@MargaretG139I agree that that is a beautiful gingerbread house and I particularly love how you made the candy canes into hearts!
So thanks everyone for your support and well wishes but I didn't get the job - they decided to go with someone who has actual senior living experience instead. Then I got all excited about another one for a start-up hotel company in the midscale range but they would require relocation to Charlotte. So alas, no job.
I did however volunteer to outfit a fitting room hangar and as a result, passed my first Fashion 15 at Lane Bryant which earned me a special buy on a sweater - just $15. I got to pick from maybe 30 different special buy choices including jewelry, blouses, etc. but the sweaters were really catching my eye. The one I chose has a wide neck - almost a cowl neck - and is gray with peach stripes. It's long fitting and if I actually owned skinny jeans, jeggings or leggings of some sort it could work nicely as a tunic. It's super soft and comfy. Part of me hates to spend even a penny on clothing but I had a peach and coral sweater that was one of my favorites that I noticed earlier this week was separating at the neck line so I feel okay about replacing a well loved item. I don't think I'll wear it today because I might get hot hostessing for my parents tonight but I think maybe I'll wear it tomorrow with some slimmer stretchy cords or my slimmer jeans.
Meanwhile, I love the work at the store but at $10/hour, I feel like I need to start running now and keep running for fear something will crop up and deplete my reserves before I can get a more professional and better paying position. The ladies are super sweet and I'm learning a LOT. Namely, I'm now officially guilty of wearing the wrong size bra. Also, I think of myself as a pretty boring dresser but I was helping a customer and she asked for some ideas for jeans and tops. I asked her some more questions about her style and the look she was going for and she said "I want to look like you." - WOW.
The other downside is I have long since lost my standing feet. In HS I was in drill team and drum line and I remember standing, carrying a bass drum, for hours during band camp. I also was a waitress and worked retail through college. Then I spent 16 years in event sales and management and stood for long time in heels and pantyhose no less. Now, after a 5 hour shift, I limp into the house, kick off the shoes, and curl into a fetal position on the sofa and shake and moan for about an hour before I can even think about eating something or fixing some water to rehydrate and wash down some more advil - more because I take 2 in the morning before I leave for work. About 4 hours into each shift I start thinking I can't do this, I just can't! But, I don't want to fail at something so simple - then where will I be? I feel like a big baby about too - my boyfriend is still bartending and I just got soft working a professional job. Lots of people stand on their feet for work and this isn't hard manual labor like laying brick or anything. Oh, and also I forgot my fitbit on one day this week and lost all those steps I walked on the concrete floor which really annoyed me.
I just hope my standing feet start to come back! I keep thinking, I love my new cozy sweater but I stood on my feet for an hour and a half to pay for it!
I did end up decorating a tree and wrapping the gifts and getting the cards and the house is mostly ready. My parents are coming between 3 and 4 and then we'll do a zoom gift unwrapping with my sister and then I'll get dinner going. It's all ready in the fridge to heat and serve. We'll have wedge salads, prime rib, mashed potatoes, green beans and I got the mini bundt cakes from Nothing Bundt Cakes (I think they are the Bundtini size) for us to have for dessert. I've got a few hors d's planned and a selection of wines for each course. I also have a little sip for everyone of my boyfriend's homemade Coquito - yum! Then we'll watch a movie - they've seen so few movies it's easy to pick - so I've tentatively selected Cool Runnings. They'll spend the night and I've got Monkey Bread, quiche and fruit salad for tomorrow. Then I'll help them pack up their stuff and will follow them home so I can hook up a new larger monitor I got for my Dad so hopefully he can see his computer a little better. He uses a laptop but has macular degeneration and it's painful to watch him type something and then reach for the magnifier to read what he typed and then put the magnifier down so he can type again.
And then tomorrow night my boyfriend comes and we'll have our Christmas together. And then I go back to work at the store on Sunday!
For each of you, my now long term friends from our group, I wish you all a Merry Christmas (or Happy for Jan) and a lovely holiday weekend filled with peace and joy!
