Whoring My Gifts

At a request from That Chick Over There, I'm here to "Whore My Gifts". I actually prefer to give gifts than to receive them nowadays - I must be getting old - but it is always lovely to get gifts that are really special because of (a) who gave them, (b) the thought they put in to it, regardless of what they spent, and (c) let's be honest, how great the gift is!


I'd also like to remind everyone this is a great time of year for giving back to the less fortunate. Listing all the wonderful things I received was great, but I also enjoy the fact that as usual, my hubby and I picked a couple of charities to share our good fortune.

That being said, on with the Whoring!

My top 10 gifts for this year:

1. Diamond earrings from my hubby. Very delicate and pretty - I love them.
   
   


2. A fleece wrap/cape. This came from my in laws. She thought of my extensive travel and thought it was perfect for those cold flights...I love it!
   


3. Books - lovely books, and more books! Some used, some new, all full of wonderful new stories for me to read. People who give me books are my favorites in the world! My mom and my aunt added to our leatherbound collection and found us Robinson Crusoe and Wuthering Heights. They look so elegant on a bookshelf and I love to read (or re-read) the classics.
   

4. CDs. My hubby sometimes despairs at my "uncool" music collection, which has included such diverse and uncool artists as George Michael, Barry Manilow, the Commidores, and N'Sync. He continues my musical education with Janis Joplin's greatest hits but he also allowed me my little guilty pleasure of some pop music with the Five for Fighting live album.
   


5. Broadway! My sister and brother-in-law spent way too much and got us a gift certificate from http://www.broadway.com/ for 2 tickets to a show. As if that wasn't enough, it came in a basket with gourmet chocolates, a book on home brewing (for hubby), and two bottles of wine too! Spamalot here we come!
   


6. Digital Photo Frame. This also came from the in-laws - something we've been eyeing for a while, and now we're hooked up!


7. Candles and Giftware. I love scented and pretty candles/candleholders and got a couple of these. We also received a pressed wine bottle cheese tray, some ornaments, and pretty photo frames. All of these things continue to enhance (and my hubby says crowd) our little cottage home. I love them.
   



8. A Fossil Watch. I am notorious about cheating myself in the watch area -- I cheap out and get the $7 watches at Target all the time. My staff thought I deserved something special so they got me a lovely Fossil watch from Macy's. The gift was appreciated even more because they all got together to pick it out. Sweet!
   


9. Greeting Cards (with Photos!). One of my favorite things to receive are greeting cards with family and kid photos included. It allows me to see the smiling faces of so many people I love. More than anything, I enjoy hearing from (and seeing!) my favorite people at this time of year.
   


10. The Christmas Bonus! Each year I count my blessings that I work for a company that still gives out bonuses each year. As a manager I get a percentage in December and the remainder after the books are closed in April. This is never something I take for granted and is always much appreciated. {Photo representational only - don't think this was the actual amount!}

That's about it - hope you all received as many lovely things as I did this year.

A Favorite Christmas Moment - Bowie Meets Crosby

Attitude Adjustment

I am typically that really grouchy lady at the grocery store who rolls her eyes at slowpokes, gets irritated that the store has moved her needed item to the "special display" area that she cannot find, and is clearly angry when someone dares to take 12 items into the express lane.

But yesterday, I decided to go to the grocery store with a new attitude. I slowly cruised the parking lot, not worrying that I had to park 50 spots away from the door. I didn't even blink when I got the cart missing the lower rack and with the one wheel that keeps spinning around. I patiently waited for the little old man who stood in the middle of the produce aisle eating his free starbucks giveaway, and I leisurely strolled the aisles smiling at everyone and laughing over mishaps with carts and merging in the aisles. When I got to the front of the store, and saw the mob scene at the registers, I selected a nearby line without even trying to calculate which one might be the shortest, and did not even blink when the woman in front of me had to review at least 50 coupons before she was done. In fact, while in the line, someone passed me with a ton of items precariousy balanced in her arms and when she dropped one, I immediately stepped up to grab the item before she bent over and lost more. She was so grateful you would think I'd given her $100 for a shopping spree.

When I left the store, I reflected on why this trip to the store had taken longer than usual, and yet I wasn't impatient or irritated, or put in a foul mood. People around me had been much the same, but by adjusting my attitude, it was just a little more pleasant overall.

I thought about all the people I had smiled at in the store and wondered if they left with a little better attitude as well. I hope so. Whether it was any kind of little Christmas Spirit, or just a needed attitude adjustment, I'm going to try this in more aspects of my life.

A Proud Purple Stork Customer

After seeing positive comments from That Chick and A's Mom about Purple Stork, I became a proud customer today as well. This was the easiest transaction with a design/print house I have ever experienced!

After struggling with my annual holiday newsletter - I realized it was SOOOOO BOOORRRRIIINNNGGGG! So I sent a desperate note to Purple Stork and less than 24 hours later I had 4 designs to choose from.



These were the two finalists...I picked #2, but I liked them both.






I highly recommend this company for all your greeting card needs!

Seeking That Christmas Spirit

I'm notorious for being out of sync with the Christmas spirit. I usually get in the mood for Christmas in...um...February. It seems I've been in a battle with the calendar for most of my life. I hate prescribed days of celebration. I want to celebrate, when I WANT to celebrate. Not because some president declared it a national holiday, or because someone decided that Jesus was born on December 25 (highly doubtful FYI), or a Hallmark exec wanted a reason to sell cards and stupid candy gifts on February 14. I even hate my birthday - although I do allow my mom to celebrate it cuz, hey, she went through the labor and all that.

So this year, for the first time in several, I gathered up my energy, heaved a deep sigh, and dug out the christmas decorations. We even bought a tree (which by the way, was an environmental battle in my head, but since the damn trees are already cut down it's not like I could save it or anything). Sorry Al (Gore), but you know, since your mansion is still burning the fuel oil etc., I guess you can give me a pass on the Christmas tree.

Although my photos cannot rival the extraordinary beauty of those on 60 piggies (really you have to stop right now and go see some of her recent photos!) this is the result of my dogged determination to get some Christmas spirit BEFORE December 24/25.

A little winter wonderland on my windowsill.

Some fresh greens and holly branches on my mantle.
(note to self, when trimming greens and lights are in place,
don't cut the wire with the branch...can result in small electrical surge...)

O Christmas Tree...O Christmas Tree...You're A Little Short This Year
(but better than years where we went a little too tall!)

A pretty ornament...or 2 or 3....

My Aunt made this one for me - from an actual chicken egg!

Another Aunt gave us this crafty thing last year...I actually love it. Brings a little Cape Cod to our home in the Hudson Valley.

Hubby's favorite decoration is our snow globe (other than his "Herbie the Dentist" ornament)

C.K. Dexter Haven enjoying my "Wonderful Life" village scene and looking for Jimmy Stewart.

