The Lion, The Wreath and The Snowstorm

The Lion The Wreath and The Snowstorm

Macy's Christmas Tree

Well, here we are. It's Christmas time again.


We have been so busy that we feel bad that we haven't had time to catch up with everyone. Work is really really busy for Tink, so it has been hard to update (or write much of anything), and her email has been blocked again at work, so she can't communicate very well. The depression has been coming and going and her blood sugar has not been stabilizing since she last saw her doctor at the end of November. She is still reporting it her doctor, but with all the holidays and all the inconsistencies in her schedule, it has been very difficult to take her meds on time and make them work.

Me in the snow.

Sans has found a new job! He will be working at Comcast directly, instead of working as an outsourced tech support call center guy. They told him if he passes all the background check, drug test, etc., he will tentatively start on Dec. 31 at the latest. He will be making about the same as he had been at Stream, but the work conditions will be better, as well as the benefits. Once he has worked there for 60 days, he will get his benefits, which means that Tink can find another job that pays more.


Sans on the "L"

We have agreed to sign a 6 month lease at our current apartment, because for several reasons it would be better for us to stay longer. For one, it is too difficult to move this time of year. Our lease is up at the end of December, can you imagine trying to move at Christmastime? Another reason, is we just can't afford it right now. We are having enough trouble coming up with money for rent, food, and gifts for the family. So we will start looking for a rental house in March and hopefully, we'll get a nice home, not an apartment in Beaverton. We will be able to move out in June. And also hopefully, we will get an inheritance check from my grandmother's estate by then, so we have some $ to fall back on. And that way we can get some furniture, etc.

Our dream home has at least two bedrooms, so we can have a guest, and possibly a baby room. And two bathrooms. A backyard for Mario, and maybe for another dog. A nice large kitchen for all of our “gourmet” low carb cooking. And a garage. It would be nice to finally set up the table saw that I have had for 5 years and have never taken out of the box, for lack of somewhere to use it. We would also like more than one closet. It will be great to live so close to work, so I could visit Mario on my lunch. He would be so much happier than being stuck in his little room all day. I would like to be able to paint and decorate as I like.

We are still waiting for the Christmas gifts for the kids to come in the mail. I guess I ordered them too late. I have some plans for the adults in the family, but what we wanted to send everyone, is not quite working out the way we had planned. So, it's back to the drawing board. Eventually, we will get them all out. We are planning a very subdued Christmas this year. Going over to mom's, and giving a few little things to her and give what we have already to the rest of the family. I have to work in the morning, so it will be a short holiday. Sans and I are planning our personal Christmas early next year. We have great ideas for what to get each other, but we just don't have the cash.


We spent last weekend using a wedding gift from my best friend – Kevin. He flew us out to Chicago and let us sty with him. We had a really nice time, although it was much too short. I think next time, we will go when it isn't the snowstorm season, stay for longer and possibly stay in a hotel. It was difficult, since there were 5 of us in a one bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment. And it was hard to get out because of the storm. We went to several places and it looked like a really fun place. We got to go to the Chicago Art Institute. We were only there for an hour, but we got to see some amazing artwork. We also got to walk around downtown, and see Macy's decorated for Christmas, eat some Chicago pizza, and hot dogs. And of course, it was really fun to see my friend (oh and his new kitty). We look forward to going back.

We have had a great year, full of surprises, and love. We hope you all have a wonderful holiday, as a fabulous New Year!

Here are some pictures from our trip:

The Kitty, Hank, loves my computerWesley and Jessie

Chicago PizzaSans in the snow

Chicago Dog

Sans and Tink in Potillos

Kevin and Tink in Portillos

The Holidays

Sorry, it's been so long. I have been working on my new blog which is linked with this one. It's the story of my illness. It's supposed to be good therapy and since I get so many questions, I can hash it out right here. Plus it helps me get memories back, too.

I went to the doctor last Thursday to check on everything. My blood sugar is behaving well, and he just wanted me to up the amount of insulin I am taking just a little bit, but keep checking back with him every week or so. We discussed my depression because since right before Thanksgiving, I was having terrible mood swings between really bad sadness and being pretty happy. I seem to feel like this at this time of year. We decided it was the time of year, and possibly hormones.

We also discussed babies. He said that if we want to start right away, he would send me to the specialist. But we decided that for the baby's safety as well as my own, we should wait until my blood sugar has leveled out for a while.

My 35th birthday is on Thursday, and Sans 34th is on the 22nd. I am wary of getting older. I am every year. I am one of those people that didn't think I would make it past my 25th birthday for whatever reason. So, every year, I get a little weird around my birthday. I think about things I haven't done, and how so many people are where I would want to be at a much earlier age. But then, I can step back and take a look at the big picture and realize that by waiting, I have found so much of my dreams.



On Friday, we leave for Chicago for a couple of days. It is a wedding gift from my best friend, Kevin. He works for United Airlines, and is flying us out for free. And he will be showing us around. Last I heard from him, he is very excited about us coming and all the things he wants to show us. We are really looking forward to it. I've never been to Chicago, and neither has Sans. Sans also hasn't been on a large plane before. We will possibly get to ride first class at least one way. It should be so fun.

On Monday, I am going to send in our order for the kids gifts on Monday, and I am also going to send out my Secret Santa gift. I can almost not wait for the Christmas season to be over. I hate crowds, so it makes it hard to shop, not to mention the money that we don't have to spend on each other. We have decided that between us, we are going to put off our own Christmas until January. We also plan to have a party in late January because I will be hitting my cure date. Yay! :-)

Sans is doing well, puttering on as usual. We have been laughing at the latest World of Warcraft ads with Mr. T and William Shatner.

If I don't get time to write, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday, no matter what you celebrate. And have a great New Year!

I Will Survive Blog

(These pictures were taken for our first Christmas together in 2005)