Tuesday (not black, not green - maybe striped??) Callie 12/3

I got a round of applause today at work. I almost felt like Oprah;p seriously though, it is nice to be appreciated. I feel like I did some good things while I have been out here. I was told that everyone has appreciated my decisiveness even if my decisions weren't always in their favor. At least they could move on. That made me feel pretty good!

I do have another sinuses infection though and am thinking about going to E urgent care to get some meds. I would rather not fly with a sinus infection if I don't have to.

I was just talking to a guy here who had West Nile virus. That floored me! I thought it was really rare but he said it isn't so rare out here. He said he slept for 21 days and was in the hospital 3x! Man that would suck! You would think that ina state that is so dry wWest Nile wouldn't even be an issue

Callie, I'm sorry you've had a minor relapse.  I hope you feel better soon and that you can get through the workday without a lot of pain.

I had to push the snooze alarm a couple extra times this morning.  I'm never one to pop right out of bed, but some mornings are far worse than others.  It's not helping that I drove to the office in pea-soup fog.  Talk about wanting to stay home under the covers!

I thought maybe I'd try to send some Christmas cards this year (the kind with photos).  Do any of you recommend a particular source for such things?  My neighbor gave me a coupon for Shutterfly.  I've never used anything like that, so I wondered if some are better (or cheaper) than others.

Julie, I missed your post.  Definitely go to Urgent Care and get some prescription decongestants.  I flew with a sinus infection once, and it was absolutely excruciating.  I thought my head was going to explode (or implode, really --- my ear canals felt like they were collapsing on themselves, like a soda bottle with the air being sucked out of it).  As phobic as I am about flying, I was actually thinking it would be okay if the plane crashed because I was in such agony.  My ears didn't de-pressurize for a couple days after I got home.

On a happier note, kudos for a job well done!  It's very rare to get validation and appreciation at work, especially on a large scale like that.  Good for you!

Callie - I hope this back issue clears up soon. I can't imagine being in that kind of pain for as long as you have. (((Hugs)))

I've been MIA due to way too many DIY projects at home the last few days. I worked on pulling out dead plants and weeds for about 3 hours on Saturday and could hardly walk on Sunday. I obviously need to work on my quads a whole lot more. Spent some of each day but all of yesterday working on removing the wallpaper backing. DH finally got involved and you've never heard so much moaning and groaning. I reminded him several times that I wanted to pay to have it done. This has been the biggest PITA job I've ever done!!! BIL will be by on Friday to help texture the walls and hopefully that'll go smoothly and we can get some paint on it. I can't do any decorating with all the mess and I was looking forward to it in the new house.

I did make a wreath for the front door and was quite proud of myself. I bought a cheap, basic wreath at Big Lots and a variety of ornaments and just used decorative wire to string them on. I couldn't believe how easy it was and how nice it looks. Yay me!!

Swamped at work and I need to get Board materials ready to mail out. The girl that covers the office on Mondays didn't come in yesterday. She said her dog was having trouble breathing and she didn't want to leave him. I completely understand but it meant a lot of stuff waiting for me after 5 days off.

Tracy - I read about how good Ruby did yesterday and I'm so happy for you all. I really need to test Shane out the same way. I hope he'd do as well and it sure would make some days a lot easier.

Re: the howling. The only time Shane has howled was when we were at a stoplight and a cop went by with lights and siren blaring. It was super cute and even Shane looked surprised at the sound coming out of him :)

Cathy, I was wondering where you were and hoped you were doing something fun to celebrate the long holiday weekend.  I can't say hard work in the garden and pulling off wallpaper is FUN, but it does make you feel good to get things like that accomplished.  You should post a photo of your wreath so we can admire your handiwork!

I understand the quad pain after yardwork.  DH makes fun of me when I hobble around in pain after an afternoon pulling weeds.  That's one of those times when it's glaringly obvious that I spend the majority of my days sitting at a desk!

Julie -- normally I am not a drinker much (I mean the occasional Sangria or Mich Ultra if I'm in arthritis pain --- hey, beer is a superb relaxant!!) BUT a couple of years ago when we went up to see my parents my allergies were being a pita and I didn't even THINK about it.  I took decongestant and benedryl but OH ... my ... gosh.  I asked the attendants for all the beer they could give me -- my husband said "wow -- in 15 years of marriage I have never seen her "chug" beer but I think I had four down before we reached max altitude.  Then I had some more!  Coming back  I started to drink at the airport!  I made it home but Tracy's description is definitely accurate.  Color me a wuss!!

Cathy -- YAY Ms. Accomplishment!!  whoo hooo! you go girl!!  Sounds like you really accomplished a whale of a lot!!  And the good part is, after Christmas you pop that puppy er ... wreath (watch it Callie, this IS a dog board!!) into a plastic bag and store it and it's ready to hang next year.  The "first year" of a new place is always the most difficult because "hmmm, what do I do on *this* door?"

You guys have me convinced! I really don't want to experience the pain you all did! The pain I had going up to 11k ft the other day was bad enough.

Well, yay me again. That's the first pic I've been able to add. It's super blurry but you get the idea. I took it hanging on a kitchen door but it looks much better on the front door.

I couldn't figure out how to add text along with the picture, so back to school for me ;)

Julie - I agree with everyone else. Ear pain, even without a sinus infection, is the worst when you're flying. They'll probably give you some sudafed for the flight.

Very pretty, Cathy!

Julie, with your history of sinus and ear troubles, I'd definitely go to the clinic.

That mountain of mail I was expecting? Half of it showed up today.

Cathy, the wreath turned out great!  Like Callie said, the added beauty of it is you can store it and use it every year with no more effort.  

I should try to make something like that to use every year.  We used to get a real wreath from one of the women in DH's office whose kid sold them for a fundraiser, but he grew up, and there went our fresh wreath source!

If anyone is looking for a really large, gorgeous wreath, Costco had the best I've seen. If I'd had room in my cart, I probably would've bought one. They also had huge poinsettias for $15 and I'm kicking myself for not getting a couple :(

We're hosting a Christmas Eve dinner at our house and I had to buy some new glasses the other day. We're pathetic when it comes to all that stuff. I feel like I should buy some inexpensive white dishes but we'll see. I'm already stressing over what to cook. Everyone is sick of turkey and SIL is cooking a ham the next day. Maybe a pork loin?

We were just talking about what to cook for Christmas dinner last night.  We don't want turkey, either, and since it's just the 3 of us, we don't need a huge entree.  DH suggested a pork loin he makes with a fig sauce that he's made before for special meals.  

Or, my go-to recipe (if I have to do the cooking) is Cornish game hens with a strawberry sauce.  I think I sent you that recipe, Cathy.  It's super easy to make (and it's pretty on the platter!), but maybe too much like turkey.