This litle figure was one of the few decorations my Nana was able to keep in her little room at the adult care facility. I gave it to her years ago. Something in my non-Christmas spirit, non-religious soul was always touched by the scene of Santa visiting the baby in the manger. When she passed away, I took it from her room and I do enjoy seeing it every few years when I get the notion to decorate.

So for all of you, like me, who are looking for the Christmas spirit - hope this put you in the mood. For those of you who do not celebrate Christmas...hopefully these pretty pictures brighten up the shortest day of the year and give you a good winter solstice.

Seeking the Perfect Beach House

After 7 years of returning to the same little beach shack I'm so totally done. I love Cape Cod, but last year escalated our issues with the little shack from ant infestation to mice infestation. And while the couple who owns the house is lovely and sometimes takes us sailing, it is no longer enough for me to overlook the bathrooms that stink to high heaven, the millions of ants on every surface of the kitchen, the mice and the mousetrap tasks (when I'm paying over $2000/week to be there). There must be other options.

I spent most of my evening on http://www.cyberrentals.com/ filtering through properties that suit all of our needs - must be waterfront (we've been spoiled by that), preferably on Cape Cod Bay side (Nantucket Sound is too rough), and have at least 4 bedrooms that can suit the needs of 5 adults and 2 kids. I found some decent options...but I'm just throwing it out to the blogosphere in case anyone has a rich widow aunt who would love us to stay at her mansion on the beach and just isn't advertising it. If you've got a tip, jot me a comment and I'll get in touch.

In the meantime, Christmas and work are monopolizing my time...so blogging pace has slowed. I'll try to pick it up better next week.

To entice you to keep reading, I'm announcing some future topics that have been rolling around my brain.

A Face Made for Radio
Penguin Craziness
Least Favorite Christmas Gifts - the In-Law Series
Winter Reading List
G'Day Brisbane
New Years Resolutions I Will Attempt...Again
Best Post Titles EVER

...not necessarily in that order.
Stay tuned!

Orange You Glad We're Friends?

I have two very good friends (where I tend to be the glue) to keep us all together. I met them both when we lived in an apartment complex in Nyack NY. Ter was just starting a new business - her own floral design shop, specializing in dried floral arrangements and displays. Lula was, like me, in a corporate position and had been with her company for a long time. We were all married and the six of us made quite the crew.

As often happens, life takes turns, and we all moved to new locations. Ter and Lula divorced their husbands so the six of us were no more. But happily, the three of us remained the best of friends. Lula moved to greater Chicago area, and somehow Ter and I ended up in the same town of Suffern - almost walking distance from one another.

We've been through a lot together. Childbirth, marriage woes, divorce struggles, job stresses, family deaths, and all the myriad of joys and sorrows of life. I love these two women to death. While we no longer get to spend every weekend together, we try to see one another for a girl's weekend at least once a year, and we try to be there for one another for those important moments in life.

One of the quirks of our friendship is our greeting card habit. We all search high and low for those cards about friendship that actually have 3 girls on them. We buy two and send them to both of the other women with little notes of friendship, love, support, and humor. The picture below was inspired by one of those greeting cards. It had 3 young girls on the cover, each with an orange slice in their mouth, and the inside said, "Orange You Glad We're Friends?"

You can imagine the look on the bartender's face at Ter's wedding (hurrah for 2nd husbands!) when we asked for 3 wedges of oranges and then posed for this picture! Even though Lula looks a little purple (the price of laughing while not being able to breathe with a large orange slice in your airway!), it's one of our greatest memories.

So - the answer to the question? Damn straight. I'm wicked glad we're friends. Even if you will tease me for days about using the word wicked in that statement.

100 Things

Following tradition - here's my 100 things on my 100th post.

(If you have time - click on image at right to view in real size)

1. I'm 40...
   


2. for another month



3. I've lived in NY state my whole life
   


4. early years - Rochester



5. college years - Geneseo;
   


6. post college years - Rochester, Wappingers Falls, Monsey, Nyack, Monroe, Suffern.
   


7. I used to play piano
   


8. I guess I still could if my life depended on it



9. but not well



10. I used to go to church



11. I used to sing in the choir



12. I don't like church anymore



13. actually I don't like religion anymore



14. I still have faith



15. I LOVE MY HUSBAND



16. was that really the 15th thing? It should have been #1!



17. He met me when I was 19 - he was 20



18. I totally did NOT want to get serious



19. He totally DID



20. We totally fell in love



21. Crazy and engaged at 21



22. Crazier and married at 22



23. Still crazy and still married at 40



24. I'm the baby of the family



25. I have 4 older brothers and sisters



26. They are actually half-brothers and sisters



27. Dad was married before



28. Two of them are awesome



29. One is a bit nutty



30. One is .... I have no words



31. My father passed away in 2003



32. I miss him every day



33. My mom is still very much alive



34. We have a deep and abiding love/angst relationship



35. I have no kids



36. by choice



37. I love my friends' kids



38. I love the kids in my family



39. I don't want them full time



40. Luckily Hubby feels the same



41. I seduced hubby in a drunken haze



42. Thank God
    


43. I rarely drink now



44. But when I do - it's some form of cosmo-martini thing



45. mostly cuz they are pretty



46. and they taste yummy



47. I'm a diet pepsi addict



48. I also love all things junk food



49. I was an English major in college



50. I love to read



51. I had to change majors because my average in my accounting classes was about 40%



52. My roommates liked to grade my tests because we would laugh hysterically
    


53. We could go for multiple pages before I got a single right answer



54. It was so sad, it was funny



55. I still keep in touch with most of my roommates



56. They are cool chicks



57. I am glue



58. by this I mean - I tend to keep various people connected



59. I bring them together for reunions, weekends, dinners, etc.



60. Otherwise they'd never see each other again



61. I think (hope?) they like that about me



62. I often feel like a scatter brain



63. I have very little memory capacity



64. My mom says its because of Aspartame poisoning



65. I'm currently enrolled in college again



66. This time for my masters



67. I love/hate it - but as of today (one class in) I have a 4.0!



68. One of my favorite books is Prince of Tides



69. Pat Conroy can write, my friends



70. My current favorite movie is Love Actually



71. Feel good, sweet, great accents, terrific score



72. I am a procrastinator...



73. That's why I work well under pressure



74. I try to make my co-workers put me under pressure early



75. I'd love to write a book someday



76. I'm not convinced I have the drive to start and/or finish



77. I'm still waiting for my 15 minutes of fame



78. I fear it will be in a "fashion don't" feature in the local news



79. My anxieties are many (hence the blog name)



80. But I cover them up pretty well



81. My friends get to hear them though



82. My husband knows them all intimately



83. He still loves me
    


84. Thank God



85. I can be pretty tough to take sometimes



86. Bitchy, whiney, difficult



87. I save all that up for the people who love me most



88. I love chocolate layer cake



89. But in a pinch a ding dong will do



90. I'm a night person



91. I feel like going to sleep early is like giving up...something



92. which is why I can never get up in the morning and get a late start every day



93. its a vicious circle



94. I like my job



95. mostly
    


96. I love the people I work with
    


97. mostly



98. Did I mention I love my husband?



99. and he loves me?



