Stupid cat, and other news...

I was getting ready to get into the shower on Sunday and the Holly-cat was sitting on the toilet (getting ready to be a heat slut with the counter heater I'm sure). But at the time she was yelling at me to pay attention to her so I tried to pick her up and cuddle her. I do this on a fairly regular basis with no big distress but I do have to be aware of the kitty claws. This time I was not fast enough and kitty claws drew blood in a particularly sensitive part of my chest. OWIE! Blood meant I needed a band-aid. I knew there was a pretty good possibility that the band-aid I picked up had latex in it but it was more flexible and had better protection than the others I had. Turns out I was correct and I now have a band-aid shaped welt in a really unfortunate place. *sigh* Thanks Holly-cat.

In other news...not much knitting is getting done. I finished Carrie's gift but I'm still working on stuff for everyone else. It's amazing how things stack up, but honestly, I don't want to change it during the holiday season. Tuesday and Thursday are my usual days to have good solid knitting time. Today, however, Dad is coming out to help me get a Christmas tree and I promised him dinner (I need his truck, he needs dinner. I'm going to cook for myself anyway- it's a fair exchange in my book). Thursday, Carrie, Robert and Audra are coming over to help decorate the tree--It's a lot more fun with family and their house isn't big enough with the extra person living in to set up a tree. That means that last night I did a whole lot of cleaning and prepping. The floors got vacuumed, which involved tearing the vacuum apart to figure out where it was clogged enough to light the performance problem light. (I never did figure it out- maybe dad can look at it and help.) The tree stand and skirt are set up and waiting for the tree. The decorations are down out of the closet waiting for Thursday and the winter village is sitting in its respective boxes on the table waiting for me to clean off the hutch and assemble it. In spite of the decrease in knitting time, I wouldn't have it any other way. I do love this season.

The cold, on the other hand, is not so pleasant. This morning it was 11 degrees. I don't know what the temperature is in my house, the ceiling heat is set at 50 as per the rental minimum mandate but it didn't come on in the kitchen where there is a wall blower. It must not have gotten that cold. I do not turn on my heat because ceiling heat in an apartment where there is another apartment on the second floor is just stupid. I'd pay to heat the neighbor's place. I instead rely on space heaters in whichever room I happen to be in. It's not very comfortable but I bundle up and survive just fine. It makes for cuddly kitties though. Last year I think the temp in the house ran about 59-63 degrees most of the winter. Again, not comfortable but bearable. I noticed that the Long Tom river has a crust of ice over the top. I haven't seen that in a long time, if ever.

I will officially be home for Christmas and Mom and Dad will be in California with my brother, SIL and SIL's family. I expect to be with Robert and Carrie, unless her mom has a problem with that (not expected).

I hope all of you are staying warm and enjoying the season. Whatever holiday you celebrate, I wish you joy!