If I count last evening as Christmas number 2, then tonight was Christmas number 3 - with Beff and the Slipster. We exchanged gifts and a few rumor worthy tidbits. I can't wait to see things come to fruition. *grin* Once again these two were too good to me. I'm now the proud owner of my very own bright red ex knife set, pictured here, oh, fond memories of you dear one. I am very pleasantly surprised how nice the knives are that are included with this, and the holder is magnetized, so they won't fly every which way if I tip the booger over.

I also got Jay and Silent Bob do Degrassi, a Chemical Brothers CD, a couple of books, my long lusted after NHL chess set, and a replacement tube of the awesome color Mary Kay lipstick that was destroyed during the Quest on the last cruise. Slippy even cooked for us... and it rawked. This was a nice way to spend the evening after feeling a bit off due to a mead headache, a bit too little sleep, and 6+ hours of grading assignments and waiting for tests to come back in.

Chiefs defeat Cincy! Let the party begin. Well it would have started either way as the politically incorrect Christmas event must. I do have to admit it wasn't as incorrect as it has been in years past, but I was there until 6am. Oops. So much for sleep before giving a couple more sets of exams. Be careful for all of those spider babies Scott.

Interestingly I think I may have "called it" earlier in the evening. That list of signs someone is cheating is still quite at the forefront of my mind and I see it. Some interesting plans for a holiday there dear boy.

Been resting fairly well, not feeling as stressed thanks to finishing up my term a bit early, but I still have a list of things to accomplish each night. Gratefully however that list doesn't have me up past midnight consistently.

Tonight after work I headed to get a new do, which I'm happy with so far, but I can never fully tell until it's been washed and I have to straighten and/or curl it once by myself, but this shows promise and it feels so much lighter. With as much hair as I have, this is key. After dinner I got to meet Missy and Bob's baby, Addison, for the first time and got to play with Ryla again, now that she's all grown up. I'm not a baby person and am not going to be trying to hold someone's kid, so it was a meeting from a bit of a distance. But she was quiet while we ate dinner, so we're friends (screaming babies also not high on my list).

At present I'm watching a special on the National Geographic Channel that I've been looking forward to since I saw the ad for it - In the Womb: Animals. Sure, we've all seen the videos of babies in the womb, but it's just so nifty to watch the fetuses of puppies, dolphins, and elephants develop.

This weekend, starting today, the Chiefs take on the Cyclones three times. While that will likely result in some interesting squabbles on the ice come Saturday it also means we could easily slide down another notch in the standings if we don't show up to play. Judging from tonight's numbers we were outshot by a factor of 3. That doesn't sit super well. The Chiefs did hold on, thanks to Morgan, and took everything into overtime and to the shootout, where they lost.

I have another jersey ordered from the first part of the season, I'm already behind on my photo list, so I'll just be a slacker and update with the new year for all to see.

What the FRELL are you doing here? (best wicked witch of the west voice) ... and your little dog too. Damnit. I still had fun. Despite the 4 year failure, the lack of classroom distraction, and other things... you're not ruining my evening.

"You don't even know the meaning of the words 'I'm sorry'. You said you would love me until you die, and as far as I know you're still alive. -Shakira"

The Chiefs lost another today. I cranked out the final exam before the game, and headed out to celebrate Christmas #1 with Missy after the game at the Boulevard. I'm now the proud owner of my own copy of Clerks II *grin*

I still have quite the welts in my legs from the retarded pair of thigh highs from last night. You'd swear I put something caustic around my legs in two bands and they still feel raw when the water from the shower hits them. Time for some more class room check in and off to bed. I have another long day ahead of me tomorrow.

I look forward to the work party every year. While everything was nice, I wasn't overly zealous once I got there. Maybe it was the lingering of my caffeine headache, maybe it was just a mood, maybe it was seeing the pairs and couples paraded in front of me again, I don't know.

Nope, I wasn't trampled by reindeer. Instead I've just been busy as can be - despite a bit of a reprieve. Where to start so I can bring you, faithful reader, up to speed. First all of the long hours I spent on my term paper truly paid off, and more than I could have fathomed. My professor was so happy with my draft that I am done for the term. No changes to the paper, no need to release the upgrade to the fan club website on the class deadline (which is a darn good thing considering how slow the pieces of content beyond my control are able to come together). You'd think I would have plenty of time on my hands as a result, but that's not quite the case.

I've still been up late most every night this week as we're to the part of the term that is stressing the class I'm teaching, so there are plenty of questions to answer that have been challenging to keep up with. Work has been kicking my rear in that I'm busy all day every day, which is good since I'm not onsite.

Last night I came home to no power. Quite the suck-situation given that it was right in time with our first snow and some rather cold temps. It was just the small stretch of houses on my block and everyone around us was still shining bright, their holiday lights tormenting us through the windows. The automated system for Penelec said the power would be on by midnight - so the night of getting things done online was a wash. I curled up by the fire and wrote out the final exam I need to complete and played with the dog and eventually headed to bed in the dark and cold. I felt the heat kick on at 5:30 in the morning when the power was restored but I didn't dare leave my comfortable bed to see how low the house got. All I know is an hour and a half later when my cell phone beeped to wake me, the heat was still going and it was only up to 60. I later found out a car accident caused the problem.

