Tonight, I'm not taking my meds until just before bed.

I feel utterly domestic tonight. Before coming home from work, I stopped off at the Home Depot and used the gift card Laurie got for me to buy a gorgeous floor lamp. It's brushed nickel, with a cute shade and holds two bulbs. I considered buying some table lamps too (Beth and Jeff gave me a gift certificate, as well), but I don't have side tables yet, so table lamps wouldn't do me much good.

Instead, I splurged on some really nice chrome accessories for the bathroom. The toilet paper holder on the wall right now is wood and falling apart, so I needed a new one to begin with. I've also had it in my head that I want a double towel rack, so I found a matching set that includes a hand-towel ring to go by the sink. It was more expensive than a set I could find at, say, Target, but I had the money to spend, and I wanted to get something I really liked.

I did stop by Target, however, to spend one of my gift certificates on picture frames for the bathroom (I won this photo from Patrick Lentz in a movie quote contest, and have a complementary picture that my cousin Beth took on another beach) and a drying rack, since my dryer still needs to be hooked up, but the washing machine works just fine.

I got home, took my toaster oven out of the box, and put together the lamp while dinner was cooking. After I finished dinner, I put together the drying rack and started a load of laundry.

Dishes are done, clothes are dripping in the tub, my living room is illuminated by a lovely floor lamp, and all is well in the house.

I took a few photos the other day to show what I've done so far in the house. Nothing is complete yet, certainly, but I'm making some progress. I especially love my orange office. I got the idea from Robert, who loves rich colors in his own house, and I'm glad I decided to go for something bold.

The house smells clean and like laundry right now. I'm watching the Apprentice, which is the only sour note of the evening.

I checked my e-mail after I'd started the wash, and another friend who's read the journal for a long time sent me a gift through PayPal! She said she wanted to send me a gift certificate, but the charge to mail it was almost more than the certificate itself, so this was the best way. Thanks so much!

(Anyone else who wants to do the same is welcome to do so. Button's on the right!)

I can't believe how generous everyone's been. It's one of those odd things about life...when you have something, you tend to get more in return. Rich people get better tax breaks. People with good credit get better interest rates (don't ask me about my interest rate...it'll make you cry). If you buy a house, you get offers from local businesses and calls about loans.

I'm really lucky; not only do I have a cool house in which to live, but I'm also getting lots of gifts! (Button's on the right.)

Most of today wasn't spent buying or getting presents. I spent almost all day fixing abstracts sent in by our consultants. I don't know if my boss sent out a nasty e-mail to anyone who was late, but there were five pages of summaries for me to complete. Usually, I have a half-page or so.

It doesn't take too long for each one, but it takes a certain amount of concentration, so I kept looking up at the clock, amazed at how much time had passed. I guess that's the way work should be every day, but I'd like a little more variety.

Of course, a quick day that ends in presents and domestic bliss ain't half bad.