We had a painting reprieve for most of Thursday for Thanksgiving. We had a good dinner, mashed potatos, sweet potatos, turkey, stuffing, brussel sprouts, rolls and gravy.

Mom was home on Friday too so she helped me finish the white trim in the hallway. So that’s all done except for putting in the new closet doors, which needed 4 coats of paint!

Saturday we all drove up (in 2 cars) to Seven Corners to the malamute rescue place with Mookie and Vashti. We let them both play with a dog named Memphis (8 months old) and a dog named Raiden (3 years old I think). Vashti was fine with both dogs but Mookie was a little testy with Raiden. My parents decided to adopt Memphis so they signed the papers and drove home. They changed his name to Wolf (mom says it like wool-if), but I suggested Wolfgang Pup. Mom seemed to like that. The dogs seem to be getting along ok, they play well in the yard together, but Mookie doesn’t like Wolfy in his room near his “safety” zone. He’s been hiding under the bed alot. Wolfy is getting used to the house and his new food isn’t agreeing with him yet but he’s a puppy and he’s doing funny puppy things. I’ll add a picture to this post later.

I went out Christmas shopping yesterday too. Got almost all of the US people done so I can wrap them and leave them here or mail them from here. I’m still waiting on the beads I ordered so I can finish up the US bracelets. I found a really nice wrapping paper and ribbon at Target and got some jewelry boxes at Michaels.

Back to painting today, we got most of the Puppy Paw color done in the kitchen. Still need to do a second coat on the ceiling and the dining room then pull out the washer and dryer and paint in that closet. Dad is still repairing the rotted wood in the floor but we should have alot done by the end of next week. It really makes me want to start on my own place, but we have no idea when we’ll find a place and move.

Tomorrow I have an appointment at 8:30am to get my passport name changed. Gary and I are going in on the train with mom at like 5am and after we have to hang around until 1pm for the train home.

Yesterday, Gary and I drove 2 1/2 hours into Maryland to visit a branch of our bank, APG. We’ve all had accounts with them since we were about 13 and spending our summers working “Summer Hire”. At my wedding reception in September our great Aunt Marie gave us both savings bonds that she bought for us 23 years ago. We had to go in person to deposit it. We did that with no problem, but I wanted to change my last name on the account because I’m married now and once finished changing all of my id I didn’t want to have problems with the bank. We sat down with one of their agents and she was writing up the paperwork and when she came back she asked where Jason (my ex-boyfriend) was. I was confused about why she was even mentioning the name but it turns out that they never took him off my account. I had faxed them the paperwork they needed to remove him about 5 years ago and none of the statements ever said his name, nor did the checks I ordered just last December. I ended up having to close the account because there was no way for me to remove him without his signature.. On MY account.. that again I’ve had since I was 13.

So my complaint is this, they make it really easy to add people to the account, why do they need to close the account when you want to remove someone? I was obviously the primary account holder, otherwise why would all the statements and checks say my name and not his? I should have been able to remove him without closing the account. It doesn’t really matter I guess, I barely use that account anyway, it was just nostalgic.

I’m a day behind in my painting. The closet doors need a second coat and I still have to do the white trim. I’m hoping to finish all of that tonight and while the doors dry start on the kitchen hall and door. I’m hoping to get Gary to not only clean the bathroom like he promised but while I’m painting the doors he’ll vaccum the hallway carpet before I start on the trim.

My flight was a bit screwed up. We got to the airport at 4am Saturday morning and I made it to the gate, no problems through security, though I have been stressing out about it for days. The flight was set to board at 6:20 and just before then, they announced that the flight was delayed till 9am. Which meant I wouldn’t make my 8:20am connection at La Guardia. So I had to get transferred to a flight going to Chicago and then to DC. I ended up just being an hour late in total which is a-ok and I saw them load my luggage on the plane so I knew it wasn’t lost

After we went to eat, Gary and I went to Target. Karen was right, they have a decent selection of scrapbooking stuff for cheap. I picked up a few things and there was a set of alphabet letters for $6.99. It was actually 3 packs of it held together by a plastic strip so I asked the check-out girl if it was supposed to be seperate. She said that it was their fault if it was supposed to be seperate and rang it up as 1. I think I saved $14

When we got home I started working on touching up the paint in the hallway. Then watched Saturday Night Live while I made another bracelet. I need to hit Michael’s for some supplies for the next one. I’m going to get my passport photos done tomorrow and Gary has an eye doctor’s appointment so I guess we’ll go while we’re out. I want to pick up another set of the flowers I got at target for Karen. I’m sure she’ll like them too.

Today we went to IHOP for breakfast and I had their Cinnamon Roll french toast and hashbrowns instead of eggs. It was excellent. Best hashbrowns I’ve had since I used to go to the Waffle House in Georgia after working at the call center. Breakfast made me really sleepy so I took a nap then worked on the hallway again. I put a second coat on the closet that Gary did yesterday and then the Amazing Race was on, so we all watched that. Even the dogs. Now I need to put a second coat on the ceiling then paint the new doors for the closets. Then I just need to do the white trim and the hallway is done and I can start retouching the kitchen and dining room. /glee

I’m on a flight tomorrow morning heading to D.C. to stay with my parents for Thanksgiving. I’ll be staying with them until December 9th because Ken and Chris are coming down for a Linux conference (LISA) from the 3rd to the 9th, so we’ll fly back together. Ken might be getting me a laptop in a few days, if so he’ll mail it to me in D.C. He wanted to get me one for Christmas anyway for my graphic-ing ™ but I could also use it while I’m there so it’s a good time to get it.

Right now I’m packing and sorting my stuff. I’m not looking forward to going through my purse and putting my various chapsticks, hand sanitzers, hand wipes, etc. into baggies, but what can you do? Oh and giving up my lighters.. /torture

Ken drove around to the Future Shops around us this morning.. 3 of them I think, to see if there was any chance he could get a PS3. He said there were huge lines and people with tents & sleeping bags, and that Future Shop was going to give out tickets to the first 10 people at 6:30am so that everyone else could go home. They said they only had 10 per store, which is more than we expected. Sadly, there were more than 10 people at each place so he didn’t stick around.

What American accent do you have?

Just finished Darkdeath’s sig. I’m trying to finish my waiting list before I go away for 3 weeks to my parents house in Virginia for Thanksgiving.

I updated Patricia’s sig with a new character portrait.

I finished our wedding scrapbook this morning. It’s just waiting on the back cover page. I asked Ken to write up his thoughts about the wedding and reception. Begin the geek-time countdown

I finished Patricia’s sig. She wanted autumn/sunset colors but not too dark.