100. Thank God

Whew! Glad that only comes once every 100 posts.

The 'One Week Job' Project

I learned about this from a member of my blog roll (Flagged for Follow Up). This guy has an interesting approach to the job market. Wish I'd thought of it before I was married and had a mortgage! Watch the video, and visit his website/blog at www.oneweekjob.com.

In the Airline Industry, Time is Relative

Once again, I'm in airport hell. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to fly if it's dangerous. I just wish there was a way to get a definitive answer on WHAT TIME???? I love the - "A friendly announcement: We have a 2 hour delay, but DON'T LEAVE THE GATE because we could change it at any moment, load the plane and take off without you. "

Great.

I've been getting automated calls/emails from Continental that keeps conflicting with info I'm getting at gate...which one do you trust? I think it is a concerted effort to keep us all unbalanced so we don't rush the desk. All I really want to rush is the airport bar or cafe, but I CAN'T LEAVE THE GATE!

Basically, I keep re-learning this lesson:
When it comes to air travel and the air industry as a whole,
time is relative.

Good News: There are actually timepieces out there
for the people who live on relative time.

Watch #1: Time is Relative Watch

On line ad promotion: "This watch spits in the face of convention. It grabs hold of the norm and flushes it down the toilet of conformity. And it tells time, too. Unlike every other timepiece ever made, this watch has numbers that are in constant motion. The hands of the watch reflect the actual time of day, but the numbers march to their own drummer. (We haven't opened a watch yet, but we're pretty sure a miniature drummer is inside there.)

The Relativity Watch comes in an attractively normal gift box. It has a genuine leather band and an accurate Japanese quartz movement. (If you ever held a piece of Japanese quartz, you know how accurate it is.)

Surely, by this time, we've convinced you to purchase a Relativity Watch. You don't even realize it, but this is the 29th time you have read this page. You're caught in an endless time warp that loops you back to the moment you pressed the button that took you to this page.

The only way to break the cycle is to purchase a Relativity Watch. If you don't you're doomed to read this ridiculous page for the rest of eternity. Sure, you laugh. Just like you did the previous 28 times you read this."

Watch #2: The NOW Watch.

Signals Catalog item description: "Look no hands. A watch for those who live in the moment, this is a manifesto, not a timepiece. Wheels, pins, pivots, and jewels have been replaced with sand and a stone etched "NOW." The battery never needs replacing because there isn't one."

Watch #3: Einstein Time Is Relative Watch

I have no photo of this...it no longer seems to be available. But I purchased it once for a friend who was notorious about time management. He would leave for a quick errand to the corner store and come home 4 hours later. No calls, no apologies, no clue. We bought this watch because we laughed hysterically when we saw the face which said 1ish, 2ish, 3ish and thought immediately of this friend. He opened the gift on Christmas Eve...and was totally puzzled, "I don't get it." We laughed even harder.

So, gentle readers, if you know of any road warriors in your life, you might want to consider one of these watches as a timely holiday gift. It may help them decipher the airline schedule a little better.

But just so you know. The Relative Time Watch is out of stock. They anticipate getting it back in on the 25th...or maybe the 29th...or maybe after first of year...(I think we need a relative calendar too).

Flakes on a Plane

Tonight I flew to Dallas. There were Flakes on the Plane. The title was easy to come up with because one of them kept yelling, "I'm Samuel L. Jackson!! I talk Real Loud!! There are Snakes on This Plane!!" Ugh. Long. Freakin. Flight.

And the meal? Stellar as always. Nuked Cheese Pizza Circle. Ruffles Potato Chips. Snickers Bar. Diet Coke. They must have gotten this menu from the local school cafeteria.

Out the window. Nothing but clouds and blackness. Except this wierd section where there was this bizarre multi-colored glowing below us. UFOs? Probably not. Probably just a massive city burning up the ozone layer. It was diverting though...you know...from the Flakes.

My reward? The Westin. Ah. The Westin. My favorite hotel chain. Best beds in the world (and according to the in-room brochure, you too can have this quality sleep experience at home for only $3645!) quick and easy internet access, beautiful artwork, SWEET bathrooms, flat screen tvs, Starbucks coffee in room, king size bed, NON-smoking hotel, M.I.N.I.B.A.R.!!!!! AND? mini-Haagan Dazs ice creams - cuz I obviously didn't get my daily recommended quantity of fat with the in-flight meal service.

I may actually enter the meeting tomorrow morning with a smile. Thank you Westin.

8 Things....I say often

Thanks to Prairie Gourmet for the assignment to get me through the uninspired patch!

Eight Things...I'm known to say often:

1. "Does that make sense?"
   I feel that I explain...a lot...and sometimes the blank looks or lack of response I get from people causes me to require an affirmative response. It's not just that I am checking on them, it's that I need confirmation that I am making sense.
   
2. "I'll be right up."
   My husband tends to go to bed at a reasonable time. I am loathe to give up (for whatever reason I see it as a battle - a battle for time, a battle for FREE time) and go to bed. Hubby must, by habit, doubt my word as he too often finds me asleep on the couch later that same night.
   
3. "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown"
   Hubby is Charlie Brown...I've mentioned that before. He does kind things, good things, for people - especially me and our family - so many a day I quote this phrase to him, to let him know that I notice.
   
4. "FU$*!"
   I say this A LOT. I picked up the bad habit in early years and now it is a common part of my every day language. No other word tends to bring the same emphasis - good, bad, ugly, sad, happy, humorous...the word has so many iterations.
   
5. "Have You Seen X, Y, Z?"
   I constantly lose things. Little things, big things. Keys. Papers. Shoes. Gloves. Whatever was last in my hands as I walked from room to room. Lost. All. Lost. Found only when no longer needed. (This is also I time when I refer back to quote Number 4).
   
6. "This morning on NPR..."
   I am continuously informed and entertained by NPR. It is a regular part of my morning diet. I awake to it at 6AM, and listen to it until I get to work at 9AM. After 3 hours I have lots of information to share.
   
7. "I Give Up"
   I never actually do, but I say this often. Usually in response to utter frustration in dealing with SFPs. (Stupid F-ing People). When people clearly don't get it (see quote in Number 1) after repeated explanations and what I think is clear logical thinking...I get very frustrated. I sometimes resort to Item 4, then Item 7, then Item 4 again...before I count to 10 and start over.
   
8. "Do You Love Me?"
   Hubby is not a typical stoic male. He is very free with telling me how he loves me. So my asking this is not a starvation for affection and affirmation, rather it is a phrase that often precedes..."will you get me a drink?", "will you go down and bring up the laundry", "will you go to the store and pick up...", etc. Shameless I know. Hubby has actually given up responding with a "Yes" to this question. Instead he responds with, "What do you need?". I guess my ploy is a little played.

