Trying to get bits and pieces wrapped up this morning so that I can work over at
the house this afternoon. Not sure it’s going to happen, but worth a try. Drew
and I are going to head over to the Bricktown Brewery by about 7:30, so I can’t
lollygag around too much. Have to deal a little bit more with the Ballet crowd,
and then ship out a bunch o’stuff to me reps. Good problems to have, good
problems. Hopefully will see all for a jont down to the WD after
midnight…looking forward to MMB, NJ, the whole bit…HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

…and I’ll be done, I promise. But let me restate, for the record, what a
hellish past two months things have been, workwise. Just when I think things are
slowing down, another round of issues start to arise. Today it was bills–my
favorite issue of all, because it means I get to snap people’s heads off who
have over 90 days of payments owed to dear me. And I have payments I owe people,
too!!! Yeeks! Not fun. I usually find a way to wade through it all, anyway, but
the current stress level is high. I’m very excited about several things,
however–first of all, my brand new marketing firm is rocking…I’m loving the
result of their efforts to re-market my line. Also, Kevmo is working on the new
site–which will no doubt be a superb reflection of amazing talent. Market is in
two weeks, in January, which means orders will be coming in, needing to be
filled, and that I’ve got some hellish weeks of printing and packaging coming
up, but, hey, that means money. So I trade one predicament for another. And
frankly, I’d rather be in the busy predicament than the poor predicament.

a Home Depot gift card, a Lowe’s gift card, some coffee table books, a check for
$25 bucks, some black and white pictures of my family, recessed lighting for my
house, some white ironstone pieces, an antique card table, a glass candy bowl,
the Vera Wang fragrance, a triple strand pearl bracelet, and a box full of sexy
panties, thanks to my sister. Not bad. Now it’s on to Happy Kwanzaa, or however
you spell it. Today we’re supposed to be celebrating unity. For the six days
after today, we’re supposed to be celebrating some other civil-rights oriented
“hug the world” ideal. It’s only been a holiday since 1967 (or ’69?), didya
know? And it’s not even a religious holiday, but some people are opting to
celebrate that instead of Christmas! Whole article in the paper this morning.
C’est la vie, what can you do?

And every word I didn’t say that caught up in some busy day And every dance on
the kitchen floor we didn’t dance before And every sunset that we’ll miss
I’ll wrap them all up in a kiss And pick you up in all of this when I sail
away Thank you, train.

How is it, that six months ago, I had little or no idea who these Ragan and
Kevin guys were, and now I have the honor of being included in their annual
Christmas party? Talk about blessings! Also not to be forgotten are the families
I babysit for, who continually pad my pocket with benjamins and more custom
projects than I care to take on in a lifetime. And then there is my niece,
darling thing, and the dear people from my dad’s car wash that sent us picante
sauce for Christmas. It’s definitely a longer list that I’m not going to get
into at the moment, but the gratitude is there, and you people rock!

Last night was Girls’ Night (finally!). Ash and I got together, and over
expensive appetizers at Flip’s we had great conversation about how desperate
most single women are and then patted ourselves on the back for not falling into
that categorical trap. Flip’s is great for people watching, but after a drink or
two, you’re kinda tired of seeing the same people, so we headed down the street
to Classics. Lo and behold, the infamous Tucker Road was playing there. We
decided to sit and review. And critique. And analyze. I’m not going to be the
one to describe the performance, but we left after our Club Specials were gone
and four songs into the night. And for me to leave Classics after one Club
Special is a rare occurance. So it was home by midnight and straight to bed.
Drew and I have gotten into the habit of spending Sundays watching football and
sitting on the couch and just hanging out, so with him being in Chicago, I guess
I’ll just work on some catch up stuff.

I’m reading I Don’t Know How She Does It right now. It’s one of those Nanny
Diaries type books, British humor (the best kind), all about the upper class
crazed crazies trying to fit more into their lives than a normal shopaholic
would. I, like the rest of us non-Brits, am currently completely swept up into
the irony of these novels. At the end of every chapter is a Must Remember list.
As a tribute to this season, here is mine: Must Remember: buy Ethan play doh
present, mail Megan present to Hawaii, buy Dad gift certificate; wrap all gift
certificates with something more personal (drawing? stocking?); make dentist
appointment Monday, finish scrapbooks, finish line for next year (then scan and
edit), finish sanding woodwork in bedroom at new house so I can move in (by
Christmas?), call and schedule guy to refinish hardwood floors. Get website info
to Kevin, call Kelly about her website. Stay in a good mood. Ship out new card
to P.I. store. Finish After Christmas cards, buy stamps, mail. Finnegal money,
send Tim check, send printer check, order armoire at Mathis Brothers. Quit
spending money. Get loan from bank. Collect from clients.

The last of UPS left last night at 7. It was scary. For the first time in a
year, things were done. I could move on to #2 on the To Do list. There is a void
in my life, and the list looks strangely similar to a blank piece of paper. I
don’t have to draw anything for anyone or worry about getting something printed
or somebody else screwing something up. It’s just me and my pen and my paper as
the line for next year starts to unfold. I get to draw for me!!! Drew is leaving
for Chicago on Friday morning. I’m going to miss him while he’s gone, but at the
same time, I’m looking forward to getting to do some hang out stuff with a few
people I feel like I’ve been neglecting. Ashly and I should really make some WD
appearances, Meg and I are going to see Mona Lisa Smile and spruce up her
apartment, and in January, I’m getting my girl time in with Popp and Suzanne.
There–I think I mentioned everyone. Did anyone get left out? I’m still working
on the Christmas cards. They’re going to be Merry After Christmas cards, because
there is just no rush in wishing everyone Merry Christmas when everyone knows
that they’ve already been wished it enough times this year to carry them well
through six life spans. But Merry After Christmas–there is a novel concept. And
I’m going to send out TONS of them, so, again, let me know if you want one, and
haven’t already. Today I have stuff to do (like clean up the disaster area
called my bedroom), and get a set-up to the printer for the Ballet Oklahoma
invitation and meet with a marketing firm at 3 and then babysit at 5, but for
the most part, the crazy stuff is done. Hard to believe… Anyway, people, hope
you all have good one!

this morning I spend 45 minutes blogging the best, funniest, most original blog
you’ve ever read in your life and blogger ate it. go figure. guess everyone will
just have to wait to hear my hysterical tale later. gotta get UPS out before 3.

I still feel like crap. Better, but still crappy. Stinks, totally, this bug
thing.