Mail Order

After church, I spent several hours doing some holiday shopping. I rarely step foot into a store during the holiday season. I utterly dislike crowds and will try to avoid shopping during non-holiday madness because of the people. The crowds and craziness that come with all those extra Christmas shoppers is enough to make me want to collapse into a fetal position. But, it was unavoidable. We're hosting two different holiday parties this year. I needed to get paper goods and some other things for the parties. Just those two hours I spent in three different stores was just about enough to send me over the edge. Even though most of the other shoppers were still cheery and friendly, between maneuveering a cart through overly-crowded aisles and the masses of humanity, I left the last store with a splitting headache and not everything that I need. Hopefully I'll have some free time during the week to pick up those items before the first party on Friday although I'm tempted to just send Paul (who dislikes the crowds and shopping even more than I do but I can generally get one trip to the store out of him because he loves me).

People are always surprised to learn that I'm not much of a shopper (aside from those all-too-frequent trips to Target). There are times when I enjoy it--when I'm with a good shopping companion or just really in the mood. But normally, it's just a painful process because nothing ever fits me correctly or I can't find what I'm looking for at the store. I typically give up on the task at hand and end up buying a new pair of shoes. So most of the time, I stick to online shopping--I'm utterly addicted to the package tracking--and it makes for a much happier Carrie.

The upside of the season for Jub--lots of paper and boxes from all the gifts ordered online:

Warming Trend

This morning, I woke up earlier than I do during the week, bundled up in several layers of clothing, only deciding against the wool ski socks at the last minute (a decision I would later regret), and left the house just as the sky was beginning to grow light. I picked up a friend for our early morning volunteer session. This morning's destination was Old Town Albuquerque and the Posole Ole' Special Olympics Walk. As we made our way across town, Kim and I laughed that we really need to find volunteer events that occur later in the day--we both help with one of the breast cancer walks every spring, an event that also begins before dawn for us.

When we signed up for the event, it was unseasonably warm for November and it seemed like a grand idea to volunteer for such a wonderful organization as the Special Olympics. And it was a grand idea--just much colder than we'd anticipated thanks to the very cold front that came through this week. It was a brisk 23 degrees this morning when the walk began at 8:00. Unfortunately, the cold weather this morning did reduce the number of walkers. But the hearty souls that were in Old Town this morning, either as volunteers or participants, were cheered by the thoughts of the money being raised and posole and warm drinks at the end of the walk.

After our services were no longer needed, and we'd sufficiently warmed up at a nearby extension of a coffee chain, Kim and I headed to a craft fair at the high school near her house. It's amazing to me, having attended "craft shows" for many year, how much these have changed in the past 10 years. There were still the tissue box covers and other overly-tufted and tassled items I remember from childhood craft shows. But more common at this show were table after table of pottery, jewelry, glass and metal art, photography. Even the handcrafts available seem to have stepped up a notch. I picked up a few things--a stocking stuffer for my mother-in-law and a baby gift for friends.

I picked up several ideas of things that I need to share with the craftier among us--simple, cute, and not yet overly done by others. If I had any patience, I would tackle them since none seemed difficult to do. However, I also know myself and know that I would buy all the supplies and then tucker out before actually accomplishing the task. (I write that as I stare at the "learn to knit" kit I bought early in the year with every intention of learning to do this year that still sits on the hearth where it hasn't moved in several months except when I need to dust around it. I have worked on it--just not recently.)

The day isn't over yet--I'm heading up to Santa Fe with another friend for another volunteer obligation. This one will be less fun and more obligation (but still enjoyable since I'll get to work with someone I know/like). I think this one is indoors--definitely a plus.

(And the picture is the downspout at the front of the house--it had warmed up just enough when I got home at noon for the ice to slide out.)

