i was going to post about the holiday weekend sooner
but then I spent it writing 15000 words, plus 2000 more, and editing a 33000 word monstrosity of a story that I'm actually pretty proud of. The more I wrote Stiles, the more I got his voice down I think.
Why has the furnace not kicked on at work?
So turkey day food all turned out great. I have no idea why the thermometer was going down there in the end but the turkey was done and moist. Mom's new pecan piece was fantastic. You roast the pecans first and then instead of Caro syrup use maple syrup and a bit of molasses. She also used a gluten free crust that was surprisingly tasty.
After the meal we wrangled the tree upstairs. I'll need to replug it all together because mom and I were randomly unplugging any bits we could find to get it separated to move downstairs last year...or, y'know, in September.
Then football, napping, reading fanfic, eating more food, watching tv.
I planned to get up at six on Black Friday and I did, but that was after being awake for about ninety minutes as the weather shifted and the wind battered the house. I fear wind due to the many trees surrounding my house and I'm guessing there were some 40-50 mile and hour gusts.
Mom and I went to Penny's first and each got dad a sweater, then got in the very long line (at least 25 people in front of us), but the store had gotten very smart. I bet studies have shown that people with only one or two items in a long line may abandon them and leave, so they had a salesperson with a handheld credit card scanner going through the line for those people with just one item. So, we were out of there very quickly. Trips to World Market, Michaels, Bath & Body Works, and Pier One also took little time with non-existent to very short lines, though the stores were busy, so because most of the shops downtown weren't opening until 10:00 (our big department store was opening at 9:00 so we were going there first) and it was like 8:15, we went to Steak & Shake for coffee and, since I had still been stuffed from dinner and pie the night before and hadn't eaten breakfast I had about half a fruit yogurt parfait.
Got downtown and parked in the mostly empty parking garage for two hour free parking (It's a half block from the main shopping street so no one uses it because they're lazy I guess, but it's right in the middle of the six blocks and covered and free; I just don't get it). Mom figured she'd just pay the ticket rather than move the car as it's only $2, then we faced the horrible north wind. It was around 32 degrees and the windchill must have been around 10. The day before it was like 74.
I think the cold did keep the crowds out of downtown. Also, there were no KU home sporting events over the weekend and game goers often go downtown to shop and eat.
We did the south block shops (one guy even opened his store early when he saw us looking in the window and I discovered that a store I hadn't shopped at since I was thin in HIGH SCHOOL now has a line of plus size clothing! I still need it in skirts.) Went back to the car with packages and braved the north wind as we headed north. Mom even messed up her hair by wrapping her wool scarf around her head.
Ate at Ten (in the historic Eldridge Hotel) where I had a chicken salad with cranberries, feta and almonds and a garlic vinagrette. Ate only half of it but all the chicken, and then started back south. I bought several decorative items for myself and most of dad's gifts. I'd planned to get a certain local chocolate item at a store that has always sold it and they no longer were which sucked, as we'd gone in the other store already that I knew sold it.
Mom started to tire in the last block but that was amazing because usually she's tired after an hour or so and sitting on benches outside shops rather than shopping. Of course no one wanted to sit outside in that wind!
No ticket on the car!
Went to Hastings for comics and then the booze store for Irish for dad rather than wine because he has tons of wine, then home by 4:00.
Surprise, surprise, I napped. I also had recorded Days of Our Lives even though it said it wasn't new and it was an ep from about fifteen years ago which I hadn't seen, where John married Susan dressed up like Elvis. I wonder if they showed that ep because the actress is back on the show. Great to see some characters that have been long gone or replaced by different actors.
On Saturday I slept in till 8:30, watched Game Day, started editing my, at the time 18000 word fic, then met friends down at 715 for brunch. I got a parking place right out front! Wind had died down but it was still chilly. I had the locally made sausage with my whole wheat waffle and it had really good flavor, though kind of dry. Maybe they overcooked it? Hit a home decor store for some candlesticks I'd seen the day before but I'd been carrying a large bag at the time and found a gift for my impossible to buy for sister-in-law, then went to the other place I could get the chocolate and got a KU man cave plaque for my brother and a KU picture frame for my dad--there's a pic that will fit of my dad and brother from some Final Four in the early 90s where they were wearing these stupid cardboard Beak 'Em Jay hats I'm going to put in it.
Then headed back home and started writing and writing and writing...
And watching football.
Sunday I met with my pianist and rehearsed Bridge Over Troubled Water and was having problems early in the song and absolutely no issue with coming in at the right time on the "Sail on silver girl" verse. So, naturally in the performance I had no problem with the early sections and came in early...She covered so brilliantly even our choir director didn't catch it. My mom did, of course. Got lots of compliments; everyone loves that song. Met a new choir member--a high soprano which is great since our normal high soprano can only be available occasionally this year--then headed back home to write, write, write.
And watch the Chiefs lose again.
