1. I have several half-finished drafts of posts on various things but haven't been able to put together anything coherent all week.
2. There is no work on my desk right now.  That notion does not fill me with joy, and I don't quite know what to do with myself today, not to mention the fact that nobody pays me to sit around and surf the 'net.
3. I seemed to have used up all my Christmas spirit thinking about all the cool stuff I wanted to do during this holiday season.  We have now skipped both flotillas and one holiday parade, but we do have tickets to Enchanted Airlie for Saturday evening, and tentative plans with another family for the downtown parade on Sunday.
4. Liam and I have also had one viewing of the best Christmas show on TV.  Since we also own it on video, we can watch it several more times. 
5. We still have Rudolph waiting on the DVR.  I'm saving that for this weekend.
6. Our Christmas cards arrived yesterday and  I'm thrilled with the way they turned out.  I'm guessing that the family Prune Platoon will gripe because it's not a full-face shot, but I love that picture.
7. Our tree has been sitting in its stand on the patio since Tuesday night.  Today I'm getting the living room squared away and rearranged a little bit so tonight or tomorrow I can get started decorating.
8. The weather has turned off cold and cloudy.  I wish it would snow; maybe that would rekindle my Christmas spirit!
9. Courtney's musical Advent calendar is way cool; y'all check it out.
10. Having no money at Christmastime simplifies things quite a lot.  It has forced me to prioritze ruthlessly and that is a good thing, even if I do have residual feelings of guilt/shame/embarrassment over yet again finding myself in this position.
11. Then I realize that Liam's opinion is the only one that matters and he is thrilled with the mere fact of Christmas, and that helps me get over myself.
12. The brakes went out on my van yesterday.  I put new rotors on this summer, so I don't know what the hell is wrong with them.  In an extremely rare show of timeliness, S got a company truck to drive yesterday, so I'm driving his Jeep.  I don't love driving it, but it does have a kickass stereo.
13. Last night I ate only roast beef and mashed potatoes with gravy for supper, not a vegetable in sight (unless you count the onions cooked with the roast).  I don't feel the least bit guilty about it, either.

Leanne is the brains behind the Thursday Thirteen.  She has a long lovely list of other Thirteeners to visit, too, so pay her a visit.

Comments

[Carmi]

What a wonderful shot of a child at play. Boo hoo on the folks who complain: THIS is photography! Great choice for the card.

[Lily Bleu]

My Thursday Thirteen:

http://lilybleu.net/blog/?p=206

[Leanne]

Your cards are great, I love that shot of him in the sand! He is such a little doll.

I hope you enjoy decorating your tree! You can have some of my snow if you want? I don't like the stuff much... ;)

[Courtney]

Thanks for the link!
By the way, the Christmas card is fantastic--it should go in the dictionary under the definition of joy.

[colleen]

I really relate to #3. All year you wait and then when it comes it's so condensed into such a short time...and it's cold! and you're tired!

There are so many 13teeners now. I can't visit half of them...but I like to pick out a few I wanted to visit anyways.

[TC]

We have no money this Christmas either. Kinda sucks but I am not letting it ruin my Christmas. Little Princess is so excited about the whole thing.

I did my 13 today too, drop by and say hi!

[Crusty]

Hi... I'm cruising thru from Leanne's list of TT13. Sorry to hear about the van. I HATE car problems. They always cost a lot to solve.

[OldOldLady Of The Hills]

Thanks for the comment and I advice on the picture stuff...I'll have to check it out!
LOVE your card....Everytime I see this photo when I come tovisit I think it is seriously special!!! Great choice for Christmas....