4 on Friday

1.  I did my Black Friday shopping on Wednesday with a friend, whose name is also Kristin.

Some of you may have seen this on Instagram.

While we were shopping, I stopped at Starbucks and ordered us both a drink.  They spelled both names wrong (Kristen).  So disappointing.

2.  I don't care if you shopped last night.  

Who cares if people want to go shopping on Thanksgiving night?  And, honestly, I judge you a little bit if you say Thanksgiving is for family-time only.  As someone who has spent 5 Thanksgivings away from home, I feel I have the right to make that judgement.  Our first married Thanksgiving was spent with Scott deployed.  Since then, we've been lucky to have friends to spend it with.  People who don't have set traditions to follow as brand-new adults might be looking for something to do on that day….are you going to complain that the hospitals and fire departments are open too?  Or all of you who like to go to the movies…who do you think is selling you popcorn on holidays?

Plus, I worked 3 Thanksgivings (and Easters, Christmas Eves, Mother's/Father's Days, etc.) in a row as a waitress.  If you feel the world should stop for a day, you've never had to work on Thanksgiving.

3.  Scout gave us a scare the other day.  You see, I moved his crate so I could squeeze our giant Christmas tree into the dining area.  He walked around for hours looking for his crate.  He was like a paranoid, hallucinating drug addict.  I showed him where it was.  I took him to it.  He went inside, and then went back to its old spot.  His ears were twitching.  He kept wanting to go outside.  He peed on the floor.  He kept looking at the ceiling like someone was up there.

I put the stupid crate back.

Merry Christmas to you too, Scout.  

4.  In other news, my house is too small.  Thankfully, thankfully, we'll only be here for 6 more months.  It never fails.  After we're in a place for a few months, I start seeing everything that is wrong with it.  This house's flaws include: pothole-laden road is the only access, on a hill, small driveway, no spot for a Christmas tree, no proper foyer.

(Scott thinks I'm ridiculous.  I was just spoiled by the giant, cavernous empty shell we lived in for 2 years in Alaska.)

Today, I plan on baking cookies, online shopping, and wrapping gifts. I've got a few recipes to share next week.  As soon as I can muster up the energy to type them out.  'Tis vacation, after all.  Vacation is wonderful.