How to get organi.... HEY LOOK! Shiny red ball!!

**This post has been temporarily interupted by high levels of grossness.**

Sometimes I'm slack. For instance, I always clean the stove and the counters when I do the dishes, but I don't clean the burners very often. So... remember way back last *cough* spring when we had that little mouse problem? Well, imagine my surprise when I took the burners off today, and while he'd been eating, and presumedly lounging about, in the drawer in the bottom of the stove, evidently he'd been pooing under the stovetop, way down by the burners. Ew, ew. EW. And the little f***we had apparently been stealing some cookies and cream kisses from me! On the agenda for the new year: keep the GD stove clean!!

Organization. I keep seeing this word pop up on the internet, and it sounds interesting! But seriously, I am so unorganized, and I HATE it. The same way I hate being late, but sometimes no matter how early I leave, it just seems like I can't get where I'm going. Anyway. My problem with GETTING organized is that I never seen to be able to STAY FOCUSED. Is there such a thing as adult-onset ADD? (Like I haven't always been like this!) For example: today I was putting away the boxes of Christmas decorations. Yesterday, I starting purging some things, starting in the bedroom, and I have a growing pile of things to take to the VV Boutique, so after taking the first box to the basement, I noticed a duffle bag of work clothes, and thought, 'Hey! I should go through that now, and then I can put it in the VV pile!" I did stop myself, but it was close! If I can get pay attention to the task at hand, I do alright, but I get distracted. Easily. And by almost everything. Is there a point to this, you say? Well. Yes. I have a plan, and I'll share it with you.

1. Do one thing at a time. This was Adam's suggestion, but I'll take credit for it. I tend to aim high when I make plans, and I need to learn to focus, and start and finish one thing at a time.


2. Take 15 min a day to tackle one thing. Cause really, cleaning out a cupboard or a closet shouldn't take much longer than that.


3. Do you really need it? I've been trying to get rid of a lot of things I don't need or haven't used in a while.

Not much of a plan, is it? Well, it's a start. At least I don't have mouse poop in my stove anymore. EW EW EW EWewewweww.

CHRIMMAH!!

I wasn't going to decorate, since we're going home (dogs and all! Crazy if you know my parents!) but then I ended up doing it anyway because it's mutha-flippin' CRIMMAH. (Festive, I know). But before I show you pictures, I'll give you a story. About three weeks ago, I worked on Saturday, and after being there for about 2 hours, the neighbor came over to enquire about who owned the red car. Why? Because he backed out of his driveway directly into my door. I don't understand people who can't drive. Yes, accidents happen, but this was impressive. However, he was honest about it, settled up for the damage, but still, still, I wanted to start with the Tyrone scene from Snatch (NSFW, and likely to offend some people, what with the swearing and what not). The rest of the day went pretty well, and when I left I wanted an Egg Nog Latte. That's all I wanted. Completely forgetting that it was the Saturday of Black Friday (does that make sense?) I went to Dartmouth Crossing. Oh God, I hate that place. It took forever to get into, I couldn't find what I was looking for, and due to the complete lack of signage anywhere, I ended up back on the highway before I even found Starbucks. I'm pretty sure the city planner for that marvel was, oh, I don't know! Satan?? So I figured I would just go to the MicMac Mall, go to the Starbucks at Chapters since it's not even IN the mall. I thought I'd be safe. I was wrong. (And why are parking spots so small now??). I had to circle to find a spot. I should have gone home. But by this time, by durn, I was on a mission (Indiana Trudy and the Quest for the Nogalatte, I would call it!) so I went in. From whence do these people come?? There were about 20 people in line for Chapters, so I quickly abandoned the idea of getting any early Christmas presents, and went directly for coffee. Sweet, sweet Christmas coffee. Now, for future reference, when I hear the girl behind the counter (I refuse to call anyone a barista) say, "I think I need more egg nog, I don't know if I have enough for one more," I will admit defeat. Because for all the traffic and the crowds and the screaming kids, that was some awful coffee. But I drank it, and drove home with the moulding from my door wrapped in brown paper in the backseat. Next time they ask me to work on Saturday, I think I'll say no.

{And now, for everyone who stuck with me through all that, onto the festive goodness!}

Snuffleupagus and a Doodlebug! Srsly!


Festive bookcase <3

Let me explain... new tv doesn't fit in the entertainment centre, but a new one is not high on the priority list right at the moment, so the tv is on the top and the cubby... well... festive cubby!

So bright. Don't look directly at them.

(Scotch tape not part of the "theme").

In keeping with the festivities/holy-poop-I'm-broke, I'm giving cookies and fudge for Christmas (which I think is how Christmas should be btw. I'm becoming very anti-consumerist in my old age). So, the fudge is not done, but this is what my table looks like (Adam's home now, so I need to get these packaged before my stocks become severely depleted)

(pumpkin drop cookies (eagerly awaiting icing), whipped shortbread, and pretzel shortbread).

Rocco really, really, really, wanted the cookies. He sat there just like that for about 25 minutes.

"Ooooooow there are cookies. Right there. I can smell them. Please, please give me the cookies."

"Yea, we can see the cookies. Can we, like, have the cookies? Those ones? Right there?"

"Pleeeeeeeease??"

Yea. They got a cookie. How could I say no??

Eight more sleeps, people. I hope you're all more ready than I am!

I'll be outside for the season...

I have no time.

So I'll give you a picture...

