Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas Everybody. I have been busy with work at my retail store and training for tax job. Sorry I haven't blogged much. Got the apartment ready for my mom, brother, and sister's family to spend xmas day here. Cat Frodo hid the whole time. Cat Precious explored the visitors. Only my nephew petted him. Poor kitty, he wants attention so bad. He spent the day in his cat tower and on the tree skirt. Sister commented how she didn't know the cat was a present. Had a lovely dinner with my acrylic plates, bowls, and cups. I don't have fine china so I have fancy plastic. Everyone learned last holiday dinner how limited my counter space is so less choices, but plenty to eat. Got a video camcorder from Santa and filmed opening of the gifts. I had to apologize to everyone for getting the wrong size (they weren't with me when I shopped). When nephew showed displeasure at his stuffed reindeer, I offered to donate it to charity. Had leftovers for supper and played my music box decorations while we ate. Niece's favorite was animals going down a snowy hill playing the Danube Waltz. Washed 3 dishwasher full loads and ran out of soap. Can't do next load til I go shopping again. Now overnight guest (my brother) from last night is still here and watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Leaving tomorrow. Got to get online education for tax job done at the tax office, and then work all day and night at the retail store. If my new computer would operate correctly with the online courses, I could have done all that at home by now. But no, it doesn't cooperate so have to go in personally. At retail store we begin return season that goes to new year's day. Then slow season with few shoppers and no coupons customers demand when they check out. Well, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Week in review

Biggest excitement was when we got new floor mats at the cash registers. If you stood for 8 hours, you will do a happy dance for new floor mats too. Computers at work keep breaking down. We reboot, and reboot, and reboot, but still they fail after a while. Today 4 out of 9 went down and we considered sending people home early since they had no machine to work on. Luckily repair guys came. We were so happy to see them. Occupied with watching xmas movies. A Christmas Story, The Grinch, Family Stone, Meet Me in St Louis, A Christmas Carol, Love Actually. Saw It's a Wonderful Life and Christmas Vacation on TV. Busy wishing customers a Merry Christmas. Some wish me a Happy Holiday back. Others thank me for using the word Christmas instead of Holiday. I tried saying Happy Holidays last year and customers got mad, SO Merry Christmas it is. Got to make customers happy. I volunteered to host xmas day dinner. Happy dance. I love hosting. I don't know why my family hates hosting. Cleaning, baking, and setting a proper table are fun for me. I get to stay home and everybody comes to me. Well, can't think of anything else.

Busy, busy

We already had Black Friday so why my retail store was super busy today with lines at the registers is beyond me. Even after our time-limited sale ended, we still had lines. Oh well. Enjoying my xmas movie dvds and have a cat on my lap every night. Got my first xmas card from my brother. Got my cards sent out and gifts wrapped earlier this week on a day off. Even set out a xmas package. I had to go to the post office to get my Black Friday online order anyway so save me another trip there. Guess I'll be hosting xmas day dinner in 17 days. Sister will be traveling the days before and don't wish to stress my mom about the menu. Yeah, mom doesn't know I have 11 Beta fish. There is a reason I haven't told her, the expense will make her mad at me. Plan to invite brother too. Unsure if a faraway aunt wants to drive over here. Besides she hates my cats, though my sister's cats are okay. Getting ready to start my training next week. Paid training too. I just hope nothing goes wrong cause I really need more income. Deep in debt and below the poverty line is very stressful. Anyway, better get going. Merry Xmas.

Xmas Letter 2012

Merry Christmas to all my family and friends. My New Year started with a spring-like winter. Spent days off babysitting and working on my novel. Few more chapters and I will be done with the trilogy for my nieces. We finally saw a snowstorm called thunder snow when lightening occupancies snow (rare event). There is always a snowstorm during the basketball tournament you know. My retail store needed to get rid of coats and boots. Precious and Frodo celebrated their 6th birthdays (about 40 in cat years). Farmers planted early and battled spring frosts. I tried to grow flower seeds this year. We had a stifling drought during the Dog Days of Summer. My poor flower leaves were scorched black in the heat. Watered them every night to turn them back to green. Did manage to get a few flower blossoms, but learned to plant grown flowers next time. Took niece and nephew to see The Lorax, Egypt exhibit, bowling, and local mall’s Family Fun Nights. One night Tinkerbell was there and took Niece’s picture with her. Any time I give to my sister to clean her house or run errands without kids around is time well spent. Hosted Easter dinner with egg hunt in apartment courtyard. Took Mom and sister to visit Dad’s tombstone and to the Dexter cemetery (Mom’s side). Two nieces had their dance recitals on the same day. Got off work just in time to go to local niece’s that performed Giselle where she played the dawn and later her tap dance. Took Niece and Nephew to my apartment pool and splashed them good (they started it). Figured out a new computer system at work without instructions and then taught others the system. One look at the new screen sent coworkers screaming for help. Watched the Urbandale 4th of July parade and fireworks. Took faraway niece, local niece, and nephew to the amusement and water park. Celebrated Nephew’s 8th birthday at a pizza place and played games with the kids. Saw a pioneer wedding at a living history museum with niece and visited Women in Baseball exhibit explaining women played sports in dresses before grandma was born. Niece’s favorite part was when a pig shook mud onto my hand. Took sister and niece to a Star Party in a park to see a meteor shower, but too cloudy to see so just watched Spaceballs on an outdoor screen until niece got tired. Walked the Iowa State Fair with brother-in-law, niece, and nephew. Cousins gave us a new family addition, Henry Campbell. Took niece and nephew to the zoo to ride the new carousel and see the new sea lion pool. Niece decided to quit dance and start gymnastics after watching the Olympics. We had a family reunion at Mom’s cousin’s house in Dexter. I started a tax preparer class at a company in hope of making extra money next year. Found out I got the job just as my computer broke down. Start my training this month. Now I have 2 jobs like everyone else. Celebrated Niece’s 9th birthday at home with family. I played the Beatles Birthday song for her. When guests were leaving we took the kids to see Santa, ride the train, and see the Chocolate Moose we couldn’t find at the Iowa State Fair. Here it was decorated for Christmas at the mall. Went to sister’s house for Thanksgiving and took a nap to prepare for my Black Friday midnight shift. While I slept, the kids helped put up lights on the house and I saw the finished work. My shift wasn’t that bad, but then I wasn’t standing in line. Will be having a family Christmas (Mom’s side) at Mom’s retirement home again. People like those large gathering rooms with kitchenettes. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy Meow Year Love Always Jordan Precious Frodo

Happy Dance

Got a new job today that is seasonal so for a while I get to have 2 jobs like everyone else. Maybe I can get out of this poverty hole I'm stuck in. Amazing how people beg you stay with them, but never give you a reason to stay. I'm sorry I rather have a raise than free donuts.