Duh, and I forgot to title this one!

I received my package from Leslie my Whoduknit Holiday Swap Secret Pal. As the Whoduknit group is a group of knitters that enjoy mysteries (or is that mystery readers who enjoy knitting?), the holiday swap was to include a mystery, something knitty, a postcard from your city or area.

My Holiday Swap Secret Pal was Leslie (aka hockeymom). She sent me a Dan Brown book (I love Dan Brown . . . and look forward to reading this one). The pics don't show it too well, but I also received a large zippered bag. It will be perfect for my knitting projects. I also received more stitch markers . . . I'm always losing them . . . it is indeed a mystery!

Since I had mentioned that I wanted to learn entrelac, Leslie also sent me directions on how to do entrelac. I think it is something that I need to tackle when I'm home alone, without any music on and no interruptions! Leslie's city doesn't sell postcards, she also sent me information about Troy, Michigan! Thanks so much Leslie. This was fun and you gifted me with useful items that I know I will put to good use!
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I took Friday off from work. I have 1-1/2 days of vacation that I was going to have to use by year end or lose. Let me tell you, there is no way that I am going to lose vacation days!

So on Friday, my oldest daughter and I went shopping and then picked up a friend for lunch. We found a wonderful new bakery which is only two doors down from my most favorite LYS. I bought a loaf of bread (we had wonderful French Toast on Sunday), chocolate toffee sauce and pepper mango jelly . . . both items to be used for Christmas. I also managed to wander around the LYS without buying ANYTHING!!! We then went to lunch at a Victorian Inn. It was wonderful and very relaxing.

Friday evening was my son's Christmas concert at school. It was wonderful. They did the absolute best 12 days of Christmas I have ever heard. Frankly, I hate the song. It just goes on and on and on and on. This production had an individual student from 1st through 12th grade "presenting" the gifts and the rest of the students singing the introductions. The individual students were fantastic. The first grader was as cute as a bug. The 5th grader that did five golden rings though brought down the house. She has the confidence of Barbra Streisand and every single time just wowed us all. The next song was "O Holy Night" sung by an 8th grader. She was fabulous. The largest logistical error was having O Holy Night following the 12 days of Christmas. Anyway, it is amazing the talent in the school. Nevertheless, the parents need to be told to behave. The entire program lasted 30 minutes and there were parents showing up at 7:15 for a program that started at 7:00! Many parents (grandparents, aunts, uncles and siblings) were rude during the performance in that they kept talking and chatting. I told Dave that what the director should have done was stop the performance and tell them to be quiet or leave. It might have had sufficient effect.
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Our furnace started misbehaving on Saturday. The furnace repairman came out Monday and we decided that after 30+ years, it was time to replace it. A new furnace is being installed today. We could not have a higher energy efficient furnace installed without moving the location of the furnace (it is currently in the middle of the house). There wasn't anyway they could vent the higher efficiency model. Nevertheless, the salesman insists that we will notice a difference in the heat delivery and lower gas bills. While he was there on Monday evening, I was making pork chops and slicing potatoes for scalloped potatoes. Zachariah wanted to help but I told him that the slicing blade was "way to sharp" and he wasn't allowed to touch. He kept insisting that he could and would be careful. Not to be outdone and to make my point (accidentally of course), I proceeded to slice off a chunk of my left thumb.

Since we were unable to find the chunk of thumb (and seriously, it was a chunk) and they couldn't stitch it (again, the chunk issue), the cauterized (sp?) it, bandaged it and told me not to get it wet. I ended up going to a salon yesterday afternoon to have my hair washed and blown dry. I figured I could afford the luxury. I wonder if I can make a claim on my insurance?

I did try knitting on Lindsey's long suffering scarf last evening. I did one row and decided that that wasn't going to work. I think once I have the bulky bandage off tomorrow, I should be able to do some knitting but the biggest problem is that it throbs. On the other hand, I never realized that I rarely use my left thumb for typing!