I am overwhelm-ed by the generosity of my fabulous Secret Santa Teppy, thanks to whom I am right now drinking Peppermint Patty peppermint cocoa and listening to one of two fantastic Christmas CD mixes, while admiring Serenity/FF swag, including the much-coveted-by-me Serenity keychain (!)

A few minutes ago, I was happily arranging adorable little glass bubble magnets with different pictures (sort of retro) and words (and a monkey!) on my fridge while munching on some peppermint bark. Later today, I'll be drinking some lovely Earl Grey tea after having showered with Villainess Sudz amazing-smelling soap, while chatting with the gold devil rubber ducky that will be sitting on the ledge. And everyone will be nice to me, because they'll have read my "Don't make me get my flying monkeys" sticker. Ha!!

Many of these things were packed in a v. cute snowman box. All of these things are making me smile. There may even be bouncing. There is definitely singing along to the music. Thank you so very much, Steph! For the card, the gifts, and the thoughtfulness that went into making this stupendous Secret Santa box of goodies. Did I mention how much I love the CD mixes? Because I do.

Peppermint Patty peppermint cocoa

That sounds so yum!

Oh, yay! You got it in time for Christmas! I was hoping you would, so that the CDs would still be timely. You are VERY welcome!

The Villainess soap choices were based on what you said in your Deena-facilitated questionnaire -- even though the one is called "Sweat," it was described as melon-ish, and "Pangaea" sounds like a hodgepodge of scents, but it sounded like something you might like, according to the all-powerful questionnaire. (Which is also where I obtained the seekrit knowledge about the peppermint bark and the tea.)

including the much-coveted-by-me Serenity keychain (!)

Oh, yay! I was afraid that maybe you might have had one already. I got it at the preview showing, along with the other little bits of FF swag -- the magnets/stickers were made by (I think) the southern Ohio Browncoats, and handed out at the preview in goodie bags.

The magnets are my one Martha Stewart-esque craft-creating skill. A *lot* of people on my list are getting magnets this year. (A certain UmFriend got one that says "dildos." It made him chortle with disturbing glee.)

I can testify to Teppy doing superb magnets. I have a bunch of them on my fridge.

The magnets are my one Martha Stewart-esque craft-creating skill.

You made the magnets??!?! They are so fabulous!

The Villainess soap choices were based on what you said in your Deena-facilitated questionnaire

Oh, they smell sooooo wonderful. Cannot wait to use... actually, right about now. Whee!

(And the keychain, well, I think I did a little dance of Serenity-keychain-having, if I'm to be completely honest.)

That sounds so yum!

So yum!

The magnets are my one Martha Stewart-esque craft-creating skill.

You made the magnets??!?! They are so fabulous!

Awwww, thanks! Trust me -- it's the only arts-and-crafts skill I possess.

The Villainess soap choices were based on what you said in your Deena-facilitated questionnaire

Oh, they smell sooooo wonderful. Cannot wait to use... actually, right about now. Whee!

I ordered Pangaea soap for myself, too, and used it in the shower just about an hour ago. It's yummy without being overpowering. I keep smelling my arm.

And now I have to wrap all the family presents, and the ones for my girlfriends, since we're having a Very Girly Xmas Dinner in 3 hours and exchanging gifts. (The girlfriends are *also* getting Villainess soaps and devil duckies, along with candles and a CD I made called "Tub Tunes," with mellow music on it.) Must. Wrap. Now.

I also can attest to the coolness of the Steph magnets. I love mine and am constantly having to protect them from Kara, who also loves them and wants to take them away to play with.

Anne, the Hasui card is incredibly beautiful--I may frame it. Thank you!

Deena, the bookmark is gorgeous. It is not, however, marking place in a book. It's hanging up, suspended from the shade of the reading lamp, so that it dangles in the light, swaying gently in the breeze from the ceiling fan. Thank you.

Oh, you're welcome. I'm glad you like it.

The last year and a half has been one of the hardest periods in my life. I'm not sure when it'll be better. It will probably take at least 'til mid-way through 2006 to start turning around. Had to move twice in one year (moving is always a bitch when you're disabled). Have been living on a construction site for a year and have had my stuff stolen, fucked up, etc. all year long. Little privacy, and I'm quite the homebody. Work sucking like hell. Personal life pretty crappy. Health crappy. After three years of keeping off weight, the stress this year made it climb right back up and I haven't been able to shake it.

I guess this year has been about growth. Lessons. My never-ending battle to try to develop a more positive way of looking at the world instead of the negative one I was raised with. Even though it has been a far more traumatic process than I ever bargained on, I may possibly have a better housing situation come out of this. I may be a homeowner. I've got a roof over my head and a lot of people don't. My working class lifestyle, although I resent it, is far cushier than the lifestyle of the majority of humans on this planet. I'll keep trying to be a better person, I'll keep trying to see the good side of things, I'll keep trying to not just be an okay person, but to get in touch with my joy again and be less narcissistic.