It is/has snowed. Yet again. As we were out at Home Depot when it started, I was very happy to be driving the 4 wheel drive vehicle. I know we didn't need the Exploder as Forlori would've handled it just fine, but it was an extra level of comfort knowing we had the better snow car.

Yesterday we had comic movie day/night over and noss and manicgiraffe's house. As Jamers and I don't go to the movies, all three, Dark Knight, Ironman, and Incredible Hulk were new to us. I enjoyed Dark Knight although I found Ironman to be more like a real long trailer for the next movie to come. It wasn't bad per se, but I didn't feel that there was enough character/dialog development to really get me into it. As soon as I was starting to get interested in the characters the movie was over. Incredible Hulk, well, I've always been a fan of the Hulk, I watched the TV show quite a bit as a child. This movie was definitely better the The Hulk, and not just because I don't really like Eric Bana, or the fact that the plot in The Hulk was absolutely ridiculous. I am quite fond of Edward Norton, though I can't stand Liv Tyler so that sorta balances out the actors as far as my favoring the movie or not. However, the plot was better and as was pointed out the physics were a little bit more realistic. I know, I know. The whole movie is not exactly realistic, but I never really picked up on the fact that in the first one, Hulk bounced around like a rubber ball - never really interacting much with his surroundings until he needed to do collateral damage. In the new version, he actually interacts in a more realistic way with the scenery, for example actually doing damage if he "jumps" from point A to point B. All in all the afternoon was well spent with friends and yummy dinner was provided.

As Noe has recently repainted several walls in her house, I was inspired to finally get around to changing the hideous downstairs colors myself. We went out to HD this afternoon, taking one of the shams from the downstairs bedroom with us. We scanned in the color we wanted to work with and let the computer help us pick a secondary color. We're going to primer one of the smaller walls and try it out to see how it looks. If we likes, we will paint all the downstairs (bedroom & Entertainment room) the same to create a better flow of energy. Right now the three colors are so different (plus I seriously can't stand the yellow) that it feels very choppy and doesn't flow right.

That will be a project for us to work on (like everything else) before Xander gets here. I'm actually looking forward to it.

Anyways I must toodle off for dinner and another round of Babylon 5. I think we are about halfway through season 2 at this point.

No, my husband didn't make me. I did it because I've never done it before and I wanted some exercise. I got the walkway between the truck and the exploder and about half of the remainder of the driveway cleared. Jamers will be doing the rest as I'm starting to feel the burn, so to speak.

His daddy will be driving in this evening and as neither Jamers nor I think that his beamer will make it over the foot plus of snow in the driveway we decided to be nice and clear him a place to walk and park.

Jamers is downstairs making potatoes and bacon for yummy breakfast. It smells soooo good! He has to venture out today to the store to get stuff for dinner tomorrow and breakfast (poor planning on both our behalves)

I think I'm going to make a fire later, maybe. The only one we've had this year was on Turkey day. It was wonderful and warm and nice for sitting up in the living/sitting room with friends and having dindins. I think it will be nice for when his dad gets here to be up there by the fire talking.

The snow is starting to melt, thankfully. I'm hoping to have a nice smooth drive to work Friday with no worries about sliding the car.

Oh, and after just having re-read my Lovecraft over the last 7 or so months, this year the "A Very Scary Solstice" cd that Jamers got me a couple years back is even more entertaining. A few of my favorites: It's beginning to look a lot like fishmen, The Shoggoth Song, and The Carol of the Olde Ones. If you like, or especially love Lovecraft, A Very Scary Solstice is a must for the holidays. I just googled it and apparently they have yet another Solstice cd that I just know one day I will possess.

Anyways, toodling off for now, I'll leave you with:
I had a little shoggoth
I conjured up one day.
I used an elder sigil
So shoggoth and I play.

Shoggoth, shoggoth, shoggoth
With mouths and psuedopods.
Shoggth, shoggoth, shoggoth
Foul creature of the gods.

One day while we were playing
My monstrous pal broke free.
I'd dropped the elder sigil,
Lil' Shoggy turned on me.

Shoggoth, shoggoth, shoggoth
He ripped me to a shred.
Shoggoth, shoggoth, shoggoth
We played and now I'm dead.

Sing to The Dredidel Song - and have a very scary solstice to one and all!

I drove into work this morning. Drove not being maybe the best verb. More like floating mixed with driving. The highways were fine, the streets not so much. I learned about "High Centering" and how chains on your wheels don't really mean anything when the snow lifts your car by the undercarriage and slides you around. I didn't crash and thankfully I made it both to and from work without injury.

I let my boss and all my PMs know I probably won't be in tomorrow given my harrowing adventures this morning. I got all my work done that had time deadlines that I had so there shouldn't be any problems with me missing another day - except for the lack of pay of course.

