Where the F have I been?!

Hi gang! Sorry for the blog hiatus. What a week.

When we last met up, I still had two Thanksgiving dinners to attend. Last Saturday Lindsey and I ventured out in the snow to Granger to Aunt Sheila's. After eating my weight (and then some) in turkey & such the day before, the spread of homemade chili, potato soup, and little smokies was a very welcome change. We got a chance to see some of our extended family from Chicago and St. Louis that we just don't get to see enough of, so it was fun. We stayed till about 9:30, and noticed that the snow was still coming down. Since we had the furthest drive back home, we took off. The county highway we took between Granger and Minburn wasn't in the best shape, but by the time we hit 169 & 44, things were just fine. I should mention at this point that in order for us to get to Granger, there was a bit of a power struggle between my sister and I. I thought it would be best if I drove for three reasons. 1. I had a full tank of gas in my car, whilst Lindsey was on empty. 2. I am older (if only by 3 years) and have had a little more experience in snowy driving conditions. 3. I am a control freak and a backseat driver anyway, so why not let me just win? Of course, Lindsey ended up driving us. I met her after she got off work, left my car in town, and we left. Anyhow, on our way home, she dropped me off at my car, I got in and was driving behind her home. We get to the lake where the road conditions soured once again, and not 60 seconds later, I'm watching in horror as my poor baby sister veers off the road (at NO fault of her own, might I add) and her little blue Cavalier is careening into the trees. Her finally comes to a rest (after what seems like an eternity) and I could not get mine stopped fast enough, or so it seemed. I race over to find her in hysterics and shaken up, but otherwise uninjured. Her car, however is another story. The front passenger side is mangled with the side mirror about 5 yards behind the car, her front passenger door is unopenable (word?), and the front passenger window (sensing a pattern of impact yet) is broken out. Everywhere. Glass. Inside her purse (which we didn't find until two days later.) I get her into my car and we make it home. Jerry and I ventured back out to cover the window with a slab of cardboard since the snow was still coming down. So much for a quiet night. (Like there's ever one of those around my parents house anyway)

Sunday was a much better day. We headed over to Grandma's for TG #4 (the last supper, so to speak, and THANK GOD!) We mingle with the family and have a great time playing Catch Phrase (as evidenced by pictures on Mom's blog). We get home at about 10, when I realize that I don't have any desire to drive back to Ames tonight, so I'm postponing it until tomorrow. Which is exactly what I did. I left town at about 1 on Monday, and worked at 3.

The rest of the week was pretty fair to partly cloudy. Tuesday night Roomie's mom and stepdad came to town and took us out to eat at Applebee's (our fave) and came back to our house to help us put up our Christmas tree. Now, this is where I tell you about my tree. I bought it last year for $11 at the D.A.V. Thrift Store in East Des Moines. It is an adorable six foot tree, and it is my pride and joy. I don't know why, but it is my favorite piece of furniture. This year we decorated in purples and golds, along with mauve and copper as our "counterbalances." We used purple lights. I'll have to post pictures soon.

Now it's Saturday night and I am starting to feel better, thanks for asking. Oh, did I not mention I was sick? Yeah. Sick, starting at about 8 Friday night and not really letting up until now. I had to miss Roomie's Christmas party (sad face) so instead I came home to Panora to get babied. Tomorrow we'll decorate the tree here, and I'll head up to Ames afterwards. It's finals week, so we'll see if I get a chance to update you before I go on Christmas break.

Have a happy weekend, everyone!

cjk