My (not so) favorite things

I am going to spend this entire week being thankful for things...and I'm quite lucky for it. But I thought I'd take the time today to outline what I am least thankful for. Or at least what I don't really care for:

• Celery


• The word "moist"
  
  
• When bad things happen to good people
  


• Strings attached
  
  
• Circling for a parking space
  
  
• Unanticipated expenses
  


• Sad Christmas songs
  
  
• Stains that just won't come out
  
  
• Incessant complaining (except for when it's about stains)
  


• Socks that *almost* match

T minus one week

Every year about this time, I think it's so cool when I see retailers send emails or tout "Cyber Monday" on their websites. Since I was part of the group who coined the phrase, I always feel a little proud when I see it in holiday circulars or in emails. But today in my email in-box, I got this:


Ends Wednesday? Hello! Cyber Monday is Nov. 30, not Nov. 23. I considered writing them back and saying something like, "Umm...hi. You may not be aware, but Cyber Monday is the Monday after Thanksgiving, not before. I should know. Please re-evaluate your promotion."

But I didn't.

In case you do want to do some Cyber Monday shopping (next Monday, not this one), visit our website to find hourly deals on both Black Friday and Cyber Monday from more than 700 retailers.

And if you want to get something for free this holiday season (who doesn't?), become a fan of ours on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. We'll be giving away $250 in gift cards per day through Christmas from our retailers. (Even though I can't win, that part has been so much fun!)

Happy shopping!

Why I love the big boss...Reason #482

Our CEO, who I have written about before, is such an incredible woman. And thoughtful. Here's an email she sent to the entire staff earlier today:

As you can see below, I have been invited to the White House Holiday tour and allowed to bring a guest. I'd like one of you to go with me. So, we will have a raffle (no fee to enter) for those of you who are interested in seeing the White House decked out in its holiday finery. Please note the tour is for Monday, December 14 and you will have to be at the White House no later than 7:30 a.m. to be cleared through security. (It might be easier to meet here around 7-ish and go to the White House together.) If you're interested in attending, please give your name to Margaret [our receptionist]. We'll have the drawing tomorrow at 3 p.m. Thanks! Tracy

When I saw her email, I was immediately struck by the fact that she could bring anyone. Her husband. Someone really influential in town. A big retail CEO. But instead, she chose us! How cool is that?!? I'm going to be really sad when she retires next year.

I can't wait to find out who wins. (I hope it's me!)

It's what inside that counts

With Lucy spending her days in most parts of the house, we need to remember to shut the upstairs bedroom doors and two doors on the lower level every time we leave. Otherwise, she gets bored while we're out and finds herself a project (remember September's toilet paper incident?). But with it being coat weather and all, Chad has a hard time remembering to shut the door to the hall closet after grabbing his jacket in the morning (and I'm long gone by that point, so it's not like I can do it for him).

After coming home for several days to scarves and gloves and hats scattered around the living room, but trying to stick to my goal of not nagging -- at least on this -- here was my solution last Friday:


(Who knew I could write with my left hand?) The closet door hasn't been left open since!

Be Like Mike

Chad here. I figured after a week of looking at my ugly mug I'd give folks a chance to see something else. Originally, I threatened to put up Cubs videos when Ellen was laxed in her postings. Well, that doesn't seem relevant now. The Bears? Well that doesn't seem interesting at the moment.

What was interesting was LeBron James announcement that he was giving up the #23 in honor of Michael Jordan. He further said that others should do it too and that the NBA should retire the number, league wide. That has set off a debate between those who agree and those who disagree.

Where do I fall? Not sure, actually. He was the greatest athlete I’ve ever seen in any sport and he certainly changed all sports in a way that is unlikely to be seen again. That’s a pretty good argument for it. Then again, seeing a guy like LeBron wear #23 kind of seems like an honor to me, in itself.

Well, I had to include a video. No matter what you think of the #23 retirement debate, if you were born prior to the early 80s, you HAVE to recognize this commercial. In fact, I’d say if you don’t remember the words, you are likely not in my generation or you lived in a hole until 2001 or so. It is simply one of the best commercials ever.

