December 28, 1999

I'm going to finish my Christmas story, but first I'd just like to say that I HATE being sick. Hate hate hate it. I stayed home from work today because I feel like crap, and I'm debating whether I should go in tomorrow or not. Unfortunately, tomorrow is payday and I need my check to pay the rent, so I'm going to at least have to go in for that. I wonder if it's tacky to call in sick but then still show up for your paycheck. I don't know.

I also don't want to infect all my co-workers with this godawful virus just in time for New Year's. Of course, nobody is going OUT for New Year's this year, so I'm quite sure it wouldn't interfere with anyone's (lack of) plans, but still. Maybe I'll just go in late and leave early.

I suppose you've all heard that Mayor Schell here in Seattle called off the city's New Year's Fest. I think he's a big wuss, personally. Just last week he was talking about how we "shouldn't give into terrorism by changing our holiday plans" and now this? Keith's theory is that Mayor Schell has a financial interest in some OTHER holiday celebration that was having soft ticket sales, but it's just a theory.

Back to Christmas. OK, so the morning of Christmas Eve, Mom and Amanda (my sister) and I all headed off to the salon in Columbus. We were scheduled for facials, manicures, and hairdos. I know Mom was nervous, because 1) she'd never had a facial or manicure before, and 2) she was worried the stylist would screw up her hair. I kept telling her that if they screwed up her hair, she could tell them to redo it until it looked right, but I could tell she was still a little freaked.

Luckily, everything turned out just fine. The facials were absolutely fantastic. Mom and Amanda both said that they were the best thing since sliced bread (well, they didn't say that EXACTLY, but you get the gist), and I agreed. It felt heavenly. My face looked great afterward, too. The manicures were also great; Mom had painted nails for, as far as I know, the first time in her entire life. She was so proud of herself. Heck, I was proud of her too.

Finally, the hairdos. I came out looking a LITTLE too much like Monica Lewinsky (much hairbrushing ensued once we were at the car), but Mom and Amanda looked GREAT. Amanda got her hair cut way shorter and layered, so she looked more like a grownup than a teenager. This is good since she's now a freshman in college. Mom got the cut she wanted, which was, in her words, "non-poofy". Mom is really anti-poof when it comes to hairdos.

So we all came out of the salon looking and feeling fantastic. We then headed for the Columbus City Center Mall. Mom had some leftover Christmas shopping to do, and we wanted lunch and to window shop. We were not disappointed.

I think the best part for me was the dress shopping. We were in Marshall Fields, wandering past the dress displays, and Amanda and I decided to just try a bunch of stuff on. It was all formal or semi-formal, and I was just excited that they had stuff in my size for once. Amanda, naturally, looked good in everything. Amazingly enough, I also managed to find something I liked. It was a knee-length black dress, semi-formal in style, with a nifty neckline, and a flattering silhouette. It was like butta. No, really, it was! It's not technically long enough for me to wear the gloves with it, but I don't care, I'm wearing them with it anyhow.

Then there was Midnight Mass, and some other stuff happened, which I'm too tired and sick-feeling to relate right now, so maybe tomorrow. If I'm feeling better.

In non-Christmas news. Today I joined a gym. I can't wait to start working out. I'm going to be so buff. You wait and see. I went over there and one of the sales reps gave me a big tour of the place and answered all my questions ("Can I have a personal trainer?" "Yes, but after the first two consultations you have to pay extra." "Cool!"). It looks really nice. They have bunches of aerobics classes and exercise equipment, and the atmosphere was good. It wasn't overcrowded or full of hardbodies running around, which I really hate.

So, once my respiratory system is back in working order, I'm going to start my quest for buffness. But right now I'm going to have some tea and go to bed.

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