YOu Guys Were Right - As Usual :D

Thanks for the cheering up Tadpoles.

I felt better after I wrote that [and took a short nap] so Pooldad and I hit the mall to see if we could find a dress I saw online at JCP.

Amazingly enough we did. It was the last one they had and even more amazing? It fit.

This is the dress:

Don't ask me why I thought feathers were a good idea, but hey! They WORKED.  The dress fit like a glove and when I stepped out of the dressing room Pooldad's whole face lit up and well. . .let's just say he followed me back into the dressing room. ::wink:: No, really - he did. But only to help me try on the next one.

I did have several more to try on, but this was the first and ultimately the winner. I paired it with sheer black hose, low heeled satin pumps and pearl stud earrings.  I wore my hair down which was nice because the back is scooped lower and my hair swept over it.  I also wore my red coat with black velvet trim for a bit of Christmas pop and cheer.

It appears short in the picture but even though I have longish legs it didn't look or feel too short for me, even at 46.  I do have chicken legs now so it wasn't doing me too many favors in that department, but the fit was snug enough to make what little body fat I have appear to be curves. heehee I even cheated a bit and wore an old push up bra.  The added padding really gave me a boost. In more ways than one. ::big grin::

Most of his coworkers have never met me and really only know me as the lady who fries chicken and bakes.  They were very gracious and seemed to be a lot of fun.  It's not a terribly large company, about 40 employees, but they are a pretty tight knit group. Very respectful and caring of eachother regardless of pecking order in the skill ladder.  A pool cleaner is just as valuable as a mechanic or a office worker to all of them and it is nice to see a group get along so well.  We sat a table with many of Pooldad's staff and he was whispering in my ear about each of them so I would be able to know a bit about them.  The one thing he kept saying was what hard workers, good workers they are.  For a man that has been in this business for almost 4 decades and the woman who has heard it ALL, that is a rare thing to be repeated about each and every employee he pointed out.  There is usually one or two [okay, several] bad apples in the bunch in this industry. It's the nature of the work I suppose, but it is refreshing that after moving from his previous company, where he had worked for over 20 years, he has such a great group of coworkers and friends.  What was really fun was seeing how wonderful the men looked dressed up and how pretty all their wives and girlfriends were.  Everyone really went all out for this once a year shindig. It was fun. [As the night wore on the open bar of high shelf liquor made it even more fun for some of the gang.  Pooldad had two sips of one mixed drink and said he couldn't finish it because the bartenders were being more than generous with their pours.  I offered to get him more mixer - cola - but he passed because the food came up. . .and well. . .]

The food. YUM! The food looked fabulous, in fact the restaurant itself is really neat.  It is a local organic farm with an attached restaurant [the farm came first] and they only serve what they grow, raise or what they can locally source organically.  The menus are seasonal so there were a lot of delicious root vegetables as as appetizers or as sides and the mains were a choice of bay scallps, organic beef sirloin [my choice if I had eaten], chicken breast or a vegetarian dish.  Really I cannot do the menu justice but it was worthy of 4 stars. And from what I can gather from all the award plaques hung on the walls in the Ladies' bathroom it often receives those types of reviews.

After the toasts were made and before the main course was served I had to make my apologies and to go to the van to lie down.  It was simply too long a day for me and dummy me I forgot all my medication.  Still, Pooldad keeps telling me that he really appreciates me making the attempt and going and he thought I looked very pretty.  Which is really all I wanted - not to be told I was pretty, no, although it is a nice bonus, but I wanted to go and be by his side as his wife. This is the sixth Christmas party he has attended since he began working there and it was my first.  I think if I had known they do it up this well I would've dragged myself from bed rest and shown up in a bathrobe before now. I do have some pretty swank bathrobes come to think of it. I kid, I kid.

I really don't get that down in the dumps very often and I am sorry I felt the need to vent here, but I was finally at the end of my tether with it ALL. And that does happen occasionally.  I usually keep it in my handwritten journal, but. . .you all helped me immensely and I thank you. It is nice to have friends you can count on no matter what.

We are almost finished our Christmas shopping. First year in three years I managed the mall at Christmas time under my own power. That was nice and very freeing.  Although there is something to be said for riding in a wheelchair - like you can run over all the people who are rude to the poor clerks or who try to cut in line.  Plus you are a good place to put all the packages, so you become an asset. heehee

Christmas cards and baking are next and then we are done. Squirrel comes home Saturday so that will be nice. YAY!  I hope y'all are enjoying the season and all your wishes come true. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

Hugs to y'all and thank you again. See ya' on the flipside Tadpoles.