When David got in the car I told him “They Killed Kenny! The Bastards!” …he laughed! So I told him the story of South Park.

It all started when a Fox Exec contact Trey Parker and Matt Stone to do a video Christmas Card for the Exec to send out.  That 5 minute video, while terribly offensive to anyone and everyone, went nuts!  This was back in 1995 before you tube. Porter’s girlfriend at the time, was in animation and was able to get a copy and bring it to Christmas the year after South Park debuted on Comedy Central in 1997.

I have to say it was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.  And to picture someone in Hollywood, sending that out to associates was, in my mind, pretty ballsy!

So in honor of Wendy, I give you “The Spirit of Christmas” South Park style:

Me: Out

AP: Where?

Me: errands

AP: Did they go for an early lunch?

Me: No, errands

AP: Well, when will they be back?

Me: When they are done or, I assume, after lunch, whichever comes first.

AP: When is that?

Me: When is what?

AP: When will they be back from lunch?

Me: Normally 1:00

AP: But I need them now!

Me: Well if it’s an emergency I’m sure I can track someone down, what is the problem?

AP: UGH! (turns and leaves).

I’m so sorry the person you are looking for is not immediately available to you. However, unless I am told otherwise, I will continue to be vague about their whereabouts and no I will not give out their cell phone number.  You really don’t have to know where everyone is at this second, nor what they are doing…Some things are just none of your business. Deal with it.

OK, rant over!

The privilege, in specific, that I was referring to has to do with getting access to books before they are published, for free.

I read many blogs written by librarians…always on the lookout for another great book to check into for either myself, my patrons, or both! One of these blogs turned me onto Net Galley.

http://www.netgalley.com/

Net Galley is an inexpensive and green way for publishers to share their galleys with reviewers, librarians, booksellers, educators, etc.

Since I am a librarian, I signed right up! So far I have read 6 fantastic books! I’ve another 6 or 7 waiting in the wings to be read.

The galleys can be read on your computer/laptop using Adobe Digital Editions, or on an ipod using Blue Fire.  There are instructions on the website for those with a nook, kindle, or sony e-reader.

It’s the little things, like Net Galley, that make me happy! OH, and may I just say, that it’s the fault of Net Galley, and books in general, for my lack of blogging! LOL…that and the fact that my laptop is still in the shop.

During our phone conversation I mentioned it was snowing. Where he is at, in Seattle, snow isn’t as common an occurance as one might think. I told him it had started snowing before I got off work on Saturday and it was continuing through Sunday. I had been hoping the snow plows would come by before I had to leave for work on Monday cuz I HATE getting stuck in a drift!

So Porter says to me, “What’s the coldest you’ve experienced since moving to North Dakota?”

I said, “One morning last winter, I went out to start the car and the temp the car registered was -35. My car won’t start when it’s beyond -20. David and I didn’t think it was that bad, so we decided to try walking to school….BIG MISTAKE! We only made it to the end of the block when we decided to go home and skip school that day.”

Porter’s response…”minus 35?!?! HOLY SHIT THAT’S COLD”.

Porter shared the coldest he’d experienced was New Years in Providence and that was 10 degrees. HA! That’s short-sleeve weather here! (Not really, but don’t tell him!)

Today when I went to start the car it was -5 with a forecast of -10 to -15 for the rest of the week.   I think Porter is right, my blood has thickened and I’m dealing with it much better than I would have thought. But then I was the one in Vegas running around in shorts in the winter…not here though. LOL

So anyway, I returned from a run to Lowes (Bri finally fixed the downstairs bathroom) to find Elf just starting.  That brought up talk of the movie, "The Santa Clause" which David didn’t ever remember watching.  So in it went.  After that, we popped in "Santa Clause, 2" followed by, finally, the ultimate Christmas movie…"A Christmas Story".  God I love that movie!  It almost made me want a Red Rider Carbine Action BB Gun…but then I might shoot my eye out! ROFL…that scene where Ralphie is dressed up in the pink bunny suit from Aunt Somebody-or-other is hysterical…"He lookes like a deranged Easter Bunny…a pink nightmare!"…just great!!!

Back to the regular routine tomorrow…the last week of school before Winter Break, then when the kids return to school I start my new job of babysitting David’s teachers daughter.  I’m looking forward to it!!!

Jeff is still trying to get an accounting of EVERYTHING I did on any of Mom’s accounts while she was alive.  But those accounts were in the Trust at the time of Mom’s passing and the items that are going through probate are those that weren’t in the trust at the time of her death.  He and Jan both withdrew their objections.

I have to say that I let their continued bullshit get to me today.  I pondered why today, and not previous days.  I think it’s the Season.  Everywhere I turn I am reminded of Mom and the fact that she is not here.  I open the box of tree ornaments and what’s on the very top?  Her stocking and and hanger.  Everyday I go to the mailbox and am met by Christmas cards from people who don’t yet know she has passed.  I’m done Christmas shopping…for the last 5 years I’ve had to do her shopping and wrapping and would still be going the week before Christmas arrived.

All the little good-byes left unsaid.

It sucks!

Then to have to deal with her estate…UGH…it’s too much.  I will be so glad when the day comes and the estate is finished and we can all go on our merry little ways!  I won’t ever have to talk to or deal with them ever again…what a relief that will be.  To be able to close the book on this chapter of my life and move headlong into a newer, more wonderful and fulfilling chapter is what I hold onto on days like this.

