Mamacita says:  1.  I haven’t mentioned, here, if I’m happy or upset over the election results.  I’ll have to say that I’m majorly unhappy over my own state’s choice of governor, but as for the presidential election, I’m only saying that I will stand by the winner.  One’s personal choice of candidate is supposed to be a secret.

2.  I haven’t eaten yet today.  But I’m going to remedy this one as soon as I’m finished with my writing tonight.  That’s correct:  I’m going to have a sammich at the worst possible time in a 24-hour cycle in which to eat.  And, it’s not as if it were quite midnight; I’ve still got 45 minutes.

3.  I haven’t cleared off the counter.  Or, rather, I am TRYING to clean off the counters, but somehow a plethora of clutter plunks itself down right behind me and my efforts.  I turn around, armful of clutter clasped tightly, only to see. . . a countertop just as cluttered as it was before I started.  What’s going on here?  I hate clutter!!!

4.  I haven’t swept the kitchen floor in a week.  That crunch you hear when you walk over it?  The pain you feel if you walk over it barefooted?  That’s week-old cereal, cat food, and popcorn.  So sue me.  I’ve been really busy watching Ugly Betty on Hulu grading essays and sleeping till noon doing really important and necessary things.  I love my schedule this semester!  LOVE IT!  It’s completely and crazily full, but the hours suit me like no other schedule I’ve ever had.   And I do intend to clean the floor soon.  We’re having PEOPLE over for Thanksgiving!

5.  I haven’t eaten any fresh blackberries since their season.  Frozen don’t do me no happy.  If I had a time machine, I’d use it for the occasional nefarious purposes going back in time to berry season and loading up.  Among other things.

6.  I put some of my craftwork on Etsy, and I’m nervous about it.  I’ve never sold it before – I’ve only given it away for freebers.   My daughter has an Etsy shop, too, but she’s been selling her beautiful Genie Bottles at Ren Faires for quite a while.  Check out her stuff; you’ll see why people love it!

7.  I’ve got the fabric all cut up, but I haven’t actually begun the Christmas quilt I’m going to put on eBay, yet.  But I’ll do it!  Cutting the fabric is the only part I don’t enjoy, and that part’s finished!  I guess I really have begun, then, huh.

8.  I haven’t put out any Christmas things yet – in spite of my neighbors’ accomplishments this weekend – because I think it’s just too darn early.  I may have put some Christmas music in the player, though.

9.  I haven’t graded anything for tomorrow’s class yet.  I’m not worried, though, because on Mondays, I don’t have to be on campus until 4:30, and the class doesn’t start until six!  Plenty of time! (She said to herself, not realizing that she’ll no doubt get hung up on some unexpected thing and end up not having time to get her work done. . .

10.  I did NOT forget to load the 6 pounds of fudge I made for the Youth for Christ kids into my car.  I hope I don’t forget to drop it off on my way to campus tomorrow!

Before I forget, can someone please explain to me exactly why schools always schedule a game over a holiday vacation?  I need a reasonable, sensible, and intelligent explanation, not something moronic like “the community likes to go to a ball game while so many of them are off work for a few days.”  Don’t schools care that their athletes’ families can’t go anywhere or do much of anything over the holidays?  Don’t these families care?  Are people really so hung up on CandyLand, hide-and-seek, basketball, and all other games local athletics that they’ll sacrifice Grandma’s house or the family reunion at Thanksgiving or Christmas to watch a few people dribble or kick a ball around?  I know I’m part of a vast minority here, but to me, a game is a game, whether it’s Old Maid, checkers, or football.  And while games can be fun, they’re not very important compared to other things.  And yet, communities and school systems treat them as though they were.  There are schools that can’t afford library books or a music program or an art class or a nurse, but they’re got two full-sized gymnasiums and a full-time athletic director who pulls more pay than any teacher in the building, and whose job is apparently to schedule ball games during supposed breaks to insure that these kids and their families can’t go anywhere for Christmas.  Perhaps if enough families spoke up, this practice would end.  Then again, such families probably love having ball games over vacations.  Sigh.  I’m not really angry over this issue; I’m just disappointed.  I’ve been disappointed over it for thirty years.  Wasted energy on my part, of course, because it’s not going to change.  People do love their CandyLand.  Ditto for concerts, etc, also. I just believe, personally, that extra-curricular events should be held while school is in session, not during what are supposed to be “breaks.”  Silly me.

Go team go!  (yawn)

I think I’m developing adult onset ADD. Seriously.  When I have to sit still for something I am not interested in, I’m miserable!  All my life I’ve been able to fake it during such ordeals, but now?  I can almost feel my eyes falling sideways, back into my head, as I try desperately not to stand up and run out the door.  Since I can easily sit still when it’s something I like, I don’t, of course, really have ADD.  But it gives me a little sympathy for people who do!

I’ve been buying Splenda; it’s on sale and it’s wonderful for baking.  Word.

I’ve never wanted to go to a show or opera so badly in my life.  When I don’t get to the theatre fairly often, something in me dries up and dies.  Schopenhauer is absolutely right:  “Not to go to the theatre is like making one’s toilet without a mirror.”

Perhaps some people feel this same way about CandyLand.