Resolution

You Should Make 4 Resolutions

Lose Weight Get Fit Eat Right Reduce Stress Overall

What Should You Resolve to Change Next Year?

Yeah. I'll get right on those....sigh.

Past tense

You Remember 70% of 2008

You were paying attention during 2008. And you remember what happened really well. You'll be able to talk about 2008 for years to come... Even when most people have forgotten what went down.

How Much Do You Remember 2008?

Yes, I do remember this year, but not for the reasons on the quiz. There were at least two of these that I flat-out guessed on.

Manic Monday

(Link in blogroll)

What is the biggest mistake you made in 2008 and will not make again in 2009?

Expecting more from people than I reasonably ought to. The good news is that my expectations are now so low for most people that I will be grateful for even the smallest crumb. In most situations. There are certain people, however, that just piss me off by their existence...but that's another story, and irrelevant to the question at hand.

Do you make New Year's resolutions? Why or why not?

I do not. They are just more reasons to feel crappy about myself when I fail to uphold them, which I invariably do. For the past couple of years, I've chosen a "Word of the Year" to aspire to. 2007 was "thrive." This year was "detox." I did better this year. I'm still trying to figure out what 2009's word will be.

Who do you nominate as "Man or Woman of the Year" for 2008?

Does it not have to be Obama?! I honestly can't think of anyone else. Were I going for a snark award, I would (of course) pick Sarah "Tina" Palin.

What was your greatest accomplishment in 2008?

Feeling pride in something important that I did without considering doing anything else.

What the heck?! Four questions?! :-D

Curious as a Cat

(Link in blogroll)

1) Who do you wish could find their inner spirit to become more comfortable in their life?

K A T H E R I N E. This is a no-brainer. If she were more comfortable, so would the rest of us be!

2) You have to fight a duel tomorrow at dawn. You have been allowed to choose the weapons. What do you choose?

The OED, in print. If I can't kill 'em with words, I'll drop the books on their toes!

3) What’s the best thing to inherit other than money?

Good genes, and character.

4) Do you hope to run your own company some day?

Absolutely not. I have no interest in this, though it's sorta fun to dream about not having to answer to anyone but me.

5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.
Public Domain Photo

Yummy! Look at all that icing! {slurp} Actually, this is really lovely, almost too lovely to eat. Almost. I'm not sure if it's a torte, a tart, or a cookie under there, but it looks nice and sweet and minty. Also known as a diabetic coma waiting to happen, but...it's only a picture. ;-)

Patrick's Place

(Link in blogroll)
Sunday Seven

Name the seven trademarked sounds you think are the most effective. (there is a list here, if you need help...like I did)

1. Harley Davidsons' engines (money in the bank for us)
2. MGM lion/20th Century Fox trumpet (I'm cheating a little here, I know)
3. NBC chimes
4. Yahoo!'s yahoooooo / AOL's "You've Got Mail!" (more cheating)
5. The AFLAC duck's vocalizations
6. The Pillsbury doughboy's giggle
7. The tornado siren test, which has changed over the years but is just as annoying as it ever was when I was a kid...which is the point.

I would add all the standard over-the-phone sounds we are so familiar with: busy signal, ringing, etc. I'm not sure they are trademarked, but these are what came to mind first.

Sunday Stealing

(Link in blogroll)
The TV Meme

1. Name a TV show [or] series in which you have seen every episode at least twice: CSI. The original.

2. Name a show you can't miss: There are no shows I can't miss. There are shows I try to tape, and don't want to miss.

3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to watch a show: William Petersen.

4. Name an actor who would make you less likely to watch a show: David Caruso.

5. Name a show you can, and do, quote from: Star Trek.

6. Name a show you like that no one else enjoys: Dude, if "no one" else enjoyed it, it wouldn't be on the air. I know a lot of people who don't understand my fascination with Survivor and The Amazing Race.

7. Name a TV show which you've been known to sing the theme song: Gilligan's Island.

8. Name a show you would recommend everyone to watch: Dirty Jobs will give you a whole new appreciation of your job (unless you happen to be doing one of the things on the show).

9. Name a TV series you own: Beast got Season One of Sarah Connor Chronicles for Xmas.

10. Name an actor who launched his/her entertainment career in another medium, but has surprised you with his/her acting chops in television: Gary Sinise, though "surprised" isn't the word. He's an awesome actor, and it's nice to see him on TV.

11. What is your favorite episode of your favorite series? I like the Nick in a Box eps of CSI.

12. Name a show you keep meaning to watch, but you just haven't gotten around to yet: Weeds. It seems slightly inappropriate to watch with Sparky.

13. Ever quit watching a show because it was so bad? Well...duh! Of course. One that comes to mind is Real World on MTV because the whole concept turned into a soap opera about boinking.

14. Name a show that's made you cry multiple times: Extreme Makeover.

15. What do you eat when you watch TV? We spend a lot of time in front of the TV--Beast likes it on all the time. So to answer the question, anything from pizza to popcorn to cookies to....

16. How often do you watch TV? Actually looking at the TV? About every 10 minutes.

17. What's the last TV show you watched? SNL rerun last night.

18. What's your favorite/preferred genre of TV? Reality. But not Big Brother, which is NOT reality.

19. What was the first TV show you were obsessed with? The Partridge Family.

20. What TV show do you wish you never watched? Real World Las Vegas. I'd like to scrub it right out of my memory.

21. What's the weirdest show you enjoyed? Sarah Connor never ceases to confuse me.

22. What TV show scared you the most? Real World. These are the leaders of the future.

23. What is the funniest TV show you have ever watched? Several recorded 'concerts' on Comedy Central come to mind.

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in blogroll)

1. Destined :: Fated
2. FAIL :: Epic... [so tired of Sparky saying this]
3. Camping :: Tent
4. Only you :: Personalized
5. Incessant :: Non-stop
6. Tomorrow :: "The sun'll come out..."
7. Impressive :: Niiiiiice!!
8. Riches :: Wealth
9. Dislike :: Not fond of
10. Speaker :: Orator

Patrick's Place

(Link in blogroll)
Saturday 6

1. How many members of your family not living with you did you see on Christmas Day?

Three plus one good friend, making 7 people total.

2. When spending time with family, how long after you arrive do you begin to feel "antsy" about being there too long?

They came here. I was fine with everyone staying until just before my niece and nephew left when she went completely off the rails and her inner bitch popped out. When we're out someone else, I usually am ready to leave by 8 or 9, especially if there is a lot of driving to do. Really, I usually am ready to leave about 2 hours before Beast.

3. Is your family more likely to have pleasant discussions or heated arguments during a big meal? Do you join in or quietly listen in?

We try to keep it pleasant. I no longer seem to be able to quietly listen.

4. Take the quiz: How Do You Really Feel About Your Family?

You Feel at Peace With Your Family

You are very quick to forgive your family for wrongdoings. You don't expect them to be perfect, and you try to help them out whenever it's possible. You feel like your family is prone to too many arguments and instability. You never feel like things can be completely peaceful. While your parents made mistakes, you forgive them and accept them for who they are. You are honest and very outspoken with your family. You sometimes hurt feelings by saying things they don't want to hear.

How Do You Really Feel About Your Family?

