End of the year meme.

Lifted with permission from Mandajuice. I cannot resist a good meme….

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Hired my mother

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t make them, so it’s easy to keep them. Or not.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, my sister in law. I have a baby girl to buy for! Well, one that’s related to me.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. My husband’s grandmother, who was like a grandma to me, too.

5. What countries did you visit?
The one I live in. Although Ontariario is far away enough to be another country. It has “lakes” that I would call oceans…that’s kind of weird.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
My husband living at home full time.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Jack’s birthday – the one where he crashed his bike in a most spectacular manner. The day I got rid of the least productive member of my staff.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Becoming comfortable in my role as the boss.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Shopping too much for things I don’t really need.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing aside from the usual colds, and my second-annual Voiceless February.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
The Wii. And plane tickets for our summer trip.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Jack’s, for all the improvement I’ve seen (even though I tend to focus on the bad crap when blogging). Austin’s – better school marks have shown him that effort = reward.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
L’s. I’m having some major issues with the size of said person’s ego, and the damage it’s doing.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage. Out the window.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Giving my staff Random Employee Appreciation gifts. Damn, that was FUN.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Pink – So What

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier. Or at least more even-keeled and less in need of pharmaceutical intervention (which worked wonders, btw!)
b) thinner or fatter? Hm…maybe a tad thinner, but not much. Don’t know since I don’t get on the scale.
c) richer or poorer? Richer. My RRSP has grown, and I own more stock (although it’s a little low at the moment. Ha.).

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Said no. To people other than my kids, that is.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Lost my patience/yelled at my children.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With family.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I fell a long time ago.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
True Blood.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate takes a lot of energy, and I just don’t have any to spare. That’d be a no.

24. What was the best book you read?
The Time Traveler’s Wife

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Jill Barber – “Oh My, My”

26. What did you want and get?
A DS. A new robe. My husband home for Christmas.

27. What did you want and not get?
A digital Rebel. Not that I put it on a list for anyone, because that’s just too much. I’ll buy one for myself someday.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
WallE

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Had Thanksgiving dinner, ate multiple cakes (one of which my sis baked with me), turned 35. Jack’s contribution was telling everyone in the grocery store AND insisting on the big “3″ and “5″ candles.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having my husband live at home full time, with a management position in this town. (good lord, this is becoming an overriding theme….)

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Classic (boring?) with a bit of edge (read: cleavage) on occasion.

32. What kept you sane?
My husband, my kids, my animals, and my friends.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
If by “fancy”, you mean “would fuck in a heartbeat” – well, that list changes rather often.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Strangely, the US election. Far more interesting than ours.

35. Who did you miss?
My husband. (feel free to gag. what can I say?)

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Not sure.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Showering a cat – even one with a smelly klingon issue at his back door – can be very hazardous to your health.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
(Broke out of the harness)
Let it go let it go
(Crumbled in the darkness)
Turn on the light ya’ll
(Overcame the madness)
Then take your pills
(Finally righteous)
I love the beast ya’ll

(Beast – Mr Hurricane)

Let there be boobage.

You’re welcome, Betty.

The first one is from the group shot we take each year. Unfortunately, it was not taken before the consumption of alcocohol, and it got a little out of hand. There were high kicks and much laughter.

The second one is a total accident. D was aiming in on N’s cleavage when I walked in front of him (we’ll just let him think it was accidental, lol), and voila! MAJOR cleavage a la Refinnej.

Hey.

I’ve been sick since Christmas Eve. Yep, Merry Christmas to me! Jack has been sick since the 22nd, D managed to have a few hours between colds, and Austin remains unscathed. Fun times.

Christmas was great/fun/entertaining/hilarious/insert adjective here. The boys loved the Wii, and my dad loved his, too. Christmas Day was spent doing the following: Round 1 of “Santa barfed in our living room” (aka presents), drive in snowy wonderland to the ‘rents, breakfast, Round 2 of “Santa barfed in my parents’ living room”, Wii, Wii, Wii, Wii, Wii, dinner, drive home in snowier wonderland, home to bed. My children have been spoiled yet again, and it’s all good.

Boxing Day through Sunday were spent lazing about the house, watching copious amounts of TV, reading 2 books, napping on occasion, and not cooking because of all the leftovers that a 20lb turkey AND a ham can generate. Woo! The napping was a highlight for me. I felt the call of my couch (all the way from my desk, no less!) today….sigh.

The return to work was rather rude. I spent the last 3 hours of the day being very angry at one of my staff, so angry that I have composed a list of Shit We Have To Talk About And Must Change. Like, six months ago. GRRRRRRRR. Oh, there I go again, getting really fucking angry. Must stop that. On second thought, am going to nurse the anger until I can talk to said person, because it seems to be the only way I’m going to get up the gumption* to speak my damn mind. ARGH.

*I know, I know. I seem like a person who would have gumption to spare, at least sometimes. Alas, my writing self and my real-life self are somewhat different. Not polar-opposite different, but it’s like my real-life self tries hard not to be the Ranty Bitch I can be here. Not working today.

My dog is having a dream of some kind on the couch. It involves his feet running and some light barking. Freak.

Ok, that’s it. I have photos of the red & cleavage-ey dress here, but don’t have the energy to post them. Soon…soon, there will be boobage. And it will make me laugh.

The week that bit me in the ass.

It’s been a very strange week chez Refinnej. Mostly stressful and annoying, with a few good things thrown in….just enough to get me out of bed in the morning.

Monday: subpoenaed! Remember July’s “excitement”? Now we all have to go to court. Whee.

Tuesday: booked summer vacation! A new record for me – thanks in part to Westjet and ScareCanada, both of whom were having wicked awesome seat sales for 2009 travel. Good: our flight does not include a 7+ hour layover in Calgary. Not-so-good: we’re flying ScareCanada. Double whee.

