The other day, Cathy & I (no, I don’t have an identity crisis) went to IKEA so I could get the bed & chair I’ve been wanting. The chair was out of stock but the bed was there so I got it! Today, I got a chance to put it together and man, it took some time. There was 13 simple steps and then 3 more than took longer than the first 13!! My fingers hurt because instead of making the screws all screwable with a normal screwdriver (or powered screwdriver), they include this allen wrench looking tool that’s short so you don’t get much leverage so my fingers are now very tender. Anywho, here’s the process in pictures:
Stanley supervises my getting started.
Halfway done!
Here comes the part that really takes forever and hurts my fingers.
Sticking out my tongue made it a little better…
Now, to get the matress on and the bed made. Stanley still supervises.
Ah, all done!
You know, they should really include in the instructions that if the assembler has a power drill and bits, it would help because there are several “self-tapping” screws that be SO much easier to put in when a tap hole is drilled first…. Other than that, it was very satisfying!
Doesn’t it seem odd that the two songs I recognize as being sung by Gloria Gaynor are “I Will Survive” and “Never Can Say Goodbye“?
Christmas with my family was great! As tradition holds, we went to the Four Seasons for a wonderful brunch. I got there before my parents and sister so they seated me and immediately offered me champagne. Gotta love a classy hotel!! Once my family got there, we hit the buffet. The buffet was quite extensive with a variety of salads, hot dishes, a carving station and in the center was a wonderful seafood station with shrimp, crab legs, bagel & lox, and some yummy sushi. Once we thought we were full, we headed to the dessert bar. Most everything was the same as years past and very rich but my sister and I discovered the strawberry & Grande Marnier tartlet. OH, SO YUMMY!!! I could have had those all afternoon!! While I was perusing the dessert bar, there was a cute little boy, about 4 years old, waiting with his family to be seated. While he waited, he looked over the dessert bar while I stood deciding what I was going to nibble on. He came over and his dad would pull him back to where they were waiting. This happened two more times and when he came over the final time, I offered him a blueberry off one of my desserts and he was happy. He went back to his family and they were seated. It’s amazing, the power of blueberries…. 
After our wonderful dining experience, we headed back to my parent’s house and hung out for a while. My sister went to visit some of her friends and my parents and I went to see The Queen. It’s about The Queen of England as she and her family experienced the death of Princess Diana in 1997. Of course, they discussed how the public and press depicted the Queen as being insensitive to the ordeal since Diana & Charles had divorced a year earlier. In this movie, you sepoite it all from the Queen and her family’s point of view. Excellent acting but I wish the storyline would have not centered around the Diana incident. I’m really starting to get upset by how the media won’t let her rest in peace. Anywho, it’s a good movie and if it’s playing in your town, you should try to see it. 4 out of 5 stars. 
Since the start of Season 3, a group of great girls and I have gotten together every Thursday to eat, drink and drool over McDreamy and McSteamy on Grey’s Anatomy. Even during a refun, we’d still get together and gab it up or just watch a movie. This past Thursday, we got together to go see the Trail of Lights at Zilker park. We even let guys come with us! Unfortunately, we were missing Stacy and we’ll have to do this again next year with what will be her new baby! It was hours of lights, fun and “Where are Sarah and Steve??”… Afterwards, we went to Opal Devine’s for some good food and even more laughter (Conjoined girl twins having sex…)
Here are some pics of the Trail:
Waiting in line for the bus:
Unicorns on a bus!!:
Where the Wild Things Are:
Peanuts:
Here’s Nemo:
Musical Armadillos:
Hey, Diddle Diddle:
Drunk Penguins - I dont’ know if their feet are happy but their stomachs seem to be:
Keepin’ warm by the Yule Log:
Seeing stars:
Spinning under the big tree:
There was also a very cool display that syncronized music with lights. It’s hard to hear the music on this little video but it’s “Linus and Lucy” from A Charlie Brown Christmas.