A bit of a mixed bag there, but nothing too wrong, except for that first part.

5. Consider the family member whose views are most opposite of your own: If your friends or co-workers met the person, what single topic would probably be the source of the most embarrassment for you if your friends heard that person talking?

My mom has issues with certain ethnicities and sexual preferences, but since her speech is completly not understandable, it's not likely to be a problem, even assuming any of my current friends were to meet her. Which they are not. I hadn't ever thought of that, but Jenny's the only current friend who has ever met my mom, and no one else is going to, since she's pretty much homebound in another state far from here.

6. Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas? What one thing that you didn’t get would you like to have received?

In terms of gifts, it's a home run. I'd like Katherine to be a little further down the road of improved behavior. Otherwise, things are good.

All of Friday

Four for Friday
(Link in blogroll)

Q1 - Notables: Many famous and noteworthy people died this year, including the ones listed here: Alexander Solzhenitsyn, Arthur C. Clarke, Michael Crichton, Beverly Garland, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Yves Saint Laurent, Christopher Bowman, Eartha Kitt, Sir Edmund Hillary, Jeff Healey, Bobby Fischer, Bo Diddley, Jeremy Beadle, Isaac Hayes, Paul Scofield, Heath Ledger, Guillaume Depardieu, Michael Lee, Paul Newman, M.C. Breed, Sydney Pollack, Charlton Heston, Albert Hofmann, W. Mark Felt, Sunny von Bulow, Odetta, Kenny MacLean, Tony Hillerman, Dee Dee Warwick, Don Haskins, Kevin Duckworth, Gene Upshaw, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Sandy Allen, Bernie Mac, Skip Caray, Estelle Getty, Tony Snow, Bobby Ray Murcer, Michael DeBakey, Jesse Helms, Dody Goodman, George Carlin, Wilbur Hardee, Tim Russert, Charlie Jones, Jim McKay, Harvey Korman, Hamilton Jordan, and Brad Renfro. Which notable person's death affected you most in 2008?

Probably the one that hit me the hardest was George Carlin. I'm sure he's...wherever...rolling his eyes at that.

Q2 - Credit: In the midst of the current global recession, credit card companies have cut back on credit lines even to good customers. In addition, according to The Atlanta Journal Constitution, some credit card issuers have gone beyond looking at how much their customers spend or how promptly they pay and are now evaluating where they live and where they shop. In other words, redlining is apparently alive and well, aided and abetted by the very companies which could not restrain themselves from blindly offering credit cards and balance transfers to anyone who opened the mailbox, even if they were underage and without visible means of support. Do you think credit card issuers should be able to adjust credit limits and rates based solely on your zip code or shopping habits?

No, but what I think credit card companies should be doing is clearly not something they care about or they wouldn't have been offering me millions of dollars of credit for the past 30 years. Nor would they have offered by 15-year-old credit pretty much since he was born. Idiots.

Q3 - Hot: From California to Florida, an increasing number state departments of transportation are allowing single occupancy vehicles (SOVs) to pay a premium toll to use HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes. High-occupancy tolls (HOT) are criticized by some as being nothing more than "Lexus lanes" that allow drivers with deeper pockets to buy special treatment on highways built using fuel taxes collected from everyone. What do you think? Are HOT lanes a good idea?

Oh for God's sake...we don't have enough to worry about? Please. OK, seriously: the carpool lanes should be left as carpool lanes. Expensive cars should pay more. And, since I'm obviously living in my fantasy world, mean people would be shot.

Q4 - Theatre: When you watch a movie in a movie theatre, do you like the theatre filled to capacity, halfway full, or nearly empty? Does your answer change depending on the type of movie you're seeing or do you feel the same way regardless of the movie or genre?

I don't like crowds, so I'd prefer to sit in a nearly empty theater.

---

Friday 5
(Link in blogroll)
End-of-Year Positivity

1. What’s one really cool/useful/nice thing you purchased for yourself this year?

Since it's fresh in my mind, I'm going with the Wii.

2. What’s one area of your life you really improved this year?

I'm getting much better and refusing to carry guilt unnecessarily.

3. Who or what was a regular source of encouragement or inspiration to you this year?

Amy, Jenny, the youth group kids, and the Bible.

4. What’s something nice you did for someone else this year?

I didn't beat Beast up all those times he was nasty. Patience and understanding and all that....

5. In what way was 2008 better than 2007?

I don't think it actually was; I just got better at handling the shit sliding down the cesspit. And I didn't have to deal with Sirsi at all!!

---

Food 4 Thought Friday
(link in blogroll)

Breakfast
Was there a special moment for you during Christmas day (or Eve) this year?

Seeing all the 'regulars' at the Chinese restaurant on Christmas Eve cracked me up.

Lunch
What was served for your Christmas dinner this year?

Ham, mashed taters, mixed veggies, Texas sheet cake....buffet style.

Midnight Snack
How are you feeling right at this moment? Relieved it's over or sad it's over already?

I'm trying to figure out what to do about my retardo-headed niece and her lack of social grace, but otherwise I'm quite pleased with the holiday. I'm so relaxed I'm a noodle.

Recipe for this Week(instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week?)

STAY relaxed!!

---

Friday Fill-Ins
(link in blogroll)

1. I must finish all the books on my reading list before I die.

2. You can't stop a speeding bullet.

3. I wish I never had to buy anything myself again. [holding out for a personal shopper, and chef....]

4. God and Beast has have helped me change my life.

5. I know the songs from The Sound of Music and My Fair Lady (all of them) by heart.

6. If I weren't so afraid, I would do things differently.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to last night I played on the Wii for a couple of hours, tomorrow today my plans include included figuring out how to manage the iminent demise of my music account, and Sunday, I want to do some more Wii-ing!

Cheerio!

You Spread a Lot of Holiday Cheer

During the holidays, you represent the true spirit of Christmas. You give freely, and you enjoy this special time of the year. There's a good chance that you spread cheer every time of the year... not just during the holidays. You're kind, upbeat, and generous. Anyone who crosses your path is lucky.

Do You Spread Holiday Cheer?

I'm feeling more like I have some of the spirit of the season now, so this seems fairly close.

Movies

Saw this over at Lazygal's and decided to play along. The rules are: If you've seen more than eighty-five of these, you have no life. [honestly, if I get to 50, I'll be surprised...]

