In honor of the hell they call shopping November thru December, I’ve decided to
eliminate for friends and family the stress they say I cause them each year.
People, you can no longer call me high maintence or hard to shop for. Note the
side bar category marked “Christmas List”. It’s simple, it’s easy. Click and
shop. For Whitney. You can’t go wrong. Don’t call me vain or selfish. Year after
year, I recieve literally hundreds of complaints on what to buy me. This
reference point is for your benefit. Not to mention that I’ve allowed for
literally everyone’s budget. From the practical to the far-fetched, there are
options. However, since the season is about giving, not recieving, please feel
free to post on the comments what your Christmas wants are. Santa will do his
best.

I’m not really into holidays. There isn’t really any sentiment attached to the
surroundings I see on the same days, year after year. On the contrary, alot of
stress goes into these ordeals. Everything has been the same for 25 years, and
I’m kind of tired of it. I’m not tired of the people–I love my family, and I
missed getting to spend time with them when I lived in Dallas–I’m just tired of
little, weird, nuance things that have been the same every year since I was one.
They always say be careful what you wish for, but I want something different. I
want something magical. I want Christmas to be extraordinarily spine-tingling,
like the songs and the movies make it. If it’s not, I won’t complain. You have
to appreciate things for what they are, and it does little or no good (and
mostly harm), to go rocking boats that aren’t hurting anyone. I just want a
magical Christmas.

Yawn. Work is about to eat my lunch. Everyone else is headed home to start
cooking turkey, I’m still sitting here at work. Insane. Fortunately, I got a
dent in the to do list today. Remaining are three custom photocards, a line for
next year, two $700 orders that came in this past week (praise God–seriously
was a bad month) and some miscellaneous printing (which just takes a while). I
will probably have to hit Staples tonight to stock up on supplies since they
will be closed tomorrow. And tonight Drew wants to go out. Who knows where, but
I guess I will put in an appearance somewhere with him. That’s all for now,
folks…I guess Friday we’ll all be a little fatter.

Odd, but Bob the Bachelor has a CD out. Who knew? The guys sings? Does he play
the guitar, too? Drew heard about it and found his website tonight. At first it
was just funny, but I got into the lyrics and I’m completely amazed. Call me the
biggest dork that ever lived, but I love it. I’ve always had this thing for
poetry/lyric type stuff. I have “those songs” that can put me into the best
mood–the ones I crank up when I have to floor it and get out of town. One of
these days when I feel braver, I’ll pull the poetry out. And maybe really learn
to play the guitar, when life and business slow down. And lose myself in
everything that I know is really, really me. And hope that other people listen
with something besides their ears, too. I guess we all just want to be known in
the truest, deepest way possible.

Ok, you know what boggles my mind? How small this town is. For example: had to
meet a client this afternoon, and the only time she had was during her pedicure,
which was to be given at the salon across from my office. Ironically enough, the
girl giving her pedicure was Angela, the girlfriend of Drew’s friend Justin. (By
the way, Justin works at Loud, so I’m sure there are a million other connections
there). I met Justin a couple of weeks ago when I was at Cheap Trick at the
Brewery with Drew. Weird thing is: I would have met Angela anyway, considering
that we just ran into each other today, no guys in tow. Also weird and small
worldish: not to go into detail, but Drew’s phone became the subject of a heated
debate yesterday. Apparently, Stoney’s number is in his address book. How many
people know Stoney? Half of us, at least, including Jen (Jen is Donna’s niece,
the lady I share office space with, and worked with me for a while), who used to
work at Galileo with this guy named Christian who used to work at Casady with
Meg. Also, the client I met today knows Christian because he used to go to
school with her son. Also, because of Drew, I met Branden Hart a couple of weeks
ago. So there are two Oklahoma musicians, and we all know how cool I think that
scene is. On a not-Drew note, there was a guy (who shall remain nameless) that I
met a few months ago. Get this: he knows a girl, who knows another girl, who is
best friends with Jen, the girl who used to work for me. I met him several
months before I met Jen. But, could have met him through Jen. Also, a girl he
works with is best friends with one of my clients, Carrie. So could have met him
that way too. On a not-guy note: I used to work with a girl “Leslie” at Paper ‘N
More. Ran into her with a few of my other acquaintences on Friday night–my
friend Mike, who I’ve known since childbirth, Pete, who knows Meg’s friend Laura
and Dawnell, Mike’s friend. Dawnell in turn hangs out with Leslie, who knows a
slew of other people in the “society” circle that I sometimes cater too. Not to
mention that Meg knows more than half of the people in the above paragraph and
can swap some serious stories. If we want to get into the snobbish side of my
life, Dawnell, Leslie, Carrie and I all know each other from Junior League. The
rest of Jr. League I could say I know on one level or another, and that could
get really complicated, considering that I babysit for several of them. Just
freaks me out how full circle life can come sometimes. Reminds me to keep my
nose clean. And not blog too much. Now if only they all had web pages to link.
Makes me want to have the most kick A housewarming party you could dream up.
Invite all these people and more and just sit back and watch the you-know-what
hit the fan. Could get interesting.

