Christmas and More about Me

Received a few of these chain things today and wanted to answer them so I don't have a string of bad luck or whatever the email gods will do if I don't. The first is great for me since I love Christmas and I did the second one just because.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial – who wants the mess?

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually Thanksgiving weekend

4. When do you take the tree down? January… last year I waited until the end of January to extend the season (not because I was lazy…)

5. Do you like eggnog? Nope

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Ask my parents, I hated everything

7. Hardest person to buy for? My parents

8. Do you have a nativity scene? Nope

9. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail normally

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? See answer for #6

11. Favorite Christmas Movie? White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life

12. When do you start shopping for Christmas? December 26

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Sure – who hasn’t?

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? My grama’s wafer cookies

15. White or Colored Lights on the tree? White only

16. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Over the river and through the woods – rat race like any other day

18. Can you name all 9 of Santa's reindeer? Yes - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph.

19. Angel on the tree top or a star? An Americana Santa that does not light up

20. Open the presents Christmas day? If I can wait that long :)

21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Budgets

22. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love all kinds of ornaments, but I typically only purchase ones that tell some sort of story or serve as a reminder for something memorable.

23. Favorite dessert for Christmas? Grama’s wafer cookies

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? For my daughter to have a stellar holiday

This is a "have you ever" kind of survey...
( ) Gone on a blind date
(X) Skipped school
(X) Watched someone die...
(X) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico
(X) Been to Florida
(X) Been on a plane
(X) Been lost (but always enjoyed it)
(X) Been on the opposite side of the country
(X) Been to Washington, DC
(X) Swam in the ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robbers
(X) Recently colored with crayons
(X) Sang Karaoke. (only in the presence of family)
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only?
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't?
(X) Made prank phone calls (is your refrigerator running?)
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose.
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Danced in the rain
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone you care about
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating (winter sports are not my thing… kind of like my experience with skiing)(X) Been skinny dipping outdoors
(X) Gone to the movies
( ) Got a speeding ticket. (I’m the luckiest girl on earth)

1. Any nickname? Hoopty and Marc (not my dad’s name, but with an s sound at the end)
2. Favorite drink? Water and Bud Light
3. Mother's name? Marlene
4. Tattoo? Stargazer lily on my shoulder and I want two more
5. Body Piercing? ears, three holes total
6. How much do you love your job? A lot
7. Birthplace? Zanesville, Ohio
8. Favorite vacation spot? Somewhere I have never been before
9. Ever been to Africa? Does The Wilds count?
10. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? Yes, with milk for nutrition
11. Ever been on TV? Yes
12. Ever steal any traffic sign? Yes, of course (Henderson Street twice) I also stole some genuine county-owned orange cones. They actually did come in handy for something a few years later. I think my poor parents used to just wait for the cops to show up and ask how they got those cones and street signs. They owe all of their sleepless nights to me.
13. Ever been in a car accident? Yes
14. Drive a 2 door or 4 door car? 4 door
15. Favorite salad dressing? Creamy poppy seed
16. Favorite pie? Peanut butter
18. Favorite movie? Sex and the City
19. Favorite holiday? Christmas
20. Favorite dessert? Peanut butter and chocolate mixed together in some fashion, but I don’t really eat dessert
21. Favorite food? Mom’s sausage casserole
22. Favorite day of the week? They are all good
23. Favorite brand of body wash? Currently, I’m loving Sabon
24. Favorite toothpaste? Crest Sensitivity
25. Favorite smell? A warm dryer
26. What do you do to relax? Relax? What’s that?
27. How do you see yourself in 10 years? Smarter than I am now

(Yes, I know there is no 17 on this list but I did not feel like redoing the numbers.)

The day after

Ella's Christmas dress. Waited in line at Kohl's this morning for 30 minutes to purchase this for only $17, a savings of 60%. This was after I woke up at 2 minutes til 4 to drive to Wal Mart and stand beside the Barbie Jeeps so my daughter could have one for Christmas. Thanks to my brother, I scored one for only $88. This was after last night's KMart debacle where I read the wrong ad and drove all over the green earth looking for a VW Barbie car that I thought was on sale yesterday and it turned out to not be on sale until today. Argh. I earned my mommy merit badge today in what was, I'm sure, the first of many early mornings to get a good gift for Ella.