(x) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
( ) Boondock Saints
( ) Fight Club
( ) Starsky and Hutch
( ) Neverending Story
(x) Blazing Saddles
( ) Universal Soldier
(x) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
( ) Along Came Polly
( ) Joe Dirt
( ) King Kong (I haven't seen any of them all the way through)
( ) A Cinderella Story
(x) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
( ) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
( ) Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
( ) Final Destination 3
( ) Halloween
( ) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
( ) Surviving Christmas
(x) Flubber
( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
( ) Practical Magic
(x) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
( ) Hellboy
( ) Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
( ) The Whole Nine Yards
( ) The Whole Ten Yards
(x) The Day After Tomorrow
( ) Child's Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chucky
( ) Ten Things I Hate About You
( ) Just Married
( ) Gothika
( ) Nightmare on Elm Street
( ) Sixteen Candles
(x) Remember the Titans
( ) Coach Carter
( ) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
( ) The Mask
( ) Son Of The Mask
( ) Bad Boys
( ) Bad Boys 2
( ) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Sleven
(x) Ocean's Eleven
(x) Ocean's Twelve (But I've seen ...13, so I'm xing this one and substituting)
( ) Bourne Identity
( ) Bourne Supremacy
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
( ) Predator I
( ) Predator II
( ) The Fog
(x) Ice Age
(x) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
( ) Curious George
( ) Independence Day
( ) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
( ) Christine
(x) ET
( ) Children of the Corn
( ) My Boss's Daughter
( ) Maid in Manhattan
( ) War of the Worlds
( ) Rush Hour
( ) Rush Hour 2
( ) Best Bet
( ) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
( ) She's All That
(x) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
(x) Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
( ) Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
( ) Big Trouble in Little China
(x) The Terminator
(x) The Terminator 2
(x) The Terminator 3
( ) x-Men
( ) x2
( ) x-3
(x) Spider-Man
(x) Spider-Man 2
( ) Sky High
( ) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
( ) Catch Me If You Can
( ) The Little Mermaid
( ) Freaky Friday
( ) Reign of Fire
( ) The Skulls
( ) Cruel Intentions
( ) Cruel Intentions 2
( ) The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
( ) Swimfan
( ) Miracle on 34th street
( ) Old School
( ) The Notebook
( ) K-Pax
( ) Kippendorf's Tribe
( ) A Walk to Remember
( ) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
( ) The 40-year-old-virgin
(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
( ) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
( ) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
( ) Baseketball
( ) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
( ) Elf
( ) Highlander
( ) Mothman Prophecies
( ) American History
( ) Three
( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
( ) Monsters Inc.
(x) Titanic
(x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard
( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
( ) Hulk
( ) Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook
(x) Chronicle Of Narnia The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
( ) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
( ) Waterworld
( ) Kill Bill vol 1
( ) Kill Bill vol 2
( ) Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
( ) Kingdom of Heaven
( ) The Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
( ) Army of Darkness
(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(x) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
( ) Ewoks The Battle For Endor
(x) The Matrix
(x) The Matrix Reloaded
(x) The Matrix Revolutions
( ) Animatri
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
( ) Team America: World Police
( ) Red Dragon
( ) Silence of the Lambs
( ) Hannibal
( ) Battle Royale
( ) Battle Royale 2
( ) Brazil
( ) Contact
( ) Cube
( ) Dr. Strangelove
( ) Enlightenment Guaranteed
( ) Four Rooms
( ) Memento
( ) Pi
( ) Requiem for a Dream
( ) Pulp Fiction
( ) Reservoir Dogs
( ) Run Lola Run
( ) Russian Ark
( ) Serenity
( ) Sin City
( ) Snatch
( ) Spider
( ) The Sixth Sense
( ) The Village
( ) Waking Life
( ) Zatoichi
( ) Ikiru
( ) The Seven Samurai
( ) Brick
( ) Akira

I think that puts me at 34. All of the horror movies are no-gos. Several of the titles I'd barely or never heard of. And whole chunks of genre movies are missing, ot to mention most everything over 15 years old. Oh, well.

Christmas survey

(Swiped from Allison)

Do you believe in Santa Claus? Not as a physical being, but as a metaphor, yes.

Do you put up a Christmas tree? It is up.

Do you decorate the outside of your house? We hang greens from the porch and garage door-frame.

Do you decorate the inside of your house? What, the tree isn't enough???

White lights or colored? I'm not a fan of all white; we use multicolored.

When do you usually start listening to Christmas music? With intent, a week or so before the holiday. However, I believe I heard my first Christmas muzak the week of Thanksgiving this year. BEFORE Thanksgiving, by the way.

Do you peek at presents? Nope.

Do you make gingerbread houses? I did a knock-off once with graham crackers, when Sparky was little, and it was a huge pain in the ass.

When do you start your shopping? I try to make lists or purchase all year long, but I have been very bad about doing that the last couple of years.

Do you like snow? If I don't have to be out in it in a vehicle, yeah.

Do you like to build snowman or have snowball fights? I really don't.

When do you get up on Christmas? The rule is "not before 7" but lately I think it's been even later.

What do you do first eat or open gifts? Hey, we are talented: we do both at once! This year, I think the first project will be coffee since we'll have coffee-addicts in the house.

Are you in the Christmas spirit yet? Pretty much.

What's Christmas Eve like for you? Normally, we have Chinese for dinner, then drive around and look at lights until time for the late Christmas Eve service. This year will be a little different.

What about the day before that? Last-minute wrapping, some shopping (usually groceries). I've just been tapped for babysitting tomorrow, however.

Are you anticipating Christmas? Not as much as I was a week ago. I'm not 100% thrilled with the company I'll be sharing the holiday with.

What is your favorite Christmas memory? My nephew James, when he was 2 or 3. He could not get to sleep on the Eve because he was SO excited about Santa coming, and he kept leaving bed to see if Santa had arrived. Consequently, "Santa" couldn't fill the stockings. At first it was annoying, but then it got to be very cute. My dad took a wonderful photo of James kneeling in the chair under the big lamp and looking...angelic. That photo IS Christmas in my mind.

Who do you usually spend Christmas with? For the last 5 years, we've been home alone, just the three of us. This year...not so much.

Is Christmas usually celebrated at your house or someone else's? We have Christmas for several days usually. The big one is here, but we visit relatives on other days some years.

Do you get everyone in your family a present? There are only three of us in the house, so yes. And of course our parents get something. Over 15 years ago, my sibs and I started doling out calendars. I took this year, so everyone got a calendar from me. Next year will be either Marie or Del's year.

What is your favorite Christmas tradtion? I like Silent Night at the end of the Christmas Eve service.

Do you like eggnog? Yup, although I'm finding this year that it has become a bit too rich for me.

Do you have any shirts or sweaters with a Christmas design on it: One mock turtleneck with poinsettias on it. Several pairs of sox. That's it.
Oh, and a few pairs of earrings.

What is your favorite Christmas album? I'm pretty partial to the Nat King Cole Christmas album I had as a child.

Do you open your presents Christmas morning or Christmas Eve? One on the Eve, the majority on the morning.

Do you go to church on Christmas Eve? Yup. See above.

Do you get a real or a fake tree? Fake all the way.

Who decorates the tree? Beast deals with the lights and Sparky and I do the rest.

Lighting

You Are Green Lights

Your holidays are a time of rest and solace. You take time to reflect on the year that's passed. You also enjoy connecting with friends and family you've lost touch with. The holidays are your opportunity to remember what's important in your life.

What Color Christmas Lights Are You?

I guess I'm okay with this. Sparky likes green. ;-)

Manic Monday

(Link in blogroll)

If you were at a friend’s house for a holiday dinner and you found a dead cockroach in your salad, what would you do?

Better dead than alive, no?

I believe I would suddenly be quite full and unable to eat another bite of ANYthing in the house. We'd be leaving as soon thereafter as possible. Yuck.

If you could put anyone you know on Prozac, who would you choose?

One of my coworkers: CT. That stands for Complainer Tech.

How do you feel about public displays of affection?

As long as all the clothes stay on and the tongues stay in the mouths to which they are attached, I don't mind. I can always look away.

