to pick up a few small things after tomorrow. So I am excited.

Which means I need to finish getting ready so I can get to my parents house and check out those ads!

What are you thankful for this year?

What happened to Thanksgiving?

I still can't believe it. When I was in FL in early October (read: the 4th!!!!), I went to Target. Christmas had already vomitted all over the store. Blow up Santas, Christmas cards, lights, and annoying musical toys. Really? This was BEFORE Halloween. Do we completely disregard Thanksgiving now? Is Thanksgiving no longer important to people? Or are stores so desperate to have people start shopping and then forget they already bought things so they buy more? I am not sure what it is, but I'm already sick of it.

I will fully admit that I am one of the "crazies" that gets up early every year the day after Thanksgiving to partake in the early bird shopping. BUT, I enjoy Thanksgiving first. I don't do Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving (unless I see something that is a good deal so I buy it not knowing who is going to get it that year or even for what holiday). But I am on a mission the day after Thanksgiving. That mission to complete my Christmas shopping so that I don't have to worry about it again until I take the presents where ever they need to go. Now, I'm not a scrooge, but I am someone who thinks that Christmas has gotten a little overblown lately and unfortunately, I don't think kids are taught the real meaning of Christmas (and no, it's not Santa!) I am not a religious person, but I believe Christmas is about being with family, friends, people you love and enjoying the company of people you don't see nearly enough.

So, yes, the stores are too much for me. Perhaps that is the reason I do my shopping all in one day. I can't stand the malls at this point and try to stay clear of them. I definitely have the Christmas spirit....mine just doesn't kick in until the day after Thanksgiving.

$1.98

I was driving home tonight and there it was.....gas for under $2. Now I can honestly say I didn't think I would ever see that again. It was such a beautiful sight. It makes me breathe a little easier and honestly made me more calm. It's just one less thing to think/worry about right now. If the economy the way it is, seeing gas prices continue to fall really brings a smile to my face. I know it will be short lived (at least that's what I'm telling myself), but the relief it's bringing right now is worth it. What are gas prices by you?

Here comes the....cold?

Well, it's turned cold here again. I don't know why I'm not prepared for it. I have lived here all my life and every year...it gets cold. However, I am somehow surprised at the cold every year, like I can't believe it's cold. It's strange really. We were spoiled with some nice weather into October and November has definitely not been kind. It was only 17 degrees when I woke up this morning. Let me just say, I had difficulty getting and staying out of bed knowing that little fact!

A friend and I were discussing PMSing yesterday. It actually turned into quite a funny conversation. She was discussing that things she normally does not get upset or frustrated with can just be the biggest deal while she is PMSing. I said that I have the same thing and that I then become upset with myself for being upset over those things. We both started laughing when we realized how silly that was but that we still continue to do it every month! Does anyone else have that?

Well, I went to look at apartments down near Milwaukee this weekend. I actually found a really nice one that I really like. Now the only problem is figuring out if I can afford it. The economy isn't the hottest and although currently my job is stable, it's scary to look around at other places cutting jobs and people struggling who have always seemed to get by easily. It makes me nervous that perhaps I should reconsider moving knowing that what I have now I can afford and I'm stable. With everything else in my life up in the air, it's difficult to not have something that I can be concrete about. Thankfully this has not kept me from sleeping otherwise I would really be hurting. Normally when I have this much stress or uncertainty, I will not be able to sleep. But I am thanking my lucky stars as every night when I lay down, I am almost always able to go right to sleep. Whew. At least I'm resting!