Kim Says

Someone on FB just posted that they were tired of hearing everyone’s complaints and misery. So now that I am fixated on the issue, I thought I’d get it all out here:

Dad just spent a week in the hospital.

My car has not returned from the collision shop yet. And the ‘government issue’ Impala (rental car) smells like Ode du Willie Loman.

My husband is blind in one eye and his Dr. just rescheduled his appointment for 3 more weeks down the road.

My brother is suffering from “cedar fever”.

My nephew was in a terrible car accident and is now in a neck brace for 6 weeks.

My girlfriend’s mommy is in hospital.

I am working overtime for the 3rd day this week.

And Bella the Wonder Dog won’t stop shitting in my house!

Bama better crush LSU on Monday Night’s National Championship Game. That’s all I’ve got going for me so far this new year. ROLL TIDE!

This year we started a new tradition. I know it will remain a solid contender because we really did have a fun time with it! Gingerbread house building competition! I recommend it to all! I found a gingerbread village set of 5 pre-made house designs. It came with the walls, icing and several candy decorations. However, we of course added our own architectural details and personality. We drew names out of a hat to see who would be partners. Teams of 2 were selected and the competition was fierce!  Then we took pictures of our amazing creations
and placed them on FaceBook for others to judge.

I am pretty sure Hubby padded his votes in some way, but because I am not a computer Sheeenius like he is, I don’t know how he did it. Below are the remarkable contenders. Which one would you vote for? (yes you can click on the picture to see it bigger and you would have voted for #3). It’s Ok. I know.  I know.

I am an awful person. I know what I like and I know what
I want and I usually just go get it, whatever it is…unless I can’t find it. On
this year’s list was the perfect cable knit sweater (which I previously
discussed) and the perfect “boot” socks. Perfect boot socks must be tall enough
to pull up over my knee, thick enough to keep my toes warm, and strong enough
to stay UP inside of a pair of boots. I don’t want “trouser” socks; they are
too thin and wimpy. I do not want sport socks; they are too thick and sweaty. I
am on a mission. And since I have not been able to complete my mission thus
far, I gave the job to the Hubby.

Hubby is not good at keeping secrets and he revels in solving
problems, so instead of wrapping the socks he finds on his shopping trips, he
just gives them to me to see if they pass the test. So far he has handed me a
pair of Military socks. They are the most hideous shade of poop brown I have
ever seen! They are thick enough to walk on fire; in fact they are fire
retardant! They are just plain wrong. Then I was handed a pair of seriously
soft white socks that are meant for diabetes patients! I will NOT be wearing
those socks…ever. Hubby continues his search…

I am also still a big fan of slouch socks, utterly 80’s
in style, but they make me happy still. Hooter’s girls are required to wear
them as part of their uniform. If daughter Sari were so inclined, she would
find the supplier of these socks and make it rain up in here!

Hubby relayed a story to me and I thought it was a good one
to share:

Hubby went to the grocery store over the weekend to pick
up a few things I needed for making chili. He offered to go as I was literally
up to my elbows cleaning bathrooms. (I think he made the better chore choice.)
While he was at the grocery store, up at the cashier, he fell into line behind
a woman and her husband. He noted that they were buying two beautiful standing
rib roasts, probably nearly $100 worth. He assumed this would be the quickest
line because those were the only two items they put on the conveyer belt…little
did he know…

The cashier began running dozens of gift cards through
the machine to activate them. One after the other, beep, beep, beep…until the
final tally…over $800.00 in gift cards! The woman and her husband had done all
of their Christmas shopping at the grocery store!

After reading this post, you might be tempted to refer to me as OCD. I don’t think I have any obsessive tendencies, I simply enjoy organization. Chaos is stressful people. (it’s really a heart-warming holiday tale of over-coming adversity and still having the Christmas Spirit)

I made myself a Christmas Folder. I keep this folder in my presence at all times. It goes with me to work, home and everywhere I go in the car. It contains all of the important items one needs when Christmas Shopping. I have everyone’s wish list, several catalogues; I have order receipts, dates for delivery, discount membership cards and frequent shopper discount cards. I have my receipts for purchase and gift receipts and coupons. I also keep a running list of the Have’s and the Have Nots. Santa’s list is long and organized.

This past weekend, Hubby stated that he was handling his
major shopping expedition and I needed to give him a list of his responsibilities
and a list of gifts I may want from Santa. So…yes…I made him his very own
Christmas Folder. Hubby is most knowledgeable with any electronics or
car-related purchases. I trust that he will make the best decisions. I provided
the lists he needed, the items he was responsible to cover and coupons and
discount cards for the stores that he would probably be shopping from. All
organized and ready to go for his excursion! There isn’t any way he can mess
this up! And then he did.

Hubby left by 7 a.m. for an auction that he was attending
across town and I got up around 9 a.m. At 9:15 I realized my Christmas Folder
was not within my eyesight. I searched every room in the house. I searched the
car. I retraced my steps from the night before. I began to panic. I texted
Hubby once, twice, three times…and yes, he finally called and told me he
accidently took my Christmas Folder and not his. Son-of-a-Biscuit! Both of our
well-planned and potentially chaos free shopping days utterly ruined. Oh well,
Sunday is another day! Did someone say Shopping? Yes, please!