Yes, even though I said yesterday that we didn’t have one, we managed to get our hands on one last night. We know someone who “knows someone” and they blessed us with some Christmas cheer. We set it up last night and started right away. It is SO much fun. I played the new game Jason got me for Christmas and he started to play the game “Far Cry”, but there is a lot to learn, so we played the sports for a while. They are pretty easy, you don’t have to be super accurate, but they are still a very good workout.

This morning I picked up my mom’s camera from the post office. Everything is perfect! The Ebay seller was so nice and flexible and I am so glad I went that route after the Wolf incident. I realized it was a bit risky to depend on Priority shipping at the holidays, but I had a back up plan too. Anyway, I’m very happy it all worked out. Now we just have to get all the gifts home to CA.

Tomorrow we go up to Clarksville, either before or after the Titan’s game, and open presents with Jason’s parents and sister. They usually have a separate Christmas for me since I usually go home, but this year I get to actually take part in the official Christmas celebrations. On Monday, everyone will meet at Jason’s grandparents’ house in Greenbriar and we’ll do a mass Dirty Santa gift exchange. I’m assuming there will be lots of food there too. Then, Tuesday and Wednesday, I’m working, until Wednesday afternoon, when we’re flying to CA for 4 nights. That should be fun.

The girl who dog sat while we were on our honeymoon is coming to stay with the dogs again, which is a great relief and brings great peace of mind. She’ll also take us to the airport and pick us up. Anyway, these next 10 days should be quite festive! Hope you and yours have a great holiday, too!

Every year, Jason and I open gifts before Christmas…at least a few days before Christmas. This is mostly due to the fact that I usually travel home to CA to be with my family on Christmas morning. Well, this year, I am staying in TN till the 27th, when Jason and I will travel to CA together.

Anyway, we’re already off work for the holiday, and it seems like a waste to have presents wrapped under the tree that we could be enjoying all weekend. So, we opened our presents this morning. I got some really cool stuff, like a new digital camera and a gift card to Wilson’s Leather. I’ve wanted to buy a leather jacket for some time now, to wear while riding my scooter, but I never take the plunge and get one. So now, I have moolah to spend there without feeling like I should spend it on something else.

The new digital camera is an HP Photosmart R725. Its really nice. 6.2 megapixels and a 2-inch display. Plus it is really easy to use, so I’m already a pro. He got me a 1 GB memory card to go with it, plus, it will work in my Blackberry too!

Jason also humored my interest in Peyton Manning with a year calendar, strictly with pictures of Peyton. Its hilarious. And I’m proud that he would be okay buying something like that for me. Its very silly, and I love it.

Lastly, he got me a Wii game, even though we still don’t have a Wii. We hoped we would have one by now, but can’t find one anywhere. Oh well. I’m sure we’ll get one soon enough!

BTW, the camera I ordered for my mom from Ebay arrived today. Its actually at the post office since I have to sign for it, but at least it is in Nashville, safe and sound. I’ll go get it tomorrow morning. Can’t wait!

So of course I have to have one Christmas gift nightmare story and mine comes in the form of an order gone awry with WolfCamera.com. I’m posting this to warn other people and encourage you to buy in the store whenever possible. Here’s the chain of events that have transpired over the past month, for those who are interested. By the way, this gift was for my mother, and its the only significant thing I’m getting her this year.

