We are sat upstairs watching Love Actually (which I’m disappointed to realise we purchased — for some unknown reason — in full frame), drinking coffee and eating cookies. Jessica is sorting through her beads, puppy is sleeping under the futon and in front of the space heater.

The presents are all wrapped and in boxes, ready to be transported to West Virginia, and some on to Michigan after the New Year. Monday is the last day of real work I have until 2009. Tuesday I am entered in our office chili cookoff, which will be fun. First cookoff since the ones my church held when I was in high school and I won those. Our traditional office Christmas party, where we go see a movie in town is after that.

Then, Jess, Cors and I will be driving the eight hours to West Virginia for Christmas. We are all ready to go. I particularly have no desire to go to work, but will because they pay me to be there. And I’m sure there will be a couple of updates to make to the website(s).

Blah blah blah. Done blogging for today. That was pointless. Love Actually is hilarious and brilliant.

Jess and I are waiting for the appraiser to call. She’s going to come out, snap some photos and then we’ll hear back. Or my parents will.

It’s kind of exciting… at least for me. We’ll get some kind of idea as to what the work we’ve put in has been worth. Even though we’re not finished yet, it’ll be nice encouragement for me.

After she’s gone I’m going to fix up our half bath’s door and replace the drywall, prime and paint. After that I should be able to start laying floors. And then our house will look beautiful!

I just wish the appraiser would call…

fork, originally uploaded by the goodman blog.

I grilled some salmon for lunch today, while we were gardening. It was great. Our pumpkins and cucumbers and chilies are looking fantastic.

 

Me and Sam, originally uploaded by joelgoodman.

Oomph… Long weekend. I went through two building dedications, President’s Society Dinner, two commencements, an Ivy Cutting ceremony and delicious fish & chips in St Louis.

I am tired to say the least. My back’s killing me and I am a big complainer.

On another note, I’ll be putting up gutters this week and Jess and I will be doing some gardening. We bought a few tomato plants and flowers. I’m really excited about that! We couldn’t find a jasmine plant anywhere, which was disappointing, but we are planting some snapdragons and poppies in the front and transplanting tulips from the Holman’s house. (they said we could)

I took loads of video and quite a few photos this weekend. At one point I had the Canon 20D on one shoulder and my D80 on the other. Schizophrenic to say the least.

More to come. Also, new photos in my photostream.

I’ve been out at the fairgrounds today for a few hours already. Mainstage is going up. When I left for lunch they were still getting the lighting up. It’s freaking winding today and that’s never a good thing.

I’m a little worried. I think ticket sales will be fine (we’re ahead for presales), but the weather is looking terrible for this weekend. I’m praying it blows out and we get warm weather.

More later.