This is catch-up-on-all-the-loose-ends week. Really. I’m not starting any new books, I won’t read any magazines, there will be no getting sucked into new projects. I have to deal with the stuff that is already in front of me.

Our back room MUST get straightened up. I am so sick of looking at the mess, but every time I go to do something about it, it seems that it ends up messier than when I started. The problem is way too much stuff, combined with no place to put a normal amount of stuff, much less too much stuff. And it's all my mess, not Kevin's, and I'm sure HE's sick of looking at it.

I need to get rid of some of the clunkier ceramic things I've made in the past few years. We just don't have any place to put them, and frankly, a lot of them are quite ugly. I had a great time smashing some already broken and chipped pieces a few months ago. I might extend that program to some unbroken/unchipped but clunky pieces.

I also need to finish making the Christmas cards, which are just about done. I gave up on the wirework, since it's not working out the way I wanted it to, so I have to go get some more paper to do something different. Not a big deal, since the craft store is only over on the next block. Then I have to start writing the notes and addressing the cards, which is the fun part anyway, and really not much of a chore.

Then I need to pack up the presents for my family and get them sent off. I went to the swap meet on Saturday and got a bunch of lauhala boxes to use instead of regular gift wrapping. I need to remember to get some ribbon or raffia or something over at the craft store to tie around them.

I have a small but significant pile of mending to deal with. Then the ironing.

I have to figure out why my PalmPilot keeps forgetting what day it is. And spend some time on the Mac, too, since I have all this upgraded software but haven’t had a chance to play with it yet. Last night I did manage to learn that my old scanner/new Photoshop combo will no longer let me scan directly into Photoshop. PITA, but at least there’s a workaround.

And I want to get this mosaic table finished sometime soon. After Sunday night, all I have left to do is the inside design (the outside is just a series of straight borders -- two black, three white, and two black again).

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How is it possible that John Cooper can have an overall Ohio State record of 103-39-4 yet have so many losses to Michigan? Hmmmm??? I really want to know. (I've had a little over a week to calm down. You should have heard me last Saturday.)

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Thanksgiving was a lot of fun. We spent it with one of the women from my book group, who lives in this really cool house in Manoa with her husband. I knew a few of the people there; Kevin knew no one. The food was great, and the conversation was even better.

I'm glad that the weather here is so different this time of year from back home, for more than the obvious reason. I miss my family a lot, especially at the holidays. But with it being mostly sunny and in the 80s, it doesn't really feel like the holidays at all. So I can convince myself that these holiday celebrations are just regular parties, since there's no snow blowing around outside or boots to be worn. Gotta love self-delusion.

I am seriously grateful for the sense of aloha here, though, and the way that most people are not just inclined but eager to include newcomers in their holiday celebrations. We've been fortunate to have been invited to some wonderful parties.

- posted by Lori @ 4:15:00 PM | permanent link | |