I guess that’s just one more thing at which the man excelled.

The more things change...

....the more they stay the same.

Chad had his post-op appointment yesterday morning with the surgeon and everything with his knee looks great. He can drive again (woo-hoo!), shower -- although he still can't put weight on one leg so they're pretty speedy, is back at work (hooray!) and has been slowly increasing the degree of "bend" on his little contraption. The pain has subsided quite a bit, which is good.

And Lucy continues to assist. I'm starting to wonder if she is still trying to comfort him, or if she's just realized the couch is a lot softer than the floor.

Full circle

Virginia executed the DC sniper tonight. I followed the whole trial and I knew it was coming, but I still felt this sense of sadness when I heard about it.

The DC sniper incidents began the week I moved here. At the time, I was getting used to a different city and trying to find my way around town, so everything was new. (In fact,when I heard on the news that there was a shooting near an elementary school in Montgomery County, I couldn't figure out why everyone around here was so worked up, thinking that Montgomery County was in Alabama...not a DC suburb.)

During those very surreal few weeks, I do remember - as do a lot of other people - looking around when filling up for gas, rushing a little faster through parking lots, or keeping an eye out for a white van (even though the vehicle didn't turn out to be white...or a van). The worst night was when I played in a softball game and stood outside in a yellow fleece jacket in the middle of center field by the interstate all by myself - I was sure a target was on my back that whole time! On the one hand, I was so nervous I kept bouncing around so I'd be hard to hit -- a great workout. On the other hand, I saw it as a personal sign of defiance that I refused to change my life because of one crazy person.

One night, as the search for the sniper was in full force, we got stopped by a road block of police when going out with friends. And we drove right by one of the final murder locations just hours before it happened on our way back from a weekend away. (Coincidentally, it's the Home Depot we go to all the time now. That incident in particular still haunts me.) Then, as abruptly as it started, the whole thing ended with a relatively calm apprehension in a rest area parking lot.

For all of the victims of this tragedy, who I sympathize with and my heart breaks for, I understand why tonight's execution might bring closure. But I still feel this funny sadness because I really do think that this guy used to be good--I think everyone used to be good at some point in their lives. So I suppose I mourn for the person he used to be or could have been versus the person he chose to be. I wish somehow I could have changed this so that it all could have been avoided in the first place. Does that make any sense?

Creature comforts

Chad's been getting along fine since his surgery. (On Tuesday, they ended up replacing the ACL and repairing the meniscus, so he can't be on that leg for a month.) He was in a lot of pain yesterday but today has been better. He's been walking around more steadily and figuring out how to do small things like get in a car, wash his face and carry things around while holding his crutches.

As a sidenote, the saddest thing that's happened these last three days...Chad was so excited yesterday to make himself breakfast. He painstakingly figured out how to prop himself onto the counter to crack and scramble the eggs, heat the pan and put in cheese and meat. And then, as his omelet was almost finished, he gave me the most pathetic look and said, "How am I supposed to get this plate to the table?"

But for the most part, the last few days have actually been pretty mundane, with me playing fetch (the remote, a glass of water, his meds, a blanket, a pillow, his wallet, his Blackberry, more ice...), except for something earlier this evening.

To set this up: Lucy has never, ever been allowed on our furniture. And she never even considers hopping up there either.

But tonight while Chad was using a machine that bends his leg back and forth, which is pretty painful, she kept sneaking closer and closer to the couch. And then I found them like this:


I never really bought into the theory that dogs can sense people's emotions, but I'm not sure how I could explain it otherwise. I know Chad is happy that Lucy's hanging out with him, and I'm sure she feels like she's helping out. Somehow.

A spooky celebration

Over the weekend, we headed back to St. Louis for the wedding reception of a good friend. Most people I know who have been married the last weekend in October have boldly stated that there would be no orange, no black, and definitely no dressing up.

But not this couple. At this reception, costumes were required. Even the bride and groom dressed up...as Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara! (And do you like the 10-year-old bridesmaids dress I pulled out for the occasion?)

It was so much fun to be back, even for a grand total of 18 hours. What I realized more than anything after our short trip is that I don't want that much time to pass before I return!