You Are Biscotti

You are a very direct, honest person. You don't have time for dramatics or emotional pleas. You feel most comfortable in the intellectual realm, especially with science and technology. You are good at understanding difficult subjects. Understanding people? Not so much.

What Holiday Cookie Are You?

I'm SO not biscotti, though most of this description is accurate enough. I pretty much do understand most people.

Pseudo tagged

(Found at Patrick's Place)

8 TV Shows I Watch

1. CSI
2. The Amazing Race
3. Survivor
4. Dirty Jobs
5. Mythbusters
6. NFL football
7. NASCAR
8. ...the Weather Channel... (for updates, not for the shows)

8 Favorite Restaurants

1. Six Balls
2. Jardín Verde
3. Jennie-P's
4. Applebee's
5. Le Peep
6. Fat Tuesday
7. The Crepe Place
8. Arby's (although I absolutely loath their current ads)

8 Things that Happened to Me Today

1. I slept till 10
2. I memed
3. I ate leftover lasagna
4. I watched CSI:NY on DVD
5. I watched two of my favorite teams lose
6. I cancelled tonight's meeting (too freakin' cold)
7. I talked to our neighbor...who did not have a heart attack, but is very ill
8. I ate chicken and potatoes

8 Things I Look Forward To

1. CHRISTMAS! :-)
2. Sparky's graduations from high school and college
3. Getting my work carts cleared off (no, these aren't in chronological order, though it seems that way!)
4. Las Vegas
5. Next summer's mission trip
6. Spring
7. Organize our photos
8. New Year's Eve...I guess...

8 Things I Pray For

1. Peace
2. Understanding
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Peace
6. Direction
7. Peace
8. A thankful heart

Sunday Stealing

(Link in blogroll)
The Screaming Masses' Meme

1. What is a nickname a former (or present) lover gave you? I don't go much in for nicknames..."sweetheart" is about all I can come up with.

2. How do you style your hair? If you just would say "cut" what style is it? I curl it most mornings, at least the bangs. I frequently do the ponytail or French braid thing. I can't use 'product' so it's pretty frizzy sometimes.

3. What's your least favorite Christmas song? They're all pretty annoying at this point.

4. How many colors are you wearing now? Black-and-white plaid shirt, medium blue sweats, medium blue knitted sox with white embroidery and sequins. No clue on the underwear--I didn't really look when I grabbed this morning. So, at least three.

5. Are you an introvert or extrovert? Yes, depending on the situation.

6. What was the last book you read? The last one I finished was By Jove! yesterday. I read some of The Fine Art of Murder last night.

7. What's one piece of fiction that changed your life? The Book of Ruth.

8. If you are attracted to someone who is already in a relationship (or married), what might do you do? Have a strong talk to myself on a regular basis and either get over it or stay away from him. Unlike Angelina Jolie, I don't play that way.

9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy recently? "Unhappy" no unless you count being sick off and on all month. The last time I was unhappy was awhile back. I love me some meds.

10. What's your favorite dessert? Again, my answer has to be "yes." I rarely turn down dessert, but if pressed I would say wedding cake or cheesecake. Or fruit pie. Damn. No, I can't really pick.

11. How long does it take you to get ready in the morning? On a good day, I allow 45 minutes. I can be ready in ten minutes, though, if pressed. I've had to do that twice this month because I slept through my alarm. Twice. Somehow.

12. Name one website that you visit daily. Why do you read it? Bloglines. It's where I keep my life.

13. What was your last job before either you are at home or at another job? I am a mom. I am a wife. I'm a daughter...and other family-based 'jobs.' I volunteer at church in several capacities (Clerk of Session, youth leader, dogsbody...). I volunteer at Sparky's school. I work (for pay) at the library. I can't answer this question since I'm not sure what it means. The last job I stopped doing was teaching Sunday School (volunteer). The last for-pay job was delivering phone books, which I'd totally forgotten that I did until I thought back through my varied work career.

14. Do you like to clean? I hate housekeeping. I don't mind spending the day cleaning, but I hate tidying things up and prepping for cleaning. VERY annoying.

15. What was the last song to get stuck in your head? *@!%*in' carols...

16. What's the last movie you saw? I caught the end of The Simpsons Movie last night.

17. Pirates or Ninjas? Suicide. I think the whole thing is stupid. I prefer to emulate those who don't survive on breaking the law.

18. What is your least favorite thing to do that you have to do everyday? Uh...get out of bed? Turn off the computer? No, in seriousness, it's household chores.

19. Best time of your life? Interspersed between the worst times. Each decade has had incredibly wonderful parts...and horrific parts.

20. What are you most looking forward to in the coming year? Brief moments of calm. And June's mission trip.

Randomness

(Link in blogroll)
name 3 of each

Lets take a break from all the holiday hustle and bustle to blog a bit.

-Pet Peeves

1. Singers who take perfectly good holiday songs and RUIN THEM!
2. People who tailgate in bad weather because they are driving SUVs.
3. The whole cookie-making thing this time of year.

-Close Friends

1. Beast
2. Jenny
3. Amy

-Favorite Movies

1. Heathers
2. RHPS
3. Matrix trilogy

-Foods You Love

1. Sugar
2. Pasta
3. Good bread
...notice a trend there?

-Favorite Books

1. The Book of Ruth
2. The Long Winter
3. Jane Eyre

-TV Shows You Like

1. CSI
2. TAR
3. Survivor

-Celebrities You Like

1. Clint Eastwood
2. Sean Penn
3. Meryl Streep

-Favorite Items of Clothing

1. Jeans
2. Fleece hoodie
3. Pajamas

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in blogroll)

1. Carpet :: Rug
2. Bottoms :: Tops
3. Music :: Beautiful
4. Nails :: Screws (thanks to Liz)
5. Watch it! :: Look out!
6. Your life :: Your money or...
7. Candies :: Shoes (not that I ever buy this brand...anymore)
8. Chafing :: Rubbing
9. Svelte :: Slender
10. Ding :: Dong

Saturday 9

(Link in blogroll)
Holiday Cheer

1. Does the holiday season stress you out? If yes, how do you cope?

It does, a bit. Not like it used to, but there are days that are just annoying. I cope by refusing to buy into the worst of the crazy-making behavior: I don't get gifts for extraneous people (the paper carrier, the mail carrier...they get cash), I don't make cookies (who needs those calories?), I don't get as carried away with getting the cards out on Dec. 1 (this year, they remain unmailed--maybe tomorrow they'll be sent?). I figure if we go to church on the Eve and spend time thinking about the religious stuff, we're really set. I've dropped the ball on the advent readings this year, but we'll survive.

2. Are you ever so busy in December that you have to force yourself to chill?

Yes. Who isn't?

3. Do you sleep well at this time of year?

I sleep better in the warmer months than in the winter, due to the medication I take in the winter. It seems to have a really weird double effect of making me drowsy and keeping me from sleeping for long chunks of time. Kind of annoying.

4. Have you ever taken a sleigh ride? If yes, tell us about it.

I have taken a troika ride, in Siberia outside of Irkutsk. It was cold, exhilirating, and followed by latkes and vodka, and the chicken dance. The latter was rather surreal.

5. Do you live close to the parts of your family you spend the holidays with?

There are, officially, 5 members of my family within about 50 miles of our house. We will see 3 of them on Christmas. We saw the other two on Thanksgiving this year. It's not a big deal, just how it worked out this time around.

