White Christmas

Remember how I said that once the snow started, it wouldn't stop? It's been three days of on and off snow showers, three days of scraping icy slush off my car in the dark after work, three days of Maya shaking when a plow goes up our hill to salt the road (she's scared of them)...the point is we are only three days into this and I'm already in a rush for it to be over. Last year, my first winter back, I thought I could learn to appreciate this season, this year I think I'm a damn fool for trying.

For those who love a white Christmas and those who would rather be in the tropics, I hope everyone has a happy holiday.

No Snow

Some people are anxious for our first snowfall. There was a rumor it was going to happen this weekend, but the storm changed course and spared us. I'm in no rush. I know once it starts, it won't stop for months. There will be plenty of time for uncomfortable wet socks, cold runny noses, and screaming curse words into the wind when my dog refuses to go to the bathroom during a whiteout. I, for one, am in no rush at all.

Christmas Is For The Dogs

It should come as no surprise that every year Maya gets the most gifts in our family.

This year, the gifting began early because I couldn't help ordering her this doggie "sleeping bag" from Etsy.com and wrapping her up in it on her (also new) plush doggie bed. I'm also in the process of ordering a custom-fit hat to protect her thin little ears when it starts to snow. I know she's a dog, but it's not like she acts like it. She's the most fun to shop for anyway.

Falling Apart One Tooth At A Time

A girl I once worked with told me her mom got dentures in her thirties because she was sick of all the dental work she had to have done. For some reason this story stuck in my head. I thought that sounded pretty crazy. How much dental work could you possibly have done before you were 40-years-old that would make you that desperate? Well, apparently I'm on the path to find out.

I always thought root canals were mythical stories that old people told us, and that by the time I might need one I'd be geriatric and wouldn't know what the hell was going on anyway. Well, I'm 27 and unfortunately I know all too well what's going on...I'm on a slow decline starting with my mouth.

A couple months ago I went to the dentist to tell him about a pain I felt when chewing. People said, "Oh, I'm sure it's nothing!" and I told myself it was probably just a filling that needed to be replaced. But I will tell you something...optimism gets you nowhere. I'll never try it again. I needed a root canal restored with a crown which cost about $3,000 and my work doesn't have dental insurance. That's when I figured out optimism is actually the cause of depression. Fast forward two months later and replay the same pain on the opposite side of my mouth only this time I think it's two teeth. I go to the dentist depressed, which is a good thing because it's worse than I even thought...there's a good chance I need two more root canals and two more crowns. Did I mention this is the first time in my life I haven't had dental insurance? How ironic.

My dentist told me I'm probably worsening the issue by grinding my teeth at night due to stress. I told him this wasn't helping.

My mom blames candy like Sour Patch Kids which, she reminded me, "Were made of pure sugar and were the worst because that gummy stuff just sticks in your teeth, though they tasted so good I used to beg you and your sister to share them with me but you'd only let me eat the ones off the floor." Well, you're welcome, Mom. We were only looking out for you.
I have always taken care of my teeth, but it's gotten me no where. I'm indignant. Winter is upon us, I've peaked at age 27, and my slow decline has begun one tooth at a time.

My First Reupholstering Job

(Before)

We were in need of some extra seating for a holiday gathering and I found these chairs for $5 each on Craigslist. I know they're technically dining room chairs (I also know we don't technically have a dining room) but I saw the potential to give them a more modern makeover and have them fit in with our traditional yet modern style. Plus I've always wanted to take a stab at reupholstering and for $10 it seemed like a good time to experiment.

Luckily, this was a simple reupholster job. After watching a three-minute tutorial on YouTube, I was good to go. I unscrewed the chair cushion, pulled out the staples that held the old, stained rooster fabric in place and uncovered the original tan leather seat cushion--still in usable shape, just scratched up, but I could cover that with new fabric.

(After)

I repainted the chipped black paint with my ever-lasting mocha (Espresso Bean paint from Behr) and went to Joann Fabrics to pick out a new seat pattern. Joann Fabrics has a good selection but they are by far the most inefficient and disorganized shop I have ever been in. Next time I think I'll go to a small shop or check on Etsy for fabric.
The finished chairs have a nature, graphic design pattern on them that Tommie and I both like and it fits in our living room a lot better than the dirty roosters. The colors also go with the other earthy tones in the room. All in all, I would say it was a successful first attempt at reupholstering.

Thankful Thoughts

I am the type of person who needs to be reminded to be thankful. I'm an eternal pessimist; I also really like to complain. I wish I had come across these crafty ideas for making a "Thankful Tree" or a "Thankful Jar" sooner so I could have done it this year. It would do me some good to stop to appreciate the good things, such as having a soulmate in my life, having a super special dog, having a supportive family who also happens to be pretty entertaining, having a nice place to live, having a job where the people are nice and the cause is good even if my work isn't...see me slipping into negativism already? I think I'll quit while I'm ahead; I do have things to be thankful for.