December 17, 2004

 

Back again.  Burned the last batch of fudge.  It was bizarre.  Fudge not boiling yet, sat down for 3 minutes, got up to check it and it was seriously charred BUT the brand new candy thermometer still read 10 degrees below the temp where I should take it off the stove.  That's after three perfect batches.

 

Stupid Diet.

 

No doubt, my share was in that pan.

 

Now just popcorn balls, divinity, potato candy and Rice Krispie treats to go. 

 

Got the kids all finished with their own Christmas shopping.  They got to spend $3-4 each on each other.   It was fun.  Got the ornaments made, which was also fun.  Tomorrow morning, we'll frost sugar cookies, then I'll go to town to finalize before Santa comes tomorrow night.

 

The Mercury Retrograde (link is below) has everyone saying really weird shit. It's fairly interesting as long as I'm not on the receiving end of some whack job whine fest.  It's bizarre how that particular retrograde gains a lot of power right as it's going direct again (on the 20th).  It's like a last hurrah.

 

Heard back from Broker #2, who spoke with Appraiser #2 who is evidently more familiar with the comps in this area than Appraiser #1 and therefore, Broker #1.  Broker #2 seemed extremely confident that he could get an appraisal that would work out for us, so Broker #1 is likely going to not hear from us for a bit.  Broker #2 said we would likely hear from Appraiser #2 to set up an appointment and that she does her homework so well that she won't even come up for an appointment unless she is sure she can get us a good appraisal.  That works for me.  And of course, we're supposed to hear from Appraiser #2 when?  On Monday, when Mercury goes direct.  :)  After two weeks, that's when it finally starts to swing into action again.

 

If you happen to be tracking the candy making progress, we are at the pause in which pans soak after Rice Krispie treats and caramelized, charcoaled would-have-been-peanut-butter-fudge has adhered unforgiving to them.  A little soak should do them well.  I was going to move headlong into divinity, popcorn balls and potato candy, but each one is a process in and of itself and I made a promise to me that I would be in bed by 1am, so I'm going to leave it at washing these pans, then do the rest tomorrow.  Eric won't likely be up and around until after 10 anyway and kiddies will present sometime between 5:30 and 7:00am.

 

The sugar cookies are already baked (thank you, Miss Delena), so I'll just make the buttercream frosting and hand the kids butter knives and sprinkle and have them go for it.  While they are doing that, I can set the syrup boiling for the popcorn balls and divinity while I start boiling potatoes for the potato candy.  One goal I have for this year is to have all of the Christmas cooking actually done by the morning we open presents.  For the past several years, I've been slacking and haven't gotten some of the candy made until days after.  It's a task, that's for sure. 

 

Just tonight's makings used up nearly 2 pounds of butter, 2 bags of marshmallows, a box of Rice Krispies and 12 cups of sugar.  Yes, folks, every Winter Solstice, I poison my kids a bit.  A lot of it will go home with David, who will take some to Josh and his family.

 

I have two big goals for tomorrow, in addition to getting the rest of the kids' shopping done. One is to find iron on transfer paper for my printer and the other is to get a copy of the Barbie DVD, "Princess and the Pauper," which I promised to the Grandgirls. 

 

The survey that I filled out below was the third time this week the subject of "if I had a million dollars" has come up.  Personally, I think it is an omen.  :) 

 

To wit, I am dedicating this song, "If I Had A Million Dollars," by Barenaked Ladies, to the powers that be so-est they might see fit to grant me my own million dollars.  And with that, I have just enough time to scrub out heavy pots and get to bed by 1am.

 

Happy weekend,

Katrina

 

If I had a million dollars
(If I had a million dollars)
I'd buy you a house
(I would buy you a house)
If I had a million dollars
(If I had a million dollars)
I'd buy you furniture for your house
(Maybe a nice chesterfield or an ottoman)
And if I had a million dollars
(If I had a million dollars)
Well, I'd buy you a K-Car
(A nice Reliant automobile)
If I had a million dollars I'd buy your love

If I had a million dollars
I'd build a tree fort in our yard
If I had million dollars
You could help, it wouldn't be that hard
If I had million dollars
Maybe we could put like a little tiny fridge in there somewhere
You know, we could just go up there and hang out
Like open the fridge and stuff
There would already be laid out foods for us
Like little pre-wrapped sausages and things

They have pre-wrapped sausages but they don't have pre-wrapped bacon
Well, can you blame 'em
Uh, yeah

If I had a million dollars
(If I had a million dollars)
Well, I'd buy you a fur coat
(But not a real fur coat that's cruel)
And if I had a million dollars
(If I had a million dollars)
Well, I'd buy you an exotic pet
(Yep, like a llama or an emu)
And if I had a million dollars
(If I had a a million dollars)
Well, I'd buy you John Merrick's remains
(Ooh, all them crazy elephant bones)
And If I had a million dollars I'd buy your love

