Christmas in Florida

Mom, Dad and I flew down to Orlando, Florida to spend Christmas with Franz and his family. We pretty much just spent our time hanging out, watching t.v., playing video games, and getting to know one another. I can't believe it's been 4 years since I've seen these guys! Jenni and I hung out a LOT, just chillin' in her room and talking or watching t.v. and I spent time playing video games with the boys or tossing around a football. I kicked Matthew's butt in a game of Sorry, and helped Jake level up on his Guitar Hero he got for his Nintendo DS. We had a blast! Today Mom, Kristie, Jenni and I went to the Mall at Millennia (this ginormous mall) to walk around and, obviously, shop. I got some new sweats and tees at PacSun and some other random stuff (naturally). Gotta love those after-Christmas sales. My feet are SO SORE!!! So anyway, now we're just sitting around and relaxing, so I'm gonna go...participate? :-D

Abrasive = Endearing?

Weird title, I know. I was actually told at the dinner table the other night by my friend David (fondly referred to as Jasian, a fusion of Jew and Asian) that people seem to be drawn to me. I was puzzled, and remarked that I've been told in the past that my personality is abrasive. He responded with the quote of the century: "Maybe, but I think your personality is so abrasive that it's endearing." LOL I just about fell off my chair. Well, I DID ask. It made me wonder, though, if it's endearing in the way that some babies are so ugly they're cute.
NEW TOPIC....
I'm out of my mind. As in busy beyond belief. My iCal is getting a workout it never asked for or wanted, and I'm getting very little sleep. In other words, life goes on as normal. I somehow manage to be productive and relax at the same time. For example, crocheting while watching "Home Alone" with my Dad and laughing at people getting nails through their feet or their heads torched with...oh what's the word? It's not a flame-thrower (though it can be modified to be used as one) but it uses propane to make a large flame useful for all kinds of things. Handy Dads usually have them. You get the picture. Oh, and paint cans being used as projectiles. Another example is what I'm currently doing: updating my blog, copying much-needed new music to my iTunes off of CDs that I've been wanting to do for months but never got around to doing, and relaxing in my chair with my feet up before tomorrow. And an interesting day tomorrow will be! Bus routes on and off from 6 a.m. until 4-ish p.m. and then 2 basketball charters. I'll be out late, most likely. But it's okay, 'cause the basketball teams I'm driving are AWESOME!!! Then Saturday morning at 6 I have another charter, this time for boys J/V Wrestling. Ick. Double ick. Boys who enjoy rolling around on the floor together grabbing each other in public, in SPANDEX. I think I just threw up in my mouth. I usually bring my trusty Macbook along on those charters so I can be...productive. I usually use the hours to add yet another chapter to each of the books I'm working on and adding finesse to the previous chapters. It helps to look at the books with fresh, desperately bored eyes. The basketball games I usually watch, because I like basketball, and also because the teams (football, soccer, track, basketball) seem to like having the bus driver cheer for them (generally because I drive the same team all season, so I get to know the guys and the coaches).
AAAAAAAND yet another rabbit trail...
I'm getting kidnapped on Sunday. Not for real, but kinda. A few of my friends are taking me somewhere and refuse to let me in on it. Needless to say, I'm totally looking forward to it :-D Next week won't be too bad with the busy-ness factor, but the weekend's crazay. Dropping people off at Amtrak at ungodly hours of the morning, going to the ballet, singing for church, people getting married...sheesh! And THEN!!! I cover a bunch of routes for people who have to leave for home early, and THEN!!! I get to fly to Florida to see my beloved brother Franz (affectionately referred to as Goofy Tanzie) for Christmas. Should be interesting. Haven't seen him in a few years, and I haven't seen his wife and kids for at least 4 years. Hopefully we'll be able to find stuff we have in common, and even if we don't, I'm sure we're all creative enough to either bluff or come up with something.
So anyway, I'm coming up blank with more stuff to write about. Hopefully you're not asleep, but if you are, I'm glad I could be of some assistance with your insomnia problem; I wish it worked with mine :-D