I am, in a way, more excited about Christmas this year than last year.
We had a wonderful wonderful Christmas in NYC last year. This year we are spending it in Chicago which I am very much looking forward to.
I have realised WHY I am looking forward to it more. It's in the giving. And for me especially giving to Daniel, my wonderful husband.
Last year we scrimped and saved to go to NYC and bought each other one present each. I LOVE the present he bought me, it was a key and padlock necklace from an NYC Christmas market. I wear it all the time.
I bought him a peanuts t shirt and a gold plated bookmark with the word believe cut out of it - a la Polar Express.
I am excited this year that we can afford to travel and buy each other a little more.
Not because I am selfish and want presents but because I love making him happy, even with materialistic things. The feeling of giving to him fills me with warmth.
l So yesterday was Thanksgiving. We spent it with our friend Amy and another co worker Courtney. I baked a cherry pie and made my own cranberry sauce which was fun and I was thankful they both turned out well!
The day after Thanksgiving is known as 'Black Friday' and the sales are crazy, people camp out to get the best deals with most places opening 5am.
We chose to go to one of my favorite clothing stores, Old Navy, who were giving away Lego Rock Band if you spent $20...they opened at 3am and we got there around 2am. No, we don't have a wii but aew hopefully getting one at Christmas if I have been a good girl hee hee.
Anyways we didn't get there early enough - the first 25 people in line were given wrist bands to use to get the game at the check out.
Still an experience though and just a bit of fun! Here I am waiting in the cold.
We then came home and slept and then around lunch time picked up Daniel's pay check and did a bit more sales shopping. Some crazy deals out there, like 50% off the whole store. We didn't buy a lot but I got a sweater dress and knitted wrap around at the 3am sale, a bra (down from $14 to $3) $1 socks, and Daniel got a shirt and dvd box set half price.
My knee is really sore tonight...all the shopping was too much and it is ACHING. I have iced it and taken ibuprofen so not a lot else I can do.
I will leave you with this lovely husband of mine...
I have to say I absolutely love Christmas. Ok, I am not one of those fanatics you see in the paper who decorates their house year round or anything, but I love this season. It just so magical.
I am feeling very festive today which is a little unlike me! In the sense that it is still a little early! Here, Thanksgiving (which is in 6 days) signifies the start of it all. Most people seem to put up the tree after Thanksgiving - and we did last year too.
Last year we had a tiny little real tree which I loved because we never had real trees growing up. It was so cute, we just put lights on it, and the occasional candy cane!
I am already wanting to watch Christmas movies!
I have finished the shoe box for Operation Christmas Child. In it is a notebook, crayons, hat, gloves. socks, soap, toothbrush and paste, cuddly toy, a sparkly headband, a loofah, a pink pen, and gummy bears. I hope it makes a child very happy. I plan to do this every year.
Yesterday we had planned a little suprise birthday lunch for our co worker - we usually celebrate any of our birthdays at the end of the month. As I went to the cafeteria to that fridge I slipped on the VERY wet floor. Seriously my trouser leg was soaked when I got up. My knee came up in a big golf ball lump. Any injuries that happen at school they must cover the medical costs so they took me to urgent care to get it checked. It is not too bad and definitely much better today, the swelling is going down. Having sprained my ankle twice in the past, I am glad it wasn't worse for me.
Why is life like this? One thing after another. You figure out and deal with something and feel great. Then something else comes along that you just can't understand. Or know how to deal with. It puts a black cloud over your day.
We decided yesterday that we will spend Christmas in Chicago this year and I am VERY excited. At first I was tempted to go for a second year in NYC, but we both felt it would be better to spend the money visiting somewhere different. I have always wanted to visit Chicago. I first applied for a job there before applying for the program I am on now.
So when Daniel went to work I started researching. I wanted to know what was going on there at Christmas. The more I read, the more I got excited. There are ice rinks, a traditional German market (close to our hearts ever since we visited Cologne in Germany near to Christmas), a Winterfest at the Navy Pier on Lake Michigan. Also I would love to visit the Sears Tower (as seen in the movie Ferris Buellers Day Off).
