It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

I'm back after taking some time to focus on grieving over the sudden death of my friend. Thank you so much to Sammy, Kimbree, and Alexandra for you kind comments on my last post. Each one gave me a little lift when I read it.

Well, as you can see by my new blog colors, I've been decorating. I thought since my house is looking in the holiday spirit so should my blog. And hope y'all enjoy the new play list with a few of my favorite Christmas songs while you read.

We've also been decorating around the house. We actually started the weekend before Thanksgiving because I just couldn't wait this year. Here are a few photos of some of our decorations:

Our Christmas Tree

Our Sofa Table Decorations

(Thanks, Nell, for our little, frosted candles from last year)

Sideboard in the Dining Room

(with our first Christmas Card)

Our Little Porch Trees by the Front Door

Little Tree in our Bedroom

(still needing a few more ornaments)

I've been enjoying seeing the holiday decoration photos posted by my fellow bloggers, and I look forward to seeing more.

Happy Holidays!!

I got terrible news yesterday that a good friend of mine was in a car accident over the weekend and was killed.

He and I had been friends since I was about 19 but had really gotten a lot closer the past few years. He was kind of friend that was always there for me when I needed him, and I knew he always would be.

I'm having a lot of trouble processing that this has happened or believing that it is true. It seems like a nightmare that I should wake up from.

I've lost people before but no one like this. No one my own age that I've been this close to. It feels really strange. Of course it feels intensely sad at times, but I'm also feeling quite numb and empty more than anything. Perhaps that is just the shock.

I hope that I can process this in a healthy way and understand it soon.

So this week please be thankful for your friends and let them know how you feel about them. Don't take your time with them for granted.

I am thankful for all my blog friends. Reading all of your funny, sweet, and interesting posts about your lives really brighten up every single day of my life. And I am wholly thankful for all of my real life friends. For all of you who are in my life now and all of you who I have been close to in the past { just because I life, time, or distance may have pulled us apart, doesn't change the closeness that we once shared, or the way you're still in my heart}.

And I am so thankful for my best friend, my husband. Thank you for your concern for me and trying to be there for me right now. I know that unfortunately you know how this feels. I love you.

More Good News

Greg got his scores for the the third part of the CPA exam, and he passed. Yaaaaay!!

Hopefully his scores for this past part will come back super quick, so we can put this whole thing behind us!

Thanks for the prayers/encouragement!

PASS It Along

Please re post or pass this info on to everyone you know:

Dairyland Greyhound Racetrack in Kenosha, Wisconsin will be closing on December 31, 2009. 900 Greyhounds need to be adopted or they will be euthanized. Please help me get the word out; there is only 6 weeks to get this task done. Contact Joanne Kehoe Operations Director P: 312.559.0887 312.559.0887 Or Dairyland Race Track Adoption Center direct at (262) 612-8256 (262) 612-8256

Thanks to everyone and anyone that helps getting this message out in any way!

Turkey Trot?

Hey Memphis folks, are any of y'all doing the Turkey Trot next Thursday?

If any off you have done it before, was the parking crazy?

I'm thinking about doing something for charity and getting a little exercise in on Thanksgiving.

Fit of Rage

How can a day start of so great, and then next thing you know you're running around your house like crazy person?

This morning I woke up around 8, at my leisure, since I didn't have to work. The dogs and I snuggled in bed watching a little 7th Heaven and Matlock {another mamaw thing I do, watch Matlock almost everyday}. I went to Garden Ridge and picked up some more fun, holiday things for the house { will embellish on that in a later post}. Went to the gym and got a great workout in. Came home to have a little tomato soup and grilled cheese. Watched Sammy get her baby back, and Nicole get arrested for stealing Sammy's baby on Days of Our Lives {which I have watch literally my whole life, like from the crib}.

Then just as I started to clean the house, which I didn't even mind doing because I was in such a good mood, I saw it. The hole that Daisy had eaten in the center of my most lovely living room rug.

I seriously lost it. I felt like the Hulk or something. I may have even possibly turned green for a few moments.

I cussed out my dog using words only previously heard on pirate ships and Jerry Springer episodes, not that she understood any of them. I thought I might have a seizure because of the extent I was shaking mad, and at the very least, I knew I was having an episode.

After safely securing the dogs in the bedroom away from my rage, which I'm sue they are quite grateful for, I pulled out the phone book to search for rug repair places.

I found a place, called them, rolled up the 9 x 12 rug all by my lonesome, and loaded it into my car. Obviously I had a little adrenaline from my anger still because I 'm normally not that strong.

Thank goodness the repair is actually only going to be $50 because I was just certain it was going to be hundreds.

So just in case this ever happens to any of you pet owners, it apparently is not that costly of a fix. Maybe knowing that, you won't Hulk out like I did today, and let it ruin your day and almost your dog's life.

Oh, did I mention I also called my husband at work to tell him about it, and then cussed him out too? Like he had been in there on his hand and knees chewing up the carpet along with the dog. Whoops....I guess I have some apologizing to do. That sucks!! I hate admitting when I'm wrong.

I feel so much better know after getting that out. Promise to make my next post much sunnier, even if I have to fake it.

Hope all of your days our rage free today! And if not I hope you have better access to Valium than I do.

The End is in Sight

I can't believe it, but Greg is actually taking the last section of the CPA exam in 12 days! I seriously can't believe the long years of him going back to school and studying for and taking this exam is almost over.

I'm absolutely beside myself. If I were any happier I would be twins!

I've got several things lined up for us to do once he has finished.

First off we must take our bad ass dogs to obedience training class. I've got an email into the trainer I think I want to take them to, but that is dependent upon when the next session starts. I want them to start as soon as he is done with that stupid test {bitter much, right?}.

Secondly, we finally get to get serious about making a baby. I am hopping with all my heart that this doesn't drag on forever because I am sooo impatient. Greg of course is hoping to get at least a few months of "trying" out of this.

And I am making Greg take a break from studying this weekend, so we can put up our Christmas tree. Yay!!

Since Thanksgiving is a little later this year, I figure that putting up the tree the weekend before turkey day is completely reasonable. I need a full six weeks with my sparkly tree in our living room. Plus I swung by the music store and got my new Christmas cds. Sooo excited to Christmasfy the sights and sounds of our house this weekend.

Greg is being a little pessimistic about how Houser is going to be with the tree, but I figure if Charlie and Daisy never messed with it than why would he?

When are y'all going to start your holiday decorating?