Today I played Mrs. Clause at our community Christmas dinner. I had quite a bit of fun overall. It was funny to see the reactions of both the kids and the adults. As one of my coworkers said, the kids are used to seeing Santa in various places, but not Mrs. Clause.
I had quite a few kids/parents want to get their picture taken with me, and I even had two little ones sat on my lap - one quite unexpectedly. Most of my students 4th grade and up recognized me right away - which actually surprised me. The younger students looked and looked at me with quizzacal expressions -- trying to figure out why I looked familiar to them. One K boy said "are you that nice lady who reads books to us?"
The costume is the full getup - petticoat, underdress (kind of like a nightgown), red overdress that laced up in front like a corset, grey styled wig, white night cap, and of course spectacles.
Overall it was pretty comfortable - the glasses got a bit uncomfortable about the 3rd hour or so - but they were too small to start. Santa rode inside the actual fire engine, and I rode in the a fire truck (chevy I think). That was quite interesting negotiating my skirts getting into and out of that!!
Most of the toys were dispersed - however, there was a crate of books that didn't get distribuited. Right at the top was a Waldo book. So ... I asked if the library could have dibs on that crate. Hope I do get that crate of books ... I overheard something about a couple more I Spy books too ... kids would go ga ga, and those books are at least $12+ each *anywhere*.
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When I got home I pretty much slept for 2 hours - only to be woken up by my dad. We talked for maybe 30 minutes (where he *again* hounded me about my car -- I pretty much told him to shove it, politely of course. Actually, what I told him was that I had heard him and understood what he was saying, but that I did not want to be beat over the head with it. He of course tried to be funny by saying - what about the hoses? I said, "Next!") After that I slept for another couple hours. I probably could have just stayed in bed the whole day ... but knew I should eat something and wanted to get some Nyquil. So, I've been up for a few hours now.
If I hadn't committed to being Mrs. Clause today, I probably wouldn't have gotten out of the house at all. I hope the Tylenol cold and flu stuff I found will work as well as the Nyquil. I think the stuff affects me more since I don't drink - so the alchoal in it hits me harder. (I always feel slightly drugged out the next morning - which is why I only take it on nights when I don't *have* to be anywhere the next morning.)
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I should have done my laundry and dishes tonight - but ... didn't. Will have to do it tomorrow no ifs ands or buts about it. (If I want something clean to wear to work!)
I also need to make the plagiarism project tests for mid-school, create a grading rubric for the project and start grading them, write out lesson plans for December, and work on picking up the library a bit. Hopefully I'll have time somewhere in there to also do some cooking - I'd like to make a cottage cheese roast and corn pudding to eat during the week (and freeze.) Have to have clean dishes first though.
I am **this** close to having Kari declawed! I absolutely abhor the idea of it, but I am getting SO frustrated with having my body serve as a pincushion. This afternoon she startled me out of sleep by sinking one of her claws into my thumb, and I automatically reacted by swatting her away. Then this morning as I was leaving to go to the program, I reached over to get something on the couch, and she attacked my hand - leaving two large scratch marks on top. One of which was actually bleeding - and me about to put on a mostly white outfit!!! Ugh!
Maybe once she's spayed she'll get better -- one can always hope, right?
On a more positive Kari note -- when I came home Friday I found this:
Kari somehow managed to get her play cube directly under the table, and then managed to get a kneeling mat directly in front of the cube. It looks almost like she was making her own little house.
Mrs. Clause
December 4th, 2011 at 04:02 am
December 4th, 2011 at 08:02 am 1322985745
You looked so cute as Mrs. Claus!
Please don't get your cat declawed. Learn to clip her claws yourself and you won't have that problem. It will take her a while to get used to it. Just start by clipping one nail a night. I use regular toenail clippers as they are easier to handle (and the vet said it's not a problem) You don't have to take much off to dull those needle-like points!
December 4th, 2011 at 03:42 pm 1323013334
December 4th, 2011 at 08:51 pm 1323031878
Anyway, if you do try clipping 1 claw a night or whatever, be sure to give the cat a treat after you're done, so she begins to associate something positive with clipped claws.
Cool outfit
December 4th, 2011 at 09:35 pm 1323034500
December 5th, 2011 at 12:38 am 1323045501