Last Monday, I think, our oven was "condemned."  It had so much wrong with it, and was so old it was no longer worth repairing.  The lower oven I had been using, was corroded on the bottom and the eletrician told me not to use it any more.   So we've been using the slow-cookers or the stove top for our meals since then.

We've looked at some ovens on Ebay but have lost all the auctions we've bid on. I'd be willing to do without an oven for another month or so, it does mean no Christmas cookie baking ,but I could do without the calories so it's no bad thing. 

Speaking of David we've had a bit of a scare with his vision - to make a long story and several dr. appointments short, we (well, I and the drs) were concerned he had a detached retina.  After a thorough exam at the eye hospital it was discovered he has a blocked blood vessel which has starved his retina (we think) which led to the loss of 1/4 to 1/3 of his vision.   He is taking aspirin now, and hopefully the clot will dissolve.  If it does, the eye may repair itself.  That is what we are praying for.    He has to go back in January for an ultrasound, and then later for another appointment with the eye specialist.   Please pray for him.

We've taken this last week off.  I sure needed it.  Didn't get as much done as I'd like - either in housework, marking schoolwork, or even just sitting and knitting but it's been a good week.  I got my hair cut again - just about 3 weeks after a trim at my normal salon, and 2 weeks after getting it permed.  This time I went to another salon because I finally admitted to myself that I just wasn't happy at my former one and the girl there who does my hair, just too often doesn't get what I want, and when I have perms I've been disappointed.  At the new salon the stylist showed me what she would have done and used to get the effect I told her I wanted, and it made sense to me and in fact lined up with what I thought should have been done in the first place.  She cut my hair quite quickly, and even when wet I could see it had a much better shape it.   And to top it all off, as it was my first time there, the cut was half price!

We are getting ds2, Ben, a chameleon this Christmas.  David brought home the vivarium and all the stuff for it yesterday after work but didn't have time to work on it until today.  He had a half-day off, but still didn't manage to get a lot done on it until tonight.  Preparing to have this creature in our home has been a real learning experience.  We've learned about caring for one, and what kind of habitat they need, and tonight we learned first-hand about setting their kit up!

Ben was sick in the night last night.  I sure hope that no one else gets it.  On Wednesday night I felt queasy but didn't get sick, poor old Ben was sick for real.  Why do my children always get sick at night?  It's rare that they ever start anything in the daytime!  

If I don't write again before Monday, I hope you have a lovely Christmas!