Now, if I can just get the final exam pulled together and keep up with the questions for what I'm teaching I'll be good to go this semester. Oh, and I got an appointment letter in the mail, they'd like me to teach it again in the spring! The extra cash is definitely nice and it is how I paid for the A/C I had installed.

This evening I just finished cranking out the cookies I need for Monday around bouts of checking for more questions. Ok, not really cookies, but no bakes are still fabulous. Speaking of which - I hear one wimpering. THAT is a sign of weakness.

Vixen's nose has that twinge of pink to it - definitely proof that winter is here at last.

Where has my weekend gone? Friday night's game was a beauty. While I'd rather win in regulation I do find overtime and the shootout engaging, it's even better when you manage to triumph during it. We did win and beat Trenton Friday in the shootout. Same on Saturday against Reading. Katsy is our shootout man for sure, and more than earning his salary this week!

Somewhere in the midst of Friday evening I also got the draft term paper turned in. I spent the earlier part of Saturday sending out and waiting for tests to come back and getting a new tenant welcomed. Today was just as busy even though I don't feel like I did much. I did bring the tree downstairs as it felt wrong to just have gifts sitting around w/o a tree. I just didn't decorate it. The last few gifts are wrapped too. I also hit the grocery store so I had food to cook up the delish grub I ate tonight. Boy am I stuffed. But the majority of the day went to grading the tests from yesterday.

I had so wanted to head to Westwood this evening to see Saw III, but I'm too tired and it's too damn cold out to consider it.

I just can't take sitting in the fluorescent lights all day. My head is a boomin and teetering on the edge of a migraine. Once again I spent most of the day fighting against falling asleep. I am trying to absorb but I just can't. I'm wiped. I came home and made my to do list hoping that unloading those items onto paper would allow me to fall asleep for a little while. I did nap, but now I just feel off. I'm so out of it that I almost forgot the second test for the class I'm teaching was happening this week.

Just a few more weeks, I hope I can make it without crumbling. Paper. Must focus on the paper.

I had another one of those more horrifying dreams last night. I tend to say I don't have nightmares, I do, they just don't leave me waking up screaming just a bit confused and pensive over the topic. This morning I remember the pieces of avoiding this animal, I don't know if it was a cat or a dog that was evil and out to kill. I remember holding the door shut and imploring whomever I was with to help hold the door. I know I'm missing pieces but, from there I remember ending up inside at a kitchen table with a couple and two other people that I had reservations about - but I knew they had helped us escape the devil-animal. Then the male of the couple says "but it's okay because now she'll be a mom" and the woman of the couple looked down at her stomach as she turned the corner of the table walking towards me - I knew - to kill me, and then a few faces looked up at me with that knowing smile/smirk. That was when the alarm went off. Nice, eh? My dreams are becoming a bit too dark for my own taste.

I struggled to stay awake all day today at the "great opportunity" location. I never did do well in long lecture classes, but most of my day was listening to someone talk. It was just too much. Now to get the draft of my term paper done. *sigh*

The Chiefs lost! Waaaah. But I did get a nice signed game day booklet from England today! Thanks Zos!

I also got some of the apartment turnover complete, luckily the previous tenant did a pretty good job cleaning up. I did still have to run to buy some replacement items as tenants past scraped up pots that are now rusting and looking nasty. Why must boys use metal scrapers with no-stick pans?

I remembered a little creepy story I forgot to blog from my trip to the dentist. So there was a coat and hat sitting on a chair. I made my assumptions of who might wear these clothes while I waited. When the teenaged boy came out and left with his mother (who was also waiting in the lobby) left without snagging the coat and hat I was a bit perplexed. But it didn't compare to how horrified I was to see the rather old gentleman come out and put these garments on. The hat read "Do you want to go home with me?" *shiver*

Jamie Hillegas, whoever that is, is an asshole. Why pray tell? Because they're irresponsible with their money and have creditors calling. Ok, that doesn't make someone an asshole that just makes them stupid, but the fact that they clearly have given out my home telephone number to their bill collectors does make them an asshole.

I've been woken up several times, and told the people calling repeatedly that this moron does not live here but it appears the bill collectors are even larger assholes as they continue to call.

Thanksgiving. Ate too much, but need I actually point that out? I headed to mom's after work on Wednesday and woofed down a good bit today. She always does cook like the army planned on swinging in.

I have to admit even Thanksgiving as a holiday has me a bit sad. Holidays are rather pointless when all they are is another day with an abnormally large meal. Maybe my mood also reflects the never ending supply of 40something men that find my profile appealing. Blah. I don't want old. Shoot. I am not sure I want my age... I guess it's not fair to wish I could have my 20's back? I so should have spent them whoring it up a bit.