Deck the Halls!

I hope yours is joyous and bright!

Love, hugs and kisses.

Blah.

I so very much just want this week to be over. OVER. Cause I'm tired-- eyes on fire, nauseatingly tired. And I want a nap. NOW. I'm not gonna get one, of course, and that knowledge has me feeling crankier than a toddler after a day at Disney.

Sigh.

Bucket List

A couple of random memes to pass the time...

#1.

Put an "X" in the bubble for the ones you've done.

() Gone on a blind date
(X) Skipped school
() Watched someone die
(X) Had your heart broken
() Been to Canada
() Been to Europe
() Been to Mexico
(X) Been to Florida
(X) Been on a plane
(X) Been on a cruise
(X) Been lost
(X) Been on the opposite side of the country
() Gone to Washington, DC
() Swam in the Pacific Ocean
(X) Swam in the Atlantic Ocean
() Swam in the Gulf of Mexico
() Seen Mt. Ranier (Washington state)
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robber or cowboys and Indians
(X) Recently colored with crayons
() Sang Karaoke
() Paid for a meal with coins only?
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
() Made prank phone calls
(X) Laughed until your face hurt
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose -
() Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Danced your heart out
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating
(X) Been skinny dipping outdoors
(X) Gone to the movies
(X) Sat outside in the rain
(X) Lived one of your dreams

#2.

1. Any nickname? Aim, Aimers, Aimes, Aimster

2. Mother's name? Dawn

3. Favorite drink? Coffee, Dr. Pepper

4. Any tattoos? One

5. Body Piercings? Ears

6. What animal would you be if you could choose one? I have absolutely no idea

7. Birthplace? Ashland, Kentucky

8. Favorite vacation spot? Disney World Orlando, FL

9. Ever been to Africa ? Nope

10. Ever eaten just cookies for dinner? Sure thing, cake too

11. Ever been on TV? Nope

12. Ever steal any traffic signs? Not personally

13. Ever been in a car accident? Yes

14. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4 door

15. Favorite brand of body wash? Bath and Body Works Winter Candy Apple

16. Favorite TV show? House, Criminal Minds, The Mentalist, CSI: NY and CSI

17. Favorite number? 3

18. Favorite movie? Goonies, Pump up the Volume, Gleaming the Cube, etc., etc., etc.

19. Favorite holiday? Christmas

20. Favorite dessert? Cake--Aimee loves her some cake

21. Is mysteriously missing...

22. Favorite day of the week? Saturday

23. Name something/someone you love? Cameron

24. Favorite toothpaste? Colgate

25. Favorite smell? Cookies baking or scented candles burning (Aimee concurs with Angie on this one)

26. How do you relax? At the moment, I don’t--it's all stress all the time

27. How do you see yourself in 10 years? Who knows, I certainly don't

28. How many States will you send this message to? 1

29. Who will respond to this the fastest? No clue really, usuallu no one

30. When was the last time you belly laughed? Seems like forever ago...

Happy Birthday, Cameron!!!

I can't believe he's 9 already! Where does the time go???

First, I would just like to say...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOMMY!!!

I hope the day is all you want it to be and more!

I love you!

I've been unusually quiet for a good long while and try as I might, I just can't seem to find the gumption to do anything about that. Life feels anything but happy these days and my creativity level has dropped well below zero so what's the point, right? But, all that aside, the world keeps turning and life carries on.

And this past month, well, it's certainly been an all around pisser. With the economy such as it is, my company is still struggling to keep the doors open, leaving me no choice but to ride it out and hope for the best. Drew is still unemployed and with no regular job and the side work extremely slim, paying the bills has certainly turned into an arduous task. I've heard it said that life is what we make it but when we struggle day in and day out and still fall short of we need to actually make a life, I just can't get behind that particular saying.

The most heartbreaking event to occur was the passing of my grandfather (papaw to those who loved him). He passed at home and we hope, peacefully in his sleep on November 12th 2008. Drew and my dad found him when they came home from picking Cameron up from school. He'd been about to take a nap before they left so they thought he was sleeping, it quickly became apparent that wasn't the case. Before he called me at work, Drew called the EMT's but it was too late, he was already gone. I don't know if I've ever said it here but there was no one that I loved or respected more than that man, my papaw and it hurts my heart to know he's not there to give me that sweet smile when I walk through the door everyday. He loved Christmas, he'd light up like a kid in a candy store when we brought the Christmas tree home and I very much missed having him help us decorate it this year. God, I miss him.

Kenneth Martin
1924 to 2008

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interest, but also for the interests of others.

PHILIPPIANS 2:3.4

Rest in peace, papaw.

On a happier note, Thanksgiving was a wonderfully relaxing, fun-filled day spent with those I love (Drew, Cameron, mom, dad, Christie, Sarah, Jade) and my mom and I spent Black Friday getting our trees and putting up Christmas lights. Despite the lack of funds, Christmas remains my favorite time of the year. I love the lights and the sounds and the smells and the baking and the wrapping and the peppermint white chocolate mochas at Starbucks. Lovely. And it's been nice and nippy around here too! Very unsual but nice, very, very nice.