Whew. I feel like I just passed a kidney stone. Hopefully I can continue to work my way through this writer's block with the help of these little assignments.

Stay tuned!

Feeling Uninspired

My husband is an artist (by desire) and an IT manager (by necessity). He's excellent at both. Sometimes he talks about how he is uninspired and that painting when he feels that way is sometimes necessary, but often a disaster.

I've been feeling that way about blogging this week. Not feeling depressed, sick, angry, or in any other way down and out. Just not inspired.

In an attempt to get inspired, I started searching for a topic. I read other blogs, I listened to the radio, I searched my soul. Yeah. You guessed it. EMPTY. (mostly the soul - not my favorite blogs!) At least empty of topics that I felt I could own for myself. Also, I noticed a few of my favorites had deserted their sites, so I updated my blog roll. Do you think they were feeling uninspired as well?

So, be patient with me, I'll keep searching.

In the meantime, maybe you have a question for me that can at least get my fingers clicking on the keyboard again in some forward momentum. Ask away.

Team? Teaching

I began my 2nd semester (2nd class) this weekend, pursuing my master's degree. When I arrived I learned that we had been assigned "Team Teachers". This meant two teachers in the room conducting the class, giving assignments and basically splitting the work. Hmmmm.

No problem right?





WRONG.



Teacher #1: On schedule, on point, structured, focused.
Teacher #2: Um...not so much. She interrupted a lot and wanted to go on tangents.

Teacher #1: Has taught grad program courses and multiple universities.
Teacher #2: Has never taught.

Teacher #1: Provided instruction with case study examples and expected student participation. Guided and corrected as discussions unfolded.
Teacher #2: Had incredibly long pauses where she couldn't figure out what she had planned to say, then took one student's personal example/homework and spent 45 minutes quizzing him about details on class time.

Teacher #2: Is totally clueless - I just know it.
Teacher #1: Is struggling not to roll her eyes at Teacher #2 - I know that too.

And A Beer!

(okay, let me try this one more time)

In the heyday of SNL, there were wonderful characters like those crazy canadians Bob and Doug Mackenzie. I was thinking of them as I drove to work this week, being driven nearly insane by the constant barage of Christmas music. (Damn people, it's not even December yet.)

Anyway, if you must have Christmas music this early, at least make it funny. (Eileenie - this one's for you!)

Punishment for Freddie

So, I'm being punished. It must have been the Freddie post.

Blogger is not allowing me to post my totally funny and inspired message connected with a youtube vid. I've tried 10 times - no luck.

And I've got some kind of "error on page" message. (Kiki - help! it's code!!!)

Plus it looks like half of my header is cut off.

In Addition (or rather not in addition) - my counter has dropped from 140+ to 16 - WTF????

Whatever.

I'll try again tomorrow.

The Mysterious Appeal of Freddie Prinze Jr.

Sometimes my hubby groans when I pick up the remote. Somehow I am inexplicably drawn to the most ridiculous teen romance comedy flicks.

This seems to be Freddie Prinze Jr. month.

This boy (actually now he's 31, so technically a man) has mysterious appeal. Most of his movies...well...they suck. He...well....he has no real dramatic range. But he's got this quirky smile and a strange and hypnotic charm.

I've been reading some blog posts recently that centered on secret crushes. I don't think I have one on Freddy. I mean he's simply too pretty and not enough depth. I need depth.

But there's something about him - maybe it's the eye candy thing...maybe its remembering his Dad and how sad his suicide was...

...maybe it's just me reliving my fantasy of being a blonde vampire slayer with a cheerleader body.

Whatever it is, I'm caught in it.

I've watched two of his movies in the last week, and I can't seem to look away. These car wreck movies that have no plot, no redeeming value, not even great co-stars can save them.

But this guy...he eats up the screen and captures my imagination. Wierd.

Marian...Librarian

For the past week I've been battling with the college on-line library research system trying desperately to access the reams of required reading for my first class this semester. I was challenged at every turn, and (having already been doubtful of my ability to continue on this quest for higher learning) I was beginning to get VERY discouraged. In fact, I was beginning to really feel my age.

School has changed SO MUCH. No one has heard of a card catalog system. No one has heard of microfilm/microfiche. There are umpteen databases of reference systems and each one has its own login and password that you have to remember. I'm feeling ancient. I need to either go back in time to a simpler world (which was actually harder, but I knew how to do it!) or jump forward to the Star Trek era so I can simply say, "Computer: show me all of the case studies printed in the 2007 Harvard Business Review pertaining to the Mattel Toy-China fiasco." And have them all appear on a wall screen for easy viewing.

Why oh why aren't we there yet?

Small Aside: When I was a kid I totally expected to be in a hovercraft by the time I was 40. I mean at 40 I would be ancient right? By that time, they should have figured out hovercrafts and laser guns and peace in the Middle East, right? What's up with the slow pokeness of life?

Anyway, I finally gave up trying to figure out the research on my own and used the 24/7 librarian chat feature. Ok, this is one technology that is pretty cool. Someone answered me immediately. She asked what I needed. I told her - AND I told her I didn't just want her to find it and send it to me, I wanted her to TEACH me how to get it myself. Cuz I? am just an independent woman like that.

I fell in love with this woman. Not because she helped me, but because she couldn't find them either!!!! She kept apologizing and with every failure on her part to get the files I was THRILLED! I'm sure she thought I was crazy. And I can live with that. What I can't live with is stupidity. And it turns out:

I AM NOT AN IDIOT!!!!

What a freakin' relief.

Today, AFTER I had figured out at midnight last night that I was just going to purchase the damn articles from the Harvard site I found 2 weeks ago I got the following email:

This email is for students who are registering for the above course. The ONLY way you will be able to obtain the case studies that are listed on the syllabus is to go to the Harvard Business School Publishing Website. Case studies NEED to be purchased. You can pay HBS directly and download the readings. They are not available through our library system.

Signed

Dean of Business School
a.k.a. MUCH TOO LATE TO HELP BUT THANKS ANYWAY!

Um. Yeah.

Is anyone else thinking, "These are the people who are supposed to be teaching me Strategic Communications??"

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

I'm married to Charlie Brown.



But it's only fair.

He's married to Lucy Van Pelt.


I'm sitting in my living room listening to him upstairs S N O R I N G like a fiend. He has a horrible cold. He? is sleeping in the guest room.


BECAUSE??? He is Charlie Brown. And I am Lucy Van Pelt.


I rule his world. I want no germs. I kicked him to the curb. I pulled the football.

And yet...


All he has to do is look at me with those Charlie Brown eyes. I give the football back. I kiss him good night.


I? will probably get a damn cold.


Good grief.

Thanksgiving: Ah...Home for the Holidays!

Dear Blogger Friends:

Face it - every family is dysfuntional in its own way. Love them, hate them, enjoy them, don't speak to them. It's a gene pool folks, it's meant to be messy.

