After all the excitement of the carnival, our sickness, and TG day, it was nice to get back into our normal routine. We were at school a bit too early, and had to wait for it to open. Took the opportunity to snap a few shots. This picture here is the outside of the old convent, now preK classrooms. Each class decorates one of the alcove/porch walls.
Apparantly they've been very busy preparing for thanksgiving. Here's T pointing to her work or art...a pilgrim which she quickly stated, who is wearing lipstick. Yep, that looks like alot of red lipstick.
Here's T pointing to her turkey...it the one up at the top in the corner. She was very proud of her work.
Meanwhile, I took the day off, as I was on medical jitney duty. Had an appointment for my mom at the dr., and then at the last minute made one for my dad as well, when he deigned to consent to go. He has a deep, almost genetic aversion to all things medical, so it was a big deal when he consented to go. He's been living with unregulated diabetes for the last few years. We got a new script for some medicine, and he actually took one. I also scored some disabled parking permits for my mom, who can barely walk 20 feet without assistence. They were thrilled with that. So, tomorrow for me its back to work.
Since the cold snap is still here, we decided to head off to the Metro Zoo. We'd never been before. Have I mentioned I hate the zoo? Here's T and my sissy, Aunt Dot, posing at the beginning of our long, long, long trek. Did I mention that it was long? ...and we only did 1/2 the park b/c SOMEBODY was getting cranky.
T's favorite part of it were the lighted animals, that weren't lit up. She'd get all excited saying, "Oooh, there's a lion".
There was a nice little children's area, where we spent alot of time. There was a carousel that we rode even though T once again refused to get on the actual horses, there were stinky camel rides that she also balked at.
There was also a children's petting zoo, that I was sure she'd be terrified of, given her general reaction to dogs and cats. Nope, mom's wrong once again. She let the thing eat out of her hand like she'd been doing it all her life.
Then as we were playing around something really special happened...
Armed with my array of ads, I went tearing out this morning bright and early. However, I made a HUGE tactical error. I slept in. Didn't leave the house til 6:50 a.m. On an upnote, I headed to JCP, and scored 2 xmas dresses for T. They were on clearance and came with a bonus doll dress. The maker is "Cinderella" and they are truly beautiful. I've seen the same brand in Macy's for more money, so was thrilled to see them on clearance. T is thrilled, too. I can't seem to get her out of the thing, now. I also scored something for me to wear to the xmas parties this year. Content with my purchases, I left to finish executing my plan.
Next stop was the toy store. Good lord. At 8:15 a.m., there were barely any spots in the parking lot. That should have told me something. All of the the sale items I had carefully studied and made notes about were frickin SOLD OUT. What a bust. I was figuring that since I was relatively early and that there is a cold snap in the old swamp, people would stay in. This town loses its mind when it gets into the 60's. People either stay in or, more inexplicably, drive 20 miles UNDER the speed limit when its cold. But I digress. The store had opened at midnight, so the shelves were bare.
I left the toy store and made for Office M@x. There, at least, I scored presents for all my friends, so the morning was not a total loss.
So ends my first foray into Black Friday, in over 4 years. Next time, i may just stick to the internet.
I've been studying my cache of ads all evening, and like a four star general, have formulated a plan of attack for the wee hours of the morning. Still haven't decided just how early I'll be going out. So far, the plan is to go around 5:00 a.m. Of course, that's all dependent upon how sleepy I actually feel at the appointed time.
We survived T'giving this year without any incident. The food was delish, and everybody was stuffed.
Happy Black Friday Everyone!
We're very busy watching the Macy's Parade and T is dancing around the house to the music, and trying to drag dot and I into her performance, with varying degrees of success. I've already culled a few pertinent ads from the slew that arrived this morning, and I'll be studying and comparing them later tonight. Cant wait.
As usual, Dot is cooking up a feast. Meanwhile, I'm on jitney duty. I'll be leaving to collect my Aunt Connie who is up in Sunrise and my parents, deliver them here, then drive them home. We're vowing that no one will drive into the house this year, and no one will go to the ER.
So far, so good.
Hope everybody has a great Turkey Day!
T stayed home today with Dot, and I went into work for only a 1/2 day. Guess who else has been infected by my loving child? That's right, Jodie and Jack both report that they promptly came down witht he same symptoms on Sunday and Monday. Welcome to my world, right?
I'm going to keep T home tomorrow as well, as its only a 1/2 day. Hopefully, we're on the mend. T didn't have a temp today until the afternoon, and it was barely a temp at that. So, I think we're on the mend.
To get out of Aunt Dot's hair, since she was working all day, I took T off to the Nordstrom restaurant and mall. If I do say so myself, its beginning to look alot like Christmas, all around the town...
T has an upper respiratory infection that just needs to work itself out, and we're only to treat the symptoms. Her low grade fever continues to come and go. Of course, what has my ever-loving daughter done?
INFECTED HER MOTHER!
Yep, I spent the day suffering from a sore throat and the chills...which means I probably have a low grade fever, too. Unlike my darling daughter, though, I don't lose my appetite when sick. At least if it knew I'd lose a few pounds, it would make the whole ordeal more palatable, so to speak. But no, I think I pretty much would have to be at death's door, before I'd ever lose my appetite...or in a coma. Damn.
Anyway, I'm certain that this will exacerbate my asthma, so I'm hoping I can head that off at the pass.
That's it for now.
...and not carnival fever. Last night and today T has had a low fever...100.9. Starting to get sniffles and a wet cough.
Poor baby.
She's been vaccinated for all the flus, so lets hope its not that.
We're off to the doctor on monday. Luckily, Dot is off work and can take her.
We fared much better tonight at the fair. T rode the bumper cars again with Dot, the merry go round a few times (once even by herself), and had a ball doing this jumping thing. They strap the kids in to elastic ropes, pull it tight, and the kids jump really high.
Here's T hamming up as she was waiting her turn.
They strapped her in...
...and the rest was a blurr as she jumped her heart out!
A marvelous plan was made in the stars,
to create a miracle across the ocean so far....
Then entwine and weave all the hopes and labor,
it would take to bring us this joy called "Taylor"....
Now three lives are blessed and somewhere in the stars,
the planners are smiling, as we all are.
-Anon.
After all the excitement of the carnival, our sickness, and TG day, it was nice to get back into our normal routine. We were at school a bit too early, and had to wait for it to open. Took the opportunity to snap a few shots. This picture here is the outside of the old convent, now preK classrooms. Each class decorates one of the alcove/porch walls.
Apparantly they've been very busy preparing for thanksgiving. Here's T pointing to her work or art...a pilgrim which she quickly stated, who is wearing lipstick. Yep, that looks like alot of red lipstick. 
Here's T pointing to her turkey...it the one up at the top in the corner. She was very proud of her work.
