I have far too much to do to be sitting at the computer writing. But the voices in my head(ok, one voice. mine. The one that I "think" I sound like.Not theone that I really sound like, like when you hear your voice recorded and you think,"is that how i really sound???"and then you don't talk for the rest of the day because you are sure your voice is irritating everyone around you even though they don't tell you so? And when you do talk you try to use your baritone voice? ...ya. that voice.) Any how, if you only knew how much I hold back you'd thank me. I seriously have soooooooooo much to say, about absolutely nothing at all. Dr. Van doesn't understand how my mind works. The other night he said that I make "quirkiness", "classy". I hope that's good.Hedoesn't see how I have so much to say. I told him I could write 2 pages on his hair if I wanted too. it just keeps coming to me. Kinda like my dirty laundry.

So I have one Xmas party down, (last night) and one more to go (Saturday night). SO by all

accounts I should not be sitting here! Plus my hair is airdrying into an oblivion. I look like

Shakira. No really.

I will continue this nonsense later.

Ok, its later. Much later. it's Sunday again. And I feel

like I've lost 10 lbs. Figuratively speaking of course, it is the Holidays afterall... Party #2 went down last night. I was so worried about it and I think it went really well. Dr. Van missed his calling in life and really should have been a party planner. He always has good ideas.

Dang him.

Ok, once again I am adding to this post. i feel like I finally have a minuet to sit and write without guilt. Well sort of, it's Christmas day and my house is literally D- STROYED. But more of that later. This is me trying to relax and let the good times roll without me singing the clean up song and patrolling the house every 10 mins to do a quick pick up. Breathe Randi, breathe.

SO our Staff party. Wow. We had so much fun. We had a really nice turn out and it all went down pretty smoothly. I had to resist the urge to cook for everyone so we had "12 BONES" cater for us.

Good move on our part. It was very tasty and as easy as sending Dr.Van to pick it up when it was ready. I always think I have more time then I really have when I'm hosting anything. SO of course I was running around putting the final touches on everything as everyone was arriving you know, little things like, toilet paper in the bathrooms and such. Dr. Van had to pull me aside a minuet to tell me to slow down that I was making people nervous. I had no idea I could have that affect on anyone? or is it "effect"? I never quite know when to use each word...Anyhow. I slooooowed down and once again tried to let the good times roll by without twitching nervously. The ribs were tasty, the corn pudding perfect, the jalapeno grits creamy and spicy. Our company was even better. Everyone was such a good sport when it came to our games. You never how those will go down. I wasn't sure who had a competitive nature and who to stay away from. As it turned out I ended up competing with the most competitive guy during the championship of "Connect Four".

We had a competition between the girls and the winner played the winner of the guys. I was in shock that it came down to me to represent the girls. You have to know that I am so not competitive. It's just not in my nature. So when I saw the last two guys battling it out best game out of three I was a bit nervous. They were so intense and serious. Clearly out to win. Each move well thought out according to what they thought their opponent might do next. You could cut the tension with a knife or some other sharp object. It took them like 30 mins maybe longer, to play 3 games. I was not eager for my turn to try to impress and challenge my opponent. At this point I wasn't really sure which guy it would be but I knew who I didn't want it to be. Only because I had heard from a few reliable sources that this certain guy did not like to lose. I secretly was rooting for the other guy to win. He didn't though. Darn. Now it was my turn. Oy. I wanted to keep it light and not so serious, this was going to be hard. He scared me. He had the look of a champion in his eyes.

I had the look of a deer in the head lights.

I was the hostess I was going to be gracious.

I didn't even want to play, Dr. Van signed me up for every competition though in hopes to win back all the prizes he bought..Nice strategy Dr. Van. But as we all know I'm not the Super athletic type. I'm not even the brainy type. I'm that rare type that doesn't have a type. So why did he sign me up? Clearly just to increase his odds of winning back the prizes. ( he said it was his Xmas party too and he had every intention of us competing for the prizes too) Fine. I'll play nice and play along..

I fully intended to lose the first game. Because I just didn't care, and I didn't want to get hurt. I didn't really put a lot of effort into it. I won. Shoot.

K next time I'll lose for sure. My worthy opponent kept his cool, we still had 2 games left if he won this next time. 2 more opportunities to annihilate me. I don't know what quite happened next but I won again. Shoot. I totally won I felt like I had cheated. He smiled. Lets go again he proposed. I told him that was fine that I would let him win this time. He didn't like that. He wanted me to try, I supposed he wanted to prove he could beat me just once.We had another go "just for fun". Was he just not paying attention? Was he just being nice because I was the bosses wife? His upper lip twitched a little when I hesitantly dropped the winning chip in to make four in a row and then apologized profusely. " I'm so sorry!! I really am, I don't even like to win". He smiled and shook my hand graciously. I was prepared for him to squeeze the life out of my hand causing me to fall to my knees in agony...but he didn't. I felt so bad I made him take a copy of the game home with him, but obviously not bad enough to give him the prize of dinner and a movie....Sorry "J", you were a good sport though.

We had a plasma car race in the basement.

3 laps around. 4 racers at a time. No touching the ground or you are disqualified. Winner takes home a plasma car. Dr. Van is out after the 1st lap. No problem we still had a second chance to win a car back. That is until Dr.Van gave me a push as I was rounding a corner that landed me right into the wall causing me to suffer from whiplash and a broken arm and the worst part, caused me to lose the race..Fat head. Next time help, don't help.

Next up ping pong.

We recently got this awesome table when all the family came into town for thanksgiving. Thats the first time I had ever played. SO why was I entered into this tournament? Once again, to increase the odds. Man I'm a good sport! So I compete against a randomly selected opponent. We battle it out until we reach 15 points I believe. I'm having fun, working up a little sweat burning a few calories, working off those ribs. I have a habit of lifting my back leg like I'm being kissed romantically, when I reach for a hard shot. It's quite feminine actually. Ok, it's more like I have a muscle spasm that I can't control. I told you I wasn't a jock. Anyhoo, I actually won this round which moved me up to the second round. Now this time I played against a jock. So I was eliminated. I'm sorry Dr.Van. I guess I'm more brains then bronze afterall...Well it was probably more luck actually That I won connect four. But winning is winning and I have movies tickets and a gift card to Macaroni grill to prove it. Your welcome Dr.Van. By the way Dr.Van didn't win anything....just sayin'..... You're a winner to me though.

We had a great time, with some great folks. A beautiful musical number was performed along with a few light hearted numbers that included Dr.Van and I as the subject of the songs...So fun. I really enjoyed seeing everyone with their spouses and friends. As I looked around this group of people it hit me just how down to earth they were. I love that they embrace their southern roots. One of the husbands of a gal who works for us, was wearing his hunting camo turtle neck and ball cap. It just made me smile. I love that. Just being who you are. The other Dr. came up to me and thanked me for" hosting the party and more importantly for being who you are a real breath of fresh air." That was sweet and surprising. I guess you just never know how your perceived sometimes. I'm nothing to brag about, I am for more impressed with everyone else around me, but it's nice to know when you're appreciated for who you are. I love these good people here. We are so blessed.

more later I have to eat more empty calories that I'm just going to have to burn off tomorrow...Remind me to tell you about skiing, 13 yrs, and Christmas...