Then it was Christmas

A great time was had by all.

Really.

Today I'm Playing Hookey

With a forecast like this:

... ICE STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST /11 AM CST/ TODAY...

FREEZING RAIN... MIXED AT TIMES WITH SLEET... WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF THIS MORNING CAUSING SIGNIFICANT ICING. STORM TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS OF ICE WILL RANGE FROM ONE HALF TO LOCALLY AS MUCH AS ONE INCH IN SOME AREAS. ACCUMULATIONS OF THIS AMOUNT WILL CAUSE TREACHEROUS DRIVING CONDITIONS AND AREAS OF POWER OUTAGES FROM FALLING TREES AND POWER LINES. TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED IN THESE AREAS.

And a yard looking like this:

I decided not to attempt the 45 mile commute to work this morning. Therefore... I declare a long weekend, starting now! (Plus, it's a great opportunity to play with my amazing new camera!)

In which my Yard becomes a Wilderness Refuge.

There were 5 deer traipsing through my yard this morning, and it was so cute! I was very sad, however, that my new awesome camera John got me for Christmas this year (yeah, and didn't even make me wait til Christmas to open it! Woohoo!) was downstairs and therefore inaccessible on a moment's notice. I grabbed my old camera and tried to get something good, and this is the best I got. I know. Not stunning.

Anyway. There were 5 deer in my yard. And it was cool. (I bet they were attracted to the smell of the wildebeest.)

THIS is to have succeeded.

The wildebeest has been located and removed from the mailbox and has been returned to the wild. He was a hungry little feller. But, he is much happier now back out on the plains. Just take a look at him. Doesn't he look happy now?

Also: Today, I am happy to announce, we got our first Christmas card. Now, if only that immigration clearance will hurry up and come, then we'd be really onto something.

In which a dejected soul laments her lack of Christmas greetings

It has come to my attention that it is now approaching mid-December and I have yet to receive a single solitary Christmas card in the mail this year. There are many potential explanations for this, including a) The Grinch actually successfully stole Christmas this year b) there is a Christmas-card eating wildebeest living in my mailbox c) Christmas cards have been outlawed in my town and all cards are thus being deflected to a more suitable town. The list goes on, and all reasons are entirely plausible (personally I'm hoping it's the wildebeest. I've always wanted one of those!), but I still think someone ought to send me a Christmas card one of these days. (Please?)

Furthermore, please note: I have not yet sent out my own Christmas cards. These shall be forthcoming.

I Love Christmas Shopping

four exclamation points