1. Clients that change their mind all the time 2. Waiting on people to get their
act together 3. Annoying jingles 4. Annoying holiday jingles 5. People that act
like life is, itself, one big jingle 6. People who don’t understand that my time
is valuable 7. People who can’t do things for themselves

I spent most of yesterday afternoon working. I have some big “little” orders to
fill for Christmas, and I have to keep on top of shipping. I’m hoping that the
faster my turn around is, the more everyone will order. And $9 luggage tags
start to add up. I should sell them on the net. They’d be huge–soooo cute.
After that I spent a few hours over at the new house stripping wallpaper. Talk
about a project. My dad and I are going to Home Depot or Lowes or something this
afternoon to buy paint and recessed spots and whatever else he tells me to
purchase. Scary. Joining the ranks of other in debt homeowners. And get this!! I
have to buy a furnace! A freaking furnace! What fun is that? Carpet and rugs,
they’re fun. Colorful tile backsplashes–that could get creative. But what fun
is there in a furnace? We seem to think that the current furnace will make it
through the winter, however, so fingers crossed. That’s a whopping 5 grand I
won’t be able to come up with for some time, I can guarantee you that. So
forgive me if my posting gets a little lax. I’m trying to keep up with the
insanity I’ve created.

And I get to work this morning to recieve no less than three drunken
commentaries on last night’s goings ons. For the record, I would like it to be
known that I worked (something I’ll no doubt be doing more often now) and made
$60 cash. To spend tonight. But I love my friends. Ashly, you are completely
amazing, and I’ve always wondered how you can come up with the most crack me up
stuff at such spur of the moment. You’re quick. I’m glad you decided not to go
into child psychology. Kevin, Matt, Ragan, Ryin–the talent you guys have never
ceases to flabbergast me. (HAH! I like flabbergast!) To my Andrew–I think you
know where you stand. And for all the Jennifers and Erins out there, and my
favorite MegO, you guys know I love you too. Friends, I am the proud owner of a
sculpture-carpeted, yellow-kitchened, ancient-wallpapered, but very much mine,
HOUSE. I was done with closing by 9:45. I bought it from a sweet little old lady
who shook my hand and told me she had been very happy there and made me cry.
Makes me cry to even write about it. Tonight is MegO’s birthday party at
Pearl’s. I’m very excited. I would be even more excited if the birthday present
I order for her from Knock Knock two weeks ago would arrive. And after that, who
knows? Where will everyone be? And what should I put on the front page? (I was
getting a little sick of that small writing blah blah blahing me.)

Today my head is not quite as foggy. I watched the Bachelor last night…who
knew he’d pick Estella? I was completely convinced that it was Kelli Jo. Of
course, they’re condensing days into minutes, so I know we’re missing out on
some of the picture. But I was shocked!!! Anyway, it was such a cozy night, all
curled up on the couch cuddling and drinking tea and stuff. Made my head feel
better. Also occuring in the reality TV world, casting call for The Bachelor
here in Oklahoma City on December 3. To that I say, DRAT. I’ve always wanted to
try out for that darn thing and just when the door opens, I’m NA. Continuing on,
Trista and Ryan are apparently doing the wedding thing on TV–looks very cute.
And tonight, the After the Final Rose interview with Bob (who is freaked out
about relationship stuff, obviously) and Estella (who is in love with him, even
though neither one of them will say it). I don’t think I’m going to make it out
tonight. My head still needs time to clear and I have to babysit and tomorrow
morning at 9 I’m closing on my house (stay tuned for party info) and usually I
don’t even get up by 9 so that means I have to go to bed at a decent hour and no
party for Whitney.

why do gay guys wear great ties and great guys wear gay ties?