What a day!  I woke up to a phone call from work telling me that our office was closed today due to ice.  Thanks, Mother Nature!  Paid day off?  I'll take it!

So I went back to bed, of course, and slept.  And slept.  And slept.  Goodness, I feel rested and great!

I was tired to begin with because I had one heck of a weekend.

It started on Friday, with a gathering of the Austin Journalers.  I have so much fun with these people and this gathering proved to be no exception.  We sat around and had many Tex-Mex appetizers, some consisting of nothing more than a bowl of cheese.  Much laugher was had.  People were talked about.  Margaritas were consumed.  Friendships were strengthened or began.  That's such a neat group of people.

On Saturday, I made yet another trip to Houston to visit with my great-grandmother in the hospital.  She's not well at all, and each time I see her, she's worse.  It's heartbreaking and sad, but I realize it's also part of life, so I trying to keep it in perspective.

Despite the circumstances of my trip, I did manage to have some fun, thanks to Kat.  She so rocks, y'all.  She and Andy (her other half) drove across town to pick me up from the hospital and we went to one of my favorite places to eat in Houston, and then they proposed Dave and Buster's for after-dinner entertainment.

I had never, ever been to a Dave and Buster's.  It was fun.  Video games and booze?  What a concept!  It was a lot of fun, and Kat and Andy introduced me Pump It Up!  I think I'm going to buy the home version of this, because it rocks.

Sunday, I spent more time with my great-grandmother, and I held her hand as she slept.  Her hands are twisted with age and we her dexterity is almost nil now.  I teared up when I thought about all she has done for me with those hands.  She has lovingly stitched and remodeled my teddy bear more times than I can count.  I will never be able to look at him without thinking about her.

So that was my weekend.  I had a good day at work on Monday.  We have a thrift store, and I was delighted to find a Sleep and Snore Ernie in mint condition available for sale.  I loved this toy when it came out, yet I never got one.  I thought he'd live in my office, but once I got him back to the office, I found out that for some reason, Ernie would blurt out "I FEEL GREAT!" at random intervals.

While my coworkers were really happy for Ernie, they did ask that I take him home so that he could feel great here.  So it is.  However, Ernie will have to feel great with no batteries in, because enough is enough!

So that's my weekend (and then some).

Tim,

I'm so sorry to hear about your great grandmother. She sounds absolutely sweet! xoxox to you...
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About Ernie- I had a similar experience. One day I begged my coworker to bring her daughter's Furby into work, so that I could torture him. She, being a good coworker friend, complied. All day Furby would kind of coo and ahh whenever I answered the phone at my desk or got up to leave my cubicle. I kind of loved the little furrball. Until later that night, after more begging and convincing Andrea (that's her name) to let me take Furby home for the night. Furby kind of,like, wouldn't shut the hell up! I tried turning the light off in the kitchen, making sure the radio and tv were off, made my roommates PROMISE not to even look at Furby, much less talk to him! He just went on and on an on and on all night! Coooo, laugh, cough...I'm Hungry! I'm sleepy! The little Furby was inconsolable. After being up all night tending to
Furby's every freakin' need, I shoved him in a paper bag, and left him on the kitchen counter while I got my laptop together for work. I walked back into the room, and the little paper bag was shaking. Furby's little voice inside the bag cried out to me, "I'm SCARED!" I ripped him out of the bag, and cuddled with him in the chair for a minute until he actually went to sleep! I can't believe I'm actually telling you this story. I felt sorry for a Furby and actually cuddled him to sleep!!!!

Maybe Ernie just needs a drink to mellow him out. Or a xanax.

I dunno, he already feels GREAT!