I also baked five dozen peanut butter cookies for Wednesday Night Dinner at church. Tonight I'm baking snickerdoodles.
Luckily I had my art for the big bang because my artist's internet went down and she couldn't post it. She had this problem back with the Once Upon A Bang, too, but I didn't have the art yet for that when I posted. She made dividers which I love so I incorporated all the art into the fic and the masterpost. I was beginning to worry I wouldn't get the fic done but finally managed it. Editing as I was writing helped. Now if someone would just read it...I'll probably load it to AO3 but because it's not Derek/Stiles, I doubt anyone there will read it either. I did get a lovely comment on my Buffy/Spike fic and have gotten some on the Buffy/Lucifer one so people do still read my Buffy fics. I wonder if I'll ever lose the ability to write those characters. It's like stepping into a pair of favorite old shoes.
I need to do my Wish List and put up my card post. I bought holiday stamps this morning and I have way too many cards. I found a couple boxes unopened from at least three years ago to go with the ten or so new ones and the half full ten or so. Sheesh. Remind me not to buy any new cards next year!
It feels weird to have nearly five weeks till Christmas. I'm not even going to decorate until this Saturday. I don't have any cookies to bake or candy to make since I can't eat any of it, though I'm going to bake several breads to give away as always, starting with banana bread this week as I have bananas going past ripe on my counter. Due to busy weekends, dad and I are going shopping for mom this Sunday and I'm going to order some things tonight, so I'll be all done hopefully except for picking up Wish List and Ho items.
Coming up in December we have the last KU football game of the year, the big choir holiday extravaganza (did I mention that we're not only singing the Charlie Brown Christmas song, but the duet of Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth that Bowie and Bing Crosby made famous?? I LOVE that song), the parent's big party, and then they're out of town the weekend in the middle, solstice service which we have not started planning at all, Christmas Eve service which we have music for and not even a theme (though our minister is supposed to be working on that while on a trip this week since she has this Sunday off so need to work on a sermon and the following week is the music service where she just has some readings and comments on songs) and then, y'know Christmas, and after that I'm giving a service on UU views on Jesus.
In amongst all that are several fics due, luckily none of them will be 33000 words.
I already feel very busy.
Oh, I did get SPN Season 7 for $9.99 from Amazon! I'm glad I waited! Or that no one bought it for me for my birthday. *g*
So, back to dieting. I don't think I gained anything but I wasn't all that good since Thursday. My blood sugar was okay, in the 120s mostly, though after walking so much on Friday it was 98 that night!
And now I have to file and do the monthly invoices...Yuck, work...
Why has the furnace not kicked on at work?
So turkey day food all turned out great. I have no idea why the thermometer was going down there in the end but the turkey was done and moist. Mom's new pecan piece was fantastic. You roast the pecans first and then instead of Caro syrup use maple syrup and a bit of molasses. She also used a gluten free crust that was surprisingly tasty.
After the meal we wrangled the tree upstairs. I'll need to replug it all together because mom and I were randomly unplugging any bits we could find to get it separated to move downstairs last year...or, y'know, in September.
Then football, napping, reading fanfic, eating more food, watching tv.
I planned to get up at six on Black Friday and I did, but that was after being awake for about ninety minutes as the weather shifted and the wind battered the house. I fear wind due to the many trees surrounding my house and I'm guessing there were some 40-50 mile and hour gusts.
Mom and I went to Penny's first and each got dad a sweater, then got in the very long line (at least 25 people in front of us), but the store had gotten very smart. I bet studies have shown that people with only one or two items in a long line may abandon them and leave, so they had a salesperson with a handheld credit card scanner going through the line for those people with just one item. So, we were out of there very quickly. Trips to World Market, Michaels, Bath & Body Works, and Pier One also took little time with non-existent to very short lines, though the stores were busy, so because most of the shops downtown weren't opening until 10:00 (our big department store was opening at 9:00 so we were going there first) and it was like 8:15, we went to Steak & Shake for coffee and, since I had still been stuffed from dinner and pie the night before and hadn't eaten breakfast I had about half a fruit yogurt parfait.
Got downtown and parked in the mostly empty parking garage for two hour free parking (It's a half block from the main shopping street so no one uses it because they're lazy I guess, but it's right in the middle of the six blocks and covered and free; I just don't get it). Mom figured she'd just pay the ticket rather than move the car as it's only $2, then we faced the horrible north wind. It was around 32 degrees and the windchill must have been around 10. The day before it was like 74.
I think the cold did keep the crowds out of downtown. Also, there were no KU home sporting events over the weekend and game goers often go downtown to shop and eat.
We did the south block shops (one guy even opened his store early when he saw us looking in the window and I discovered that a store I hadn't shopped at since I was thin in HIGH SCHOOL now has a line of plus size clothing! I still need it in skirts.) Went back to the car with packages and braved the north wind as we headed north. Mom even messed up her hair by wrapping her wool scarf around her head.