See, I have a post that I started about my 3-hour tour to get an egg nog latte, and a rant about something else, but then this Christmas thing came along that has been taking up a lot of time, and even though I'm probably 80% ready, there's still so much to do, and I have no pictures of the decorations here (yet) but there will be a longer update this weekend, I swear, and until then (deep breath) just one more picture (this is just about how I felt last Sunday when I was trying to decorate, and it was 7pm and I was still surrounded by rubble and boxes...).

10 more sleeps!

Cold November Rain

... I was in it all morning. Brr.

First and foremost. I am in love. With Lee Valley. Best customer service. EVER. I took a block plane in that I bought there about 7 years ago. I had dropped it, which I explained to him, and the plate shattered around the blade, making it completely useless. So they replaced it. Just like that. Tradesies. Sweetness. I spent a while ogling the polished chrome plane. Sweet Jesus, it's beautiful.
I digress...

I did go back there tonight to pick up some stocking stuffers (and one schweeet batoning chisel for me), in the hopes of being prepared this year. There's always a first time, right? In closing, let me just say if you have a local Lee Valley (or if you're an internet shopper) check them out, because they have some very interesting things.

While I may be trying to prepare for Christmas, I just want to say, what the hell, stores? Is it really necessary to be decorated already? I mean, merchandise I can understand, but carols and lights and trees? That's just not cool. The only place that should be prepared for the Holidays is Starbucks, and that's because of the Egg Nog Lattes. However, I come bearing a warning: beware the Peppermint Brownie Pop. Delicious? Yes. But the peppermint pieces are reminiscent of glass shards and the pain outweighs the pleasure. Er, I think. Let me try it a few more times and I'll let you know for sure...

I think way back when I promised you something crafty, so here it is: Marcia's Hallowe'en present, a witches heart in a jar.

It really is indestructible!*

*Also titled: Dear God, stop eating the trim!

http://www.westpawdesign.com/articles/pet-care-products/buyers-guide-your-pets-well-being/indestructible-dog-toys

If you have tough chewers, these really are the best...



Now pardon me while I go sit under my desk for a bit, as the internet has eaten a post that took me 45 minutes. I'll re-do it tomorrow. And may I just say SONO'BENORE!!

I'll leave you with this, especially for Marcia:

It's been so long...

Ahh, Crush. PS. Lori, come back! We will go to the Lower Deck this time!!


So... update... update...


Lori was here. Best. Birthday. Present. Ever. We sang. We danced. Well, we didn't, but it was an awesome visit, nevertheless. We did see a duck swimming in the middle of the road. Yea, we got a lot of rain. Some awesome food, and a trip to Neptune Theatre to see Frankenstein (which was soooo good), many gifts, and lots of dog love later, she left me again. Sad face, sweetie. Remember to keep the crotch of your bodysuit snapped up. Bwahahaha ;D. (That's me, my sister, and my b(i)fl.)

We got portraits taken, because... yeaaa... I'm one of those people now.




I'm not ashamed. I love those hounds. All three of them. Heh.

I made a Plinko Hallowe'en costume for a friend. I have to say, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, and more importantly, so was she.

And most importantly, this time, I didn't accidentally drink the brush cleaning water...

I'm making peanut butter bars, and I have no idea what I did, but they came out weird. Checked and re-checked the amount of everything before I baked them, but they were... sticky... softer than normal.... fluffy almost. We'll see how they are when they cool. Hopefully they're good, because all baking and no food makes Trudy a dull boy. Or y'know, a little crazy.

My sewing room is an atrocity. (That is all).

Stay tuned for a Hallowe'en update. And also one from the VV Boutique.

What's everyone else been up to?

Get me off this crazy thing. Called Love.

Two weekends. Two weddings. I'd like to not have to do that again for awhile. They were lovely. Good people. Good times. Good grief, that was a lot of wine. Today, my sister thought I was emotionally distraught; however, I'm just hungover. She understood, and said she just couldn't tell the difference between me being emotional and nauseous. Which makes sense, I usually can't either.

Update:

• 5 sleeps until I pick up my BiFL (that's "best friend for life"; little something I picked up from a 12 year old. Yea, I'm cool like that) from ye old aeropuerto. Exciting because we haven't seen one another for 3 years!! OMG!! It's ridiculous. We met at University, and my first impression was 'How can anyone be that f*&#ing chipper and perky?' Turns out she was just nervous, and it turns out she's quite cynical and sarcastic as well, so we got along fine! We lived together in Halifax for 5 years, and then drove to Winnipeg in 2008 when she was going to northern Manitoba for work, and NOW she's coming back to me! Best. Birthday present. Ever. I'm stupid excited, and I have a lot to do before Friday!


• That's us being smaller than a nickel....
  ...dranking in The Brady Bunch hotel (hahaha)....


• ...and Lori's last day in Halifax. Sad face sweetie...But 5 more sleeps!!

• I accidentally made purple beef stew tonight. It should be delicious, but I made it with fresh home grown purple haze carrots. Which turned the turnip and the onions and the potatoes, well... purple. It'd be great for Hallowe'en!

• Speaking of which, I need to start my costume if I'm going to be a sock monkey. ;)

• I just got a message on facebook about a fundraiser for Litters and Critters (a local animal rescue) called Howl-O-Ween. There are prizes, and bobbing for hot dogs! Would it be wrong of me to dress them like the Blues Brothers? Or maybe the Snooze Brothers. Y'think?




• Adam's aunt gave us an old dresser, 3 drawers with casters on the legs.... I have a plan! (but no pictures yet!)
  
  
  
• I would like to remind everyone that the Roast of Charlie Sheen is tomorrow.

Erm. Yes. I believe that is all. That comes to mind right now anyway. I'll leave you with a picture.