So

with the exception of one family whose address I got tonight and three cousins whose address I need to get, I have all my holiday cards in the mail. With the exception of one person, I have all the presents and they're wrapped. Not too bad for someone who is gimpy and tends to procrastinate. One year I went shopping on Christmas Eve. :) And I'm doing a little better than in past years in terms of making my bills, so even though I didn't spend a lot, it was a lot better than the year I gave all my friends small Laboradorite marbles (essentially, rocks) that were pretty, and I think my mom and grandmother got a couple of things I had around the house, some pretty wooden boxes. I know the thought is supposed to count, but that was almost worse than not giving anything at all. (Although at least one friend still has his rock.) :) So this year I'm thankful for that, and that I'm alive to do it. Happy Chanukah. Good Yule. Merry Christmas. Happy Kwanzaa, and all the rest. And here's to a wonderful new year, with all it may bring.

Oh, my head

I have had a headache all day, and I know it's from lack of caffeine. The Tylenol isn't really helping. But hey, this is what I get for getting myself addicted to sodas and then quitting cold turkey.

I finished my holiday shopping today. I felt like I shopped till I dropped even though I didn't go near a mall. But I found some nice things, they weren't too expensive, and I think they'll like them.

The main other accomplishment I had was getting the leg lifts back on the wheelchair. I took them off, stupidly, during my exercises yesterday rather than just swinging them out of the way. I had to transfer to the loveseat in order to see what I was doing when I put them back on. But my foot was hurting and I was watching the old Clue movie with Tim Curry, so I had to get the lifts back on.

I didn't get any of the notes worked on today. I did some last night. I'm about a third of the way through. I'll try to work on them early tomorrow.

I think I'm going to head back to the bedroom and lie down, stretch out. I wasn't able to get comfortable in there earlier, but it was really not a great time for a nap or anything, I was just listening to music. Now I'm ready to go to bed, despite the headache. I'll try to get some sleep anyway. The lack of caffeine should help in that department.

I tried going to bed

but couldn't get comfortable. So I got some Christmas gifts for two more people. That's most of my list. My grandmother is always a challenge. What do you get someone who has most everything already? Last year it was a soft, warm blanket. I'm not sure what to do this year. I have just a couple more other than that. Not bad for me. I tend to wait till the last minute. And the best part? Yes, I shopped on Black Friday, but didn't go near a store! :)

I've been occupying myself with a game of

Civilization IV. I almost had the spaceship built, but not quite, but did win a time victory at least. I refused to give Louis XIV the diplomatic one. :) I do like the turn-based game where you build up cultures (and I try not to get sucked into wars, but that's just me) but my back is hurting because of the wheelchair I'm in being not at all ergonomic with the rest of the workstation. But hey, at least I can get to the computer.

The sun came out awhile ago and is now very bright. It's warm in here, too, although it's cool outside and going down in temperature. I've noticed the Christmas cactus buds are starting to open just a bit. I managed to water the pepper in the bedroom, but the rosemary is quite dessicated. I cannot seem to grow them inside at all.

Of course, the humidity in here feels like it's almost nil. Where I'm spending so much time inside (and we're on day 42 of no proper shower, but I did take a sponge bath today), my skin is terribly dry. Again, I want that loofah and a long hot shower soon. I do have various lotions I've been using. Right now I have some Bath & Body works Stress Relief Aromatherapy lotion with eucalyptus and spearmint on.

I did some shopping earlier online, getting something for YKWIA and for my mother. I called and asked A what he would like for the holidays. Despite being stuck inside, I am trying to get ready for the holidays, though. I'll give him a little time to think it over. I may have to do some searching for the other folks on my list; nothing just jumped out like the others did.

I think I am going to take a break from the computer for just awhile so my back puts itself back into some semblance of order and then start working on the game notes again. It would be nice to lie down, although I've only been up for about six hours. We'll see. I've done really well about staying up and don't want to backslide at all. But stretching out would be nice.

I've made great inroads in the whole holiday shopping thing...

Okay, I got a late start to holiday shopping, just starting about 5:00 tonight, but I'm finished with my family, have one friend's together, and another's halfway. I'd like to pick up something for the people in the game and I just couldn't get there tonight, so I'm going to try to go out Saturday so I'll have theirs in time for the game. I also found a top, underwear, and leggings for me for about $20 total. I also got dinner from Subway, some popcorn in a tin for me (I often give it, but rarely get it, and I love it, although I am eating it judiciously), and some wrapping paper and holiday cards that were 50% off.

Now I've eaten. I still must wrap presents, wash dishes, do laundry, and straighten up the house. But first, I'm going to take a break, as I have just now gotten the feeling back into my hands after carrying bags. :)