It’s worth a nickel

okay, i’m losing my mind. i’ve spent the last six weeks studying for this damn pmi exam. this material is boring and stupid. i finished all the lessons; i’ve practiced the formulas until i can calculate earned value in my sleep. so it’s time for a practice test … i took two this week, and got a 75 and 85 on them. i seriously tried to take one this morning, and it was so boring that i stopped after about 20 minutes. (i still answered about 45 questions in that time.) so that’s it. no more studying until 02 january. i’ll review all my note cards, review the formulas, and take one last practice test then. i need a break.

i’m trying very hard to feel the spirit of xmas this year. where is it? we’ve already celebrated with my parents and my sister … in fact my sister is already in oregon, spending the holidays with matt’s family this year. i have been down to the city to see the tree and the windows. our christmas tree is up in the window, and the lights are on the house! the shopping is done, the gifts are wrapped, and i’ve been listening to christmas music since thanksgiving. (okay, actually since before then, but don’t tell paul because he’ll yell at me. there are rules.)

tomorrow night should help. the boys are coming over for a fun and festive xmas eve dinner — i can’t wait! paul is going to be cooking several different kinds of fish, in a nod to the italian/polish/lithuanian/fill-in-your-nationality-here tradition of serving fish (and not meat!) on xmas eve. yummy yummy bacon-wrapped shrimp. for those of you who don’t know, bacon and shrimp are two of the best foods in the entire world. combining them is something akin to nirvana. i suggest you try it. (i recognize that these foods are not exactly kosher; i apologize if you happen to abstain from these foods, but seriously, you have no idea what you’re missing.) of course there will copious drinking, because there always is when we have parties at my house.

oh, and if you haven’t heard the forecast, it’s supposed to rain for christmas here in new york. so much for a white christmas, the one day each year when i endorse snow in any form. but 5°c is too warm for snow.

we’re on vacation all next week, and we’re planning to take down the gorgeous wallpaper in the kitchen. those of you who haven’t seen it yet, don’t worry … it will be appropriately memorialized. those of you who have seen it … don’t worry, you won’t be forced to view the memorial. we haven’t chosen a color to replace it yet, but we’ll be visiting the friendly folks at sherwin-williams on monday to decide. they have a “suburban modern” line of paints designed to emulate the colors of the 50s, and so of course i’m thrilled! i sort of think kitchens should be yellow. so we’ll see.

in case i haven’t already spoken with you this season, have a merry christmas and a happy new year. or if you celebrate another holiday or event, have a happy fill-in-your-holiday-here. in any event, thanks for another year of friendship and love, and i hope 2006 is even better still for everyone.