Kate

It's positively painful to be at the office today. Very few people are in this week, and those that were here have mostly gone for the day. I'm very tempted to sneak out myself. Seriously, this place is tedious over the holidays.

However, my fellow project controllers surprised me with cake today. I really had no idea what was going on, despite being perfectly aware that my birthday is this weekend. So that was nice. We munched and chatted just enough about work that we could justifiably charge the time.

My boss and one of my co-workers were no here to partake. Jeff left early, and Tiff has been placed on bedrest. She's 19 weeks pregnant and they are hoping to keep her from delivering until week 25 at least, but her pregnancy history is not great. This is her 5th pregnancy, I believe. The child from her only successful pregnancy was born in October of last year. Keep her in your thoughts, please.

I need to go to the grocery and get staples, at least. I'm out of milk and pretty much every other type of drink save Gatorade (blech!) and old beer. Beer's just not good on cereal.

I actually did go to dinner with my dad and my brothers last night. We went to Clyde's. Dad and I had a relatively friendly argument about illegal immigration. He also offered to pay for my divorce lawyer. Fun family moments. Clyde's beef stew is pretty yummy.

Meredith took the hermit crabs to her little cousins last night. Tommy is 7 and Joey is 5, I think. Tommy's scared of them. Joey doesn't mind them as long as Mer doesn't take them completely out of the tank. Hopefully Mer's Aunt Sherri will take proper care of them. I sent all their provisions, and a paper full of instructions. I also re-iterated my threat to Mer's dad that if he shows up with any more living creatures, expecting me to house them, I will remove his bits with a dull knife. He still thinks I'm joking. I'm not.

I had a bit of a scare just before Christmas. I was out shopping and suddenly my check card started getting declined. As I had gotten paid just two days before this occurred, I was a bit perplexed. Fortunately, I had done all the immediately necessary shopping and was only working on the last few things I need to mail out. Anyway, I went to the bank yesterday to ask about it. It seems there is a daily limit to how much you can charge on the debit card. I don't think I reached the amount they told me, but the balance they showed available was pretty close to what I expected to be in the account, so I guess all is right with the world again. I'm glad it didn't screw up my Christmas shopping too badly.

Yesterday I also went to the DMV for two flippin' hours. I needed to:

- renew my license
- change my address
- provide proof of insurance
- change the address on my registration for the Sebring
- register the Buick
- update my voting registration (Yes, we do that at the DMV here. Motor voter.)

I managed all of it except the parts to do with the car registrations. I couldn't change the address for the Sebring because James' name is first on the title. So he has to go in and change it to my address, even though I'm the one using (and paying for) that car. Or I can try to get his name taken off, but then I'd have to re-do the loan paperwork and blahblahblah. Too much hassle.

In order to register the Buick, which is currently titled in Florida in both of my grandparents' names, I have to bring in both of their death certificates and my mom's paperwork stating she is the executor of the estate and has authority to sign the title over to me. The Florida registration is good until February, so that gives me a little time to gather all that crap. Ah, the DMV. Second only to the IRS for most hated government office.

Well, that's all the stuff I can think to gripe about at the moment. Is it time to go home yet?

As usual, the weekend is too short. I can't believe I have to go back to work tomorrow. I don't want to! Bah. How many weeks until The Gathering? A little over two? Still too far.

I mailed most of my LJ friend cards and whatnot on Saturday. I have three things left to mail for people I know here, and I haven't even shopped for out of town family yet. Blergh. I did go to the mall today, which I usually enjoy at least a little. Not today. I just wasn't in the mood. Managed to buy a few things, but not a lot. The things I've ordered online (God bless the internet!) should arrive in a few days. I should see if there's more I can take care of online. It's so much simpler.

My yearly debate over whether to get my father a gift for either his birthday or Christmas Hannukah (Dad converted a several years ago) is raging. He sends me a check every year for Christmas. A fairly substantial one. However, I only talk to him about twice a year - when I call him. We used to get together for dinner around the holidays with my two brothers, James, and Meredith. Dad stopped bothering with that a few years ago. He used to give me a check and a small collection of nice tree ornaments (which he'd drop by my mom's house), but last year I just got the check. Don't misunderstand, it's not a matter of my being greedy. I appreciate what he gives me no matter what it is. It's just that every year is less and less personal. He has zero interest in his grandchildren (Meredith and my niece, Elizabeth). His wife doesn't like my brother, Chris, so Chris isn't allowed in Dad's house if Barbara's there. I haven't been invited to their house in several years. Dad claims this is because he doesn't want to inconvenience me by asking me to drive the hour and change into DC. So yeah, I can never decide if I ought to send him a gift (I usually do, though). One-sided relationships are very draining.

Wow, hadn't meant to delve into that tonight. I think I'll quit now before all my issues decide they need attention.