December 23, 2007

So, apparently you can ward off sickness, by wishing it away. Or so I'd like to think... I'm not sick for the holidays! That is something very few at my workplace are able to say. Therefore, I'm here at the family house and we're decking the place out. I put up the Christmas tree last Sunday and this week, siblings keep stopping by to wrap gifts and put them under the tree. Our gifts this year, instead of guessing, are based solely on what people need. It helps us control our excesses and focus on being helpful for sure. Right now, Aaron and Joel are outside putting up Christmas lights. That's right! Joel who got in town late last night after driving in from Penn State all day and Aaron who is up and walking now after his lawnmower accident. Aaron is cleared for all activities, still attends PT 3 times a week, and is doing very well. He has a bit of a limp and the surgeries will come, but not for a year or so. 500 days is the recovery time for this injury. Like in April, he has exercises and stretches and soreness to deal with in his foot every morning. I'm sure he's glad to be over the hardest part and living life much like his old self.

As for other little snippets of the past months...

Last weekend it snowed! It doesn't usually snow much or last long here, and the 8in. we got were the most since 2002! It lasted 4-5 days before the 50 degree weather crept in and melted it all at night. During the storm, we had an interesting phenomena happen in Thundersnow. There was thunder and lightening and it was snowing... Soooo odd.

Tuesday night, I went with some friends to see Wicked at the Fox! It was a great show and I'd love to see it again. I appreciated it so much having read the book and though it was changed a bit, I'm glad it had a happy ending.

Parties and more! Have been pleasantly surprised by the little pleasantries awarded at my new job. Little perks and giftcards, bonuses and 1/2 days as a matter of celebrating the holidays and encouraging employees to have a good time as well as rewarding folks for a job well done. It's working on me! I'm looking forward to having Monday and Tuesday off, then a three day week and then Mon and Tues next week for New Years!!!!!!!

Family time is nice htis time of year. My older brother and sister are coming in to see Joel and we're all going to play spades and drink tonight. Together time is really the focus here, the drinking is just part of the party. We got a few different bottles of wine we'd like to try out all in the name of finding a good wine for the rehearsal dinner for the wedding.

Dress finding! I've been out searching high and low for a dress for the wedding for me and one for my bridesmaids. I think the bridesmaid's one is set, and I'm 90% sure I've found mine. I'm going to put that one all on hold for now until Joel heads back to PA, which isn't for 3 weeks. YAY. It'll be like we're actually going out or something.

Reception.... We found a place! It's going to be great. I went to a tasting there last month and am going again this month just because. The food was amazing. The chef lived up to his reputation and experience from having worked at the Ritz Carlton. After my experience at the farm, I enjoy food and can say that I enjoyed the culinary tastes this chef has to offer!!! A feat, I wasn't sure I'd be able to find in a reception hall for sure.

Weight Loss Challenge. The end is coming to this challenge of 4 months. I'd have to say that losing any weight over the time period makes it an accomplishment and well worth the effort. I'm a little over 5 pounds down and that's probably more than I would have done had we not been in the competition. Others are down considerably more, Aaron for one, so we're not sure exactly how valid this competition really has been with a catastrophic event taking place during it. Half of us couldn't eat for a month, others couldn't stop eating in the worry. After a short break, we may start another one in all measures of fairness.

Family... It'll be sad not spending Christmas with friends at the farm and family in Hawaii. I feel like I'm wanting to be here, there and everywhere at this time of year to say hello to friends and family from all over.

This year and beyond. For Christmas, I've told my family that we'll reveal our plans for after we get married, where Joel will be come graduation and the date of the wedding, which is a secret to all but Joel and I. They haven't liked waiting for these 2 1/2 months, but I'm finding that it's been the best plan all along. We've had the luxury of being able to switch things around and adjust and theorize and such without pressure.

Anyways, it's been a quick and wonderful December. I've loved going out to buy gifts, write cards (which I'm still writing), and getting in the Christmas mood with Christmas music.

Happy Holidays!