I am slowly getting on the fake tree bandwagon. Every year we buy a tree and I not only bitch and moan about the needles and the cleanup, I wheeze and sniffle and am generally uncomfortable for the first few days we have it.

Yay to Ailleann! Sending you much dieting~ma.

And to Laura! Although, good god, I'm glad I'm not trying that. I don't think I could even choke it down.

Kristin, the answer is to obviously take *off* your pants.

Kristin, the answer is to obviously take *off* your pants.

I think that might count as a uniform violation.

I think that might count as a uniform violation.

Crankyskirt?

I have a problem. You see, I went to Target last night to buy Xmas stuff. And I managed to do that (okay, only one item, but still), but then I was waylaid by the shoes. And I was forced -- FORCED!, I tell you! -- to buy these. Yes, I know they aren't leather, and I don't care. They look cool and they fit and I can walk in them.

My problem? Now I need a long swoopy skirt to wear them with.

You can see how I suffer.

They are lovely Teppy. I can see why you are suffering now.

Poor, poor Teppy!

Laura, I am in awe of your will power. A woman in my book group has been under a doctor supervised fast for at least three months now as part of a program to, well, re-program her eating habits by totally getting rid of all eating. I can't quite imagine fasting with someone else in the house eating!

My first real challenge was going to the movies with the boys Sunday. They all munched popcorn. Not a single piece for me. Although it is easier now that I'm not hungry anymore. I cook for the kids, DH plows down pizza. As long as I see progress in the scale, and my overall health, I can do this. (she says confidently after only 5 days)

Laura, you'll only consume a mix of water, maple syrup, lemon, and cayenne pepper for a whole month? Isn't that dangerous?

I've never been able to fast. It's one of those things I aspire to.

Love the boots, Tep. Very nice choice.

I went to Target today to buy a teapot (see? Target! and Teapot!) and they didn't have the one I wanted. They have it on their website, blast it.

Anyway, tonight is Nick's Chinese feast. Kung Pao Chicken, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Sesame Garlic Pork with Pea pods and other good things in. Egg rolls to start and mini-cream puffs for dessert, all served with Jasmine Green Tea. So, not finding any cool Chinese teacups/pot that I could afford, I ended up buying candle holders. They're so perfectly cool and heat resistant! I have a teapot. It's not Asian looking, but it will do.

This is the one I wanted: [link]

I also got shoes for Kara and Aidan (on sale! and they light up!) and snow boots for Greg. We have about 6 inches in our yard.

I need to get busy cooking.

In sooper seekrit news, one of my gal pals is pregnant. She has 2 year old twin boys, for which she underwent two rounds of IVF and an ectopic pregancy that took out one of her fallopian tubes. She hasn't had a period in 8 years. Suddenly, the OTC tests are all telling her she's having a baby.

Whenever no one is in earshot, I call her "Mary" and say things like, "it's the season for miracles, ya know!"

Fortunately, we know each other well enough and I impressed upon her that I was hoping for the best possible news from the doctor, that she hasn't killed me for this. Yet.