Meanwhile, I’ve had my bout of "whoa is me" and am ready to shake it off and move on with the rest of my day.  Thanks are due to the kind lady at Fresh & Easy who handed me the bouquet of tulips as I left the store…that kind gesture did more for my attitude than anything.

Basically he was tired and stressed and as he and David were heading out the door to go to his folks house, he sent David in to relay a message about the state of the house and that it should be cleaned up! I was sound asleep at the time he decided to send David in to do his dirty (pardon the pun) work.

UMMMM…Hello!  Does he not realize that the state of the house is in direct relation to how much time I spent cleaning it during the previous week?  Furthermore, does he not realize that I spend four days of the previous week waiting on him hand and foot while he worked on passing a kidney stone?  And he wonders why the house is a mess?

So I gave it to him with both barrels and he apologized in a not-very-apologetic-tone!  HRUMPH…by the time he got home his tone had changed, considerably…so he was off the hook.  Poor guy.

He is just so worried about his folks…as am I.  He needs to not worry!  Worry is a waste of time and energy because no amount of worry will change the outcome.  However, I do believe that thinking positive thoughts/energy can effect the outcome.  But trying to get a man to change a 42-year old habit is challenging! 

That’s one of the challenges of life with Brian, and no, that’s not a reference to Monty Python.  Brian by nature is very pessimistic and I think I am optimistic…or at least trying to become more optimistic.  It’s the one thing about Brian that I keep trying to change.  I’ve seen some improvement over the last 15+ years but we still have a ways to go…LOL!  Wish me luck.

We had to go to his regular, primary care physician today to get the referral to a Urologist, per his health insurance.  The doc was able to access his ER records from Saturday and specifically his CT scan report.  The stone he is working on passing is 5mm and is considered small and he should have no problem passing it…BUT…the right kidney showed many more stones just hanging out. 

Porter went through all this last Thanksgiving.  So he has been my "go-to" guy on all things kidney related.  Unbeknownst to me, Po knew he had a kidney stone about 2 years prior to it giving him any trouble.  The doc then told him there is nothing they can do until it you start trying to pass it.  UGH!  So Brian gets to look forward to more of these bouts????  YUCK!!!!  But I will let the urologist, whenever we do finally get in to see him, share that tidbit of info.  I don’t want Brian to shoot the messenger…namely me!

So another friend (who has gone through this) says to me today, "Is Brian a water drinker?"…NOPE, but I’m hoping this will kick his ass into drinking some water besides all the coffee and pop he drinks.  But something tells me, it won’t.  ARGH!!!

I don’t know about the men in your life, but my husband has NEVER suggested that it might be time for him to go see a doctor of any kind…granted he’s quick to suggest I see a doctor when I am sick, but it takes LOTS of nagging to get him to go!

I threw on clothes, took David to his grandparents, and then took Brian to the ER.  I was sure he was suffering from appendicitis…his Mom was sure it was his gall bladder.  We were both wrong!  It’s a kidney stone!  Thankfully the doc was pretty sure it was a stone and gave him pain meds before they did the additional testing.  They also loaded him with IV fluids to get him to pee more and hopefully get the stone moving.  The doc said the stone was close to the bladder and the pain would stop when it got there.  But he is supposed to pee into a strainer to see if he passes the stone and also so it can be analyzed to see what kind of stone it is and what dietary changes he can make to keep it from happening again.  If he doesn’t pass it by Monday, we need to make an appointment with a Urologist.

The docs and nurses alike said it doesn’t get any more painful than that damn stone(s).  I just know the poor guy could not get any relief and couldn’t find any kind of comfortable position.  He’s never been this miserable.  Poor guy! 

I can’t tell you the number of times that poor guy had to hang out in hospital ER’s because of me.  I’m sorry he was in so much pain, but I’m glad I finally got to be the strong one for him…Know what I mean?  He’s stood by me so many times and been my rock, now he knows I’m here for him when the shoe is on the other foot.

Say a prayer that the stone passes quickly and as painlessly as possible.

When Erin and I walked in we saw Debbie sitting at a table with a big bunch of balloons advertising the fact that I am turning 40!  Great!  We celebrated Deb’s birthday in July and I didn’t advertise her age like that…ROFL!  But when I got to the table I found, in addition to Debbie, that Lynette, Kristy and Ann were there as well!  WOW!  I had no idea!  I was so wonderful to be sitting at one table with so many of my dearest friends…members of my tribe!  It was so cool to see all these incredible women together at one table talking and getting along like they’d know each other their whole lives.  One of these dear women couldn’t make it tonight, but there will be other opportunities for Eileen to meet Debbie and Lynette! 

I can’t begin to share how special tonight was.  No birthday of mine has gone by without hearing some reference to JFK’s assasination…plus it’s always near Thanksgiving.  This year it’s on Thanksgiving.  My birthday has always been celebrated on Thanksgiving…which is similar to having your birthday on Christmas.  Basically it’s like your birthday is an after thought to the bigger, more important HOLIDAY.  I understand the reasoning behind it…it’s much easier to get the family together once.  But tonight, these very special friends went to a lot of trouble to make my birthday special and I can’t begin to express how much it was appreciated and how much I love each and every one of them!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY DEBBIE, ERIN, LYNETTE, KRISTY, ANN AND EILEEN! It was a night I will never forget!