Sunday Salon: The Christmas cheer continues

I never thought the day would come. School Christmas concert - check. Three more Christmas parties - check. Gifts delivered to teachers - check. Last day of school for two weeks - check. Managed to keep cat from ripping out all of his stitches - check. Yard mowed, pool cleaned, kitchen floor glazed, two dozen cookies baked, house cleaned, 15 miles walked, meals cooked, yes, yes, yes. It was a busy week, I admit, but there were still some wonderful, little blessings that plopped down in my lap in the middle of the tornado that was my life.

I received a package early in the week from Serena @ Savvy Verse and Wit. I had been expecting to receive a copy of The Michael Jackson Tapes that I won in her giveaway. What I didn't expect was the little box of Mrs. Fields chocolates, a glittermark bookmark, and a lanyard from the This Is It movie! It was like having another Secret Santa! Serena you made my day!

I also received my first copy of the magazine Bookmarks, an early gift from my parents. Oh the joy! I've been slowly poring over every page, taking note of every article and book review. Pure heaven is what it is.

At my golf league Christmas party, one of my friends and followers of my blog, Jean, came up to me with a beaming smile and handed me a gift. She said that of all people she had to buy gifts for, buying me one was most important to her. She got me an excellent bottle of Pinot (wee!) with a note attached that made me cry. Here is a snippet:

"It is through your love of reading, I was able to have the opportunity to read some of the best books ever. Books that I would have never read had you not given them rave reviews. I guess to use a cliche, I am guilty of judging a book by its cover. Please keep up the good work. I would be so sad if you stopped."

How sweet is that? It makes me want to blog forever.

On the reading front, I had a great week. The kids and I finished Catching Fire on audio, which pretty much blew us away. I've ordered the 5th Harry Potter on audio but we won't start that until we get back from vacation. I also finished The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker, as well as What I Talk About When I Talk about Running by Haruki Murakami, both on audio. I finished my tenth and last book for my Shelf Discovery Challenge, Flowers in the Attic, which I will review next Tuesday. I also read an ARC for a tour in January called The Body Scoop for Girls. I am also about halfway through How Clarissa Burden Learned to Fly by Connie May Fowler. What is going to completely break my heart is not being able to talk about it until it releases in April!!!!

Ziggy the Frankenkitty is healing well. He is limping, and sleeping alot, but his scar has scabbed over and seems to have his appetite back. He goes to the vet tomorrow to get his stitches removed, which will be a relief. I lived in fear the entire week, worrying that the other cats, who seem to sense his weakness, would rip them out, or he would chew them out himself. He has developed an undesirable habit of needing human assistance to use the litter box however. I think it may be hard for him to get in and out with his leg, so we have been reduced to lifting him in and out. As you can imagine, this is not a good thing, as we are not always here at his beck and call.

Officially my vacation starts next Tuesday, when my family and I get on a plane and head for Indiana to my parents' house for a week. I probably won't be socializing online as much as I normally do, but then again, you never know. I've got my trusty little netbook in my purse, waiting for action. Hope you all have a peaceful, relaxing Christmas week!