December 1st: I purchased the Hewlett-Packard Photosmart M527 Digital Camera with Instant Share and HP Photosmart 385 Compact Photo Printer from wolfcamera.com.
December 4th: I received an email from wolfhelp@wolfcamera.com stating that the camera was backordered, yet the website still said it was in stock
December 5th: I received a notification that my order had been shipped.
December 6th: I received an email from customerservice@web.ritzcamera.com that stated “We just wanted to let you know that we have your order and have not forgotten you. We will ship the order as soon as the products are received from the manufacturer.”
December 6th: I received the printer, but not the camera.
December 6th: I called 1-877-690-0061 and spoke to a customer representative who told me that the camera was now in stock and would be shipped from the manufacturer so she could not give me any more information, but that I would receive an email from the distribution center when the item was shipped.
December 12th: A week after being told the camera was in stock and would ship shortly, I called the above 877 number and was given the same rhetoric. I was first told that the item was backordered, but then told it was in stock, after I explained what the last representative told me. I asked the gentleman to send me an email confirmation of our conversation and he assured me he would. I received no such email.
December 17th: I called the 877 number and was again told that the item was on backorder, oh no wait, its in stock. I then asked to speak to a supervisor.
The supervisor told me that the camera was not in stock and that he could cancel my order. He explained that wolfcamera.com is a separate company from the Wolf Camera stores and that I could not go to one of the stores and select a different camera in order to still receive the $100 rebate that was part of the camera/printer purchase. Therefore, he said he would have to cancel my entire order and would send me a prepaid label to return my printer (which is already wrapped and under the tree), to which I agreed. He also informed me that my refund, for the full amount, would appear on my credit card statement within 24-48 hours.
December 18th: I ordered a new camera and printer from Ebay, spending the same amount I was to be refunded.
December 19th: I received an email from wolfhelp stating that the camera I ordered had been discontinued. This email was a clue to me that my cancellation had not gone through yet.
December 20th: Still no refund.
December 21st: I received an email from Google Checkout that a refund has been issued, but only for the price of the camera.
I called the 877 number and was told that they would not refund the rest of the money until they received the printer and processed the return. However, I was told on the 17th that I would be refunded at once for the full amount. I still have NOT received a pre-paid return label. The customer service representative told me that the email address they have for me does not work so that’s why I did not get the label. I gave him a new email address and he said I will receive the label within 24 hours. Miraculously, I have just received the label.

This is all part of a letter I’ve already sent via email and snail mail to Ritz Camera, the parent company. The thing that really gets me about all this is that the website still says the camera is IN STOCK!! So, other poor saps can still pay for a camera they don’t even have any more! AHHHHH!!!!!

I’m going to apologize in advance for a positively juvenile and, perhaps, pitiful post, but I believe part of my previous “Leo Mania” is resurfacing just a tad. I used to be, in my high school years, completely obsessed with him. “Him” being Leonardo Dicaprio…for anyone who doesn’t know. His recent movies “The Departed” and “Blood Diamond” have been very impressive and, I think, demonstrate his versatility as an actor. I’ve respected his work for a long time and always find it a bit frustrating when people say they don’t like him…when all they’ve seen is “Titanic”. Anyway. I’ll just say that I am enjoying his comeback and that I look forward to his new stuff coming up. Just to show you how sickening this really is….I’ll post the desktop background I made for “Blood Diamond”. Please don’t hate me. And don’t bother telling me it’s sad. Believe me, I already know.

Well, those of you who know me know that I really don’t like coffee. I don’t think it would be too strong to say I hate coffee. I love the smell, but it doesn’t taste the way it smells and I just can’t stand it, or anything that tastes remotely like it.

Mondays at Tigermart are “Free Coffee Mondays” when the Titans win on Sunday, which they have done for 3 weekends in a row. I normally wouldn’t even consider the free coffee, but last week, out of principle, I stopped to get a pumpkin spice coffee in honor of the Titans’ victory over Indianapolis. Well, it was awful and I won’t be doing that again, BUT, today I stopped and got hot chocolate. Much more palatable. Its kinda cool. You just walk in, get your coffee/hot drink, and walk out. Any size, any kind, cappachino, frappachino, whatever. Pretty good deal if you’re an avid coffee drinker.

And its a good way to celebrate the rising star, Vince Young. Or “Mr. InVincible” as he is being called now. Vince ran the ball in for the winning touchdown during overtime yesterday. You just can’t deny that its awesome.

I took part in a charity silent auction at work last week and won an autographed Titans football! It has the autographs of most of the stars of the current year, including the mascot, T-rac. It’s pretty cool:

Obviously, its not a game football, but a very nice souvenier nonetheless. I’m very proud!

We went to the zoo yesterday, despite the cold, and had a great time. Here are some pics I took with my new Blackberry Pearl:

The meerkats were huddled together to keep warm.

The Tigers got into some blue paint so they were a little colorful.

The cougars were on the prowl.

Red Pandas are so cool.

The Gibbon was very vocal as we were about to leave.

From 70 degrees yesterday, it is now down to 35 degrees on the first of December. My office is quite festive already. We have Christmas music playing, have a small tree w/boxes underneath it, and other various decorations. I give the credit to my crazy co-worker, although I was the one to bring in the small tree. Oh well, its all part of the holiday spirit.