So I plan on staying in and enjoying one more day of sleeping in and cuddling with furkids and husband. I plan on watching tons of Babylon 5, drinking lots of hot cocoa, and working on what I can in Xander's room. In theory my father in law shows up tomorrow. He is driving up from CA and may or may not make it in time to spend Christmas with us. I hope his trip is safe and I'm sure I-5 is probably kept pretty drivable even if it isn't the most pleasant of road trips.

I have a present under the tree, Jamers does not. I feel bad. Apparently he made me a gift <3 Jamers. I didn't have time to make him something - but he already knew that. So we'll see what wonderful thing he made for me. I'm sure I will love it.

Anyways toodling off for now. Merry Christmas to all.

As stated, I didn't go to work today. Two fold reasons, one being the obvious snow/ice issue and driving through Beaverton, over 26, over the bridge and into work was more than I felt was safe today. Second reason? My ankles had gotten worse since yesterday. Thankfully, I slept with them up on a pillow and I spent most of the day in bed with them elevated and then iced them later. The swelling in my left ankle is pretty much gone, but the bruises and the pain is still there.

The bad news is of course, my office wasn't officially closed today. As almost nobody could drive in, you would think they would close it for the safety of their employees (one of the company's core values: Respect for the individual) however, as anyone at the company who is worth anything to the company can work from home, I guess they don't see the need to close the office. The only people who aren't able to work from home are pretty much the Project Admins and the receptionist. Those of us the company seems to not value and thus, we can either risk life and limb to come into work, or we can go the day without pay.

Have I mentioned how much I hate the place I work at? Seriously. Checking tomorrow's forecast, it isn't looking like a much better day than today, but I can't afford to loose another day of pay, so I'll try to go in and pray that my car and myself handle the roads without incident.

Happier news: I got to spend the day in bed cuddling with the furkids :) and Jamers! After yesterday's trek through Hell and back, this was most welcome. We were going to make cookies today but that sorta fell through and now he is making foodlins which we'll take downstairs and eat while watching Babylon 5. We started it yesterday and I've forgotten (probably again) how horrible the first couple episodes are for computer graphics, and some of the acting, but how much story and plot they shove into those episodes to get you to come back for more.

Other happy news: Alexander just won't quit kickalating me! I do find it most annoying at times, however, as James pointed out it means he is active and hopefully healthy. I can't wait to see friends again as by now I think he doesn't go more than 10 minutes or so without movement. That means everyone who wants to feel the squirmies should be able to!

The man is telling me the foods are ready so it is off to the downstairs of cold to eat and watch.

Otay, I told you I can't drive in the snow, this is becoming less true as we continue to get more of the stuff. Yesterday we headed out to the bins to look for er, bins? Bins to put toys and clothes in for Xander. We ended up finding 5 and a couple other little treasures, then headed across the way to Freds for cookie bags.

There was only one small incident that I think freaked Jamers out far more than I. We turned off 209th onto TV Hwy and although I was going like 3mph, the car started to slide a little, I turned the wheel, took my foot off the gas and got us right back in line with no problem. James gave me props for handling it so well. Luckily that was the only incident. My mom keeps asking me why I'm not driving the Explorer. I have to keep reminding her that it doesn't work right now.

This morning I had the brilliant idea of walking to breakfast out to Reedville Cafe. Unfortunately, they were closed today, and I made the even bigger mistake of seeing if James wanted to go to Peppermill instead. He called they were open so we decided to go. By the time we had showered and were getting bundled up, I was starting to have issues with going. For example, the only jacket I have for the snow won't zip up because of my baby belly, the only waterproof shoes I have are my Dr. Marten's that are slightly too big and therefore not great for tons of walking, and I couldn't find any socks that would work with the boots. In any case, we got dressed and headed out.

About oh, before we got to the end of the driveway I said to James that I didn't think this was a good idea. He said, it would be an adventure. So we headed out. Now if I was not pregnant I'm sure it would've been fine. However, given my now 8 month tum-tum, my total lack of snow appropriate clothing, and my increasing body achyness, it was like an hour of hell to walk what would normally take about 5 minutes in a car. I kid you not. My back, ankles, heels, face, and tum-tum were all in major pains. I complain yes, but it doesn't change the validity of my statement. So it took us about an hour. I was freezing and complaining to poor James the whole way. We get there, walk in and I instantly smell smoke. See since we've been there (quite awhile ago) they added a "lounge" next door. I'm guess there must be a hallway to it and ample access for the stinky ass smoke to move into the restaurant. I told James I won't eat there. So we walked for a short distance over to Bales where we obtained (thanx to the gift cards Momma Donna gave us for the first day of Xmas) Starbucks. We sat down and drank our drinks for about an hour, hit the bathroom, made a disinfectant purchase and headed back to the house, no food having been eaten.

