STFU, 2010!! 2011 FTW!!

I suppose it's time for the obligatory Merry Christmas/Happy New Year post. The last couple weeks have been incredibly hectic: I worked a crapload, between 40 and 50 hours... which I realize isn't a lot but it certainly feels like a lot when you're getting up at 4:15 a.m. and going to work, then going home, then going back to work till 10:00 p.m. My hours are being cut next week at both jobs, down to about 30 total, which will be good (since I have needed more rest like crazy) and bad (since fewer hours means less money). Luckily the financial situation should work out that we'll get my excess money from UC Denver about the time I get smaller paychecks.

Despite working practically all day every day we did have some relaxation on Christmas, when we went down to Angela's. Matt and I decided to open presents from my parents on Christmas Eve, since we were going to Angela's relatively early the next morning, and I gotta say my parents always know what to get me. I can't help but feel like a giant nerd, considering I got a sewing kit, a cutting board, a veggie brush, and ice cube trays... but I don't really care, I was totally excited! I love little kitchen gadgets and things that make life easier for me... I have enough trouble in the kitchen, I need all the help I can get! OH! And we finally got our Bissell Little Green, which we've been asking for since our wedding over two years ago... yes, I know, I'm a nerd. Matt got the final piece to his Blue Microphone, so as soon as we get our new computer (hopefully when we get our refund from taxes) he'll be able to make his demo and start doing some voice work.

But Christmas Day at Angela's was really relaxing. We had a somewhat unconventional meal of steaks, which I was excited about. Angela, as usual, made a TON of sweets and snacks so by the end of the night I was so stuffed I could hardly move. We watched classic Christmas movies, including National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, which I'd never seen before (Matt and Angela were a bit disturbed by this fact). But overall it was a nice and relaxing day.

We were also really excited on Christmas Eve, as we went to visit the 2-bed condo we want to rent. The unit was mildly out of date, as the cabinets were straight up '80s style, but the layout and size of the unit was amazing. It's a 3rd floor unit, so the ceilings are high and vaulted, and the unit is all tile floors except the bedrooms. The one bedroom is a perfect size for an office, and the other bedroom is about the same size we have now. We'd have two bathrooms, which we didn't really think we'd need but figure it'll be very good if I continue to work 5:00 a.m. shifts. The only downside is that the kitchen is actually smaller and less convenient than the one we have now... but if the landlord does as he plans to and replaces all the kitchen appliances it'll be pretty much perfect. I've got to call him this afternoon and see if we are good to go, and even though it's $50/month more than I wanted to spend I think it'll be worth it to sell my car, use public transit, and have a washer/dryer in our unit. I'm not looking forward to moving again, but I hope it's all worth it in the end.

We are taking another hit financially, but at least it was expected. The Subie started running hot two days ago, meaning it is time for the seals to be redone. We are going to take it in next week; thankfully Matt's family gave us quite a bit of money for Christmas so it won't be such a hard hit. I was hoping I'd have my excess check before it needed to be done, but I suppose I can just pay ourselves back later in January. Hopefully this will be the last thing we need to do to the Subie for awhile... at least until we get the Beetle sold and have that $250/month extra to start putting away.

Denver got its first "blizzard" of the season... a whopping 2-3 inches so far, potentially another 2"-3" before it's over tonight. The thing that sucks about living in Denver is that CDOT doesn't do ANYTHING when it snows like this. The roads, even the major highways, haven't been plowed since yesterday at about noon when the snow started. You can't see the lanes on any of the side streets and the only "lanes" on the highways are the ones formed from people driving behind each other. CDOT seems to think that throwing sand/salt on the roads is enough, but they don't seem to realize that it just turns the snow to slippery sludge. I drove home from work this morning going about 40 mph on the highway (which was probably too fast) and 15-20 mph on the side roads. I just wish CDOT would do its job and plow the roads... it's just not safe out there right now and I cannot even think about driving to work this afternoon... ugh.

But I suppose I need to stop blogging and start cleaning. Matt and I decided to have a few friends over for the Winter Classic tomorrow, so I'm trying to get our place cleaned up and organized. It really needed to be done, so I'm happy for the excuse to do it. I just have to clean the kitchen and bathroom and vacuum, so it hopefully won't take terribly long. We hope to have about 5 friends over, and it should be a pretty good time.

And as 2011 quickly creeps up behind us I can only hope it turns into a much better year than 2010... I'm relatively positive it will be.