less than four hours and counting...

Best cocktail napkins EVER made even more poignant given my 5 year begging-fest as a kid for a horse and my well-known love of the martini. Thanks, Mom and Dad!


It's Friday. I am officially over halfway through this day which started with me knocking over 4 cash register drawers I had just reconciled. I have been determined not to allow that bad beginning to ruin the rest of my day. Thus far I have been successful!

Highlight of the workday would be seeing how hard it is to make my new nametag fall off. Nametag: 0, Erin: 2. I stopped wearing my nametag about 3 years ago as there are numerous unsavory types I come in contact with (that would be you, general public) and for awhile I was living next door. When I moved I decided I still didn't want to wear it as I walked or biked every day. The novelty will wear off soon, I'm sure, and I'll go back to my nametagless self but for the time being I like having to put my hand down my shirt in order to put it on.

Tonight I might start baking the ginger cake. I can't wait because it's going to make my apartment smell so good! And I think instead of trying to come up with other quick breads to make for neighbors I'm just going to make another batch of cake and pour it into small loaf pans. I've had a brief respite from the crafting (except for knitting!) and tomorrow I really need to kick it back into high gear. It isn't nearly as labor intensive as Round 1, but I have a bunch of little things I have to get done and I don't want to forget anything.

Last night I went to Christina's for a bit. It was like being at my house: glue sticks everywhere, a whole bunch of projects in various states of doneness. We were both a wee bit distracted ("There.is.no.way.I'm.going.to.finish.this.knitting.project." "Do you think I should draw needles for numbers? Will they look like needles? Do I need numbers?"), but it's always nice to spend time with her. She looks AMAZING. Serene and calm as usual and just healthy and happy. She also has the most bizarre new cat (Boo is still around but not doing too well. She's currently on valium and spends most of her life glassy-eyed and dazed) named Alexander. He was a stray that showed up at the club and she took him on. He's kind of smallish and super lovey and cute. But he's a little...puppy-like. When he knows he's getting in trouble he shoots you these puppydog eyes. Grace? Completely disregards my existence when I yell at her. And Xander...well...fetches. He's got this little ball and he'll drop it at the feet of whomever he wants to play with. You throw it, he chases it, brings it back, drops it at your feet and lays down. It's weird. Fun, but weird.

So I'll be computer-free for 4 days starting at 5pm tonight. Tomorrow night I'm hoping we can finally have those Zeeland people over as we've put them off twice now for our Halfassed Christmas Party. Sunday I'll be crafting like a crazy person and then headingtochurch. Monday night it's the Berghoef Family Christmas Extravaganza! And Tuesday we'll probably end up inviting everyone over who either can't go home or doesn't have any other plans. Wednesday I'm back to work for a mere 3 days, off again for the weekend, working 5 hours on New Years Eve, then off again for a day. It's like a vacation with a little bit of work thrown in!

I'd wish everyone a Merry Christmas but I don't want to offend anyone who doesn't celebrate Christmas. Or who has already celebrated Hannukah. Or will be celebrating Kwanzaa. Nor do I feel comfortable saying "Happy Holidays" as that seems to be offending a fair number of folk around the Western Michigan area this year. So instead I'll just say hopefully you're enjoying a few days off from your daily toiling and may this end of December-early January time be a good time for all!