Rizzle

It’s been a whirlwind and a unique Christmas given the recent engagement and all. I’m happy the present wrapping then unwrapping and baking and eating and eating some more is all over. I’ve enjoyed all the Christmas cards and pictures and look forward to more next year. I’ll be happy to take down the Christmas tree so I don’t have to sweep up any more pine needles. I’ll feed the poinsettia until it dies and I’m tossing all the extra Christmas candy tomorrow.
One more week to go and I’ll feel like I’m on my normal schedule again. I’m ready to go back to work and come home to my expected list of shows on the Tivo. I’ll be happy when the house guests are gone and there is no more smell of flatulence or toilet seats constantly being left up. Can you tell the house guests are male??!

Stay posted for wedding planning. I’m letting the engagement fun ride itself out. The date setting, dress shopping, budgeting and all the other details will be in the works come 2009. Until then have a very happy and safe New Year!

A little over a week ago, Kat Daddy suggested we have a weekend away before our company arrives and the holidays are in full effect. I agreed. Kat Daddy took matters into his own hands and planned us a night in San Francisco that I will never forget.

After a short car ride to the city, we drove up the steep streets of San Francisco to the top of Nob Hill. Looking around at the perfectly manicured lawns of the illustrious hotel and neighboring Beaux-Arts style buildings; it became apparent to that this district of San Francisco was special.

We left the car with valet and rolled our red suit case into the grand lobby of the Fairmont. A choir of youngsters which must have been staying there for a performance later, showered by passers and lobby dwellers with the tune “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”. They sounded amazing and were the perfect preface for the merry evening to come.

That evening we made our way down to the dining room for dinner. Kat Daddy suggested earlier in the day (about three times to be precise) that we should check out the Rooftop Garden.

Old fashioned street lights lite up the garden. Kat Daddy mentioned the view was not as good as the Internet showed. I, on the other hand was loving it because I could see straight into the homes of the people across the street. As I admired these people’s furniture and drapes, Kat Daddy was looking for a place to sit me down. He found a nice bench and asked me to sit down. I checked to make sure it wasn’t wet because I was not about to get my black Rich and Skinny brand, skinny jeans wet.

Kat Daddy sacrificed his designer jeans letting his right knee settle to the cold ground. He began to confess his love while I became a crazy girl that could. Not. Shut. Up. I put my hand out to feel Kat Daddy’s heart to see if it was beating fast. His hands were clammy from nerves. Toward the end of his heartfelt speech, he told me he didn’t have a ring. Before I had a chance to react, he pulled out my little, beautiful, perfect ring. He handed it to me and told me to put it on. I told him to put it on for me. The rest of the evening was a whirlwind of shock, disbelief and overwhelming joy and happiness. I waited a very long time for that night. 7 years, 11 months and 7 days to be exact.

Well folks, it’s official! I’m engaged to be married!!

As 2008 ends, I am reminded of the new year’s resolutions I put in place for myself. I made a few mental notes to improve in some areas of my life. The first one being to return people’s calls. I like to usually just let my calls go to voicemail and then I’d listen to the message and more than likely would forget to return the person’s call. Now I even try to pick up before it goes to voicemail. I find I am less stressed by just taking a call rather than playing a game of screening my calls. This is a silly goal, but one that has made me feel better.

This is hard to admit, but I am a selfish person. Ways I have improved this year include, giving to the annoying bell ringers outside of the grocery store. I hope that the small amount I’ve donated has helped someone. I also have a friend who’s brother’s wife (are you following me?) has Lupus and a mass on her lung. Her husband’s health insurance does not cover much of her treatment. When I heard this story I decided I would try to give them something to help take their minds off their unfortunate health situation. Katdaddy and I are on a quest to make a care package for this family and their two daughters. I cannot tell you how excited I am to shop, wrap and send the package. Please note, I am not trying to brag. I know of many people who are incredibly generous and selfless. I strive to be just like them.

Now I must keep up my goals from 2008 and think up some new ones to work on in 2009.

Here’s a not so uplifting story from the L.A. Times.

Shots fired at Toys R Us in Palm Desert; 2 dead
1:45 PM, November 28, 2008

Shots rang out today inside a Toys R Us store in Palm Desert, killing two and causing shoppers at the busy store to scramble for cover.

Palm Desert Councilman Bob Spiegel told The Times that based on early reports, two rival groups shopping at the store had some kind of argument and then shots were fired. Two men were killed in the exchange of gunfire, he said.

Sara Frahm, 25, of La Quinta was shopping for electronic toys at the time of the shooting. She told The Times she heard two women fighting and swearing in an aisle next to her. She said employees went to break up the fight and that all of the sudden a number of people yelled, “He has a gun!” She said she heard six or seven shots.