Ate at Ten (in the historic Eldridge Hotel) where I had a chicken salad with cranberries, feta and almonds and a garlic vinagrette. Ate only half of it but all the chicken, and then started back south. I bought several decorative items for myself and most of dad's gifts. I'd planned to get a certain local chocolate item at a store that has always sold it and they no longer were which sucked, as we'd gone in the other store already that I knew sold it.
Mom started to tire in the last block but that was amazing because usually she's tired after an hour or so and sitting on benches outside shops rather than shopping. Of course no one wanted to sit outside in that wind!
No ticket on the car!
Went to Hastings for comics and then the booze store for Irish for dad rather than wine because he has tons of wine, then home by 4:00.
Surprise, surprise, I napped. I also had recorded Days of Our Lives even though it said it wasn't new and it was an ep from about fifteen years ago which I hadn't seen, where John married Susan dressed up like Elvis. I wonder if they showed that ep because the actress is back on the show. Great to see some characters that have been long gone or replaced by different actors.
On Saturday I slept in till 8:30, watched Game Day, started editing my, at the time 18000 word fic, then met friends down at 715 for brunch. I got a parking place right out front! Wind had died down but it was still chilly. I had the locally made sausage with my whole wheat waffle and it had really good flavor, though kind of dry. Maybe they overcooked it? Hit a home decor store for some candlesticks I'd seen the day before but I'd been carrying a large bag at the time and found a gift for my impossible to buy for sister-in-law, then went to the other place I could get the chocolate and got a KU man cave plaque for my brother and a KU picture frame for my dad--there's a pic that will fit of my dad and brother from some Final Four in the early 90s where they were wearing these stupid cardboard Beak 'Em Jay hats I'm going to put in it.
Then headed back home and started writing and writing and writing...
And watching football.
Sunday I met with my pianist and rehearsed Bridge Over Troubled Water and was having problems early in the song and absolutely no issue with coming in at the right time on the "Sail on silver girl" verse. So, naturally in the performance I had no problem with the early sections and came in early...She covered so brilliantly even our choir director didn't catch it. My mom did, of course. Got lots of compliments; everyone loves that song. Met a new choir member--a high soprano which is great since our normal high soprano can only be available occasionally this year--then headed back home to write, write, write.
And watch the Chiefs lose again.
I also baked five dozen peanut butter cookies for Wednesday Night Dinner at church. Tonight I'm baking snickerdoodles.
Luckily I had my art for the big bang because my artist's internet went down and she couldn't post it. She had this problem back with the Once Upon A Bang, too, but I didn't have the art yet for that when I posted. She made dividers which I love so I incorporated all the art into the fic and the masterpost. I was beginning to worry I wouldn't get the fic done but finally managed it. Editing as I was writing helped. Now if someone would just read it...I'll probably load it to AO3 but because it's not Derek/Stiles, I doubt anyone there will read it either. I did get a lovely comment on my Buffy/Spike fic and have gotten some on the Buffy/Lucifer one so people do still read my Buffy fics. I wonder if I'll ever lose the ability to write those characters. It's like stepping into a pair of favorite old shoes.
I need to do my Wish List and put up my card post. I bought holiday stamps this morning and I have way too many cards. I found a couple boxes unopened from at least three years ago to go with the ten or so new ones and the half full ten or so. Sheesh. Remind me not to buy any new cards next year!
It feels weird to have nearly five weeks till Christmas. I'm not even going to decorate until this Saturday. I don't have any cookies to bake or candy to make since I can't eat any of it, though I'm going to bake several breads to give away as always, starting with banana bread this week as I have bananas going past ripe on my counter. Due to busy weekends, dad and I are going shopping for mom this Sunday and I'm going to order some things tonight, so I'll be all done hopefully except for picking up Wish List and Ho items.
Coming up in December we have the last KU football game of the year, the big choir holiday extravaganza (did I mention that we're not only singing the Charlie Brown Christmas song, but the duet of Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth that Bowie and Bing Crosby made famous?? I LOVE that song), the parent's big party, and then they're out of town the weekend in the middle, solstice service which we have not started planning at all, Christmas Eve service which we have music for and not even a theme (though our minister is supposed to be working on that while on a trip this week since she has this Sunday off so need to work on a sermon and the following week is the music service where she just has some readings and comments on songs) and then, y'know Christmas, and after that I'm giving a service on UU views on Jesus.
In amongst all that are several fics due, luckily none of them will be 33000 words.
I already feel very busy.
Oh, I did get SPN Season 7 for $9.99 from Amazon! I'm glad I waited! Or that no one bought it for me for my birthday. *g*
So, back to dieting. I don't think I gained anything but I wasn't all that good since Thursday. My blood sugar was okay, in the 120s mostly, though after walking so much on Friday it was 98 that night!
And now I have to file and do the monthly invoices...Yuck, work...