So once you've filled yourselves with turkey, stuffing, and all the regular holiday fixings. And once you've had your fill of the football and family. Do yourselves a favor. Watch this movie.

Holly Hunter's face says it all.

It will make you feel that you are not alone if you experience the "mixed blessings" of holiday family gatherings.

Love,

Wenderina

Pre Thanksgiving Traffic

My friends and colleagues in commuting noted that Thanksgiving traffic no longer seems to be a Wednesday phenomenon. Now it begins at least on Tuesday. I received at least 3 calls from co-workers who left work before I did warning me of the parking lot that used by called Route 287.

I delayed departure hoping for an early die-off, but no luck. So, my blackberry came to my rescue. I did my favorite thing when I'm confronting found time and have no access to my usual vices (food, internet, books) - I called my big sister Jude. This works out well for those evening traffic situations since she is on the west coast, 3 hours earlier, AND she loves talking to me... SWEET!

We talked about the usual things - family, holidays, schedules, her frustration in searching for the right job, living far away from people she loves, and her recent success in securing a $6,000 grant from NASA for her class (she teaches school in CA) to compete in a robot building contest. Have I told you lately how amazing my sister is? Have I mentioned how she cares for everyone else first and herself last? Have I mentioned I got her to START A BLOG???

So everyone, quick, go on over and visit http://heyjudejude.blogspot.com and meet my awesome sister. And while you're at it, go on over and meet Jude's daughter http://searchingforanevenbalance.blogspot.com They are two of the best things that ever came from our gene pool and I love them both to death.

Pain and Reflection

Now by this title you probably think my post today will be deep. If you are looking for deep, sign off now. Today's post is about the the morning visit to the dentist.


Now, as medical issues go. This one is minor. Very minor. But it was painful, annoying, and expensive, and generally pissed me off.


I arrived at the "Dental Arts" office where they have key lighting, an aquarium, wireless internet, a fountain, piped in symphonies, and cable tv. They have warm cloths for your face, headphones, and other spa-like options. They offer you tea or coffee (doesn't that stain your teeth?) and generally pamper you in the receiving lobby.


BUT IT'S ALL A BIG RUSE! They are just trying to get you all relaxed so you can pour yourself into that extra padded reclining chair and pretend its a lazy-boy and you're settling in for a nice nap before the Chief Torture Master arrives with all her nasty tools.




This really isn't fair. She's a nice lady and I know she is just doing her job, but MOTHER OF GOD is it really necessary for you to lean in and use five different tools in my mouth to get a little tartar out???


Seriously.


At one point, I was pulling back from her and thinking, "live and let live on the tartar babe...really...no need to get out the nukes..." Everytime I winced and whimpered she flatly replied, "sorry"...and kept right on at it.


When she finally gave me a break to rinse I was exhausted. Then she says (sweetly), "You may have a little tenderness in that one area today."


UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE YEAR.


So, is this post the most boring, most whining, most overstated misery post you ever read? I mean many of you have probably had root canals, major surgery (dental or otherwise), suffered disease, painful treatments, etc. and here I am complaining about a few metal tools digging out a little tartar in my mouth.


But such is my world. Made up of small dramas and equally small moments of joys. Little blips on the radar of life.

The Difference A Day Makes

This morning I awoke to the first real sign of winter. Just yesterday I had photographed my geraniums - unable to believe they were still green and lush. Today, they were covered in a wet snowfall that will surely speed up the seasonal change in my garden and yard. What a difference a day makes when mother nature begins her work.

Visiting Family

This weekend we took a drive down to the D.C. area to visit family. My niece, her husband, and my one and only great-nephew.

Despite the headaches that came with mucho-traffic and an unintended detour on the return trip, it was worth it. We loved seeing their home and hanging out with them. Normally when we see them there are tons of relatives and we get little time to just hang out. This was a treat and we'll definitely do it again sometime soon.

A Few of My Favorite Things...

Thanks to Mrs. G. for starting "Favorite Things Friday".

I was going to build a long list...and then I decided to try a Top 10 pictorial. What I learned as I built this list was how easy it was to blur between my favorite things, and the blessings I have in my life. Narrowing it to 10 was so hard and I know someday, somewhere, there must be a part two. I also feel an "unfavorite thing" list deep in my dark soul. So read on....and stay tuned.

Number 1: Love of My Life - My Hubby - aka The Talented One.
This picture was taken at his gallery showing. He is a photographer and watercolorist. We are fed by his day job as an IT Manager. His heart and soul is fed by art.




Number 2: Family - in all their shapes, sizes, and various levels of (in)sanity.
This is just a quick sampling of our family. I'm sure there are many missing people. I'm sure I captured all who read this though, so that should help lessen the nasty phone calls.





Number 3: Boxes, Containers, Precious Things - general tchotchkes.
My hubby jokes with me that I've never seen a box or container I didn't need. I have filled our 1930's home with many containers and my excuse is 1930s homes HAVE NO STORAGE. But it IS just an excuse. Some of the other items are inherited antiques or things I've bought on antique hunts with my Mom. They all hold a memory. So they're like containers too. The lamp in the center is one of my all time favorite things. It lights a corner of our living room and shines out all my favorite colors - gold, green, red, lavender. It's truly a work of art. It contains JOY for me.




Number 4: My Crackberry. It's a Love-Hate Relationship.
O.K. The Crackberry. I resisted getting this for a LONG time. Then my "BIG" boss - who rarely gives direct feedback during reviews, added only one thing to my list of goals for the year. "Get Blackberry." Check. One step closer to that raise and promotion. Plus...yeah...I actually like having a handheld device that gives me my phone, my schedule, my email, my to-do list, my address book, my phone list, an alarm clock, a watch, AND I can read blogs on it too!


Number 5: Top Blog-Dog
Speaking of blogs...My FAVORITE Blogs have all been listed earlier in the week...but I have to give a special shout out to That Chick Over There and her blog. Because IT? is a must read EVERY DAY.





Number 6. What I Want, When I Want It.
I'm all about that statement. DVR is my friend because it gives me What I Want, When I Want It.




Number 7. Cue the Theme Music
Digital cable not only brought our home the DVR, but also 50 channels of music, organized by theme. I'm all into the "Adult Alternative"...although it sucks that the "Alternative" station is a little too radical for my 40-year old ass.

Number 8: The Written Word
Lest you think I'm all about the technology. One of my favorite things is still curling up with a book. An old-fashioned, words on paper, book. My house is filled with them in nooks and crannies. I give about 3 boxes a year to the library. But I hoard my favorites. Or give them to people I love. To me there is no greater gift than to receive a book that has touched someone, or to give one for the same reason.

Number 9: My friends.
(No time to build a full pictorial here...but these are some of the dearest...)
“Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.”
—Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.), Roman statesman, orator, philosopher

Number 10: The Cape.
Cape Cod is our annual vacation. We could go somewhere different every year, but the truth is, our hearts are soothed by the cold water, the warm sand, and the unique nature of a New England shore.