6. What will you have for Christmas dinner?

It's still undecided. Maybe we'll do a fondue. Or I'll get a roast.

7. Do you diet after the holidays?

My eating habits don't change over the holidays, and I see no point in dieting in the winter. I'll probably try to ease off after Sparky's birthday in February.

8. What’s the best part of the season for you?

Church. Not that I've gone at all this month, at least to our church...it's been a bad month in terms of illness and weather on Sundays.

9. How many generations of your family get together during the holidays?

This is the first year we'll have three generations at our house in a very long time.

Saturday Special

(Link in blogroll)
~The Holidays ~ Do You Prefer?~

1. Holiday Shopping in Stores or Online?

I do a bit of both. Every year, I do a bit more online, but there are always those last-minute things that I'm not willing to pay extra to ship for Christmas arrival.

2. Holiday Parades or Football?

Football. Parades this time of year are nuts...and I have VERY high standards for parades, which are hard to achieve.

3. Holidays at Home or Visiting Others?

I prefer home, but I don't mind visiting others.

4. Holiday Parties or Family Gatherings?

I don't mind either.

Friday 5

(Link in blogroll)
Keeping It Positive

1. What’s your favorite thing about the shoes you’re wearing (or the shoes you were most recently wearing)?

I've not had on shoes all day today! W00t! I think the last pair I wore--last night--were my sneakers and I like them because they are skid-proof and leave really odd prints. Also, they are comfortable (and they didn't cost an arm and a kidney).

2. What’s your favorite thing about the people you work with (or the people you go to school with)?

They are almost uniformly friendly, kindhearted, good people. Some of them drive me crazy, but none of them is intentionally nasty.

3. What’s your favorite thing about the climate where you live?

There isn't much I like about the climate here. It's humid and gross in the hottest part of summer--when it's not intemperately cold!--and the winters are miserable. It's less awful than Milwaukee in the winter, but that's because Milwaukee in the winter for me was suicide-inducing. I am not kidding. I don't mind snow, but I NEEEEEED sunlight! What I do like around here is the foggy days in the spring and fall, and autumn...though autumn anywhere is hard to beat.

4. What’s your favorite thing about Friday?

On the days I work, it's 5:00 p.m. ;-) On days like today when I don't work, it's all the Friday memes.

5. What’s your favorite thing about the year coming to an end?

We survived. Normally, I enjoy looking back, but this year has been a pip. I don't see the next few being a whole lot easier in some respects. OK, so clearly what I mostly like about the end of the year is looking back and gauging the overall year.

Christmas

Your Christmas is Modern

Your wish for the New Year is good health. For you, Christmas is a spiritual holiday. You can't separate it from your beliefs. You are patient when it comes to Christmas. You don't celebrate too early, and you don't like seeing holiday decorations in October. You like Christmas traditions, but you're not uptight about them. You do things your way. You like to celebrate Christmas your own way, and you don't like to have to compromise. You are too busy to really get into Christmas, but you try to do a little to celebrate. You try to give as much as possible during the holidays. You are quite generous.

What Does Your Christmas Say About You?

OH, I'm terribly modern, oh yeah, that's me.

Friday Fill-Ins

(Link in blogroll)
Fill in the lyrics...with the correct ones or ones of your own :-) [If I know the lyrics, I've *d the question.]

* 1. Said the night wind to the little lamb, "Baaaaaah! What are you doing up so late? Go to bed .
* 2. The first Noel, the angel did say, "There is no water cuz there is noel." [old joke in our family].
* 3. Shopping for presents , Over the hills and everywhere.
*4. It came upon the midnight clear, the realization that I left someone off the shopping list.
85. Have some Prozac, Let your heart be light.
6. And the thing that will make them ring is the carol that you sing as they cart you away in March.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to doing nothing at all, tomorrow my plans include delivering gifts to low-income families (see below), and Sunday, I want to stop by work and get the orders sorted out. My 'net connection to work is fubar!

---

Our town does a really terrific thing every year. A list is compiled of all the families living under the poverty level--I have NO IDEA how this list is compiled; it's magic! The list includes each family member and the ages of the children. Donations are solicited from businesses and individuals throughout November, and probably over the rest of the year. The week before Christmas, a long assembly line is laid out in a large empty room (the inside of a former Lowes-type store) and volunteers line up, are assigned an anonymous family for whom they fill a Santa sack with appropriately-aged toys and books for kids. All of these Santa sacks are sorted and prepared for delivery. Tomorrow--the Saturday before Christmas--the sacks and large boxes of food for Christmas dinner are loaded into the long line of vehicles that spends the morning ferrying all this stuff out to the no-longer-anonymous families around town. It's wonderful, heartbreaking, humbling, and just plain fun.

Food 4 Thought Friday

(Link in blogroll)

Breakfast
Do you still have gifts to buy or are you done with your shopping?

Still working on a couple of things. As usual.

Lunch
Has the economy affected any part of your Christmas this year? How?

Only in the sense that I'm looking more at practical things than I normally do (which is hard to believe, since I already tend more toward the practical!).

Dinner
What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

Chinese food on Christmas Eve followed by church service.

Midnight Snack
Are you feeling like a Jolly Elf or a Grinchy Scrooge right at this moment?

I'm pretty jolly, though I wouldn't really characterize my personality as elven.

Recipe for this Week (instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week?)

ENJOY each moment.

RevGals Friday Five

Link in blogroll)
Countdown to Christmas Edition

It's true.

There are only five full days before Christmas Day, and whether you use them for shopping, wrapping, preaching, worshiping, singing or traveling or even wishing the whole darn thing were over last Tuesday, there's a good chance they will be busy ones.

So let's make this easy, if we can: tell us five things you need to accomplish before Christmas Eve.

1. Wrap presents. I have not wrapped a single one.
2. Get something for Katherine and Alan. Sigh. And I will need a few more stocking stuffers, I think, for the guys.
3. Finish and send the cards.
4. Figure out food for Christmas. I guess I'm cooking after all. Boo.
5. Look over the liturgy for Christmas Eve and get sorted on exactly what needs to happen for Communion set-up.

Blogthings...tripled

You Are Peaceful and Appreciative

You approach the holidays with harmony and thoughtfulness. You realize the holidays can be a hard time for some people, and you're there to lend your support. Not only do you enjoy giving during the holidays, you enjoy receiving greetings, love, and gifts. You graciously appreciate every holiday gesture made in your honor. Of all the types, you are the most likely to give a gift that's meaningful for you and the recipient. You're also the most likely to hand deliver as many of your gifts as possible.

The Wrapping Paper Test

Well, some of this is right. A little of it is off, however.

---

You Can Say "Merry Christmas" in 12 Languages

You can say "Merry Christmas" in: English Spanish French Arabic German Swedish Portuguese Greek Hawaiian Dutch Korean Esperanto

How Many Languages Can You Say "Merry Christmas" In?

But honestly, I guessed on at least three or four of them.

---

You Are Cider

Your holiday personality is cozy. The holidays are your favorite time to stay home, stay warm, and spend time with those you love. You don't need a lot to make you happy over the holidays. Seeing an old relativ or favorite holiday film is enough to make your day.

