Downtown lunch date

Chris and I spent the morning running errands downtown after which we went for a little lunch date at The Bear. A big chili cheese dog for the boy,
And a California Peep sandwich for me (teriyaki chicken breast sandwich with avocado),
While downtown we picked up the last of our costume props for this year's Christmas card. Prepare yourself for a little artistic magic arriving to a mailbox near you soon!

I'm preparing myself tonight for the barrage of baking that needs to take place this weekend for my cookie exchange on Wednesday. I've got some Mexican mocha walnuts, lemon cookies, and toffee crisps on the menu served with a side of stretchy pants to accommodate all these holiday treats.

Altered judgment

This is grape vodka;
This is the Canadian on grape vodka;
Any questions?

Nice kicks

I went shopping this morning for gifts for our Angel Tree kid. This year we picked a 5 year old girl who wanted play-doh, a baby doll, and long sleeve shirts. Since the tag also had her shoe size I couldn't resist picking up these adorable shoes.
If I could get my Goliath feet into them I would. Brown suede with felt flowers - too cute!

I officially finished all of my Christmas shopping today, just hope it all gets delivered on time!

Cankles

Yesterday was my first day back at work in 3 1/2 weeks. What I immediately realized was that time takes twice as long to pass in a work office than it does at home. Weird. For the most part I had a good day. I could get up and down from my desk okay, my legs just felt bruised every time I sat down because my office chair is hard. However, by the end of the work day my ankles and calves had swelled up like tree trunks, aka "cankles". The whole area physically hurt to touch and my shoes were leaving a huge purple indentation on the top of my foot. It was the longest I'd had my feet on the ground and not elevated since the surgery. As soon as I got home I popped some ibuprofen to help with the swelling and put my tootsies up on some pillows. By this morning I could actually see my ankle bone, so it obviously helped. Oye!

Today I had my last follow-up appointment with the surgeon. I gave him a quick update about all the issues I've had since I saw him last, but everything seems to have solved itself so he was happy with the current state of the incisions. I need to stay in my compression suit and continue to pad my incisions until there's absolutely no drainage coming off on the pads. And considering three of the four pads are continuously clean, I'm sure I'll be good by the end of the week. And at that point I can start working out again, slowly. Then, if in two more weeks, the steri-strips over the incisions don't start coming off on their own I need to take them off myself. Gag. That gives me chills just thinking about it.

Since my doctor appointment was at noon today in Chico, I got the rest of the afternoon off from work since I wasn't going to drive back up the hill for a couple of hours of work. Instead I hung out at home and got some present wrapping finished.
And in the mail today we got our first Christmas card from family friends, Jim & Carolyn up in Oregon.
That just makes me acknowledge how far behind I am on our Christmas cards. We make them every year, and we already have our 'theme' for this year, we just need to hurry up and do it!

Coffee + Chocolate = Perfection

Look what I found at CholoMaxx the other night;
Java Twix! Delicious, especially with a hot cup of coffee.

Today is my last day of freedom as I go back to the coal mine tomorrow. I'm still in my compression suit so that should be fun! At least it keeps my legs warm while wearing skirts and dresses. Tuesday afternoon I go back to the doctor for a checkup. I think he'll be happy with how everything is looking, I know I am.

Fundraising fun

Tonight was my friend Alicia's 40th birthday and to celebrate she used her special day as a fund-raising opportunity for our mutual friend Lori and her 17 year daughter, Kayla, who used to live up in p-town but had to move to the Seattle area a couple years ago for Kayla's medical treatments. Kayla was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was 5 months old and is now in need of a double lung transplant. Even with insurance the family will be responsible for $50-$100k for the procedure. So Alicia made arrangements to have her birthday party at a local sports bar where they agreed to donate 15% of the sales for the evening to the cause and gave us use of their banquet room to hold a raffle and silent auction in. I came prepared and split my money between raffle tickets and silent auction bids. My game plan worked because I won a TON of loot;
My first raffle win - a huge gift basket from Great Harvest Bread. A loaf of honey wheat bread, a pumpkin chocolate chip loaf, a cinnamon loaf, a chocolate chip scone mix, honey, jam, and a bread knife. I gave out a loud whoop and fist pump when my name was called.
My trunk full of loot - my Great Harvest basket, a bottle of grape vodka, a bottle of Southern Comfort, a knitted hat and scarf set, a set of 14 pairs of earrings, a $50 Tupperware gift certificate, a big Mary Kay product gift basket, a free photo session with a local photographer, and a dog treat gift basket (don't tell Chase!) from a local doggy boutique. I mean seriously, is there anything cooler than winning a crap-load of gifts?? I think not. I envision pumpkin chocolate chip bread and grape vodka for breakfast....

Our little secret

I stopped at Costco this morning right when they opened under the guise of buying more protein shakes for the Canadian, but may have accidentally slipped out with a new Cuisinart Griddler.
Don't tell the Canadian though, he thinks I need more kitchen appliances like I need a hole in the head. But look at it - it's got reversible plates that make it a grill, griddle and panini press.
I flipped one of the plates so you could see the two designs. Plus, it opens up to lay flat.
I had a coupon that came in the last Costco mailer so it only cost $60 with tax. You can't even walk in the front doors for less than $50 so I think that's a great deal! I shall now devote the rest of my life to making delicious paninis.

I had my nail appointment up in p-town today so after my Costco run, I cruised up the hill got my nails done and then had lunch at a Chinese restaurant with Pam, an old co-worker (since retired). It was just starting to sprinkle when I was leaving so I made it home just in time to avoid the impending rain.

Now that I'm healed enough, I'm back to singing practice tonight so I'll be spending the rest of the afternoon practicing the song set. Then maybe tomorrow I'll knock out a little baking. I did a run to Safeway yesterday to pick up a mishmash of baking essentials, just in case I might need any of it for a particular recipe.
I've got my eye on some gingerbread cupcakes with cardamom frosting and a lemon bundt.