Christmas #1...
So, this year, Christmas came early to the Krausehold (Wow, I just made that up... Krause-Household = "Krausehold?" Eep. I need help).
We did our family Christmas celebration this evening, complete with heaps of German food (ie. meats of the "wurst" family), and gift exchange.
I made out like a bandit because my family pretty much followed my Amazon.com wish list, and got me all kinds of fun crap from that (updated it earlier by subtracting gifts given to me this evening--and adding some new ideas), and a fuzzy sweater and socks to round out the night. So, I'm pleased. Apparently, I didn't break the bank, either, so I'm easy to please.
(and... YES... I DID get "Pirates 2." A big thank you to my perceptive little brother who knew I would EXPLODE without the 2-disc special edition to fill my stocking this year.) ;)
Tomorrow will be a lazy day of watching movies, playing boardgames, and sharing music (because my family is awesome that way, and we all have great taste... me, Dad, and Matt...), and I'm excited for that kind of calm and happy family fun. Christmas Day will be all about food and my step-nephews and my stepsister's family. Which is fine, because I love the idea of Christmas morning being all about the kids. I can't WAIT to see the boys. They're so cute, and growing up so fast! :)
Then Tuesday will be a day to recover and make my way back to DE by late afternoon.
Wednesday, it's back to work, and the return of my rental car by noon (*SOB!!!*).
I got SO screwed on the rental car. It was supposed to cost me $75, plus the cost of one extra day, because I wanted to take my time and not have to be back by NOON on Tuesday... But I got insurance ('cause I don't have any), and when I asked the total, she said it would be $26-something. I thought that was awesome, and agreed... Signed all the pages where she asked me to... She filled out the rest, showed me the car, wrote off the pre-damaged bumper, and handed me my reciept and the keys. I was off! And SO happy in my little light blue Dodge Stratus.
I didn't look at the reciept until today, when I was gonna go over splitting some of the cost with my dad... Yeah... The insurance... it's $26-something... PER DAY.
This rental is ultimately going to cost me close to $300.
I should have taken Amtrak.
I should have found a way around the insurance!
But when she told me the "TOTAL" would be $26, when I was trying to confirm and figure out final costs in my head, I believed her. I didn't think she'd forget the "per-day" thing. That's kinda important.
So I'm mad. 'Cause there goes all the money that Adam's sending me. :(
I was hoping to use that for good advance bill-payingness. And Union dues for 1st quarter, 2007...
Oh well. At least will I have that money to pay for the car, and to be a groceries-buffer. Thank you, Adam. (When's it coming?)
Worries for another day. It's Christmas time in the "Krausehold."
And I'm keeping my brother awake with the key-clacking, so it's time for bed.
Love and hugs, and a Merry Christmahannukakwanzayule to all!
~Steph~
We did our family Christmas celebration this evening, complete with heaps of German food (ie. meats of the "wurst" family), and gift exchange.
I made out like a bandit because my family pretty much followed my Amazon.com wish list, and got me all kinds of fun crap from that (updated it earlier by subtracting gifts given to me this evening--and adding some new ideas), and a fuzzy sweater and socks to round out the night. So, I'm pleased. Apparently, I didn't break the bank, either, so I'm easy to please.
(and... YES... I DID get "Pirates 2." A big thank you to my perceptive little brother who knew I would EXPLODE without the 2-disc special edition to fill my stocking this year.) ;)
Tomorrow will be a lazy day of watching movies, playing boardgames, and sharing music (because my family is awesome that way, and we all have great taste... me, Dad, and Matt...), and I'm excited for that kind of calm and happy family fun. Christmas Day will be all about food and my step-nephews and my stepsister's family. Which is fine, because I love the idea of Christmas morning being all about the kids. I can't WAIT to see the boys. They're so cute, and growing up so fast! :)
Then Tuesday will be a day to recover and make my way back to DE by late afternoon.
Wednesday, it's back to work, and the return of my rental car by noon (*SOB!!!*).
I got SO screwed on the rental car. It was supposed to cost me $75, plus the cost of one extra day, because I wanted to take my time and not have to be back by NOON on Tuesday... But I got insurance ('cause I don't have any), and when I asked the total, she said it would be $26-something. I thought that was awesome, and agreed... Signed all the pages where she asked me to... She filled out the rest, showed me the car, wrote off the pre-damaged bumper, and handed me my reciept and the keys. I was off! And SO happy in my little light blue Dodge Stratus.
I didn't look at the reciept until today, when I was gonna go over splitting some of the cost with my dad... Yeah... The insurance... it's $26-something... PER DAY.
This rental is ultimately going to cost me close to $300.
I should have taken Amtrak.
I should have found a way around the insurance!
But when she told me the "TOTAL" would be $26, when I was trying to confirm and figure out final costs in my head, I believed her. I didn't think she'd forget the "per-day" thing. That's kinda important.
So I'm mad. 'Cause there goes all the money that Adam's sending me. :(
I was hoping to use that for good advance bill-payingness. And Union dues for 1st quarter, 2007...
Oh well. At least will I have that money to pay for the car, and to be a groceries-buffer. Thank you, Adam. (When's it coming?)
Worries for another day. It's Christmas time in the "Krausehold."
And I'm keeping my brother awake with the key-clacking, so it's time for bed.
Love and hugs, and a Merry Christmahannukakwanzayule to all!
~Steph~