What Holiday Drink Are You?

OK, so this one is accurate, except for the film thing.

Wednesday Weirdness

(Link in blogroll)

1. What is the one sexual act you would never do?

Animals are right out of the question.

2. Is there anyone you know, that if they turned out to be a serial killer you would not be surprised?

There are a couple of patrons at the library who are candidates. Otherwise, I have to say that if I started thinking this way, I would never speak to anyone again. I've read and seen too much about serial killers to make any guesses.

3. What is the most annoying thing about the holiday season for you?

Bad holiday music played everywhere. Except...I don't think I heard anything at Borders this morning.... Really? If that's true, I'm willing to pay them to keep things that way!

4. If you saw a video of your celebrity crush picking their nose, would that change your opinion of their hotness?

I would assume, if I had a celebrity crush, that the papparazzi no longer liked them and I would wonder why.

5. What is the one non-sexual thing you would be embarrassed to be caught doing?

I'd hate to have some of my more gossipy conversations played back in front of the people who was the topic of them.

6. A favorite blogger friend wrote a column about the one word that really turns her on. Do you have a word or phrase that does the same for you? What is it?

It's all in the voice, not so much the words.

7. As someone who ran a virtual cookie exchange, I have to ask what your favorite cookie is?

My mom's oatmeal cookies. Or my 7-layer bars.

3x Thursday

(Link in blogroll)

List and describe 3 things that you've accomplished this year that mean something to you. Why are they important?

1. Helped Beast's mom. I'm not going into details, but it was a time when things needed doing and I'm proud of the way I handled them.


2. Didn't freak out when my boss made her anouncement this month.


3. Got a little further along the road of getting over myself.

For a change, this wasn't even that hard!

Curious as a Cat

(Link in blogroll)

1) What one quality of your father’s would you most like to share?

His generosity of spirit. He never did learn, truly, not to trust most people, and he was always willing to listen and help others.

2) Among all the people you know, who would you like to have known when s/he was a child?

I would love to be in on what ScheduleNazi's childhood was like. She's so messed up now that clearly SOMEthing happened! I think Techy would have been a blast to hang out with, judging by her photos on Fb.

3) If you wanted to meditate for a whole day, where would you do it?

I'm unconvinced that I could meditate for a full day, but if I were going to do it, it would have to be somewhere calm: either a quiet church or outside far away from 'people noise.' Music would be nice too.

4) What is your favorite thing to do in a city park?

People-watch. Actually, I park in the (huh) park during the week at lunchtime sometimes and listen to my audiobook. I have wonderful memories of listening to The Iliad, the Philip Pullman series, and Dante's works while watching the trees in the park.

5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.
Public Domain Photo

I think I'm turning into a hand junkie. I was going to say fetishist, but that has connotations I don't mean. I love this person's hands, though it's hard to tell if they belong to a man or a woman. I'm inclined to say woman; they seem small. Anyway. The costume is really wonderful. I love all the beading and the feathers, and the bracelets. I wonder what she's holding? A bag? More beads? Hmmmm.....

Holiday stress

Having Too Much To Do Is What Stresses You Out About the Holidays

You love the holidays. You love them so much that you end up taking on too many responsibilities. Your heart is in the right place, but you don't have the time to get it all done. Consider doing a little less. Don't bake that last batch of cookies or go for that Christmas Eve shopping run. You'll still be giving the people you love what they want most ... time with you!

What Stresses You Out About the Holidays?

I'm not as bad as this makes me sound...but I have tendencies... ;-)

Sunday Stealing

(Link in blogroll)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Depends on the gift. If I can't find a box, it's bag-time!

2. Real tree or Artificial? Fake. We do have real greens on the outside of the house, though.

3. When do you put up the tree? Yesterday. ;-) Usually about a month before Christmas.

4. When do you take the tree down? We try to take it down around New Year's Day, but we are not always successful.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yum.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Barbie Dream House.

7. Hardest person to buy for? I said Beast yesterday, but I'm going with Mom today.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Still Sparky.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. Not that we've done ANY this year!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Books I've already read, or won't ever read.

12. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Sandwiches that people make themselves.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Theoretically, I'm always looking, but it doesn't always work out that way. This year, I'm still looking for some people's gifts.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yup. I've already gotten something this year that's going right back into the mix.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cookies.

16. Lights on the tree? Yes, multicolored.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night. Though whenever I sing Joy to the World at church, I miss my dad standing next to me doing the tenor response....

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We've done both. I prefer staying home, but I'm not militant about that.

19. Angel on the tree top or a star? We've had both. I think I'm firmly in the star camp now.

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? At least one on the Eve, the rest in the morning.

Unconscious Mutterings

(Link in blogroll)

1. Travel :: Vacation
2. Expensive :: Costly
3. Backspace :: Error
4. Traffic noise :: White noise
5. Now see here :: Zazu
6. Vegetables :: Eat your...
7. Chat :: IM
8. Your calling :: Avocation
9. Weekly :: Appointment
10. Oh! :: Wow!

Patrick's Place

(Link in blogroll)
Sunday 7

Name the seven people on Barbara Walters’ Top 10 Most Fascinating People of 2008 list that you care the least about.

1. Rush Limbaugh
2. Sarah Palin ("fascinating?" The media storm around her was fascinating. She...is not.)
3. Frank Langella
4. Tom Cruise (go away)
5. Miley Cyrus
6. Will Smith (I like him, but ... WTF? He's been around for 20 years! Did she just notice him??)
7. Thomas Beatie (I don't know, or care, who he is)*

(Can I just say that this was the hardest list I've had to compose in awhile; there are way more than 7! It would have been easier to list those I do care about! That would be the President-Elect, for anyone who cares. Babs, you're weird.)

---

* OK, I Googled him. He's the "pregnant man"--because of COURSE he is the only transgendered person to have done this. Sigh. Sometimes I wish Oprah would go away, as much as I admire her.

Two for Christmas

(swiped from Allison)

When do you start Christmas shopping? I used to be really good about shopping throughout the year, but I haven't done so well on that for a couple of years. Mostly, I shop the last couple of months of the year now.

Are you finished shopping? Nope.

How many people are you buying for? Four or five. Six. Eight. Ugh, see this is why I hate the holidays! I'm always adding people I missed at first.

What are you leaving out for Santa? Cookies and milk. And carrots for the reindeer.

Name 3 things you want for Christmas: WiiFit, smiles, good memories.

Are you traveling this year? Nope. Thank goodness!

If so, Where to? n/a

What kind of stockings are hung at your house? A red-with-white-stripes one for Beast, a white-with-white-snowflakes one for me, and a mostly-blue-with-colorful-appliques one for Sparky.

Do you have a fireplace / chimney? Yes. And that's where the stockings are hanging, too.

Favorite things to get in your stocking? I miss getting an orange and mixed nuts. On the other hand, Beast does an outstanding job with my stocking every year.

Any family traditions? Chinese on Christmas Eve, a drive around looking at lights, then late church. We open one gift on the Eve too, and at bedtime we leave out snacks for Santa--yes, still. Sparky goes to bed, and Beast and I run around like maniacs getting the stockings filled.

What foods does your family have every year at Christmas? I do NOT make a big whoop-te-do meal for Christmas! We snack and play with our new toys.