A pleasant, but chilly, surprise

I got up and around this morning as usual. I don't typically listen to the radio in the mornings--Paul gets up after I do and even during times when he's not here, like now, I'm not in the habit. I did look out the window when I first got up and saw snow. We had snow off and on all day yesterday and it just looked like a heavy dusting this morning. It's not unusual to have snow where we live, since we're fairly high at around 6000 ft, but not in the rest of the town. Usually just a mile below our house, the snow tapers off to just a dusting of the white stuff and it gets less and less as you continue down. It's unusual for all of ABQ to have snow or ice.

When I went downstairs to get breakfast and finish the morning routine, I turned on the television to check the weather and traffic. I knew it was freakishly cold outside just given how much the heater has been running (and it is--around 15 degrees at 8:00). I was just in time to hear the newscaster say something sounding similar to APS on a 2 hour delay. Of course the scroll at the bottom was frustratingly slow as it went through the 150+/- closings or delays reported across the state--and it picked up just past the listing for APS.

But,finally, yay! I had a two-hour delay today--totally unnecessary since there wasn't more than a dusting across the town and the roads weren't slick. There have been much worse conditions that didn't warrant any delay or snow day. Not that I'm complaining about going to work two hours late. I started putting up the Christmas decorations last night and I was able to finish decorating the tree in the time I had. It was definitely the right weather to be in the holiday spirit. Then I'll bundle up (probably beyond what is necessary but I really hate being cold) and head to school for another round of unpacking boxes. The unpacking is going smoothly and quicker than I expected. My inlaws came up to help on Wednesday, along with a parent volunteer. The parent volunteer also came today--she's good but she's a bit of a task master. If she wasn't around, I'd probably be doing the unpacking a bit slower, taking a few breaks now and then, wandering around the campus to visit coworkers. Yeah--I've done none of that thanks to the tenacity of the parent. But we'll probably get the boxes finished tomorrow or Monday at the latest. Not a bad thing at all.

A Very Merry Unbirthday

Since Paul had to be out of town on my birthday, and because the flat tire and the ensuing run-around trying to get it changed made for a less-than-fun birthday day, Paul and I celebrated my birthday this weekend. He's been hounding me all week as to what I might want as a gift. There's really nothing I need and all the things I want are either utilitarian and boring (a new purse, new dress coat) or more expensive than we normally spend for birthdays. So I've been at a loss as to what to tell Paul to get me and Paul was at a loss to come up with a gift all on his own.

Yesterday, we decided we'd run up to Santa Fe this afternoon. I enjoy Santa Fe, all the quirky shops, art galleries, interesting restaurants, but Paul will typically do anything to avoid going to The City Different. But once a year or so, he acquiesces and will make a trip with me.

We visited the little outlet mall on the edge of SF. And, happily, I was able to find my birthday present.

This is what I originally picked up for a gift. Boring, utilitarian, and on sale (but the perfect size and just what I was looking for in a new purse):

And then, then I saw this. I didn't even know I wanted/needed it:

It is an enamaled cast iron apple pot. Because every kitchen needs an enameled cast iron apple pot. Especially one that weighs in at 11.5 lbs. empty. Paul was in disbelief that this was what I would want as a gift but it was so shiny and pretty that I just had to have it.

Thankfully, it came with a few recipe ideas because I'm not sure I'd know what to do with it other than to look it sitting shiny and pretty in my kitchen. I'm already planning to use it for mulled cider for the Christmas parties we're hosting this year.

And the waiter was so careful to check as to whether my name starts with a C or a K

Oops. Paul teases me about my first and last names being verbs so this misspelling just makes him giggle even more.

The other ladies and I were really just trying to get free dessert at the restaurant last Friday. We ended up being charged for the cake but I got this great photo opportunity out of it so I think it's even. My parents came to Houston on Saturday so I was able to spend time with them and have a birthday dinner with them. And since I had a per diem for the conference, they didn't have to pay me and I sent them home with my leftovers. It was a big happy for everyone.

Today is birthday #32 and I've donned the birthday tiara to make sure everyone knows that it is my birthday. I am now off to find someone to change the flat tire I didn't realize I had this morning and drove all the way to work on. Gah! I feel so stupid when I do something like that. Hopefully no one can refuse a birthday girl wearing a tiara.