I like the colours of my blog now. With the template I picked I can't change the 2 side colours or the colour behind "Steph's World". Well, maybe I could if I knew anything about HTML. May still play around with other templates but like the lilac theme of the middle sections.

I've been stuck at home with my cold and taking lots of naps. I've been playing around with the customization features of blogger. Haven't found the template and colour combination I like yet but will continue playing around with it another day.

Did the usual Christmas Eve present-opening at the inlaws at midnight. Then woke up on Christmas day with a cold. Felt lousy but was still functional so still made it to Nanaimo. Went shopping at Mark's Work Wearhouse with the folks on Boxing Day and then went over to N's place for a visit - thanks for the appies! Came back to the mainland on the 27th with C&E. We got to Duke Point early. It was pissing rain and windy so we stayed in the car but when we found out we had been left behind along with 9 other cars and missed the 1:05pm sailing we hunkered down in the cafeteria and waited for the 3:15 boat. The boat going home was rocky but since it was the bigger Queen of Coquitlam it wasn't too bad - I only felt the quease once or twice when I walked around (the Queen of Esquimalt was really bobbing on the trip over). A woman beside us in the caf kept asking a ferry worker if we were hitting whales when there was loud banging. She didn't believe the worker that it was just the boat hitting the waves even when the worker went and confirmed with the Chief Steward.

Met the Olympic Mascots

I met the Olympic mascots when they were touring the various Zellers and Bays in mid-December. I saw them at the Zellers at Metropolis just before they left for the day.

The Bay downtown has jumbo-sized mascots in their window display by the Olympic stuff. It would be cool to have all 3 (if I had the space and wanted to blow $1500!). When I asked the cashier how much they were she said that she could take my name and phone #. She said they have to be special ordered and that the price wasn't set yet - it depends on the demand for them. But the price would be somewhere between $400 and $600. I said, thanks but even though I would like to have a jumbo Miga I can't afford it!

Gingerbread Lane at the Hyatt

I popped into the Hyatt downtown a few weeks ago to see their Gingerbread Lane. Their were various gingerbread creations with the most unique being a hockey rink and a replica of the bus depot. The gingerbread creations were done by different schools and there was a contest where you could vote on which one you liked best. The photos I took were with my cell phone but someone else has posted photos which are really good: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Hyatt+Regency+Vancouver+&m=text

Sleep Country delivered our new king size bed last Sunday. Ahhhhh, it is soooooo comfy. It's a pillowtop with lumbar support so it's great for my back. No more tossing and turning before I fall asleep and no more taking Advil because my back hurts and I can't sleep. I can spread out and not be cramped. Will have the old queen size bed brought back to Nanaimo - I believe it was originally bought at Fletchers there back in 1998 or 1999. One of the Sleep Country delivery guys said that the bed looked brand new. Probably because there was a mattress protector and bed skirt on it.

Replaced the old bedside tables with a pair of narrower ones with drawers from Ikea.

Shopping Spree at Mark's Work Wearhouse

Last weekend on Saturday night I went to Mark's Work Wearhouse customer appreciation event which had an additional 20% off regular or saled priced items. I also had one of their $10 -off-a-minimum-$50-purchase coupon that come periodically in the mail with their flyers. The store was open until 11pm although their website said 9pm for Dec. 8. Great for me as I didn't get there until 8 and there was a huge line-up then. By the time I left after 10 there were only a few people left in the store. Anyways, their clothes fit me so well. I got a fleecy for just under $14, a cardigan hoodie sweater for $10.50, jeans and other pants for $10.50 each, slacks for $7.50 and pants for $3.00.

There's a sample sale going on for other clothes that I may check out next week.

Even thought Big Willie's new movie is getting poor reviews I still want to see it - perhaps next weekend. Too bad I don't have time to read the book before seeing it. There's a German Shepherd in the movie too - bonus!

Will Smith to tour next summer!

In the 24 hrs today I was reading about Big Willie's latest movie I am Legend which is coming out next week and learned that he and DJ Jazzy Jeff will be hitting the road and touring next year! Possibly to coincide with the release of his summer movie John Hancock. I can't believe it! I'm soooo excited!!! He and Madonna were the last 2 concerts I wanted to see. I didn't think Will Smith would ever tour. I've wanted to see him for years. Since I saw Madonna last year I never thought I'd see my last concert wish! I wonder how close he's going to be!?!

New West Casinos

The Riverboat Casino in New West will be closing soon so we'd better go there and use the ET coupon before it's closed. I wonder who will buy it? I'm looking forward to checking out the new casino that's opening in New West, the Starlight Casino. It's opening on Dec. 11 and has more of an Asian theme than other casinos.

Olympic Mascot Buzz

There sure was a lot of build-up to the release of the mascot designs. When I first saw what they looked like I didn't like them at all. But after being inundated with the media they have grown on me and I am starting to think they are cute. I doubt I'll buy any of the stuffed animals but if there was a stuffed Inukshuk I would consider getting one.

November has gone by fast. There have been some beautiful crisp clear sunny days recently. That disappeared this weekend with it snowing all weekend. At least it is melting now and lots of rain is in the forecast so it won't have a chance to freeze (I hope). Hopefully there won't be any flooding. I've been hibernating all weekend. With the change in the weather comes the usual arthritic woes and fatigue so have been sleeping a lot more than usual this weekend. Oh well, thinking back a year ago I was going to Honolulu for the marathon. Ahhh, the memories.