Saturday check in

I had so many well laid plans for today but it is one of those days where all of the plans have been tossed out the window again and again and again!

I did a lot of the cleaning I needed to do last night before my parents brought the tree over today. Got up early and I swept and mopped the kitchen and bathroom then dusted the living room, made my bed and organized the closet room a bit. All that was left was vacuuming.

I went to the track to meet everyone for my 4 mile run. I think it was the cross country or track team that was on the track, but not running, just doing a workout with the coaches. We couldn't run there.

Two left to do their own thing and I met Paula at a different track, but closer to my house. I did end up getting in the 4 miles and it was at a better pace than I have been at all week, which is good too.

After running, I called my mom at home and on her cell, which was off. It was just after 10:30 and she said she would be at my house after 10:30. I couldn't get her on the phone! Finally she called me and said they had just left the tree farm and were off to a late start. That gave me some more time to finish cleaning and run the dishwasher... can't believe how clean my house is!

So my parents got here around 11:45. They brought the tree in and we got it in the stand. They didn't stay very long, just for a cup of coffee, and they were out the door by 12:15. I vacuumed around the tree to get up the needles from getting it in the stand and that's when I noticed water! The stand was leaking! :( I was so bummed. I called my parents AT LEAST 8 times. Mom's cell phone was on this time, but she never heard it ring.

Dad said to take the tree out of the stand (Yeah right!) and check the stand. Right now I have a cup under the stand to collect any more water that drips out. After moving the tree around in the stand, it might be better, but I'm going to wait a while more. It was REALLY dripping a lot earlier.

The stand is a funky one. The tree place drills a hole in the bottom of the trunk and the stand has a pin sticking out of it that you put the tree into, and that's it. No screwing into the sides of the tree or anything. But there is a rubber stopper in the bucket that holds the water, which is around the pin. That wasn't sealed correctly. Dad said to take the tree down, empty the stand and check the rubber stopper.

My answer? If I did it wrong the first time, how am I supposed to know if I have it right now?? SO the cup sits below the stand STILL. And my tree is still naked.

I am leaving in about 15 minutes to go to the pool to swim laps again. I'll have to do decorating after I get back. Oh well. At least it is a pretty tree.

But I have been sneezing like crazy since I got home from the track. And it started before my parents go here so I know it isn't the tree. I thought I was done with this cold! I was better all week and don't even know how many times I have sneezed in the past 4 1/2 hours since I got home! I can't stop! I think I might run out of my tissues too. That's not good.

When I do decorate the tree, my living room will look nice. I'm excited to get started with the decorating. I love Christmas. This year has taken me a bit to get into the spirit, but just having my naked tree in my living room is already helping. Well, that and having the music channel set to Christmas music right now! :) I just can't wait to see the tree done. I will be really nice.

It was good too, cuz I didn't need to take any furniture out of this room. I just shifted it around. SO that was really good. Wasn't too sure what I was going to do with the rocking chair and ottoman, but they can stay in here. They just have new homes for the next month.

Ok, meeting Jen in... um 23 minutes. Time to get off the sofa and start getting ready so I can be on time! :)