What would shopping be without purchases for myself? I got a new red leather jacket, a black casual jacket, and an awesome jewelry armoire. Once I get the armoire set up and loaded up, I will share pics.

I'm looking forward to a fun night out with friends tomorrow and Thanksgiving with my family on Sunday.

Off to spread more Christmas cheer in the house...the tree is naked, except for the lights, and waiting for me to add my magic touch. Then I get to get crafty and redo my front door wreath so it will withstand another windy winter. It is so pretty I just can't seem to convince myself to make another one.

It's Thanksgiving

So many things to be thankful for this year . . .

• I finished a year of serving as president of my professional association's division (and lived to tell about it!).


• I took two classes over the summer and am finishing up my third toward my masters degree, which will leave me with four to go and then I will be DONE!


• My daughter is turning out to be incredibly smart and has a huge desire to learn new things.


• I have been relatively healthy with the exception of a bad back and a few minor colds.


• I have prepared dinner no less than 30 times in the past year and nothing I made was too awful to eat. (Big accomplishment for me!)


• I got to take two trips to Chi-town (for free).


• Had a blast in New Orleans (mostly for free).


• I have met some incredibly cool people and made lots of memories.


• My students are performing far above where other groups have been in a certain class I am teaching. I am not sure what to attribute it to - my teaching skills getting better or their intelligence level when I get them. I'm hoping it is a combination of both.


• That I have been supported by my loved ones in all I have done.


• My BFF turned 30, lived to tell about it, and has made it less scary for me.


• Who could forget all of the shoes and jewelry? :)
• I learned a new trick about Picasa just this morning that will solve all of my burning questions about editing photos.

Happy Thanksgiving to all . . .

Miscellaneous Musings

Some crazy guy called me fat yesterday. Yes, he is totally a lunatic for saying that to me. I should have popped him, and I probably would have if I had not been on a high after the OSU game. So crazy guy should thank Ohio State for saving his ass. After I gave him the look of death, he started to backpeddle and explained that he meant p-h-a-t, not f-a-t. Whatev. Phat is not in my dictionary and to be quite honest, I must not be as cool as I think because I don't really even know what phat means. I heard later that lunatic guy did provide a thorough explanation to others about it after I stalked, er I mean walked briskly, away. But that doesn't matter. Did I mention to him when I saw him yesterday that I think he is bat shit crazy? No. Because it is not nice to say that someone is bat shit crazy even if it is true. I talked to him as if he were a normal member of society and refrained from my opinions clouding our smoke break time together.

Next time I see him, I won't be so nice. I may just walk up and tell him I think he is bat shit crazy and then maybe go on about how cool bat shit is and the different kinds of research being performed on it. You know, turn it into a total compliment. That might really confuse him and give him something to think about for a long time.

Speaking of crazy, is it really so crazy that I like ketchup but not tomatoes? Or that I like cherry flavored things but not cherries?

Sunday's Grammar Lesson

Okay class. Today we will cover anxious/eager. Another misuse that drives me crazy.

Anxious = Incorrect: I'm anxious for Christmas to get here. Anxious actually means that you are so worked up over something you could quite literally vomit. (Which, in my case could be true about Christmas because I normally do get too excited that I end up vomiting, but that's not the point of this post.)

Eager = Excited. I am eager to interview with you, or I am eager to discuss my vacation with you.

~Grammar Goddess

I'm so ... mean?

I went to Wendy's the other day for lunch (exciting, eh?) and this sign has bothered me for years. I took out my trusty camera and took a picture of it so I could "teach" everyone about the proper use of insure and ensure and assure so you are sure to never make this mistake again.

