Tis the Season

The holiday season is in full swing! Thanksgiving was nice........first I got up and did some cooking........with the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade playing in the background! The day was spent with Kenny's family. Since it was pretty nice out, we saddled up Ringo (Kenny's mom's horse) and took turns horseback riding. What a random Thanksgiving adventure........but fun!

Later when we hung out with my family, I got to spend some quality time with Alex. He is on the verge of walking! He can pull open kitchen cabinets too! Hill has her hands full! While we were there, everyone sampled my cookies, and I think they were a bit hit!


On to Black Friday: I participated in the shopping frenzy, however I DID NOT get up at the crack of dawn. I ventured out mid-morning to enjoy the rat-race that was the mall. I lucked out with a great parking spot, found some good bargains, and actually enjoyed the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping. Later dad and I ran to some antique shops.....then mom and I hit up a favorite gift shop.

For some reason, I am in a really
festive mood this year! I even baked cookies! You KNOW how rare that is! So since the holiday spirit is consuming me, I decorated the house today!!!!!!!! Vintage ornaments on the tree.........my favorite vintage trees on the entry table............and more trees surrounding my favorite picture on the mantle.

I think having time off from work agrees with me!

The Return of Itchy Legs

My last band related duty for the year was this weekend: The Republic Christmas Parade. I was dreading it with all my soul, but now that it's over, it was actually lots of fun. It's always lots of fun. Every year! I just forget that when I have to get up at 7 a.m. on a Saturday morning and the temperature is below freezing.


As usual, we hiked from the high school all the way to Main Street, down the parade route and back to the high school, so by the time we hit the park, my legs were aflame! Itchy, itchy, itchy! I realized I wasn't alone this time though. One of my girls was also having an itch attack! I made sure I explained the phenomenon to her.

So it's good-bye to marching band until tryouts this spring (with the exception of our annual Christmas party). I do believe I'll survive, BUT I've got to get this itchy leg syndrome under control! Does that mean I'll have to start exercising?

Nevermind......

Too Hot!

The best weight loss plan on the planet? Being sick! Seriously, not eating for two days will definitely help in that area. Not that I was trying, but looking on the positive side of a 101 degree temperature (thus, the blog title), that's the only good thing I could come up with.

This is my first attempt at sitting upright, so I thought I'd check my email and get back into reality for a few minutes. I COULD be preparing to work the concessions at the Eagle's concert tonight, but unfortunately, whatever this sickness was took over. Hopefully, I won't have to crawl to my classroom tomorrow to scrawl some lesson plans down for a sub.

While being home for two days, between the naps and sips of Sprite, I've gotten reacquainted with daytime television! The Muppets were on the Today Show........there's nothing like Kermit at 7 am. Ellen celebrated her 900th episode! And Yakov, I've learned (from a commercial played repeatedly), is getting his own "talk show." Whitney, I KNOW you're all over that!

Okay, I think my sitting up time has run it's course. I think it's time to go lay back down.

Elvis, Dancing Bears, Etc.

I tried voting this morning. I kept right on driving when I saw how crazy the line was and that the parking lot was overflowing. All day long I wondered how long it would take me to vote after work. I was prepared! I was thinking how I would enjoy the nice weather while I stood outside in line. I had my jacket just in case I got chilly! Then when I pulled up, I discovered that my wait would be SHORT! I parked right up front and was done within 10 minutes.

Pumpkin Pie concretes from Andy's ROCK. They are AMAZING!!!!!!!!! You can only get them for a limited time, so get to Andy's quickly!

I have always loved this print by William Beard called "The Dancing Bears." For years, there has been a blank spot on my wall above my sofa. It has been waiting for this special picture. So while shopping for a birthday present in Kirkland's on Sunday, what do I find?????? MY PICTURE! It took everything within me to NOT completely go crazy! What made it even better, was the crazy price..........on sale for $30! I was ready to pay whatever! And it was the size I needed it to be! Anyway, I snatched one up immediately! It makes me smile when I look at it.

Recently, one of my kiddos gave me a guitar pick as a gift and said it once belonged to Elvis. Of course I then questioned how he was able to find such an interesting piece of history.......and why did he want to give it to me? He says, "I bought it on eBay and it came with like 40 other guitar picks Elvis used, so I thought I would share." So then I just HAD to say, "Thank you. Thank you very much."