Weekend Fun

This weekend was as lovely as the week preceding it was annoying.  After four days of work that turned me into a cranky, grumpy, mean, horrible shrew, the last couple of days have been lazy and warm and delicious and perfect.  And in only five more days (or 111 hours, but, really, who's counting?), I'll be on Christmas break, which is basically the best thing ever.

Today was especially wonderful.  I watched 5 episodes of Parenthood (and even got Matt sucked into it), snuggled with my cuddle soulmate pup, and I tried to see just how many things Matt would get for me so that I wouldn't have to get off of the couch.  (He drew the line at bedpan.  We don't even have a bedpan.)  We stayed in our pajamas until late afternoon and ordered delivery so that we wouldn't have to do anything but lie around in our cozy, Christmasy living room.

Here's what it's looking like around here these days.

Some of the Christmas decor didn't survive the Savannah summer. 

Get out of here with the beauty that is snowflake-shaped marshmallows! 

 Completely in love with the Christmas tree.  It was the first one we looked at, and it is perfect.

 Because 1-800-Pet-Meds boxes come with a treat inside, Mitch has decided that all packages contain treats for him.

Brown sugaring.  Did you know that brown sugar is just white sugar with molasses?  I didn't know that until recently, and now I'm determined never to buy brown sugar again.

Omigod, this dinner was delicious.  Adapted from this recipe, except that we used the juice from two lemons and, since we needed bacon fat anyway, we went ahead and added 1/3 lb. bacon, too.  

Hope you have a great week.  And I hope the next 111 hours go by in a flash!

Slightly Classier than Dan Conner

A conversation between Dan and Fred on the critically acclaimed television show, Roseanne.

Fred: Dan, these christmas lights are pretty tangled. Why don't you just buy a new string?

Dan: That'd be a fairly large investment, Fred.

Fred: Why didn't you take the time last year and put those things away carefully?

Dan: Like that's how I want to spend my Easter Sunday.

Well, party people, I finally did it--I took down the Christmas lights.  And it's not even Easter! (Granted, Easter is kind of late this year, but still.)  So, the lights that basically told all of our neighbors that we are fun (if not a little, um, unsophisticated) and cool are gone for now.  And the lanterns that have been packed away in a box because they were too ratty and faded and full of bees have made a comeback.  Here's the skinny.

It's home improvement season here at M Cubed*, and I've got myself a big ol' long list of tasks to complete.  One of them was to save myself some cash by rehabilitating the lanterns in the Carport Bistro.  I'm cheap, and I didn't want to pay $40 for more just because of some silly little bee nests and faded colors.

So I turned to spraypaint. And I'm really pleased with how they turned out.

Aren't they pretty?  I just hope the lizards still like them.



*What is it with me and the early '90s ABC sitcom references today?  Oh man, don't even get me started on Coach or Full House.**
 
**Also, this wasn't an ABC sitcom I don't think, but my students don't get Saved by the Bell references.  If that doesn't make you feel old, then I don't know what will.  Are you sufficiently depressed?***
 
***Also, this has nothing to do with TV shows from the early '90s, really, but yesterday I overheard one of my students say that Elvis died in a snowboarding accident.  Ha!

Happy, Happy

The last few days have been pretty quiet, but productive and nice.  Matt's been sick (with a cough due to cold--either that or scurvy.  I keep trying to get him to eat oranges, but he refuses), and I've been getting the house ready for the arrival of our Christmas tree (tomorrow, maybe?) and next week's house guests.

For everyone who's counting, I've got 8 more school days until Christmas break, and couldn't be more excited about it.  I'm also excited about this stuff.

1.  Christmas gifts are all wrapped.  Granted, we don't buy for all that many people (and a few things have been shipped already), but that part's done.  I can't wait to put the colorful boxes under the tree!

2.  This weird little mason jar with lights and crazy sprig things.  I love it.  It's like robot flowers.

3.  Finally got rid of our old desktop, which freed up tons of space in the office (and eliminated about 200 yards of cords that used to be a tangled mess under the desk).  By the way, if you live in Savannah, there's a group called AWOL (All Walks of Life) that accepts old electronics (working or not).  They teach kids to work on them, fix up the computers, and then donate them to families that need computers.  Hell yeah!  (Also got rid of the old elliptical machine, which means that next week's guests will actually have a little bit of space in the guest room.  Horray for the free ads on Craigslist, and for women with husbands who have trucks.)

4.  Christmas lights.  I seriously can't get enough of them.

5.  Mitchell.  Sweet face, cuddle friend, giver of kisses and eater of marshmallows.

6.  Hot chocolate.  Maybe I can't make coffee, but I make a bangin' cup of hot chocolate.  The secret?  Milk.  Water hot chocolate is gross, unless it comes from a vending machine on the JMU campus.

7.  Christmas lights again!

8.  P Cubed for dinner!  This stuff is so good I can't stand it.

9.  And, finally, my new camera should be here in the next couple of days!  [big giant stupid grin on face]

What's making you smile today?  Are your halls decked and jolly and lit and whatnot?