Now I’m usually pretty strategic (it’s my #1 theme in the Clifton
StrenghtsFinder) about getting things done but that goes into overdrive this
time of year. I cram things in before work, over lunch, whenever I can to get
multiple things done at once so I have more time at home when I finally get
there. So Monday wasn’t just going to knitting after work, it was getting gas,
stopping home so I could deliver something to a knitter, getting pizza and
stopping at the store for my last swap item then going to the library. That and
a 30 mile drive all in 65 minutes. That kind of thing. In every available
minute.
With Thanksgiving being so late, there was leftover turkey to deal
with. I skipped swimming on Tuesday in favor of taking care of all the turkey.
I divvied up the last of the stuffing into little casseroles then covered it
with turkey and gravy and it went into the freezer with a dollop of cranberry
for mid-winter turkey fixes. Then I cubed up all the breast meat into one cup
portions and into the freezer it went. Last but not least was the pot of soup
then a small quiche just to have some non-turkey. Done! Nora and I did a Trader
Joe’s run on Wednesday for all the fun Christmas stuff and I was back in the
pool after work. I had intended to spend a leisurely night watching Survivor
and relaxing but something that happened on the drive home nixed that.
One of the benefits of swimming
after work is that I miss “rush hour” traffic, which is nothing much in Lincoln
compared to back east but it’s still nice to miss it. I had just turned onto
highway 77, which is the 2 lane road I’m on for 20+ miles between Lincoln and
Wahoo. As is often the case in Nebraska where no one understands the concept of
keeping right expect to pass, you get a granny dying in the left hand lane
because 3 miles up the road she’s turning left. Well there was a Dodge Charger
in the right lane that purposely kept pace with the granny (going 50 in a 55)
and blocked the entire highway causing a clog of cars. He finally inched up and
a string of cars passed the granny on the right. As soon as the 3rd
car cleared her, the charger stepped on the gas and shot away. Jerk. I didn’t
give him much thought until I was north of I-80 and he continued to be a jerk,
doing the same move over and over. As we headed further north and the other
cars thinned out, I made a concerted effort to get away from him but no matter
what speed I went, he matched it, with occasional bursts of speed followed by
slowing down. Since I was the only other car on the road, I was beginning to
get worried but couldn’t lose him. Then I was going just below the speed limit
(65) in the left hand lane in an attempt to avoid him when he swerved in front
of me and slammed on his breaks. I slammed mine on, sending everything in the
car flying and just when I was about to hit him, he floored it and sped off. I
was shaken but had noted his license plate so turned off at Ceresco to put some
distance between us. I got back on the highway but caught up with him again
further on (WTF!) so cut over to the old highway via a gravel road. As soon as
I got home, I called the cops. They listened to my story, took his plate number
and my name and she said she’d tell the deputy and he’d most likely contact the
guy. Sheesh! Talk about on edge! I was shaken and wondering if I’d have to
worry about encountering him other nights. I nuked some quiche, poured a glass
of wine and settled in for Survivor.
Well the TV was on but I
wasn’t paying much attention while I was trying to find a hotel for the 2
nights in New Orleans before the cruise in February. Come to find out, it’s
smack in the middle of Mardi Gras so everything was super pricey or fully
booked. Between the highway drama and worrying about finding a hotel, I slept
like crap and was up for a couple of hours in the middle of the night. Like up
up – out of bed and on the computer. I finally was able to fall back asleep for
an hour before the alarm went off. I was not as tired as I’d thought I’d be on
Thursday and after a few emails with Connie, I booked the Hyatt for $200/night.
Expensive but centrally located and close to the docks. Best part? Done! After
another whirlwind night (pool, eating in the car and straight to the library
for book club), I slept great Thursday night. Good thing because I’d need my
energy for everything I planned to do over the weekend.
I had a big list for Friday too. I opted for a quick lunch with
Layton so I’d have time to run to Menard’s afterwards. It took me longer to
walk through the store to the garden center than it did to pick out my two
trees and a wreath. I had them loaded in the car and was back to work. There
was another list for after work too but I was home with groceries and ready to
start my weekend by 6:30. Nice.
Getting the first blast of Christmas tree smell when I got into
the car Friday night went a long way towards getting me in the Christmas
spirit. Finding that it was story time with Santa at the library when I stopped
to prep a Friends deposit on Saturday morning sealed the deal. I went home and
had my wreath on the door and my outside tree up and decorated in short order. I
then headed into the spare room to dig out all my stocking stuffers and see if
I had any holes. Since the spare room is my dumping ground and holds most of my
yarn, this was no easy step. I was happy to see I had plenty for all the
stockings. Now it was time to neatize the entire house and clear the bar so I
could get the calendars done. Between all this I was madly knitting on my
sister’s Christmas socks, which would have to be done before I could ship
stockings. Pressure!
Fast forward to Sunday night. The chores were done, the calendars
were put together and all the scrapbooking stuff put away. The bar was clear
and ready for wrapping. The only thing I didn’t get done was to go through all
my Christmas stuff so I could donate the extras to the library’s holiday
decoration sale. There was a box in the middle of the floor that would first up
on next week’s list but there were more boxes in the basement that’d just have
to wait. All in all, I was pleased with my progress and was even in the home
stretch on Dottie’s second sock. I ended the week making a big batch of turkey
tetrazzini with the last of the turkey stock (enough for the week’s dinners, to
share with Andrea and put 2 small casseroles in the freezer) and getting a
thank you from my friend Cindy for the socks I’d sent her earlier in the week. Then I got a note from the designer and she wants to use my socks on her pattern page. All good. Check them out.
Now for the next week’s list. Ho ho ho!
Now for the next week’s list. Ho ho ho!
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