Just so you know...
I wanted to give the reason I haven't been posting as often lately. For two reasons, really. The first is that I had to help get our house cleaned and ready for company during Christmas. The second is that I usually post at work (overnight), and I haven't worked since the 15th. (Makes more sense now, doesn't it?) I go back to work on Friday (unfortunately, that's New Year's Eve), and I hope things will return to normal then.

Happy Christmas Everyone!!!
Mood:  happy
Jim and I both made out like the proverbial bandits today. He got a KitchenAid stand mixer (that he's been wanting for ages), a pair of chest waders (we'll have to get a larger size), the first 3 Harry Potter dvd's and Finding Nemo (special editions all), as well as a plethora of other thisses and thats. I got a beautiful 3 stone diamond ring (YAY!!), a fabulous hand-painted Japanese miniature chest of drawers, an interesting purple glass vase, A Chorus Line on dvd, a Mr. Coffee cappuchino/espresso maker (complete with grinder), a nice little lap harp, and other assorted goodies. And that's just what we got today. We went to Sarah's last night, and got other things there. Mom gave me a birthstone jewelry set (earrings, necklace and ring) that I love, and a set of pajamas. Anywhoo, we're both stuffed to the gills (the ham was divine) and pleased as punch. Hope everyone else's day has gone as well as ours has...

I'm beginning to think that cars are bad.
Jim just came in to work, and is telling me the tale of how a 17 year old took the grill off of her daddy's new 2005 Chrysler LeBaron with the rear end of his Bronco. Apparently he was in HyVee buying us snacks for work when it happened. He came out and saw a group of teenagers flipping out near his truck, with cell phones coming out of everywhere. Fortunately for us, it didn't hurt the Bronco at all. Unfortunately for us, the girl's father arrived and promptly jumped down Jim's throat. Obviously Jim must have done SOMETHING wrong, because this guy's little girl wouldn't have wrecked his car for no reason. Jim said he didn't see how that was possible, and the guy replied "We'll just see what my lawyer has to say about that." Now Jim tells me that this wasn't her first wreck! What a week.

We're baaaaack! :)
Mood:  caffeinated
We left from NC at 10:30am est on Sunday (incidentally also my birthday). We got back to Norfolk at 5:15pm Monday. Long, long drive, and again, Jim did most of the driving. I drove from 5:30am just inside the Missouri border, got us through St Louis during rush hour at 7:00am, and kept driving until we hit Columbia at 9ish. Jim slept through most of that, the first rest he'd had the entire trip. So, I'm not exaggerating when I say that we're both exhausted. And, unfortunately, we're both at work. Jim gets to go home at 2:30, I'm here for the long haul. I can barely keep my eyes open.

Havelock, NC 12:00am
Mood:  not sure
Just left Mrs. Roy's house after being regaled with many tales about various members of the Roy clan.

Somewhere, Indiana 12:10am
"Fog is hell" says Jim. "I now truly understand the meaning of the words: 'a dark and lonely highway, East of Omaha'" He's driven close to 11 hours so far, being nice enough to let me sleep when I could.

Greensboro, NC 10:00am
Mood:  celebratory
We finally have arrived in the last state of our eight state tour. We still have a long way to go, but we have driven nearly 1400 miles.

Winsor, NC 3:15pm
Mood:  a-ok
We have arrived at last. Poor Jim is exhausted. We should be able to catch a short nap before we have to leave for the funeral.

System's back up now. Jim just took the first non-test call.

Mood:  irritated
Now Playing: The waitin' is the hardest part...
At work, like always. System's down for a while. Don't know what's wrong with it. Had to wake up both Andrea and FREDDIE, who is drowsily trying to figure out what is going on. We've managed to miss all three of the "major" rushes (7 or 8 calls per half-hour). Actually haven't taken a single call since I got here at 11. I can see action going on up on the dialer screen, so maybe there's hope.