Who is the most fun to buy for? Sparky.

Who is the easiest to buy for? Sparky.

Who is the hardest to buy for? Beast.

Who gives the best gifts? Uh, pleading the Fifth on this one. ;-)

Any movies/specials you have to watch every year? Rudolph is the only one I care about, but we usually sit through a shitpile of them...till I can't take it anymore and find somewhere to be without a TV.

Who passes out the presents? Sparky.

Main stores you have shopped at this year: Bookstores, of course!

What kind of tree do you have? Six-foot fake tree on a stand that makes it look taller. We were too cheap to buy a new tree when we moved to this house with it's much higher ceilings!

What are your 3 favorite ornaments on your tree? The old one from my mom's childhood, the large multicolored glass oval, and the balsa hummingbird.

What adorns the top of your tree? A star.

Do you collect anything Christmasy? We have FAR too much shit, and we don't even put out all of it anymore. I told Beast as we packed up tonight that when we take everything down next month, I'm putting a lot of things aside to get rid of. It's crazy.

Whose kids are you buying for this year? Mine. All of 'em.

Can you name all 7 reindeer? Aren't there nine, counting Rudolph??

Ever watch Ernest Saves Christmas? NO! Yuck.

What's your favorite Christmas drink? Eggnog with Bacardi.

Do you like Eggnog? Yup.

What flavor candy canes do you like? ONLY peppermint.

When do you take your tree down? Normally on New Year's or the weekend following. It's gotten later and later over the past couple of years, though.

Is Christmas still magical for you? Parts of it are awesome. I really love Christmas Eve service at church.

What is your favorite thing about Christmas? Lights. Multicolored.

Do you donate at Christmas time? Hella yeah!

Do you make sure to remember the TRUE meaning of Christmas? YES!

How many nativity scenes do you have in your house? We have one main creche--in which Jesus doesn't show up till Christmas Eve--and a bunch of manger ornaments.

Have you been naughty or nice? Both. As is everyone.

---

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Nog.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa wraps almost everything, except odd-shaped stuff.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Multicolored. We're using white garland this year though.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No, we've been married too long. heh
5. When do you put your decorations up? Depends. Usually soon after Thanksgiving. We're very late this year.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Anything someone else makes!
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child: Hanging out with everyone on Christmas morning--just the sheer excitement. And Dad being cranky about everything. He was not a grinch, but he didn't really 'get' the whole rigmarole at all!
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't remember, but I'm pretty sure I'd figured it out by the time I was 8 or so.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Not until I got married. We try to do at least one now.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Beast does the lights, and Sparky and I stay the hell outta his way! Then we put the ornaments on retelling some of the stories as we go. Finally, the garland. There's always at least one heated conversation about something or other, and a great deal of relief once it's all done. Did I mention the ridiculous amount of shit we have??
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? If I'm staying home for the forseeable future, I'm all about snow. If I have to shovel it, or drive in it, not so much.
12. Can you ice skate? Not at all.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? As a child: the Barbie Dream House and carry case. That was an awesome, AWESOME year!!
14. What is the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Joy.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Seven-layer bars.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? I like them all.
17. What tops your tree? Still the same star.
18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? ...sigh. I like getting things. Sometimes I find the perfect gift for someone and that is always really fun.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Silent Night.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? I can usually handle one or two, but I'm not in love with them or anything.
21. What do you want for Christmas? Happy children (yours, mine and ours).
22. Do you attend an annual Christmas Party? Beast's was cancelled due to lack of interest, I missed mine last night due to a conflict. We may be hosting one. I haven't gotten a final answer from Beast.
23. Do you dress up on Christmas or wear PJs? PJs and comfy clothes.
24. Do you own a santa hat? Yup.
25. Who do you normally spend Christmas with? We used to visit friends on Christmas Day, but not for the past couple of years. Generally, we just want to relax all day, so we do. This year, Beast's dad will come over and I'm hoping that's the extent of the 'excitement.'

Patrick's Place

(Link in blogroll)
Saturday 6

1. Are you more picky about your own appearance, your car’s appearance, or your home’s appearance?

Uh, none of the above? I probably spend more time worrying about my appearance though. My car doesn't ever enter into it, although I try to keep the inside presentable.

2. When it comes to clothes, at what store do you spend the most on the clothes you wear?

I'm all over the map on this. Probably Kohl's, I guess.

3. You are assigned a big project at work: how close to deadline do you generally complete it?

I start big, and then finish in a panic the night before. I'm horrible--a huge procrastinator!

4. Take the quiz: Are You a Perfectionist?

When I took it in 2006, I was 63% perfectionist. I'm now at 68%. Sigh. It's sad, really. I'm so much better than I used to be, and my family (sisters) must be in the 95% range, since I feel like a total slacker compared to them!

5. After you finish something you are particularly proud of, a close friend makes a comment about an alternative way you could have done the same thing, and you realize that their idea is better. How are you most likely to respond, either to that person or on the inside?

"I never thought of that! Well, next time." Sorta depends on what we're talking about and how much time (or whatever) I could have saved doing it their way. I used to get very annoyed when this happened, but I think I'm generally over it, unless the other person is rubbing my nose in it. That's not cool.

6. Which do you generally find the easier: finding fault in your own personality, or finding fault in the personalities of those closest to you?

I'm pretty good at doing both. ;-) I'm far harder on myself, really, and fairly understanding of other people's foibles, until they complete get on my last nerve. Then I belt 'em. (not) In reality, I try to deal with minor issues before they become gigantic ones. For instance, one of the women I supposedly supervise sings/hums along with her headphones regularly. The frist time I let it go, but I call her on it almost every time she does it now. How can you not know you're doing this? It sounds like moaning. Ugh.

Saturday 9

(Link in blogroll)
'Tis the Season

1. Do you enjoy receiving or giving presents more?

I'm a fan of receiving. I suck at buying.

2. What is you[r] favorite holiday film?

I don't have one. I think they are mostly lame beyond reason, though there is a tiny soft-spot in my heart for the Rudolph TV show.

3. Have you started or finished your gift shopping?

I'm maybe halfway. Have no clues whatsoever for my niece and nephew. Sigh.

4. What does this time of year mean to you?

I'd prefer to bask in the advent (waiting, Come Lord Jesus) aspect, but it's well-nigh impossible to do so.

5. What is your favorite holiday song?

Silent Night. Sung quietly.

6. What do you love about the holiday season?

The faces of little children on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, delivering food and supplies to people who otherwise would have peanut butter for Christmas dinner. Christmas Eve service at church. The happy expectation. Seeing all the tree decorations and telling their stories.

7. What do you hate about the holiday season?

Shopping. Busy-ness. Muzak'd carols. The commercials. The negative expectations.

8. Do religious ceremonies play a part in your holiday traditions? If yes, how?

I try very hard to keep that the center of things. We try to find the advent readings from PCUSA, but I totally forgot this year. And we go to church regularly. I do have to say the whole point of Christmas is...Christ. Otherwise, you're celebrating Saturnalia (or another, intentionally different holiday like Hanukkah or Kwanzaa), which is fine, but it's not Christmas, is it?

