it hasn't even been a month and i'm writing again. now you know why you're so cold - hell has, indeed, frozen over. i've got many things to do, but i'm far too worn out, discouraged, and lazy to accomplish any of them. michael cleaned the bedroom while i was at work, so his side looks photo-shoot-ready, while mine is an obstacle course. the living-room and bathroom and kitchen all need cleaning, too, which alone makes for a pretty full saturday. since his family is coming over tomorrow night as well, the cleaning must be completely finished before 1800 (6pm CST). i've also been asked to cook, which includes the pre-requisite of grocery shopping with money i don't yet have, and we have to fit in the 45 min drive to zales to pick up my wedding ring, which we had resized (yes, i measure distance in minutes, welcome to wisconsin). no problem. i'm going to save purchasing my last christmas gift of the year, as well as wrapping it and the others, for sunday, i think. i've had some equally fun and boring times at work. a few of the projects we've got seem completely pointless, but another is fun and i get to do interviews in spanish. i also came up with a brief, generic russian script, as there seem to be a lot of russians in the area we're targeting, but i haven't gotten to use it yet. this could be good, as it's been ages since i've spoken any, but i'd still like to give it a shot to see if i've been demoted to 'wow, you suck at this' or not. as my parents are out-of-state visiting my brother for christmas, i already got my presents from them. this is the first year i won't be spending the hols with them, which actually saddens me a bit more than i'd figured it would. changes, changes. everything they gave me/us is awesome, and i know i must be spoilt now. among the items i received, a few highlights: - a crosley replica 1957 payphone in black (which was standard back then; you can google it to see photos if you really want), which actually makes me want to talk on the phone for a change; - luggage for our trip (it's swell and i can't wait to use it! and it's magenta - a colour i'd never think to pick, but it's not really bright or anything; it's actually a pretty colour) - a waffle iron! yey waffles! - a dirt devil hand-vac to clean up after linus-the-cat [coughmike and his chip crumbscough] - a thirty-plus-year-old ceramic tree mum made when she was younger (that i've always wanted), which has snow accents and pretty coloured bulbs on the branches that light up! there are a few other things, too, but i'm getting tired and am having trouble remembering my name, let alone everything else i got. michael has two large (and rather heavy) boxes for me under the tree, so i'll be sure to dish when i finally get to open them. i'm not even sure what they could be. that sneak. anyhow, apart from that, it's been kind of busy round here. this is the first real chance i've had to write anything of even remote substance; it seems like we're running from one place to another. i don't think things will really slow down until january, but at least i've kept myself awake long enough to ramble on for an entry. also, a quick note: we've got our travel dates pretty set at the mo. we're planning on leaving for england on 16 april '08 (a wednesday) and returning from holland on 14 may (also a wednesday). hoorayyyy! (= hope everyone is swell and has a mighty fine festi-christ-vus-hanu-kwanza-boxi-mas-kah (& whatever the hell else you want to throw in there, too)! (=