He’s taking our picture, but he’s distracted. “If you were paralyzed, you know I wouldn’t leave you, right?”

The flash is bright. We’re both making a face.

“Oh yeah?” I say.

“No,” he grins, poking my nose. “I’d dress you up like a rag doll and throw you down the stairs.”

So we’ve been struggling to find a place that would hold all six of us, but after a lot of thought and discussion it seemed like having all six of us together wouldn’t be desirable, or practical, except for financially- so we decided to split up. We’ve been pondering a few ideas, just Jei and I and then Mallory, Ash, Tyler, and Rue- three and three, or four and four, adding Rob and Ashley into the mix, but it looks like some the options are finally falling into place. I really want to live with Mallory, she is my soul sister, but it looks like it’s not going to work out that way, which is a bummer, because it was kind of a sticky and shocking situation when she left in the first place.

Well, a few weeks ago I went to go view a house for four to five people, but it turned out the basement wasn’t finished and there was really, truly, only room for four. They also preferred only one cat. So at the time, I was sort of bummed, plus the guy was old and must have had a memory problem of some sort because every time I called he said the same opening speech and I had to remind him several times through out the same conversation who I was. But since we had our family meeting and decided on a direction, it looks like this house might work out after all.

So I called Glenn today to see if a) I was accepted, which I was, and b) let him know I was for sure still interested. And we have it if we want it- so we’ll be moving in a few weeks, to be out by December 31st. It’s adorable, and has a lot more room than the apartment. There’s an entire basement that probably could be turned into something, or at least be used for storage. There are two bedrooms upstairs and a bathroom. Then when you go downstairs there’s this really cute kitchen and living room area, with a porch and a backyard, and the hidden master bedroom and another bathroom. There’s a lot more storage space here, but the living room isn’t as roomy as it is at Lake Pointe, but again- we could probably turn the downstairs into more of a living room area.

Lake Pointe requested I inform them in writing by the first of the month whether or not we’d be moving- so I’m writing the letter as we speak and I need to call Glenn in a week or so to see exactly when a unit will be available, but I’m giving our landlord notice and it looks like this is going to work out. Time to start packing.

Well I made a layout for Anna which some of you may recognize as a decked out version of an older layout I made for her quite some time ago with the same two images back in the day when Diary-X was still around. So I was thinking I might actually add a “design” section to this site because I miss designing so much and I have disks full of templates that are finished and templates that didn’t even go anywhere yet. Anyway, I loved doing her layout, so if anyone else wants one, even if it’s an oldie, let me know and I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, check out the new design. I missed reading your stuff Anna, so I’m glad you’re back.

I made a video of one of our ridiculous endeavors yesterday and thought I would share it with you- but I wanted to say a few things first. Happy Birthday, Boozy, I love you, I miss you, you’re having a blast in Taiwan. I hope your day is absolutely amazing.

The second issue is this whole Christmas deal. I want everyone to mean it when I say, do not. Get me. Anything. Anything at all. I do not support the consumerism of Christmas. I do not want you to feel the need to go shopping, to get your “Christmas shopping” done, it’s a lot of anxiety and stress that’s put on you, and I don’t want to be a part of that stress. I am making scarves this year for a lot of people, but please do not mistake my intentions- I am making these scarves because it was a new thing for me, I got some yarn, I tried making a scarf and I had a ton of fun doing it, and it is cheap on the expenses. The only thing it really takes is time, which I have a lot of, I know. : ) And it’s cold, so I’m giving them away as I go along, as I would any other gift I’ve picked up. Save for a certain pair of slippers.

But I’m serious. I know of few of you have mentioned already getting something, and some keep saying, “No, really, what do you want?”
I want a gift to be about something more than an incessant need to, “fit in”. It’s one of the biggest forms of peer pressure America’s society has ever created, well, soda but that’s kind of different, and over half the population falls into it. When you see something that reminds you of someone, and you feel inspired to get it for them- then do it. That is a gift. Thought, feeling, emotion goes in to it. I’m not saying that when a lot of you Christmas shop you start months ahead and you put a lot of time and effort into it. (I’m talking to you, Kelly.) But again- I’m still a name on a list to complete and spend money on and shopping outings become individualized hunts. I know you love me; and I love you to, you don’t have to prove it that way. We can do something else like play a board game, (Kelly, you and your Scrabble) or cards. We could sit by a fire and poke each other. Make cookies. Shop. Share egg nog. Toast. Whatever the case may be.

Now, I love Christmas time. Aside from all the decorations, the music, the shopping… it’s great. It’s a good time to wrap up in your scarf and sweaters and snuggle on the couch with hot cocoa. Most people are in a trance-like state of happiness, there’s time off work, and for once America idolizes an overweight senior citizen. There’s egg nog, pumpkin pie, family and friends. So make your shopping list, check it twice, but make sure I’m at the bottom where it says, “Call or visit.”

Okay, with that said and done, I want to quick thank those of you that commented yesterday [I’ve been saying that a lot lately.] about chopping off my hair. Smooches and hugs for you. Enjoy the family video.

For the first time in my life I cannot pull my hair back into a ponytail.