Hope you enjoyed this post - it was fun putting it together. Tell me YOUR favorite things!

Best Thanksgiving Recipes EVER

I promise.

I know I can't cook.

But these are the recipes I contribute to Thanksgiving EVERY year and no one dies...in fact, they are usually a hit. The apple bread goes very quickly. The spiced cranberry relish is to die for. And if you're looking for an alternative to the Yam and marshmallow dish - the Sweet Potato Casserole is yummy.

Spiced Cranberry Relish
Ingredients:
1 package (12 oz) fresh or frozen cranberries
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar (or 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar)
1 2-inch piece stick cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)

In medium-sized saucepan, combine berries, raisins, sugar, orange juice, vinegar, stick cinnamon, ginger and allspice. Bring quickly to a boil; lower heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally; until berries pop and mixture thickens, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat; cool. Chill. Just before serving, remove stick cinnamon and stir in walnuts. Makes 2-1/2 cups.

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Senator Russell Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients (Casserole)
3-1/2 cups sweet potatoes (usually 6-7)
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter (softened)

Ingredients (Topping)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup butter (softened)
1 cup chopped pecans

Bake sweet potatoes in skin at 450 degrees for one hour. (Or do them in the microwave following your manufacturer's instructions.) When done, scoop potatoes from shell and mash. Combine with sugar, eggs, vanilla, milk, and butter. Mix until smooth. Place in casserole dish.

In separate bowl combine topping ingredients. Place on top of casserole. Cover and bake at 275 for 40 minutes. Uncover, and continue baking for 10 more minutes.

Recipe serves 10-12 people. (not at my house...but we're sweet potato fiends)

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Apple Bread
Note: can make in loaf pan, but I also have put into a bundt pan and served as cake.
Ingredients
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon (I often add extra)
3 cups flour
3 cups diced apples (with or without skin - granny smith are best)

Mix together eggs and oil. Add sugar and spices. Slowly stir in flour. Then add diced apples.
Bake at 300 degrees in greased loaf pan or bundt pan for 90 minutes or until fork comes out clean. Remove immediately from pan and sprinkle top with sugar. Wrap in foil.

Excellent sliced as sweet bread option on table, or served as warmed slices with vanilla ice cream.

Serves 10-12.

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Give it up. Your mouth is watering right? Mine too.

Fashion Faux Pas

Today I wore all brown...and I looked like shit.


Dressing all in one solid color is not unusual for me. But the classy monochromatic look I was going for was seriously hampered by my bad execution.

• Faux Pas #1: I couldn't find any stockings or brown tights. So I wore brown socks. Hubby's brown socks to be precise. Um. Yeah.

• Faux Pas #2: Brown socks don't really go well with heels. So I wore these scuffed up brown flats that look like men's loafers. Can you say Fashion Don't?

• Faux Pas #3: My brown pants don't fit. I mean seriously DO NOT fit. I didn't realize this until I was already late for work and had no other options without starting over. So I wore them. With the top button undone, and the zipper open for the top inch. I comforted myself by eating a package of ding dongs this afternoon. But it's ok - I drank Diet Pepsi to counter the Ding Dong calories.

• Faux Pas #4: My brown turtleneck sweater worked. Except for all the fuzz and pills that typically accompany any sweater I've had for more than 5 minutes. Sigh.

• Faux Pas #5: My brown blazer is just plain old ugly. It seemed like a good buy when I got it. And like most "good buys" its cheapness of style and cut really comes out when you have to actually wear it.

So the best I can say about my outfit today is - it kept me warm on a blustery fall day and luckily the pants didn't explode or fall to my ankles.

I'll live to accessorize another day.

Have You Thanked a Veteran Today?

While I don't have the day off, I recognize Veteran's Day as an important holiday. Also known as a day of remembrance...this is a day for reflecting on the service that so many men and women give to our country.

My Dad was a veteran of WWII and although he was stateside his entire duty, when he VOLUNTEERED he never made that assumption. He could have just as easily been sent to the front lines.

On a recent visit, my sister Jude passed along the flag that adorned his coffin. It is in a display case in my dining room. Today I paused in front of it and said a quiet thank you. To my Dad, to my nephew (currently in the service, having served in Bosnia and Iraq), to all those countless men and women who have stood on the line, so that liberals like me can live in a country that allows us to protest against it.

Thank You All.

Weekend, I hardly knew ye.

Damn. Weekends go by way too fast. I'm increasingly frustrated by the rapid flow of time. How is it possible that it nearing midnight Sunday - and the weekend is gone?

And what did I accomplish this weekend?

Blogger Heaven. I spent about 4-5 hours on the internet this weekend - reading blogs, surfing NaBloPoMo, generally getting lost in the web.

A Gathering of Friends. We were greeted at the door by Mr. B. He captured the last several months since we have seen or talked to them this way: "Let's get through this quickly, my surgery went fine, work is crazy, and my birthday last month was great." Ugh. Glad we showed up with his favorite - a bottle of SoCo - to make up for our "un"friendly behavior.

Making the Move. Today, I met these same friends at a house they are considering buying (Hubby was a little the worse for wear due to the SoCo). Other than the fact that the current owners seem to think that their 4 bedroom colonial is actually a villa in tuscany - complete with pillars, corbels, golden sponge paint, and brass/glass pocket doors, it should be the perfect home for them. I can't wait to see Mrs. B's stamp on it.

Starbucks - Oh the Joy! I stopped at Starbucks on the way back home and got the VENTI mocha frappacino (not the light one!) While waiting, I saw that they have the box gift set of the Listening is An Act of Love book/audio book/bonus book. Score! A direct source for great holiday gift. Plus, they were playing my charlie brown holiday music - gotta love the messages I'm being given about getting into the holiday spirit.

VPNs - the Beauty and the Bane. The wonder of home hookup to work networks. I was firmly ensconced on one laptop, hubby on another, and his nextel went off about 50 times. Much of today was lost to company business.

Holiday, What Holiday? Maybe this is the real story of weekends. They aren't really weekends anymore. They are week-recovery and work-catchup days. Tomorrow is veteran's day. A national holiday. Hubby and I will both be working, our companies don't recognize the holiday.

So Long (Short) Weekend. The clock keeps ticking, getting closer to facing that alarm bell in the morning. So I best get to sleep. Unless of course, hubby (much smarter and already in bed) is snoring.

"I didn't know him, but I loved him"

I am a huge fan of NPR. I wish I could follow it more closely, but I have a hard time with reception in my home. But now with podcasts and webcasts (yeah, I know they've been around a while, but I'm just catching up) I'm finding a way to add more of it in my life.


One of my favorite features is the Story Corps Project excerpts they play every Friday morning while I'm getting ready for work. They almost always make me cry, and they ALWAYS make me think.


This past week, NPR reported that there is a book (and audio book) coming out called, Listening Is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life.


One of the featured stories is one of many that touched me when I first heard it.
Take a listen, go ahead, I'll wait.


