Thanks, everyone, because all your comments yesterday convinced the geekboy that we, in fact, do need a Dyson. He found a good price with free shipping and an Animal is now on its way. I can’t believe it! I feel like a chump for spending this much money, but we’ll chalk it up to an early Christmas gift to each other. Or something. Still…HOORAY! I’M AM SO SPOILED!

Apparently it’s Girl Scout Cookie time. Last night a little girl knocked on our door, and we were so gobsmacked by the fact that kids still do that, we bought two boxes. Including this kind, which I’ve never seen before. Is it new? Either way, can’t wait until they come in!

Thanks to the delicious ladies at Cupcakes Take the Cake for their nice post about my stuff today!

Our very own Chuckwagon got hisself a gig at HowStuffWorks.com. His first article was published today. Yay!

Congratulations to Shannon and Matt on the birth of their baby daughter, Echo Deva, this past Saturday. Baby girl arrived in record time and is a chubby little beauty with what looks like red hair! Love.

Congratulations, Iowa! Who knew?

Did you guys know that Maggie has opened her own online shop? And moved her blog? Go here to find out all about Dyed in the Wool Handmade and wish her well.

According to my desktop widget, I have achieved five months smoke-free. Way to go, me!

Looks like Megan may be headed my way next week for work. Looks like I’m gonna need to ensure the liquor cabinet is full of gin and tonic! Looks like WOOT!

Yay, Canada! Conservatives in Canadian Parliament yesterday tried to re-open the debate on gay marriage and actually overturn its legality, but the motion was voted down.

Remember the people fighting their homeowner’s association over their peace wreath? They won, and it’s staying up. Peace out! [thanks charlie b]

Love Your Mama is giving you one more chance at free shipping!

Shameless Plug Alert! Today, freakgirl.com is featured over on the Spreadshirt blog. They’re the people that make my t-shirts. Give ‘em a visit!

Chuck and Emilie are getting married tomorrow, you guys! LOVE! Let’s give them our best, freakgirl.com-style.

I have known Chuck for quite a few years, although I haven’t seen him in at least five, I believe. I’ve never met Emilie but I already adore her. Much happiness, much fun, much laughter and much love to both of you. Have a wonderful, wonderful day.

The iPod is here! The iPod is here! :: runs around in circles and falls over ::

It’s mocking me, actually, as I have a conference call in an hour, another one later in the day, and some big revisions I need to make on another project. You will have to wait, iPod. You will have to wait.

People, FREE PANCAKES.

This is Maggie. It’s America time! With some Hollish excitement. You know what these bitches did to me? I showed up here, tired from driving 10 hours and had to pee SO BAD. Did I get to pee? No. Why? Because I had to hug Marjon and Ivon because they came all the way from the Netherregions and it’s rude to piss without saying hello.

I can’t believe they are here!

I screamed, then peed. In different rooms. I love them! I love surprise! Lots of party, lots of WOW! Jingle, jangle, yes!

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This is the Netherregions speaking. Maggie did, indeed scream. Twice. And then she called her Mom, who totally forgot who I was. And there was wine and chicken potpourri and more wine. And almost drunk blogging. I’m not drunk, I’m drinking Diet Coke.

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Freakgirl here! Yes, our big surprise is that Marjon and Ivon came here on Wednesday evening. We wanted to surprise Maggie & Jeremy so we had to be quiet about it. But now we’re all together, six of us in this little condo, and having a wonderful time. Tomorrow is our party and it should be great fun. Perhaps we’ll post then. We miss you all so much! Maggie was wondering if Megan was hiding in the cupboard. She wasn’t. And we are all sad about that.

Also, I think we got the house. We sign the contracts tomorrow. CELEBRATE!

As if this weekend wasn’t exciting and stressful enough, a realtor called on Saturday and asked if he could bring a client through. We had 30 minutes notice and I was in no mood. But she came, three days before our house was supposed to go off the market, and SHE BOUGHT IT. Well, we still have attorney review and inspection and her final mortgage approval, but yeah, can you fricking believe it? Yes, this is good news, but we don’t have a new place picked out yet! Yipes! Hopefully something will just magically appear, sort of the way this woman did.

We had a Christmas miracle at the Freak/Geek house yesterday. Remember last year when our upstairs neighbor flooded our condo? We had to hand over a ton of money up front to get things repaired. And when it was all said and done, our insurance company made us pay our own $500 deductible, even though the damage was someone else’s fault. The geekboy had voiced his displeasure to our agent, who apologized and said there’s nothing they can do, and that was the end of that. Yesterday, over a year later, we open the mail and there’s a refund check for $500 - apparently they were able to convince my neighbor’s insurance company to cover our deductible. SWEET!

Popular is coming out on DVD! I am absolutely thrilled. :: dances around room and trips over pile of sheetrock ::

Happy Holidays from the freakniece. She’s gotten so big. I can’t wait to see her in February. And yes, my sister is pregnant.

Forgot to mention I had some nice news this weekend. Some of you might remember that in addition to L.L. (the porch kitty), his sister Black Kitty used to hang around as well. About a year and a half ago some well-intentioned neighbors trapped her and brought her to the animal shelter. When I found out, I went to the shelter to visit her (it turned out she also had kittens), and it broke my heart. She was depressed and sick. I found out a bit later that her babies all got sick and died, and Black Kitty got very sick as well and was put into a “foster” home to see if she would get better. I never heard about her again and just assumed that she died. It happens. Anyway. At the volunteer orientation on Saturday, I met the gentleman who fosters stray cats in this area, and it turned out that he fostered Black Kitty. Turns out she did get better, and because she was feral, got placed in a barn, and is currently doing fine and probably chasing mice around all day. That makes me happy.

My friend Jill will be in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday. Look for her next to the Grinch float dressed as a Who. She’ll be the cutest one there.

For once, good news!

Good news for all you Ren & Stimpy fans out there!