obsessing over a wedding gift

one of my oldest friends is getting married. i don't know what to get her. this is a conundrum for me, a bit of a pickle.

the gift should be something i can either easily slip into a suitcase or something that i can have shipped directly to her home. the gift should be original and thoughtful. the gift should be entirely affordable because we are broker than broke and i just shelled out close to $200 for a bridesmaid dress and close to $400 for a plane ticket to get to this wedding. i want the gift to be meaningful and not just some random thing off her registry.

who is she? she is a super stylish, brilliant, outgoing girl. i have no clue why she is friends with the likes of me... harhar. the biggest problem for me is coming up with something that she will use and like but she or her fiance don't already own. any ideas, folks? please please leave me some ideas.

stuff halfy likes

i have an acquaintence who has a blog dedicated to endorsing things she likes. hence, the name of her blog is Stuff Kimmy Likes. so, in honor of that blog, i just thought i'd talk about my favorite things du jour.

-nintendo DS. oh how do i love this little game machine. i actually only have one game so far because i just got it for Christmas, but i can NOT stop playing. i have the original Brain Age game. i thought i'd be all about the little mind games and such on there, but really i have not been able to pull myself away from the sudoku. talk about a time killer. oh, and this morning my brain age was 48! gahhhh. 20 is the best and most days i am within a year or two of my actual age but for some reason this morning my head was off into the future feeling out the early stages of old-person-crazy-and-slow.

- limited edition chex winter mix, cocoa flavor. it's better than crack. check it out. actually look at walmart for it. i went grocery shopping on saturday morning and found it on clearance for 50 cents for a big bag. i only bought two but i am guessing that when i get back there, it will be long gone.

- Trader Joe's Trek Mix. i love the one that is nothing but craisins, cashews and almonds. yum.

really, i guess that's it. i didn't have much of anything to say today but i felt like giving some kudos to a couple of my latest obsessions.

the most perfect man in the world

the most perfect man in my world is married to me. cheers to seven years together. i love him for everything that he is, everything he works for, hopes for, laughs about, and gives.

seven years ago, he chased me around a bar all night. seven years ago i started dating him thinking he was a rebound boy to date and help boost my self esteem and part ways. seven years have flown by. i have never loved or been loved like i am right this minute.

surviving christmas. just barely.

after our trek to see the doctor last monday, i was told that both my son and i had strep throat. he also had double ear infections. we had dualing coughs, fevers, the works. we left with matching mommy-&-me antibiotic prescriptions.

and thus began five days of hell. mine was fine and little by little i am almost back to 100%. my child's antibiotic, however, made him even sicker. i will spare you the details but mark my words, he will NEVER take that medication again. he has hardly eaten in over a week but his appetite has finally started to reemerge.

Christmas was wonderful, aside from feeling like death was knocking at my door. my family and friends showered my son with so many great gifts. he scored such things as a toddler size drum set, a huge train table set up, a tool bench, tons of books and clothes. we took dozens of pictures of the present opening but because the boy was so sickly, he has a nasty runny nose in almost every single one. this is the initial thrill with the drums.

and this is my little man rocking his first drum solo while little cousin in her brand new jammies looks on.

so here's hoping nobody else catches the crud we had. all the kids in the family had it and half of us adults had it as well. i also hope that your christmas was as wonderful and fulfilling as mine was.

time to put this old girl down.

just take me out to the barn and humanely euthanize me, please. i am quite certain i have pneumonia and probably some other lung-digesting disease as well. the sickness is sucking the stregth right out of my bones and muscles. in the last few days i have become one feeble, exhausted, dying lump of whimpering and coughing flesh.

i managed to get a doctor's appointment today and they are willing to see both me and my son at the same time since we are both gulping our last breaths and withering away from the same ailment. hopefully we can survive just a few more hours to make it into town to the clinic.

i am rather looking forward to the doctor's office. i can safely doze and let the hellion sickly toddler roam around the exam room which willbe kid-safe with no worries. doctors are always running late so i can pretty much count on getting a good hour long snooze there. note to self: take a pillow and blanket.

drink up my words and my twisty black thoughts because surely you understand the heaviness of malady now. i may not be back to share my thoughts again...

Merry Christmas or happy whatever winter holiday you may celebrate. may you find much love and joy this week.

bah humbug.

too much is happening around me, about me, with me and without me. my thoughts have been going ninety to nothing lately as i am trying to keep up with everything and attempt to maintain some shread of my newly found and cherished sanity. my god, it seems that heartache and pain is striking so many people lately, i almost feel guilty taking any pleasure out of anything i do.

two very important things i need to say.
1. the previously mentioned person in need of an organ transplant has found a match. this is a very big and important step in getting her heathier. this is wonderful news.

2. my oldest and best friend on the planet lost a grandparent on wednesday evening. to her family, i am so very sorry. i love you all and my deepest sympathies go out to you. this time of the year has been so hard for your crew the last few years but i know that you are a strong and loving family and that will help you all cope.

in my own world, i am sick AGAIN, as is my son. my mother was in a hit and run accident last weekend. i have crippling cramps. a selfish and manipulative member of my extended family is making everyone insane with her awful behavior. i have friends who have lost family members and pets this week. i am simply spent: physically, emotionally and mentally.

just give me a couple of days. once i can get a handle on this cold or flu or whatever it is, i will bounce back. but for now i am run completely down.

bummed

reader(s), there is nothing worse than feeling helpless. (see the entry below this one) sigh...

tonight is the christmas party for my husband's job. i don't even want to go. i don't feel much like going and plastering on a fake smile and pretending to enjoy the company of those other ridiculously superficial schlumberger wives. usually i am at least looking forward to the night of free booze, but even that doesn't even interest me today. yes, i am truly sad for my friend.