Dear Neighbors:
In case you took the time to glance away from the TV long enough to look out your window and see me staggering around the yard with electrical cords, let me just clarify: I’m not drunk, I’m festive! The staggering was because of my blood sugar again. I thought I was just being especially clumsy in the snow; it wasn’t til I went inside and peered at my kitchen in that fisheyed way that I realized what was up. Heather came home and found me on a chair in the corner, half-asleep, untangling wires from big metal stars. But the lights are up! And we are ready for Christmas, dammit! Sometimes I surprise myself. For such a hugely geeky control freak, I can be absolutely halfassed about certain things. Witness me stomping the extension cord into the snow so the neighbors don’t shovel it up while they dig the mailperson’s pathway from house to house. Witness me stringing four short extension cords together and draping them carelessly along the baseboards in an open invitation to an electrical fire. Please don’t tell my dad. He’d be so ashamed, and I’d be in for a lecture. So I ventured out afterwards with my laptop in tow, hoping to do some quality work at the coffeeshop with minimal distractions. The weather is horrible; it’s like this heavy-duty fog that leaves everything coated in a thin layer of ice. Who but me would be stupid enough to venture out for coffee when it means risking their lives? All of south Minneapolis, apparently. I almost had to arm-wrestle my way into a place to sit, but luckily the holiday-sweatered bookclub ladies saw my menacing stance and cleared the giant armchair but quick. And now I’m back at my usual table, and only the regulars are left, and many things have been crossed off the omnipresent to-do list. All is well. There’s a lot going on, but most of it is interesting only to me. That may cause you to ask how that differs from anything else I post here, and I would have to tell you to shut up. Here are some quick notes about these things:- I had one contract cut, I walked out on a second (and felt very happily empowered because of it), and I’m extending a third. Last week was all about work upset, and this week it’s looking up. Things work themselves out if you just keep moving.
- I put Heather in charge of our social lives for the rest of the holidays. My job is to keep my calendar up-to-date, hers is to make arrangements with friends and fill in my calendar accordingly. She’s good like that.
- I was thinking about New Year’s resolutions today. I decided I’m not doing them next year, but I will just issue myself some much-needed reminders about the way things work. I have, however, updated my life to-do list. I may also post this list. I guess you’ll find out.
- I would like someone to design me a superawesome gemini tattoo, please.
- I’m winning at the Y again this month. I swear to god, it’s not intentional. I only had to win once. Those other slackers just need to work harder.
- I hurt. Everywhere. Yes, even there.
- The problem with wanting to be a regular everywhere you go is that it greatly increases the amount of time you spend at those places. It took me a hour and a half to run an errand that should’ve taken me 45 minutes at most (Whole Foods and coffee). Lesson learned: when you make a point of getting to know everyone you see on a regular basis, you then end up spending a lot of time talking to them afterwards.
- Not that I mind talking, obviously.
- I took my mom shopping on Sunday, and we had the best time ever. I introduced her to everyone, and they had no choice but to like her, because she’s my mom, and she rules. I’m trying to convince her that she should stick to shopping in the city. It’s an ongoing challenge for the woman who almost cried when I told her she wasn’t allowed to buy me things from Sam’s Club anymore.
- I’m staying in town for New Year’s. Heather is going to DC. She let me stay here on the condition I would have an absolutely depraved time while she was gone. She has nothing to worry about, because I am a pro.
Jenni