Vampire Season

I am currently stuck in the middle of my second Vampire Season. No, this season has nothing to do with the new Twilight movie that just came out or whatever vampire series is on TV these days.

Let me explain...

I work in an office where I am allowed to work 10 hour shifts (and only 4 days a week). Monday through Thursday I start work at 7 AM and end at 6 PM. Here in the Midwest, between the months of September and February, the sun doesn't rise until after 7, and it sets sometime during the 5 o'clock hour. So, basically, it’s dark when I get to work and it’s dark when I leave. 

In addition, the nature of my job requires me to be setup in some make-shift offices--tucked under a stairwell somewhere or perhaps in some tiny, 5x5 foot janitor's closet with a step-stool for a chair and a three-legged table (if I'm lucky) for a desk. I'm not sure how many of you have stepped foot in a janitor's closet or spent any time underneath stairwells, but it's not likely that one would find a window in such a place. Not likely at all. In fact, the two places that I spend the majority of my work life in are two of the nicest "offices" that I have worked in, and they don't even have windows. The point of all this, you see, is that during the eight or so hours of daylight that we get every day, I see none of it. Thus, the Vampire Season.

Today, however, I had an 11:30 AM doctor appointment. So luckily, I enjoyed a few minutes (I made sure to walk extra slow to and from my car) of the beautiful sunshine today.

This nocturnal girl is about ready to head back into the darkness. Hehe :) Goodnight!

MY PERFECT THANKSGIVING!

Thanksgiving break is over and now I am back at work, sitting at my desk, and daydreaming about how perfect my weekend was.

Perfection Reason 1:
Thanksgiving was held at my Aunt and Uncle's house in Hampton, IA. All four of my Aunt and Uncle's kids (my cousins) were there, and all four of them have BABIES.  To be exact, two 7 months olds, two almost 2 year olds, one almost 3 year old, and a 4 year old were in attendance. I was in heaven. Just look at this little guy...



I love him so stinkin much.

Basically, I spent the entire day with either a baby or some sort of food in my hands. I don't think it could have been any better.

Perfection Reason 2:
90% of my Christmas shopping was started and finished this weekend. My mom, aunt, cousin, and I started shopping at 9 PM on Thursday night and didn't return home until 4:30 AM on Black Friday morning. Woah.
Then, I spent the entire day on Saturday and an hour or so on Sunday shopping. Double woah.

Perfection Reason 3:
This one wasn't realized until this morning....

After spending the ENTIRE weekend constantly eating, drinking beer and wine, and not working out at all (aside from carrying all my shopping bags around--which my biceps are still sore from), I only gained one pound! ...which on the down side, is more justification for skipping my workouts this week :/

Alright. Lunch break is over. Enjoy the rest of your Monday!

Hello Blogging World!

This is my first. ever. post.

I have spent the last two hours trying to figure out how to select background colors, design my layout, and think of a name for my blog. The latter of the three was by far the most challenging. I have been reading many blogs as of late, and all of them have such cute little names that describe their wonderful marriage or the joys of motherhood. I cannot base the title of my blog on either of those things because I (unfortunately?) have not yet experienced either of the two.

Nonetheless, I chose "The Narrative" as I believe this blog will be just that--a narrative of my everyday experiences and thoughts (or at least the filtered ones)--that I choose to share with whoever visits my corner of the net.

So welcome, dear reader, and please be patient with me as I learn the ins and outs of the blogging world.

<3