TJs quiche for dinner, but now I want another. nom nom nom.

Boy, Livejournal has been down for "emergency maintenance" a lot lately.

Boy, Livejournal has been down for "emergency maintenance" a lot lately.

Isn't LJ still huge in Russia? I wonder if it's under some massive hack.

Went out to a new place for Pho yesterday. They do a Pho eating challange, costs something like $33 dollars and requires 2 days notice. Down the back hall are people who have tried the challenge and lost - all are wearing pink shirts that say "I'm a Pho King Loser".

Went to Kingston Kitchen today. It's a tasting, I guess--you pay a cover charge, and then you can sample small bits and buy more from a variety of vendors.

We wandered around, pigged out on purchased and nibbled stuff alike, told people how to do their jobs (the cheesecake would be improved by sour cream!) and I bought preserves to take back for co-workers.

We were chatting with a cousin who had just put a gazebo in her front yard, and was second-guessing the placement.

"Oh, you can't do that!" I exclaimed. "It's against the Gazebo Rules. They Gazebo Voted on it in the Gazebo Meeting of the Gazebo Committee!"

"You go to that?" she asked, somewhat breathlessly.

I couldn't--I fell out. But this is why my mother beseeches me to act normal around some of my relatives, because they don't get me. She took it really well when they told her I was being an ass, but still. If I can't flatly bullshit, I don't feel like I can breathe.

Mother later went on to express significant disapproval of me wearing ties to work, because it's not womanly and most women don't do that. I asked her if it was important to her that I calibrate by what most women do, and she gave me that "Don't be stupid, you know what I mean" look that actually makes me want to dismantle her point of view, but she refused to concede that I was being womanly enough by sheer virtue of being a woman in body and mind, no matter what I wear.

I'm now going to ask my father. I predict he will care less, in general, about the entire thing.

Oh, right--I need to work out how to post pics, since I didn't bring a laptop. Shenanigans.

I do think your father will care less about the tie debate.

I cut out 3 pairs of pajama pants and made 10 bowties for Grace. I also argued with UPS and got the most painful yet most precise eyebrow shaping ever.

Thank you Tom. That was lovely.

"Oh, you can't do that!" I exclaimed. "It's against the Gazebo Rules. They Gazebo Voted on it in the Gazebo Meeting of the Gazebo Committee!"

"You go to that?" she asked, somewhat breathlessly.

That's fantastic.

I am dorkishly excited that the forecast is for an inch of snow over Monday night. A white Christmas!!!

Moderately more human. But I think they boys might be getting it. Merry Xmas from aunty Sara!

Most of the shopping done, my parents are getting goats,alas. And tjs chocolate.

The tree is up chez Burrell! Up and lit, no less, and lighting is a PITA because when my beloved departed MiL gave us her fancy 7 ft artificial tree she also gave us all her bubble lights and now DH feels obliged to use them. PITA I tell you, but it makes a purty tree. Tree still needs trimming however as we decided to see The Hobbit instead of trim the tree. Good choice, we all found it very satisfying.

I have two more gifts to buy but have lost all motivation to go buy them. Oops. Well at least I got the sugar cookie dough made so we can bake cookies now. And cousins are coming today. I may not be fully prepared for Xmas, but at least it won't knock me on my ass this year.