Insure - Has everything to do with insurance. Example: I need to insure my house against damage from a tree falling on it.
Ensure - Means "to make sure" and has nothing to do with insurance. Example: To ensure faster service, please have your money ready.
Assure - This is a verb meaning to declare earnestly to. Example: She assured me that everything would be okay.

No excuses now. The Queen has spoken.

It's just a good day - Wal-Mart and Bud Light

I'm thankful for my BFF, who is always ready and willing to dash to Wal-Mart to purchase essentials. It will be kind of difficult to do that when she moves away and will require much more advanced planning. A four hour round trip just to go to Wal-Mart? Crazy, but I'd do it. There...that's it...the perfect reason for her to stay. I don't give any kind of ass that her husband lives two hours away. I need her. I. Need. Her. (Is that desperate sounding enough? Huh?)

Also, I'm thankful that Wal-Mart sells essentials such as Bud Light. Today was a Bud Light kind of day. Oh...who am I kidding? I guess any day is a good Bud Light day.

Am I behind again? Oh...who cares. I'm tired of rules that I can't remember. (Please excuse my lazy use of contractions today...it's the Bud Light talking, I think.)

I can't resist...

Here are the shoes I wore on my last night in New Orleans. I love these shoes, but they hurt my feet. The only pair of shoes I own that hurt, by the way. All the rest are comfy, even if people don't believe me when I say that. Really. I swear. No need to second guess. Yes, my second toe is longer than my first. That's a sign of genius. Didn't you know that? But check out my awesome nail polish. I love painted nails. I do. They keep me focused on what is right with the world instead of the fact that my feet were killing me. And what's up with the appearance of no ankle? I swear my ankles were not swollen by this time. I swear. No amount of alcohol and walking around a city with 100% humidity and 100 degree temps and no water would make my ankles swell. I swear. Nothing to see here. Go on. Keep looking somewhere else and find what is wrong with my body. Move along...

There is no theme here, really

Since I can't remember if I was ahead or behind the last time I posted, I will give four things today...I tend to get confused about "rules," especially if they are self imposed and not written down.

1. I'm thankful for another OSU win yesterday and having the opportunity to watch most of the game with my parents at their abode. Gram and Ella drew pictures on the magnadoodle while Pap and I watched the game (in between our naps). All in all a great afternoon.
2. Eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. Bliss.
3. I purchased more jewelry on Friday. As soon as it comes, I will share my collection.
4. I'm thankful that the holidays are upon us, which means that our quarter is almost over. I enjoy working on a quarter system because ten (or 11 in this case) weeks is just a perfect amount of time to spend on one topic and then start a new class after a much needed break.

Yesterday, for the first time since Ella was a baby and did not know how to roll over, she took a short nap on our couch. It was so sweet seeing her there all spread out and comfortable. Again, like mother, like daughter. She really is growing up quickly, and I know that soon my mental images of her as a tiny baby will fade. Hell, she's almost quadrupled in weight in not quite two years, and grown over ten inches. Somehow she has learned to say McDonalds, only it sounds like "m-onalds" and of course, while waiting in line at the drive through, she was in the backseat screaming "happy meal" over and over. That's my kid...no patience when it comes to fast food.

I just looked out the window to see snow flying around out there. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

I swear...it's not that bad...

I posted before about my shoe addiction. I thought I would take a picture of my shoe closet. I had to post two pics so you can get the "full" effect, and I still was not successful in capturing the entire closet. The top photo cut off the top shelf in there, which is full mostly of handbags. The second picture shows the stack on the floor and hidden ones in the back. I'm contemplating moving some clothes out of there and installing some more shelves to hold more shoes...

So for today, I'm thankful for my shoes. Maybe in a few days, I will share my jewelry collection. :)

A pic or two from the Big Easy

I'm spending my holiday today organizing my digital photos and am finally getting around to posting pictures that I should have posted months ago...

My trip to New Orleans in late July was awesome, and it is just fitting and proper that because of how much fun I had, I will forever be scarred from the trip.

The first photo is from our third night, at an open house event sponsored by IAAP. Chrissy, Jennifer, and I were the best roommates ever!