As I was browsing, I found what I thought looked like a great deal on a hotel - Hard Rock Hotel Chicago - $111 a night! (about 70 pounds). We checked out the reviews and went ahead and booked it with the money we have been saving. We came here with travel in mind and I want to see out those plans as we will be going home in the summer of 2010.
We were reading up about the hotel and I clicked on a link under services and amenities called Check In Rock Out. I figured it was about checking in and out and they were just keeping it in the vain of the hotel theme. Turns out you can (free of charge) take guitars of the highest quality to your room to play...the rooms are sound proof! Daniel is so looking forward to that! I am just hoping to get some sleep haha!
Not a lot to report in the daily life side of things. Today is Veteran's Day (remembrance day)and we get a day off for that, for which I am grateful. I am grateful to the military near and far for what they do.
I am going to do Operation Christmas Child - even just one shoebox. You fill it with toys, candy and toothpaste etc for a child in a country that is in poverty. I have so much in my life, I feel this is something close to my heart. I encourage you to check in out.
I will leave you with the Chicago skyline....
Saturday, 10 October 2009
An update has been demanded so here it is.
School (work) is so crazy. We are all feeling the pinch of budget cuts. I am exhausted all the time, despite taking vitamins and sleeping at every opportunity. Sometimes I wish our school was a later start school and I could sleep til 7 not 5. This would make me much happier. Don't get me wrong, I love my children but this is tough. Less budget. Less Assistants. More children.
Daniel has been shadowing the house manager in preparation for his new role which begins tonight. Here he is in his suit....
I really feel the whole thing of the USA not having half terms - the first real break is the end of November for Thanksgiving - and that is 3 days off. I think it is too long for both teachers and students to be working to their full potential.
It has been a little while since I wrote. Someone on UK Scrappers sent me a message saying how they had enjoyed reading my blog and I thought I had better update!
We went over to the UK for my Nan's funeral service. I felt I wanted to be there and honor her memory.
We were so fortunate financially that some good things happened in the money department that month enabling us to go. The flights cost $1600 - or 1000 pounds.
The way there, we left on a Friday right after school - Charlotte to Philadelphia then Philadelphia to Heathrow. This flight was not so bad as I had been up since 5am and slept through most of it, only waking up to eat or stretch the legs.
The jet lag hit us hard, Daniel much worse as he didn't sleep on the plane at all really.
Here are some of the highlights.... Daniel enjyed chilling with his family cats - Boots (above) and Cwtchi (below)
It was great to catch up with friends - even if brief.
Bryher (above) who has lost a huge amount of weight since I last saw her. I follow her blog but was great to see her in person.
And my best friend (or UKBFF) Natasha and her daugter Keira, who I havent seen on over a year. It was so much fun playing with Keira, last I saw her she was 5 months or so. She wanted stories and playing and songs - it was a lot of fun. It was awesome catching up with Natasha - we have been friends since we were 16 and it never feels like we have been apart.
Me with my Grandparents
My Nan's funeral flowers. On the way home (loooong direct flight) it hit me and I burst into tears. Daniel just held me while I tried to sob quietly.
The funeral went as well as these things can. My Dad is a Minister and wanted to conduct it himself. He was so composed, but warm and sweet. I also gave my tribute and was glad to be there to do so. My Nan left me her eternity ring in her will which is really special to me.
We saw much more family than in the pics - aunts and uncles and cousins as well as our immediate families.
Things here are going well, my little (or big) class of 18 - 3 more than last year - is a sweet class.
I am so proud of Daniel, who this week was asked if he would like to be promoted from floor manager to house manager of 2 of the theatres in the group of theatres that he works for. He of course said yes, though I know he is a little daunted at being 'the boss' he will still get to work regular shifts as well. He works hard and is awesome at his job, recently getting a letter of recomendation from a patron.
