Lights

 Hope everyone's holiday goes well.


I'm having a "Pre/After Christmas" this year, n working that late-day to night. Tuesday work orders were just like a busy Saturday. Hopefully it won't be craziness for Friday With school vacas n travelers adding to amounts on the already busiest night every week.

I'm betting many of co-workers will call in sick, with the use it or lose it by the 31st new sick pay law in effect in this state. No one likes feeling ripped off. I'm taking the day after off for visit time. I'm still owed a day after that, I may save for after New Years.

Other folks living here are out on a trip, so the bathroom should be less waiting at least.

Hopefully sleeping more time isin't too much to ask. I only got three hours for Day Off, n had to get out early (for me) today to get to the PO Box. Everything closes early on Xmas Eve here, n I won't do regular shopping to avoid the zoo-lines... (It's usually what I consider my holiday). 

I was surprised the other day to find out that the Library closed down Tuesday for a nine day break- Leaving me off-line-stranded. Yay for a couple visits allowing me to post something! Not sure if I'll get here next week at all- So don't wonder if I'm still MIA.

Can't believe it's so warm here today! About 70 F n the same temp as last 4th of July...
I'll be eating a few cookies early, have some of my fave grandmother's recipe dough to cut out tonight for Saturday. I prefer mine with chocolate jimmies-

Have a jolly time!

Xmas Movie Review

Thanks to ION tv running contemporary Xmas themed films on week-ends since Thanksgiving, I've seen several movies for the first time I'd never never heard of before. This week I finally ran into one I just have to mention-

" Christmas Twister " Yep, I laughed n checked that title over n over again on the cable info screen. Strangely compared to most other Xmas movies, Xmas music in the sound track was almost completely absent. So was snow, cold weather, n there were very few items of holiday decor in the sets.

The setting appeared to probably be in Texas. A daughter caught in the storm path was caught by the split up parents skipping school to go to the mall. The only "Merry Christmas" in dialogue took place at the end of the film's "Let's go back home to the ranch" scene, Where minimal roof damage was shown as the re-united family unit had a BBQ.

I knew I recognized the male lead's face, n it took just a couple minutes to recall it was the guy who played Johnny Rico in the "Star Ship Troopers" film trio. A campy, Sci-fi story (I have on VHS) about shooting up swarms of alien bugs from space.

Recognizing him older with long, feathered hair made me laugh more. Casper Van Dien played opposite Victoria Pratt in the 2012 film. Clearly, I was more impressed with the title n theme concept than the plot story line. I recall many scenes of siren warnings, n folks screaming n running indoors. The twisters shown did look authentic. There were tons of wind-blowing shots.

Toward the final part of the story, the action slows way with people down in a smoky  basement. Not my idea of a holiday classic at all.

If I were to make a movie with that title n cast, it would've been a very different story...

Have you seen any newer holiday films lately that made you do a double-take?

Countdown

December is starting to tick away at my nerves, but at least I seem to be getting things done incrementally. I'm on my second week of feeling poorly with a cold, sinus infection, plus tons of hyper-sensitive allergies I keep running into. At least my sinuses are a bit better today. TG for mucinex n cough-drop products! This week the whole town ran out of the peppermint candies I'd been using to calm my coughing.

I should've used the rest of my sick time probably, but I need to get out of the house where head-aches from allergies to soap n a
air fragrances are afflicting me. I hate not having control over chemicals used in the bathroom n kitchen.

Hopefully I'm recovered next week so I can get to some candy n cookie making this year I already have ingredients for them. Right now I have no appetite or sense of taste to enjoy my Nannie's Russian Teacakes, Santa Clause Cookies, n Toffee. Those are my favorite holiday flavors.

We're still in a snow drought here, Temps today about 50 F. I won't complain I didn't dig out my boots yet- I've needed hats, scarves, n gloves on just a few windy occasions so far.

   

We're in the shortest daylight hours time now, n I've been going to work in the dark every day. Alot of folks here have holiday lights up, n I have a few in my window, scored at the Dollar Tree! I just realized I need to dig out past received cards for  addresses to send to. My desk is in storage with it's contents. The closet search mess thought is stifling my ambitions, but some should be here. Maybe I'll find time tonight. So much to get done, n tough without feeling well.

At least blogging has me thinking again. Off to the holiday races... At least that's how it feels-

(Pic from the leaf carpet found at the library in November. It's all brown n grey out there now.)

I've Been Searching

 I'm feeling alot of holiday pressure lately. I've been having a hard time just getting regular errands done, never mind all the extra shopping. Store line waiting time is limiting what I have time to do.

 All my packed Xmas stuff is so difficult to find n get out. It's easier to buy more or forget about it. I'm definitely doing less holiday prep  this year.

Today I searched for a light-weight extension cord, a b-day card I know I bought two weeks back, n a pair of new sneakers packed up here someplace. I can't figure out where they are.

 I made it to storage last month, for the first time since moving, but couldn't find all I was looking for. Do have the old PC back at least, just need to be careful of over-loading RAM n hard disk space. I'll put all pics on a thumb drive.

Need to go back to storage with more search time. Will probably just buy wrap again instead of have time to go find it.

Thanks to new sick-time laws, I have some bonus, paid, unused, sick days to use up by the 31st. I'm taking Friday n have a cold settling in my nose this week anyway, thanks to people coming back to the house from a holiday trip coughing with it. Hopefully I can get more caught up on things, while blowing my nose at the same time. I will take advantage calling out for the other days I'm still owed too, or lose the paid time off. I'm not used to calling in. I've only done it twice in nine years there. I can honestly say I need more free time, especially for the store.

I hate the new Walmart, it takes so much time to walk where you need things-  all spread out in different directions, with less selection, especially clothes. I had to buy long johns after not finding enough for a workweek in my room. I wanted the kind  I had, but they only have flimsy, new kinds I don't like. Someday I'll figure out where the other half of my winter wardrobe is hiding... but probably not soon enough!

I wonder how long it will be before daily life gets more convenient for me. Obviously it could be worse,  but I don't like all this wasted search time factor.