Second photo: Nicholas Cage, who was filming a movie at the Hilton. He was staring at me trying to figure out why the hell I had a huge bandage on my head. :)

Third photo: Karen, Jennifer, me, and Angie at the Famous Door bar on Bourbon Street where we spent entirely too many hours dancing, singing, and acting like idiots. (This was night of the head injury...)

Fourth photo: Chrissy, Mary, Jennifer, and me on our last night in NO. I wish our shoes would have been in this photo because they were HOT. (If you look closely, you can see the bandage on my forehead...)

Fifth photo: Sam, me, and Brian - two of my favorite people in the whole world. We had a BLAST hanging.

More Pics

Taumi having a beverage before boarding the plane in Chi-town (and getting a to-go cup!).

Marcie and Pink Toes at the Regal Beagle in Chi-town (10/1/08)...yup a beautiful self-portrait!

Wordless

Tuesday's Thanks

The first one is quite easy: Thanks to our veterans.

And the second, even though it is early in the morning, I'm thankful that it is looking like it will be a fairly nice day. I'm not sure that I'm ready for winter yet (even though I long for South Dakota), so today's sunshine and fair temperature will assist in the transition from lightweight jacket to winter coat weather.

As Zee would say, "What a glorious day!"

Tuesday's Tunes

I read a prompt yesterday about music and how it takes us to our past, especially to past relationships. The more I have thought of it, the more I agree—there are definitely songs/artists in my mind's "playlist" that bring back memories of relationships and friendships and experiences...

...Hank Jr., Synyrd, Journey, Garth Brooks, Guns and Roses, Boyz II Men, Aerosmith, Live, Montell Jordan, Finger Eleven...

All take me places and make me smile. I have to get my iPod updated!

Oh, and I think Ella's bedtime song is actually Santa Claus is Coming to Town, which disturbs me greatly. I wonder if she will be a Christmas junkie like me?

Two More

Apparently I can only manage to do this every other day, so my goal of posting each day has been revised to two things every two days. That's how I roll...If I can't meet a goal, I revise it so I don't feel so terrible about it.

1. I am thankful that I have a washer and dryer in my house so I can do laundry whenever I want and do not have to haul it around.
2. I am thankful that I got to hang with friends last night and meet some new people. Good times by the fire...
3. And a bonus third - my daughter gives me much to be thankful for. Her charming personality and her developing brain have me in awe at all times. I especially am loving this new song and dance she will only perform while standing on the middle of my bed as if I am her audience. I only wish I knew what it was she was singing about. It must be something she loves because she sings the exact same song each time she does it and has the exact same moves. Strangely enough, I can't make out even one word she says to try to put the pieces together. I say strangely enough because she says so many other words with precision and can carry on conversations already. She's got a brain to go with her looks and personality. Wonder where she gets that from?

Off to start the bedtime routine, for which I am also thankful. I am much more "put together" in the mornings by doing a few things in the evenings. It's amazing.

Friday's Thanks

Two more to catch up...

1. I'm thankful my neighbor is home from his "extended vacation."
2. I'm thankful for the dust I cleaned out of my house today—thankful that I had dust, had the tools to clean it up, and thankful that it is DONE.

Can I be wistful? Years ago, I wanted to live in South Dakota. I am longing to be there now so I could be enjoying this massive snow. Instead, we are stuck somewhere between the awesome weather of yesterday and the crappy weather we are supposed to get tomorrow. Cloudy skies, no sun to speak of, and only slightly warm.

Two More to Catch Up

1. I'm thankful that my cars have all been invisible over the years as I have managed to avoid numerous speeding tickets.
2. I'm thankful for my *elf* shoes because I can't stop smiling when I wear them.

November 3

Today I am thankful that the election will soon be over.
I am also thankful for the people I have in my life. 'Nuff said.

Season to be Thankful

I thought for the month of November, I'd post something each day I'm thankful for...since this is day 2 of the month, I need to play catch up.

1. Pictures that say so much more than words could.
2. My nephews, despite their tantrums over the years, provide me with more laughter and love than should be legal.