I've been reduced to lists for today...

Today, all I have are lists. They’re running through my mind so I might as well share them! First, is a list of things I have to get done today… the list keeps growing, and I can’t seem to make it stop!

Things to do today:

• Finish wrapping the gifts I bought yesterday, rearrange the gifts under the tree so they fit.
• Finish wrapping the presents my step-dad has collected for my mother.
• Go to the grocery store ASAP this morning to avoid a HUGE crowd.
• Go to Stewart’s Meats on the way to McKenna to get my step-dad some beef jerkey and look for a can of Cougar Gold (amazing cheese).
• Go to Sebastian’s European Bakery in Yelm for a dessert for Noah tomorrow night.
• Mop my terribly dirty floors. Sweeping is no longer doing the trick.
• Make the bed.
• Clean the bathroom.
• Call my mother: attempt to make dinner plans for my step-dad’s birthday tonight.
• If Cougar Gold (amazing cheese) isn’t available at Stwart’s, consider driving to Olympia to the only store in town that sells it.


Second, a less useful list. This is a list of things that I’m trying to see in a positive light, for the sake of the season and improving my overall mood… and a list of things that are just downright annoying right now.

Things that are good:

• Tomorrow is Christmas Eve!
• The day after tomorrow is Christmas Day!
• With the exception of picking up one thing for Tristan, I’m DONE with my shopping!
• We have a new furnace! With vents!
• Chelsi got a cute, cute, cute little kitten for Christmas named Riley! Awww….
• My husband makes me breakfast every morning. It’s wonderful!
• A mysterious brown box with white trim and a big, pink bow has appeared under our Christmas tree, courtesy of Ryan. It looks mysteriously similar to a COACH box… and there is a sticky to/from label strategically placed in the lower right corner where the COACH insignia might be located. See the photo, below, and see for yourself!



Things that are bad:

• The roof is leaking. So far, only in the attic, but it’s like a big rain cloud above my head… literally.
• I still (always will) have a nagging daily memory of recent events, and they will interfere with Christmas in such a big way. Never did I imagine that during such a happy time for most, I'd be feeling like dog doo. Never did I imagine I'd be wishing my baby back to me. Never did I imagine I'd feel so completely deflated.
• I can’t figure out how to work the new furnace, (see “good” list) and the temperature has been a little weird so far… will get there.
• I really, really need to get to work on our bathroom and get the tongue-and-groove beadboard, baseboards, crown molding and chair rail done… I wanted it to be done before Chrismukkah, but I just don’t see it happening.
• The bathroom, which is in need of the above improvements, is a horrid shade of yellow… it looks like a school bus in my bathroom… and I really just want the color to GO AWAY! I'll attach photos sometime soon...
• My errand list just keeps growing… good thing I’m patient in traffic. We’ll thank my days of living in Seattle for that.