We got home around 2 this afternoon. I booked it on the way back as I was in so much pain I just wanted to get home and off my feet. On the way back we were lucky enough to encounter freezing rain, yeah! No Gir, that's bad. Anyways we got home, James had to pull off my boots, and now I've got bruises on the outsides of my ankles where some little muscle or another is none to happy with me for the trek out in the snow. I can't put socks on them as all the socks I have are too constrictive at this point in the pregnancy and I want them to be able to rest.

The freezing rain has turned to snow, lots of snow. I've checked my work email and still nothing about the office being closed tomorrow. Not that I would be surprised if they didn't but the gorge is closed off, most of clark county and portland metro as well as Washington county is requiring chains and that is now before all this new snow builds up yet more and freezes again over night. I told James that unless there is a mighty thaw by 6am tomorrow, I probably won't go to the office even if they don't close it. I don't feel comfortable with this much ice/snow on the road and driving.

If that is the case, I'll have 3 days this week that I can make up the 8 hours I missed on Monday or lose a day of pay. As much as I don't want to loose a day of pay, I don't think I can push myself to work almost 3 hours extra on the other three work days so we'll see. Hopefully the office closes down and I don't have to worry about it, right?

In other news, James' dad is coming up for Christmas. He called on Turkey day and we invited him, but had heard nothing from him since. Yesterday I prompted James to call him, and low and behold he is planning on driving up (hahahahaha!) on Wednesday to be here on Thursday to turn around and drive back on Friday. I laugh cause good luck driving up here from Astascadero on Wednesday and good luck driving out of here on Friday. Hopefully he'll find a way though. I've wanted James to get back in touch with his pops for awhile. Having him here, if only for a day will be a good way to start. Plus nobody should be alone on Christmas, at least that is what I think. Although we aren't doing gifts this year, due to the lack of income and imminent baby arrival.

The snow is falling pretty darn hard now. I can't believe they haven't closed the office. Anyways, I'll toodle off now and go find someway to warm my toesies, perhaps a footbath is in order. I hope you are all safe today nestled all snug in your homes.

Not that I care, but I am :)

There is this new song on the radio that I just think is so cute. Sappy and upbeat it is. Normally I'm not too drawn to these types but every now and then I enjoy them. This new song is "Bruises" by Chairlift. Not sure why I like it so but I just shared it with the man. He doesn't really hear new songs anymore unless somebody posts something on the lj I think.

He enjoyed it too, which is nice. It made me of think of another upbeat song that I really enjoy "Le Disko" by Shiny Toy Guns. It reminds me of my clubbing days and all the fun I would have with my friends drinking and dancing. Those days are long gone. Sometimes I wish I could go out and have a night like that again, but being married and with baby soon to come I don't see that ever happening again. Now I think if I ever got out to a club it would be some mellow middle age club where dancing is all sedate and well mannered.

There are so many songs and bands I was just thinking that I would like to hear more of, or again. Arcade Fire and Yeah Yeah Yeahs are two that stick out in my mind. Ever since my apartment was broken into in Santa Cruz, I have only picked up a handful of CDS. I guess having the 45 CDs stolen and never returned really put a crimp in my desire to invest in music again. I know there are all those wonderful internet ways to get music, but I'm not a tech person and I don't own an IPOD or other MP3 player. I still listen to CDs and the radio.

I am however just discovering that youtube is great for watching "music" videos. Honestly, I didn't know that they made them anymore it has been so long since I've seen one. I guess not having of the cable contributes to that.

In other news, Jamers and I are almost through our most recent round of Buffy. We are slightly more than half way through season 7 - the season that sanity forgot. Really I don't hate it that much, I just really hate like the last two episodes. I've said it before but it stands repeating: worse series finale ever! I think we'll move on to Babylon 5 next. I want to get in as much adult movies/TVDs as we can before little one shows up. I have a feeling that many kids movies/TVDs will be watched over the next er, I have no idea how many years. Yet another reason I want a TV in our bed room so we can watch mommy/daddy stuff. That sounded sorta naughty huh? Good ;)

Snow is gone, for now and I'm happy. I was so sick of driving with chains.

I didn't have to report for Jury Duty yesterday due to inclement weather! Wooty Woo. Unlike California I guess Jury Duty here is calling in only for the day you are summoned, not a whole week. I'm hoping that is how it works cause I don't want to not show up and get in trouble tomorrow.

In any case the food of dindins is ready and so on to another episode of Buffy before bedtime.

Oh, and we got the crib and James put it together and it is way bigger in the tiny kid room than at Babies R Us. It is pretty though and matches the rest of the wood in the house.

I haven't seen hail fall in Santa Cruz for quite sometime. This is a momentous occassion indeed! I tried to catch some in my hands, but my hands are too wee to catch them. The ground looks like somebody rolled a bunch of white ball bearings out there. Teehee.