Christmas Eve Blargh

Davner had to get up at 2 am for a 3 am to noon shift with NORAD Tracks Santa.

These early-morning shifts always play merry hob with my own sleep. But to make matters worse, Mark woke not long after and spent the next few hours periodically kicking the wall between his closet and our bathroom (very resonant), kicking the door of his room (also resonant - damn cheap doors - this is a brand new house!), and playing with the springy doorstop in his room. (Why THAT resonates so well is beyond me, but again attests to the lack of money spent on basic soundproofing and insulation. The cheap quasi-ghetto apartment in Newport News VA, built long enough ago that we had to sign a notice informing us of possible lead paint residue despite the landlords' required abatement efforts, had better soundproofing than this.)

Finally I gave up and went to fetch Mark for breakfast.... And found he'd pulled/slid the mattress off the box spring, for the first time since we moved into this house. He is VERY lucky he didn't do the 'wriggle under the top sheet and surf down along with the mattress' thing, as he would have been pinned for some time. ::aggravated temple rub::

And I'm still on no caffeine to make sure it's fully out of my system before I do a test run in order to determine if my chest pain was caused by it.

Gah.

In honor of my holiday zombiefied state

I present the following linkspam:

Zombies get really interesting stocking stuffers: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedrovezini/5281211357/

That entire flickr account is worth checking out. Lots of good Lego-Star Wars and Christmas themed stuff.

Kawaii chibi snowmen, via an NPR article on interesting snowmen photos (Also where I found the zombie account above): http://www.flickr.com/photos/absurdum14/5196877739/

Main acct. has lots of gorgeous photos of Japan.

And finally, a fantastic holiday-themed Zombie PSA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UqEhUm2B_8&feature=player_embedded

It is made of pure awesome, and I intend to follow Team Unicorn's future career with great interest. Assuming I do not succumb to fatigue and go comatose after wrapping the Zodlings' and husband's presents tonight. x_x

Scintillating Holiday Adventures of the Domestic Goddess

Dumped smoothie left out overnight on the counter, pre-scrubbed blender.
Pre-scrubbed oatmeal-defiled items. Loaded dishwasher.
Consulted SIL on algae outbreak in fishtank. Discovered unknown persons ::coughZODLINGScough:: have been playing with the heater and tank is allegedly at 90 degrees. (Did not feel that warm, but still.) Turned off heater on SIL's advice, waiting to see how the temp balances out.
Caught Mark standing on the metal shelf of the fishtank stand and trying to reach into the tiny gap between the lid and the heater and filter. AGAIN.
Spanked said Zodling, sent him to his room.
Hauled laundry downstairs, fed other Zodling a small snack.
Sorted laundry, started load. Praised the unknown persons responsible for inventing tankless water heaters and for deciding to install them in the new base houses.
Scrubbed Japanese garden fence/deer scarer/tiny pagoda combo decoration, sans soap, set out to dry. Scrubbed self, avec soap. Sorely miss ability to use Pudge icon on LJ.

Next, lunch for the Zodlings, setting Mark free from what he no doubt deems durance most vile, and probably more laundry. Unless Mark or Jack earn a trip to their rooms, in which case I am hiding in my own room with some Georgette Heyer and a decaf Dr. Pepper until Davner gets home.

Ho ho ho.

Procrastination skills, activate!

Form of.... a housewife slurping eggnog!

I really ought to be folding the last of the laundry and wrapping a couple presents. Most of the Zodlings' stuff, that didn't come pre-wrapped from relatives, Davner just arranged in the sleds they're getting from us. Not like we're going to be able to use the sleds anytime soon (:;:eyes CaradhrasPike's Peak crossly::), and not like the boys are all that interested in unwrapping things yet. Last year we still had to do hand-over-hand with them for unwrapping, and that caused Mark to cry so much it wasn't worth it.

Instead, I am drinking eggnog, listening to Christmas music, and re-reading Cleolinda's delightfully snarky Twilight recaps. I've got to say, the ones where she cross-compares the first book with the leaked chapters of Midnight Sun? Make the full force of Edward's creepy mccreeperson-ness stand out even more starkly. It's hilarious, but painful as well, considering how many women and young girls cling to these stories like their last hope of romantic heaven. I may need to go find Stoney321's ex-Mormon recaps to help me giggle away the squick. (Never did link Reasoning With Vampires on Facebook. Think I'll do it this coming week. Might not snap the TwiHard relatives out of it, but you never know...)

I need gingerbread. I have none. ;_; Might run to the Commissary after church tomorrow and grab some. Definitely need to plan better for next year. And on that note, I need to plan my snack and movie lineup for New Year's. We don't have a babysitter lined up, but I refuse to just let it be another weekend night. Maybe anime, take-out, and pie from Village Inn...

I should also be decorating the tree. Mark proved once again that we need to wait til Christmas Eve for any decorations he can reach. First he managed to dis-embowel the shatter-proof globes. We were worried he might pull the metal hooks off and hurt himself or Jack. Nope. He pulled the globes off, leaving the metal hooks still firmly attached to the tree, and the little metal caps and the bits of metal that keep the globes attached dangling forlornly. Then he pulled off the ornaments that were just hung with string loops, and arranged them in arcane patterns on the couch. The only ornament that escaped was the angel hanging from the top. (Not an actual tree-topper, just hung really high.) I suspect if he'd remember that he can move the dining room chairs, he'd have gotten her too.

But right now, I just want to enjoy snark and drink eggnog. I've been up since three am, and am le tired. Just can't sleep.