Shalee’s Diner

While I in my pjs and with a cup of joe in my hand blog.

The end.

Just kidding.  There’s a cat on my lap too.

Now the end.

Just kidding again.  I’m sucha jokester.

This week has been a fast and furious one!  So much has happened in the past week!

First, Mr. Right and I went to our one and only Christmas party where the billing was “dressed up” and the directives were to come and socialize and enjoy ourselves.  It. Was. Such. Fun!   I wasn’t exactly sure what “dressed up” entailed, but I had fun finding a gown to fit the occasion.

I had this great fear that I may have gone too decked out, but then I realized that I didn’t really care if I was on the stare list because, doggonit, I really liked my dress!

 

The best part?  I only paid $12 for that little diddy!  I was super ecstatic when I found it and then I couldn’t decide between this dress and another one, so I bought them both – for under $18!!  I may not be the best fashionista out there, but I do know how to find a bargain…

What a blessing to have friends who like to have fun.  These are just a few of the beautiful ladies I’ve had the privilege of getting to know over the past couple of years.  They are lovely and funny and real.  (I like that last part the best.) You have to ignore the presence of Eric in the picture.  He’s not a lady.  This just happen to be the picture that had a lot of the ladies in it.  Sorry if I insulted you. Eric!  We all know that you’re a real man.

Lisa and Bernie have an absolutely gorgeous home!  We were welcome to enjoy all aspects of it, so I went to the pool table.  Mr. Right soundly trounced me.  I don’t think I even got half my pool balls off the table… I didn’t let that dampen my enthusiasm, though!  Jill, who I had just met and fell in love with as she’s absolutely adorable,  challenged me and I took up the gauntlet!  I broke and quickly sunk three solids.  I think she thought she had been suckered.  She shouldn’t have had any fears though.  She came back and beat me by one measly ball.  Gah.  It wasn’t my night for winning, but I looked pretty good losing!  :)

On Sunday, we joined the small group that met at church in the evening.  What a joy!  We spent time with a few members, singing some Christmas carols about Jesus being born.  Did you know that “Go Tell It On the Mountain” was a Christmas song?  Me neither.  And if you did, well, kudos for your putting one and one together way before me.  :)  Afterwards we feasted on potluck (where my deviled eggs were heartily hailed – mainly because no one had ever brought them, but they were a well-loved treat.  And I had been feeling guilty that I didn’t make a “real dish”… So silly of me.

Sunday found The Girl and I baking, baking, baking!  We made all sorts of goodies: Meltaways (a powdered sugar-encased cookie that deceptively melts away in your mouth as you chew it), homemade chocolate covered toffee, brown sugar snicker doodles and buckeyes, or as someone else renamed them (if I remember correctly) “peanut butter and chocolate balls of delight”.  They are quite fabulous, I must say.

We ran out of time to make the Ninjabread men, but we’ll remedy that this coming week.  Also, The Girl wants to make Cinnamon Swirl bread while the Grands and Lynnette are in town.  Oh, and we have to get our pies for our neighbors made!  So much left to do!

Monday evening, I had the honor of hearing The Boy perform at his Holiday Concert.  He did such a fantastic job!  He focused, paid attention to the conductor and though the group blended pretty well, The Girl and I were able to hear the timbre of his voice.  I don’t mean that he was standing out from the group, but it was more like we knew his voice so well, we could pick it out from the group.  It was impressive.  I really hope that he carries that love of music over into high school like his sister did (and as I did).  We both have such grand and fond memories or our time in these expressive and artistic groups!  (I think he would enjoy the stage too, but so far, I can’t get him to see the light.)

In addition to relishing in the melodic gifts of the middle school choirs, we were able to bask in the sounds from the high school choirs as well!  Oh.  My.  Lands.  They have a fantastic music department in Eagan!  We were wowed by every group… well, maybe the Boy’s 9th grade group didn’t wow us as much, but that’s forgivable… they are, after all, working through those voice changes.  :)

As it turned out, my favorite song that The Girl’s group performed was her favorite too.  It’s freaky how similarly we think sometimes!  If you haven’t heard This Is My Winter Song, a duet by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson, then I highly suggest that you get yourself over to iTunes and listen to it.  It’s soulful, tender and poetically heartfelt, showing a depth of emotions that isn’t oft seen in present-day offerings.  (It brings to mind one of my all-time favorites And So It Goes by Billy Joel.  Though I love music, it’s not often that I find one that sticks with me, evoking the same emotions as when I first heard it.)

Work was busy and festive!  I divvied out the origami ornaments that I made for friends.  I love seeing the expressions on their faces when they see that someone actually made a gift for them!  I think part of it may be that I actually made something of essence, but that may just be my brain playing tricks on me.  :P

Starting last Friday, I have been on vacation and will continue to be so until the new year.  Those last two days have been full already!  Friday, I took care of the grocery shopping, last minute gift items, wrapping gifts and general runaround needs, as well as cruise through laundry and work to tidy up the place for the Grands’ and Lynnette’s arrival.  Saturday, The Girl and I had our eyes checked (yep, we’ve still got two each) and then we hustled around town gathering gifts that she could give to Cade, The Boy and Mr. Right.  I felt ultra productive!  (Though I still don’t know why I bother mopping with this snow around.  As soon as I do it, it looks as if I’ve done nothing within a day.  Bah.  Humbug.)

I had a very kind and thoughtful request from my boss lady when she found out that we were staying in town: she asked that I call her when I was available and we would go out for coffee.  I love that she made the offer as it speaks volumes about how comfortable she feels around me, enough to want to do so outside of work.  That actually makes my heart smile.  I know for a fact that she has not always felt that way about admins/assistants.  Maybe I’ve helped her see that we can be good and fun and worthwhile after all.

Today, we’re baking and I’m labeling all the gifts that were wrapped…. Sure hope I remember whose is whose!  It may be very interesting if The Girl winds up with The Boy’s new pajama bottoms!

Just kidding again.

I hope.

Merry Christmas to y’all!  I hope that your holiday is filled with child-like wonder and your hearts are incredibly aware that we have received the best gift ever to be given.  God really is the best gift-giver ever!