After the funeral last night, I took a catnap and then went to a party held by some friends of my in-laws where I had EXCELLENT food and socialized a bit.Â? I probably *was* up after midnight reading — I’m engrossed in The New Faithful by Colleen Carroll.
Right now, I’m sitting here watching the Rose Parade with my in-laws — truly the southern California New Year’s Day experience.Â? We’re sitting here making snarky comments on the floats.
As for the Rose Bowl…
GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Australia-bound tourist ends up in Montana
This is one of those times where one just has to laugh.
In SoCal now with my in-laws.Â? I did Evening Prayer with my father-in-law and Jon — it felt good, especially doing it cuddled up to Jon.
I am surrounded by excellent cats.Â?Â? This is a good thing.
Memorial service is Sunday and interment is Tuesday.
Jon’s grandfather passed away this afternoon so we’re hauling butt to southern California tomorrow for a week.
Pray for me.Â? I just want to go home and see my cats.
Attention Amtrak administration/workers/whoever does the website:
Given that your automated system “Julie” is incredibly frustrating to work with as it cannot recognize simple pronunciation of words, could you please put the train status option on the website?Â? I mean… it would make the lives of web-savvy people for whom you are the most convenient travel option a lot easier.
Oh yes… did I mention that “Julie the automated agent” is the spawn of Satan and I hate that it cannot decipher whether I want to stop in Fremont, California or Pontiac, Michigan when I say the words “Everett, Washington”?Â? Just checking.
Snuggles,
jen
The Good
[-] Getting to fly up to Seattle a few days early
[-] Time with my godmother and some of my mom’s other college friends
[-] Time with my family
[-] Time with my brother’s girlfriend
[-] Emily, the calico kitty
[-] Teaching my younger cousins how to play Uno
[-] Midnight Mass — it was worship nirvana in most ways
[-] Seeing longtime people at my grandparents’ church who recognize me
[-] Christmas Eve dinner with 14 people last night
[-] Being part of helping Pisco celebrate his first Christmas
The Bad
[-] Having to be away from Jon
[-] Having to leave at 3:30 am for the airport
[-] The laptop bag I have (not a backpack so no even distribution of weight)
[-] Sea-Tac’s luggage handling abilities (it took a freaking hour to get my parents’ luggage)
[-] Seattle traffic
[-] Finding out that my box of presents got left at the airport (AVIS thankfully found them and is holding them for me)
[-] Stores on Christmas Eve
[-] The first Christmas without my grandfather
[-] People having to go home
The Presents (Thus Far)
[-] Some money
[-] The Song of Songs in Hebrew and English with notes
[-] A River Runs Through It on DVD
[-] A nice calendar
[-] Foodstuffs from parishioners (especially homemade jams and jellies)
[-] Chocolate-covered cherries from one of my favorite people
[-] Gifts of sheep from the Heifer Project
Let’s play “See If Jen Can Update Her To Do List”! I’m flying to Seattle on Friday morning at the crack of dawn so I have to get a ton of stuff done tomorrow.
-cut blanket to be tied
-laundry
-pack box with Christmas schtuff (books, blanket, afghan schtuff)
-take Irish coffee pie to J’s house
-pack suitcase
-put airline confirmation and train ticket in a safe place
-pack up laptop and LSAT book with sock stuff
-pack meds in laptop bag