If I had a million dollars
We wouldn't have to walk to the store
If I had a million dollars
Now, we'd take a limousine 'cause it costs more
If I had a million dollars
We wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner
But we would eat Kraft Dinner
Of course we would, we’d just eat more
And buy really expensive ketchups with it
That’s right, all the fanciest ke... dijon ketchups!
Mmmmmm, Mmmm-Hmmm

If I had a million dollars
(If I had a million dollars)
Well, I'd buy you a green dress
(But not a real green dress, that's cruel)
And if I had a million dollars
(If I had a million dollars)
Well, I'd buy you some art
(A Picasso or a Garfunkel)
If I had a million dollars
(If I had a million dollars)
Well, I'd buy you a monkey
(Haven't you always wanted a monkey)

If I had a million dollars
I’d buy your love

If I had a million dollars, If I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars, If I had a million dollars
If I had a million dollars
I'd be rich

 

---

December 17, 2004

 

Just a quick note before I start cleaning like mad, doing Christmas cooking and taking the kiddies to town to Christmas shop for each other.

 

I hope all of you have a wonderful weekend, filled with Joy and Miracles.

 

We will be celebrating on Sunday morning, the weekend day closest to actual Solstice.  Kids are allowed to get out of bed at 6 and wake us up.  Friends are coming up Saturday night and David will be spending the night to watch the kids open presents. 

 

Today, I am (finally) doing Christmas cooking, cleaning house and taking kids shopping for each other.  Well, they aren't buying each other, they are buying GIFTS for each other.  It will just be the little boys.  Delena did her shopping last weekend.  Tomorrow, I go to town alone to finish up.  I am excited for some time on my own, but I missed Christmas shopping with Eric this year. I may have to take him with me by cell phone to walk the aisles together.  :)

 

New friends are visiting Sunday afternoon, so overall, it promises to be a joyful weekend. 

 

Still nothing on the refi.  We have consulted with a different broker and appraiser who are very optimistic and I think between the four of them, we are good to go.  I keep feeling that this is being booted out for a reason to a later time and that all these delays are in our favor.  Since we are in a Mercury retrograde until the 20th, I fully expect to be hearing some very good news by the end of next week.  So don't worry, Sandra!!  (Mom loves you!)

 

Today is my last day alone with Dylan, unless he's sick and home from school at some point.  We've celebrated together a bit.  I'll miss this time with him, but we are going to both have a ball with our new lives. 

 

Time to start cleaning and cooking!  :)  I feel so excited, so happy and so filled with the Christmas spirit!  Part of me still believes in Santa and I know this is going to be a wonderful Solstice. 

 

Peace, love and joy to you all.  See you on Monday or Tuesday!

 

 

Meanwhile, here is my "getting to know you" survey:

 

1. What time did you get up this morning? 5:30am

2. Diamonds or pearls? diamonds

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Shark Tale

4. What is your favorite TV show? Dead Like Me, Scrubs, The Dead Zone

5. What did you have for breakfast? chicken and pork chops

6. What is your middle name? Marie

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Steakhouse, Mongolian BBQ, Good Authentic Mexican, Italian as long as it is well prepared Chicken Alfredo

8. What foods do you dislike? Lots!! All condiments except butter, salt and pepper (no ketchup, no mustard, no mayo, no relish, no salad dressing, etc), broccoli, tomatoes, pancakes, spaghetti sauce, cheese (ok if hot and cooked onto something, like pizza or potato skins), pies (except pumpkin, strawberry and toll house), asparagus, cooked cabbage, cole slaw, kraut, olives, corned beef, I mean it just goes on and on and on...

9. What is your favorite chip flavor? plain

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack, followed closely by the soundtrack of the Buff the Vampire Slayer episode "Once More With Feeling."

11. What kind of car do your drive? Jeep Liberty

12. Favorite sandwich? Steak, plain or a good burger

13. What characteristics do you despise? Lying, posturing, cruelty, teasing

14. Favorite item of clothing? My fleece robe

15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Kentucky to see my family, Houston to see friends, Disneyland, Victoria Canada to see Joe and Sandra

16. What color is your bathroom? green and white

17. Favorite brand of clothing? Oh please. Who really cares about brand names? I just like pretty clothes.

18. Where would you retire to? My family room.

19. Favorite time of day? dark of night

20. What was your most memorable birthday? One year, my coven gave me a wonderful birthday party. That was probably the best.

21. Where were you born? Augusta, Kentucky

22. Favorite sport to watch? *cough*splutter* We don't say the "s" word in my house.

23.. Who do you least expect to send this back to you? I'm only sending it to Karen. OK, I'll put it in my journal. Who am I kidding.

24. Person you expect to send it back first? Pfft, I dunno

25. What fabric detergent do you use? Whatever is on sale

26. Coke or Pepsi? Coke, but really Dr Pepper

27. Are you a morning person or night owl? Night, forced to be a morning person by circumstance

28. What is your shoe size? 8-9.

29. Do you have any pets? Two cats, fish, two turtles

30. Favorite coffee? Don't do coffee at all

31. Favorite holiday? Halloween, then Christmas

32. If you had a million dollars what would you do with it? Payoff my house, invest a little, give each of my older 3 kids $10,000, play with the rest.