Wednesday: stress. Annoyance. Difficult clients. Behind at work.

Thursday: Audit! A company rep showed up to audit the work we do for them. Result: satisfactory. I’ll take it! BONUS: bending over & getting the shaft from Crappy Post. I am shocked and embarrassed at what I had to pay to get three boxes of Christmas cheer mailed to the outlaws in Ontariario. OY. Shocked because it’s highway fucking robbery. Embarrassed because all my early planning still resulted in a scramble on December 18th. GAhhh. BETTER BONUS: D coming home for the night to see the kids in their Christmas concert and to spend a little family time with all of us. BONUS of BONUSES: the tree-removal dudes finally showed up (I told them they could drop the damn trees about 9 months ago, but hey, it’s not my dime, so I guess I can’t be picky) and finished off the last of our pathetic, dead pine trees.

Today: Frozen toes, fingers and face. It’s gone back to holychristhowcanitbesofuckingcold-type temps (-35C) and it’s nasty. D called to report that during the 24 hours he was here visiting, his water has frozen. This means he has to go under the trailer and take a torch to the pipes. Great news.

Basically, I have hit my Maximum Annoyance level this week. By 6 pm tonight, I had nothing left. I snapped at D, bit Austin’s head off, got rather bitchy with my friend K, and felt like shit for all of it. Sorry, everyone….perhaps the Christmas spirit will return to me next week.

Or maybe I just need to start drinking the spiked eggnog now.

OMFG I think it’s winter.

Mother Nature has a sick sense of humour. Possibly evil.

Friday: snow, snow, snow, snow. Slightly chilly (-5C) temps.

Saturday morning: biting wind. Temps around -20C. More fucking snow. Wind + cold = feels like -30C. Or so.

The wind was especially fun – drifts in weird places, a driveway requiring re-plowing, numb fingers, frozen nose hairs. In what could possibly be my Most Fashionable Moment of 2008, I walked from our hotel room to the restaurant (Christmas party!) last night with the following ensemble: red & cleavag-ey dress, black sweat pants, to-the-knee winter boots (and we’re not talking the sexy kind), black scarf, my new black winter coat, black gloves. My party shoes were in the grocery bag I carried with my purse. There is at least one photo of me in my dress & pants, and it’s really goddamn awesome.

I have had a crazy few days. Not much new there. Austin was sick on Thurs/Fri – thank goodness for my dad, who rode to the rescue and took him both days. I took my friend K to an appt in MediumBigCity south of here, and got in some more shopping. (like I need to do any more…aghhhh). Helped with some Santa photos (with pets) on Saturday morning, and ran around before heading to the hotel for our party. Probably no wonder that I got drunkish rather early on last night, ate dinner, and was back in the room (with my husband!) by 9:30. Tired. That’s me.

But! The Christmas tree that’s been up for a week is now lit and has tinsel (my kitty-safe version). Decorations tomorrow night. Here’s hoping the kids manage to help this year – as opposed to the “help” I’ve received in years past.

I was totally going to do butter tarts today/tonight. Oops. Maybe tomorrow night….

Toddlerhood: Redux.

OMFG. I never would have imagined having to referee my 10 yr old and 6 yr old for what amounts to a fight between two babies. ARGH.

Jackson was kicking his brother. His 10-inch-taller and 20-lbs-heaver brother. Said brother, instead of pushing J off and walking away, BIT him. Yep, I have a 10 yr old biter. WTF do I do about that!?

Sorry, Austin, I do not believe you when you said you “couldn’t get away.” Move faster.

Feeling old.

I saw a certain very popular vampire movie on Thursday night, and quite enjoyed it. So much so that I’m going to cave and read the series. I have the author’s other book on my “to read” list – my copy of “The Host” arrived in the mail on Friday. I hope they’re as good as everyone seems to think. The best part was waiting until the last night it was showing – no screamy teenage girls were there to wreck the show. And I am officially old, because most of the actors were much too young for me to feel comfortable ogling in any way.

The pile of books at my bedside is getting a little out of control, come to think of it. I’ve had to move some to the bookcase just to keep the pile from toppling. I’m currently reading three books. Yes, I am a keener. Also, a little crazy.

The Flying Troutmans – not bad, but not a “lose myself in it” kind of book.
Interred With Their Bones – interesting. I want to see where it leads.
Daring Chloe – had to force myself to put it down this morning. If I hadn’t, I’d have missed brunch.

On the List:
The Host
Love the One You’re With
The Hour I First Believed
um…most of the books in my last books post
The Girl Who Stopped Swimming
My Best Friend’s Girl
The Monsters of Templeton

I have been on a book-buying tear the past year or so. Must. Stop. That’s what libraries are for!!

The machine that ate my socks.

Among other things.

The Sears repair guy was here today – on time, no less – to replace a bunch of parts in our brand new dryer. Stupid machine has been eating clothes for a while now. His first visit involved banging a hammer on the (potentially) offending parts. This delicate operation, however, only half-cured the dryer’s voracious appetite. Instead of completely mangled clothes – shorts with strings seem to be a favourite delicacy – the odd shirt or sock would fall victim to it’s maw.

Basically, there was a little gap between the whatzit and the whoozit (front door versions) and it was just big enough to grab the odd clothing end. The item being eaten would then get twisted all to hell, while making the most annoying wha-wump, wha-wump noise possible. The day I cleaned out the laundry room to make more space for all the cat food? I stopped that fucker more than a dozen times, just to rescue various items of clothing.

If the repair dude is to be believed, all should now be well. We’ll see. This is the dryer that managed to open my zipped-closed lingerie bag, after all. I’m not sure I can trust it quite yet.