Mike Stitt of Yucca Valley was shopping with his wife and two children when he saw two women fighting and calling each other names. Both were with men. One of the men pulled out a gun and shot it in the air, then shot the other man in the back, Stitt told The Times.

In a statement, Toys R Us stressed that the shooting appeared to stem from a “personal dispute.”

“We are outraged by the act of violence that occurred this afternoon in Palm Desert, CA, and by the fact that anyone would compromise the safety and security of our customers and employees,” the statement said. “Our understanding is that this act seems to have been the result of a personal dispute between the individuals involved. Therefore, it would be inaccurate to associate the events of today with Black Friday.”

Riverside County sheriff and fire officials responded to a report of the shooting at 11:32 a.m. at the toy store in the Desert Crossing Shopping Center at 72314 Highway 111, said Cheri Patterson, information officer for the Riverside County Fire Department and Cal Fire, based in Perris.

Dennis Gutierrez of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the fatalities but said detectives were still trying to figure out what happened. He said no arrests have been made and no weapons have been recovered.

“This was an incident between these two individuals,” he said.

Details about the shooting were still spotty, but witnesses said the scene at the store and nearby businesses was chaotic.

“We had a bunch of people who came in around noon,” Jeff Valare, manager at the World Gym across the street from the Toys R Us, told The Times. “They looked distressed. One woman had an infant in her arms and was crying. They were telling us they heard five or six gunshots. They were inside the Toys R Us and fled out the back.”

Glenn Splain, another worker at the gym, told the Associated Press that some Toys R Us customers “were crying, tearing and shaking. … Some people got into a fight. … One of the guys here thought it was over a toy, but it got louder and louder and then there were gunshots.”

Saul Diaz, who works as an assistant manager at the Jiffy Lube next door to the Toys R Us, said he was speaking with a customer when a stampede of 45 people ran in. Some looked distraught, some were crying.

“They were running fast, straight into the car bays. There was a couple of ladies with little kids, about 3 years [old]. They were all pale. The kids were shouting, ‘Mom, I’m scared.’ We immediately closed the store,” Diaz told The Times. His staff locked the front doors and closed the car bays. “We took everyone into a basement bay, where we keep inventory,” he said.

The Desert Sun quoted a Palm Desert city official as saying the shooting might have been caused by bad blood between two groups of shoppers. “There were two groups inside that had issue with each other,” said Assistant City Manager Sheila Gilligan. “And the two men inside pulled their weapons and shot each other.”

Daniel Watson told KPSP-TV that his wife was shopping at the store and called him on her cellphone about the time the shooting began. “She was scared, you know, and she told me to tell the kids that she loved them,” Watson said. He told the station that his wife hid under a clothes rack.

– Michelle Maltais, Richard Winton, Molly Hennessy-Fiske and Andrew Blankstein

This year I did 98% of my Christmas shopping online. Shopping online is fun, quick, and allows for price comparing. Best of all, when a handy dandy a coupon code comes across my screen, it’s just a matter of moments til I’m typing in the old visa number.

I learned of this awesome website called Retail Me Not. It’s an easy way to find online coupon codes. You can then enter these codes at the checkout page of participating merchants for instant discounts. Crazy cool, huh!?

Here’s how the online shopping experience goes for me. First I identify what I am going to buy. Usually I have this in my head before entering the WWW. Then I go to an online store, such as Target. I find the item and get ready to put it in my cart. Before doing that, I go to RetailMeNot.com, look up Target and Badabing! I find a coupon code for $5 off a $50 purchase plus free shipping! Now that’s what I call smart shopping.

Happy online shopping!

Rizzle

So I have to tell you…my Thanksgiving pecan pies did not turn out. I used Paula Deen’ Mystery Pecan Pie recipe. With an ingredient list that included cream cheese, vanilla and sugar, I had to know what this mystery was all about. I read some of the reviews that accompanied the recipe on the Food Network’s website, but was convinced after reading things like “My pie started out perfect but it kept rising like a balloon. Then it fell flat after I took it out of the oven. Didn’t know I was making a souffle” or “…the consistency when I cut into it to serve was very runny.”

Then I read plenty of this, “This pie is absolutely wonderful. It will be a great gift for your mother-in-law.” Hmmmm, I think Kat Daddy’s mom would love the gift of a pie for her birthday!

With high hopes and a baking ego the size of Paula Deen’s butt, I knew I could pull this off. I was oh so wrong. My pie was a runny, sticky looking mess. I threw my pies away in disgust and disappointment.

In an effort to not show up to Thanksgiving empty handeded, Kat Daddy and I stopped at a quaint little restaurant on our way. With no choice, we bought a large pecan pie for $43. I guess pecans are pricier than gas these days.

No offense, but I also learned I do no like pecan pie. It tastes like super thick, maple syrup laced with sprinkles of brown sugar and vanilla. I much prefer apple pie a la mode.

Moral of the story, go with what you know!!