I hope that in 20 years, we've gotten farther along than this. I hope that we have more sympathy, more empathy, and more human kindness towards people of any background or sexual orientation who are suffering with AIDS.


I have purchased multiple copies of this audio book. I'll be giving some away for Christmas. Anything that makes us all stop, listen, and hopefully love a little more is certainly worth $10.97 to me.

Spotlight on My Favorites

I've been growing my favorites list through NaBloPoMo. If you are on the list, please do not fear my stalker-ish behavior. I'm NOT a stalker.

Ok.

I guess a stalker would probably say that too.

But really. I'm not.

I'm an avid reader and I've turned my book habit into a blog habit which means I must read a blog end to end like a book. I mean I wouldn't read the last chapter of a book first, would I? Hell no.

So, what happens is - you'll suddenly see lots of comments appearing in your blog in batches...starting earliest post to latest...and you may open your mailbox and be like, "Whoa, who's this crazy stalker chick Wenderina???" Well, if I'm still commenting I'm your newest fan and I'm trying to catch up on your chapters.

Hope those of you who have stumbled on me from NaBloPoMo or elsewhere will enjoy this brief "blog review" on my latest favorites.

My Favorite Blogs
60 Piggies: I was first captured by her incredible photography. Then her poetry. And finally by the beautiful simplicity of her stories. She has an elegance combined with an earthiness that is hard to find.

Catch Her in the Wry: Ah, Prairie Gourmet helps ground me in the world of workaholics. She gets the career drive but also teaches me about balance. She has interesting world views and gives great insights into topics of today.

CrazyManJones: My little sister stolen from my home at birth. There is definitely some serious cosmic connection here. Wish I had been in her life when she lost Jadon Riley, but so honored that she shared him with me in her own time.

Deadpan: New blog - found through NaBloPoMo. Wanda captured me as soon as I hit her site. Her subtitle is One woman’s struggle to find life’s meaning and Orlando Bloom’s phone number. If that didn't make you laugh you're not human. And...she calls me SOUL SISTER. Love it!

Derfwadmanor: Another NaBloPoMo. I joined Mrs. G's KickAss Forty and Beyond Blogging Group. Mrs. G shares my love of NPR - which hasn't come out in my blog yet...strangely enough..., has a secret crush on a pirate, and gives good advice on women's health issues.

Flagged for Follow Up: Also new...found on a surfing expedition. This has a much different flavor than most of my blogs, but had some topical info and great video posts, and gave me a view of a bigger world out there that I'd like to see more of.

Glam Granola: Her husband goes by Pedro. She can poke fun at herself. She likes glitter for girls night out. She shared a killer recipe for molasses cookies that I am totally making for the holidays.

Greeblemonkey: New too! Another find on NaBloPoMo. CREATIVE woman. Painting, photography, writing...got it all. AND she shares cool German recipes that are easy enough for a non-chef like me to consider making. Last but not least - she's a U2 fan...oh yeah...you know I'm listening to them right now.

Haley's Random Thoughts: My OTHER lost baby sister. Living a part of her life (graduating from college, embarking on career, looking for love) that I remember so well. Her spirit and humor captures my imagination...and my nostalgic soul.

Jason..for the Love of: That Chick needs no promotion from me. But nonetheless - READ HER BLOG. She is astounding. And she regularly gets like 30+ comments a post. She is "Big" on the Net.

Pacing the Cage: Sheila is an author and is blogging by the alphabet...in order, mind you...and she's up to "V". I wonder if she'll start over again at A when she finishes?

Stephanie's Place: A mom, step-mom, wife with real parenting challenges. I connect with Stephanie because of growing up myself in the 2nd household of a man who had divorced his first wife and had parenting challenges with his 4 kids from that union. Unfortunately those kids - my (half) siblings - suffered a lot because of the acrimonious relationship. I'm thinking Stephanie's story is turning out better.

Temporary?Insanity: Sweet, mother, writer, bibliofile. I bought a book she recommended and can't wait to start it so we can share reviews.

Urban Pedestrian: A little edgier than my usual fare. A good balance to all the sweet family tales and connections I've made. She captured my interest with some blogging Q&A and I totally love her viewpoint on tv, fidelity, and all things Canada.

View From the Passenger Seat: Personal friend and colleague. She instigated my blogging - damn her - like I needed something else to keep me up all night. And I love her. She's a gift in my life.

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These are my current bbf's...

Pinballs in My Brain

So I've got all kinds of thoughts rolling around in my head today...none of them related. Get ready for some very random thoughts.

Blog Editing. Why do some people show editing in their final blog??? I've noticed some people show word cross outs and changes in their final version. Is it supposed to be some cute effect to show the original thought as well as the better-thought out final wording? I don't really get that. What's the purpose of editing, if people see both the before and after?

Adding Music to Site. NaBloPoMo has a really easy tool to add a playlist of my music from i-tunes. I've seen at least a few blogs out there with a little player embedded on their site. How do you build that?

Sharing Your Blog. I know that a lot of people out there use aliases (as do I) and don't share their site with anyone they know in real life. I have a personal connection with one person who has a blog and shared it with me, but only me...otherwise it is locked down tight. Me? I'm a hybrid. I carefully select people to share with and I try to keep it locked up tight by controlling how people I know cross-link me. For example, before I listed Amybow's site on my site, I told her who we knew in common I'd be sharing with. Didn't want to expose her if she wanted to keep it private.

Writing for Me or You? Many blogs get so personal. That Chick is a personal hero of mine (as I've said repeatedly) for her honesty, integrity, and strength. I've gotten a little personal here or there, but haven't really done a lot of inner turmoil stuff...yet. I so admire how some people put it out there. And I'm impressed that most comments I read are pure support and care in response. I know there are some crazy people out there...but I've been lucky not to be exposed to them yet. I like to be fun and entertaining too. But sometimes it's all about what's big in my world that day and it's not always fun and not always interesting...but it's my life.

Contoversy & Offense. I've noticed that many of the blogs I read have some element of faith in them. I created two posts {Fossils, Holy Holy Holy} not long ago that kind of trashed organized religion. I can get pretty heavy handed on this topic and want to be sure those of you out there who have a true and abiding faith, and a warm and welcoming church, know I envy you.

I experienced that as a child. I was once in the church choir (jr and senior) and I loved being up at the front of the church - knowing all the hymns really well because we practiced in advance, harmonizing with a group of people on gorgeous music, listening to a wonderful sermon, enjoying the minister's "children's moments" when he gathered all the kids to the steps beneath the alter to teach them a lesson before they adjourned to the nursery for sunday school. (Kids do say the darndest things).

It all turned sour when our beloved minister retired and a new man came to town. He promptly dismissed our similarly beloved choir master because she wrote romance novels. Not pornography, romance novels. That was only the first of many changes where I started to notice how religion and power and hypocrisy could turn beautiful things ugly.

As I got older, my distrust of religion was fueled by seeing how many cultures and countries use religion as a reason to kill and overthrow governments and generally wreak havoc.

