Because one of the things about having Kay Howard as a role model is that you don't learn to do cute things with people's Christmas gifts

Not true.

carve ornaments out of soap

Of course, you could use John Dillinger as a role model and carve guns out of soap, instead!

Yeah, that's true.

My mail carrier is friendly, but not too bright. I ran into him yesterday and he asked if he'd left a package slip for me recently. "Um, no, but I am waiting on a package." "Oh, I think I have a package for you sitting next to my locker. I didn't catch you the last couple of days but I guess I didn't leave a package slip."

Sigh.

SS gift might make it before New Years.

Could be worse, aurelia. I found a notice on my mailbox this morning reading:

"Customers: mailboxes tilt out all at one time, but mailboxes do not stay tilted to disperse mail in. There boxes consider unsafe for until problem is resolved mail is held at post office."

Ookay.

Gotta love Chicago mail service.

Last week I got a "we're sorry you've declined your contract" e-mail from my summer job. I had to reply saying I never received a contract.

Eek, aurelia, here's hoping they will cheer in relief at that!

I am Very Proud, I managed to go buy my secret santa presents this evening (and one last present for the brother-in-law!). Now if I can just manage to find a box, and some tape, and go to the post office....

You know, you don't have to go to the post office if you have a place where you can leave a package for the mailman to pickup. I did the postage online, printed the label, paid with a credit card and the mailman who delivers at my office picked it up. No waiting in line.

Oh blast, my Secret Santa gift won't be going out until after I get back from vacation. Santee, I'm very sorry, especially since you live far away and it may take a while to get to you, but hopefully it will be a lovely Happy First Week Or So Of The New Year gift!

And to *my* Santa, I'm leaving town tomorrow to visit family in the Midwest and will be back next Friday, so (a) no rush, and (b) if it comes while I'm gone, I won't get to squee about it here for a few days.

My 2007 in review:

It's definitely been a good year for me. I took a couple of fantastic trips (India, Senegal) for friends' weddings and also went to my first big professional conference (ALA Annual in DC -- which reminds me to ask: any Buffista librarians planning to go to ALA this summer in Anaheim?). I accomplished several things at my job that I'm very proud of, including establishing a Teen Advisory Board that boasts 15 members and writing a successful grant application for $20,000. I finished the last of my classes for grad school and now I only have to do my two practicums next semester before I graduate in the spring. I also started dating again this spring, after a prolonged hiatus, and though I haven't met The One yet, I've made one good new friend and regained some confidence in myself, so I'm looking forward to what the new year will bring in that regard. 2008, I've got a good feeling about you.

I am completely Daisy Jane on the mailing. And the leaving the package for pickup is no good, because we're not supposed to do that at work and the weather is not conducive to leaving it out at home, unless it's small enough to fit in the mail box, which most of my packages seem not to be. Hence, the no seekrit santa this year. I find that I'm a bit mellower but not nearly as much in the Christmas spirit. I'm not sure whether the tradeoff is worth it or not.

But I will! Because the house we just bought is just up the street from where we were! Come visit my house and my puppy!

I thought your new house was way out in the burbs, Sparky. Did you end up with a different place? I know you sent an address, but DC addresses don't mean much to me IRT locations.