I am not myself right now. After a very stressful work week, involving a department re-org, fighting staff members and a revelation into what may be down the road for me, I am worn-out and exhausted. I’ve worked in a lot of stressful environments, sometimes it’s unavoidable, but I will never understand the need to step on others on the way to the top. In my opinion, it stems from a total lack of self-esteem. This may work for them in the short term, but long term, it’s like pissing without a pot. Sorry for the crude analogy.

With another stressful week ahead and this also being production week for Alice in Wonderland, I am taking today to re-charge, re-group and re-focus on what’s important. My family and friends are important. This includes all of you who stop by to comment and also includes those of you that lurk. I know you’re out there and I appreciate all of you.

My mantra this week is: What goes around, comes around.

To start the morning off, I had my favorite breakfast which consisted of crispy bacon, eggs over easy, gluten-free toast and three cups of cinnamon coffee (yikes)! I will be helping The Girl with her Superstar poster, dragging The Boy out of bed and then I am off to buy something just for me.

Tomorrow, the dreaded Monday and the beginning to what may be the most horrible week ever, I plan to hit the gym (2nd visit and my body didn’t collapse into the quivering heap I expected it to). There is a punching bag there that I may get to know personally. Just sayin’.

Cheers!! Have a good week!

I love long weekends. Since I inevitably end up spending an entire day running errands, it’s nice to have a third day to actually make it feel like a normal weekend.  So yesterday, instead of errands, we hit the Getty. The Getty has some amazing views, which happened to be the ONLY thing my family showed an interest in.

As I wandered the exhibits, I vowed to never let The Hub wear his Packer sweatshirt out in public again. I can’t tell you how many conversations about football took place inside of those quiet galleries. That’s just wrong. It’s an ongoing joke in my family because wherever we go, he is always sporting some piece of clothing that someone feels the need to comment on. Even the museum staff struck up conversations. Please!

A the end of the day, we caught this spectacular sunset and never wanted to leave. Except, that everyone was starving so we made the tram ride down and hit a local spot for take-out.

Today, it’s football for us. I hope to get some reading in while all the football craziness goes on around me. I am reading The Stranger’s Child, which is really, really good and very interesting to read right after The Marriage Plot, which I have yet to review.

Other things I am thinking about right now:

• The university where I work opened this gigantic recreation center and I am considering membership. I get to work at 6am so it would be nice to workout first thing and get it over and down with. It’s a student rec center but I think I’ll miss the crowds at that hour. Still thinking about it.  It’s quite expensive for faculty and staff though which is why I hesitate.
• Production week for Alice in Wonderland is at the end of this month. With two kids in the show and two different schedules to work with, plus my own backstage schedule (I work backstage for the show), I’m not sure how I will get the kids there, fed, taken home, etc. This is The Boy’s 9th show so he has the routine down and I don’t worry about him so much, but The Girl will be completely overwhelmed. She is the one that needs to be told 10x to do something so her being in the dressing room, and me being on stage is going to be interesting. I’m dreading it.

Anyway, that’s about it for me. Have a wonderful week!

The Odds by Stewart O’Nan (my first O’Nan!)
The Stranger’s Child by Alan Hollinghurst

Other things on my mind:

1. The Big Bang Theory is one of the best shows, ever.
2. That working a 5-day work week is draining on many levels.
3. That the friends I am closest to, live too far away. Between this blog and Facebook, I’ve come across some amazing people.
4. That cooking healthy meals is easy, but expensive. It shouldn’t be that way.
5. That I can  never overdose from too much Doris Day. Add Rock Hudson and I’m in heaven.
6. That the production of “Alice” that my kids are in, is just around the corner and things are about to get very hectic.

Today, I need to run a few errands but then it’s me on the couch for the rest of the day. I made a huge pot of white bean soup for supper. It’s not a “soup” kind of day but it will be good anyway. What do you have planned?

As the end of the year approaches, I find myself thinking about what will make “this year’s” list and what book will begin next year’s list. I’m not talking “best of” lists quite yet, just thinking about what books to end the year with. Are you thinking about that too? I set a goal for myself on Goodreads, to read 60 books this year. I am at 75 right now (not yet recorded) but will probably read at least three more before the year ends, maybe more. Since I didn’t get to that King book over Thanksgiving, that is probably what I will end the year with. How about you?

For me, that last book should be pure fun. However, the first book of the year has the potential to set the tone for the rest of the year. Maybe I am being too anal about it, but this stuff is fun to me. I guess that is what sets me (and the rest of us) apart from the average reader.

Enough about reading. Ha!

Last night, we met-up with friends, ate cookies to our heart’s content, listened to Christmas Carols and cruised around to look at Christmas lights. It was a beautiful, mild evening and it was nice to spend some time with friends.

Today, I have to hit the mall to finish-up my shopping. I went yesterday but the mall had a “snow” day and it was packed. I couldn’t even get into the parking lot so I am hoping that today isn’t as bad. Later, we are hitting my in-law’s to watch football. I may bring my Christmas cards with me because I forgot to send them out last week and they haven’t even been addressed.

Tomorrow, the long-awaited review for 1Q84 posts. It took me forever to write it because it was so hard to convey the feeling that I had while reading it but I think it’s finally the way I want it to be.

Right now I am helping The Girl write a Cereal Box book report. It’s mostly fun, but takes quite a bit of time. I am so glad it will be done and turned in BEFORE winter break. Nothing worse than having homework over break.

Have a great Sunday!! Hope you are enjoying a nice breakfast and some delicious coffee or some other yummy drink.

This weekend we puppy sat for eleven, Golden Retriever pups (6 weeks old), her mama, a German Shepherd and a Yorkie. Let me tell you, those pups are pooping machines. I have never seen so much doggie doo. Very cute and chubby, but with eleven of them, one of them is always pooping or peeing.

On the home front, I got up this morning to do a little Christmas shopping, saw that the Otter Pup left me a little present of her own so I bent over to pick it up and there went  my back. I collapsed, completely unable to move and what is in front of me?  Her freakin’  care package. There is nothing quite like writhing on the floor in pain next to a pile of doggie doo. Of course, the Hub was washing the car so I was like that for quite some time. The Girl finally ran out and told him this, “Mom poked herself!” Wha?? How did she get that from all my screaming.

I’m pooped.

Now I am on the couch, unable to move. The Girl keeps asking me, “When are we going shopping?” and I can barely hold this laptop on my lap without wincing in pain. It sort of feels as if it will pop back into place and I am hoping it does because I had planned to finish my shopping today. Might not happen.

Thank goodness I got the stew going in the Crock-Pot before all this happened. Later, we are just watching football and maybe I can get some reading in. Maybe.  Since I am having trouble typing this I am going to cut this short, but Happy Sunday to all of you. Hope you are enjoying a nice cup of coffee and the paper.

I can see my paper across the room, maybe some kind soul will bring it to me.