So, if you are one of my blogging friends and you have peace in religion, I DO envy you. Honestly. And I hope you won't stop reading because I occasionally vent on this topic. I do have faith in God. It's faith in the men who say they speak for God that is missing.

Holiday Season. You'll see me talk about this a few times as the month of November and December progress. I kind of dread holiday season. As I've aged, these holidays have lost a lot of luster. I am now totally plugged into the undercurrents of stress that accompany these days.

Yesterday, in the local Hallmark store, they were playing christmas music. Some of my favorites - from the Charlie Brown christmas album. And I started to get in the mood. I started to feel the urge for brighly colored packages and warm spiced cider, lights and greens decorating the neighborhood, and animated christmas specials on tv.

Christmas is with my in-laws this year. I have a wonderful relationship with my in-laws, but it's kind of a lonely day with just the 4 of us. No kids, no extended family. I miss my childhood days where my mom and my aunt used to take turns hosting the christmas day event and it would be a whole gang of us together with lots of chaos, food, and fun. My solace is Christmas Eve. Usually hubby and I do something just for ourselves on the Eve. Something with friends, or just us. Exchange gifts. Have a special meal. Light a fire. Enjoy some music, etc. That? is something I really love and look forward to.

When it is my mom's turn for us to share christmas, the Eve remains my favorite. We go to a church where my friend sings and then to my best friend C's house for a post church evening with her and her family. We grew up like sisters - best friends living across the street from one another - and I totally love her. I probably get to see her maybe once or twice a year...and I treasure the time.

I'm going to try and finish my holiday chores early. Decorate my house (I only do that about once every 5 years) and get INTO it this year. I'll keep the blog up to date with my progress on turning the holidays around this year.

To Learn or Not To Learn. I'm totally torn about signing up for my next semester. I have been TOTALLY exhausted and feeling overwhelmed with work lately. Adding another class in the midst of holiday season seems overwhelming. This weekend is the test. I have to really look at the syllabus, my schedule, and evaluate my commitment. If I bail on only my second semester, will I ever go back??

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I warned you that I had lots of pinballs bouncing around my brain tonight. Should be interesting to see if anyone comments here, or if I've put you all to sleep.

Bravery in a Bottle

I was a serious young person. Good student. Quiet. Small group of friends - although I got along with people from any group or clique. But I feared striving for popularity and never wanted to put myself out there at risk of rejection. I did once. I had a HUMONGOUS crush on the star basketball player in junior year of high school. We had been friends for a while before he became the STAR athlete, and I plucked up all my courage and asked him to take me to the junior prom. His response?

"Uh....thanks....but...um...I'm not actually going to the prom."

I was crushed when he refused, but it got worse. I found out that the very next day he asked one of my friends. She was not a close friend, by we were friend-ly. She was actually cool enough to come to me and say, "I think its awful that he told you he wasn't going and then asked someone else. If you don't want me to go, I won't. "

Can you feel my pain and embarrassment?

Of course I wasn't going to say - "Don't go. Make him feel the way I felt." But I wanted to. It was bad enough that she knew I had asked and been rejected. Ugh...one of my few vivid memories of high school. And one of the few times I really stuck my neck out and man it did NOT pay off for me.

Then...I found alcohol. I was a late bloomer to the party scene. But my very first night of college my new roommate poured me my first drink. About 1 splash of Sprite to a glass of vodka.

Did you ever read the book/see the after school special, "The Late Great Me"? All about teenage alcoholism. Well, that was me, kind of. I wouldn't classify myself as an alcoholic. But I definitely used alcohol as a social lubricant for the first couple years of college.

Suddenly it was viable to take risks, be center of attention, act like a complete fool, and not worry about it. In fact, it was the source of great legends in our dormitory: the antics of our gang.

Once, we had an epic water fight that involved spray bottles, cups, and eventually buckets of water. We dumped so much water on one another that it dripped through to the floor below. When we were "called to the office" for our reprimand we couldn't stop giggling. I still smile when I remember this - we were so silly. And so drunk.

Once, I danced and made out with a total stranger on the dance floor on "hell night" (when the frats finish their hazing) and all I know about him to this day was he was wearing a football jersey with "THUMPER" written on the back.

Once, we got so drunk at a pre-dance party that my roommate ate shrimp (including the tail) and threw up under the table at the restaurant. (I at least waited to hurl until I got back to the dorm). Oh. My. God.

People who know me today totally think I'm lying about my crazy drinking days. But I have the grades to prove it folks. I was out of control. Now I had many a roommate crazier than me, which is why even though I was miles nuttier than I had been growing up, my nickname was still "Mom" to my college buds.

Probably because I would always say things like:

"But we just got back from Spring Break, what do you mean you're taking off for Myrtle Beach?I know you had to work during break, but we have CLASSES now."

"You ran up a $400 phone bill? Did you not realize how much it costs to be on the phone long distance every night for 2-3 hours?"

"Do you really want to drink that 21st shot?"

"Are you EVER going to wash your sheets?"

"Are those rug burns on your ass??"

"Mary - there are 12 pairs of shoes under your covers in bed. Do you have to go to bed with your shoes on?"

"Mary - that is not a toilet it's a magazine rack."

And remember...I was usually drunk and crazy too while all this was going on.

In my sophomore year, it was during a marathon game of quarters where we were consuming pitchers of seagrams and cherry kool-aid (ugh...I know...) that I met my hubby. The alcohol gave me enough courage to talk to him and do a little "snogging". But I credit him with all the courage to come find me the next day - sober and hungover as hell - and ask me out.

So, today, I'll down the occasional cocktail, but given that there is usually driving to be done, or work the next day, or some such grown-up responsibility, (not to mention I have a much lower tolerance for the 2-3 day hangover!) I don't get much bottle time any more. So I have to seek my bravery elsewhere.

Maybe hubby can give me a hint as to what he had that got him to come to my room on that February afternoon in 1986 and ask me out without the benefit of beer goggles.

Thank goodness he did.

Public Displays of Affection (P-D-A)

A couple weeks ago, Haley put up a funny post on PDA. I was totally amused and create a rather inspired (if I do say so myself) comment. I told her one day when I needed a topic, I'd come back to steal it, so here we go.

In my opinion (and whose else really matters?) PDA is all about the fine line between sweet and sickening.

Acceptable PDA.
My husband's hand at the small of my back when we walk in a room.

Unacceptable PDA.
Hand on ass. Not cool.

Acceptable PDA.
A lingering glance - eye contact.

Unacceptable PDA.
A leer at my boobs.

Acceptable PDA.
Helping me with my coat and brushing my hair to the side of my face.

Unacceptable PDA.
Catching boobage on the coat change and then exclaiming "Woo Hoo!".

Acceptable PDA.
A sweet quick kiss.

Unacceptable PDA.
Tonsil hockey.

Men (and women) - do yourselves (and the rest of us) a favor and keep it subtle.