9. Who will you spend the holidays with?

Beast's dad for sure. Otherwise, I dunno. BIL may be here. Katherine and Alan may be on the list. We're still very much in flux about the situation.

Food for Thought Friday

(Link in blogroll)

Breakfast
Do you have a real Christmas tree or an artificial one?

It's fake. I've had artificial for about half my life, and I love them. MUCH neater, less fire hazard, cheaper, fewer problems with allergies.... When I was quite young, and for the first 10 years or so we were married, we had real trees. My parents got tired of buying a new tree every year about 1972 (around the time the shit hit the fan financially for them), and the allergy thing finally killed off the real trees for Beast. I was miserable all month with a real tree in the house. I find it very ironic that most of the trees in Colorado are in the pine family, but I didn't develop a problem with allergies until I moved to the midwest.

By the way, the tree has yet to emerge this year. It's a nuts year!

Lunch
Do you give a Christmas gift to your nearby neighbors each year?

Nope. Just one family, and I think we are taking them out to dinner someplace nice this year because of all the nice things they did for us in August. Belated. But heartfelt.

Dinner
Have you ever done the 12 Days of Christmas or had it done to you? Was it anonymous?

OMG! Shoot me if that ever happens! It sounds like hell from either side: I'd have to shop for 12 separate gifts, and I'd feel guilty about receiving 12 things I probably don't like (ahem--fussy? me??). We used to do Secret Sisters at work, and I was not fond of it. When we finally had some adult males on staff, it was cancelled. I nearly threw a party to celebrate. It's one of the reasons I tolerated that first guy better than most of the staff, I think. ;-) [actually, I love him--he's an awesome guy]

Midnight Snack
What time do you typically get to bed on Christmas Eve?

We go to late service at church, which (now) starts at 10:30. Used to be closer to midnight. Anyway, by the time we get home from that, it's close to midnight, and then getting the stockings done and unwrapping at least one gift before bed...generally it's 1 at least before I hit the sheets.

The rule for Sparky has always been that he can't go into the living room alone on Christmas morning, and he can't wake us up before 7. Later is better. Of course, that's not the big deal it was when he was checking on the Santa situation, but he still gets up at ungodly hours most mornings--even after being up quite late, he can't sleep in--so the "not before 7 and later is better" rule stands.

Recipe for this Week (instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week?)

If it gets done, yay. If not, oh well, move on. Nothing is as critical as lowering the stress value in our lives.

Four for Friday

(Link in blogroll)

Q1 - Smokin': What do you think of President-elect Barak [sic] Obama's decision to smoke cigarettes... Who cares, it doesn't affect his ability to lead; I care because kids will smoke as a result of his example; it bothers me, but as long as he does it in private, I'm okay with it; something else?

Hmm, I didn't know he smoked. How odd that this never popped into my consciousness over the course of the election. Frankly, I don't care, though it does make me wonder about his judgment, and about the way his campaign was run that I never knew that. Smoking isn't evil, and many people (leaders) in other countries smoke, so whatever. Let's talk about the economy.

Q2 - Books: Did you read any memorable books this year/books you'd recommend reading?

I've read several good ones, and I'll do my usual end-of-the-year post about them in a couple of weeks. Just finished a good one called Breath and Bones, by Susann Cokal, about Denmark, the Western U.S., and painting in the 1880s. Interesting.

Q3 - Take Notice: What do you think people tend to notice about you? Related... Is there something else you wish they'd notice instead?

I don't know what people notice, though I hope my basic intelligence shines through my bouts with stupidity. I think most people at the Reference Desk think I'm friendly, and people who see me elsewhere think I'm not.... It's because I'm very focused on what I'm doing, and often don't see people I know until I've "ignored" them (when I actually, really, didn't know they were in the vicinity).

Q4 - Winter 2008/2009 Movies: Australia, Four Christmases, The Transporter 3, Nobel Son, Frost/Nixon, Punisher: War Zone, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Milk, Defiance, The Tale of Despereaux, Yes Man, Bedtime Stories, The Reader, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Hurricane Season, Marley & Me, Will Eisner's The Spirit, Revolutionary Road, Nothing Like the Holidays, Seven Pounds, Valkyrie, Bride Wars, Possession, The Unborn, The Brothers Bloom, Notorious, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, He's Just Not That Into You, Pink Panther 2, Push, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience... which movies are you most looking forward to watching this winter?

The Spirit looks good from the trailers. The Reader should be interesting (the book was, anyway, and I like the casting choices). Would like to see Milk. Desperaux was a good book and I love Matthew Broderick, so that should be good.

Having said all that, I probably won't see any of them. We just don't go to the movies. Sad. I'm going to make a deal with myself to see at least some of the foreign films they bring to town next month for the little mini-fest we have. It will, undoubtedly, be me alone however. I won't be able to talk Beast into it without a bunch of hassle.

Friday 5

(Link in blogroll)
Not Mine!

1. When did you last sleep in a bed outside your home?

At my sister's last month in Colorado. I had to think WAY too hard to remember that!!

2. When did you last drive someone else’s car?

If you count anything that isn't parked in our garage--I consider the Honda Beast's car, though I drive once a week or so--probably the same trip that I slept elsewhere. We rented a car.

3. When did you last cook in someone else’s kitchen?

Also last month at my sister's. I very obviously need to get out more...
...no WAIT!! I've made dinner three times at church this month!! The last time was two night ago. And I'll be doing it again tonight.

4. When did you last care for children who aren’t yours?

Wednesday after school.

5. When did you last do someone else’s job?

Our job descriptions at MPOW are pretty fluid (ahem) so I either never or always am doing someone else's work. However, at home, I'm constantly doing something that Sparky should have handled. Or so it seems lately.

Friday Five

(Link in blogroll)

1. What did you do on Monday?

Ran errands, volunteered at the high school, bent a fingernail back so badly I got a blood blister under it, watched SCC.

2. What did you do on Tuesday?

Worked at normal day without injury to anyone (that I'm aware of), gossiped.

3. What did you do on Wednesday?

Worked, shopped, went to study time.

4. What did you do on Thursday?

Worked a weird schedule, IM'd a lot of people, worried about Beast after he came home early (at 10) from work, sat in a dark parking lot listening to Matthew and waiting for Sparky.

5. What are you going to do today?

Shop, nap, catch up the blogs, play with kids, SLEEP!

Snow

Your Snow Test Says You're Independent

You feel like something good will happen to you in the next few weeks. You have an amazingly strong work ethic. You are likely to be very successful in life. You are an independent, individualistic person. You thrive when you're doing your own thing. Your biggest worry in your life is your own safety. You fear death and getting hurt. When it comes time to relax, you have no problem letting go. You are already pretty relaxed as is!

The Snow Test

Yeah, I guess...pretty close. If I didn't feel like something good would happen in the future, would that not lead to suicidal tendencies rather quickly? And I'm not really afraid of death; I'm afraid of pain.

RevGalBlogPals Friday Five

(Link in blogroll)
Windows of the Soul

1. What color are your beautiful eyes? Did you inherit them from or pass them on to anyone in your family?

My eyes are hazel, leaning more toward brown than green. They are from Dad; Mom's eyes are pale blue. Beast also has hazel eyes, and Sparky has ended up there as well. No shock there. I wish my eyes were bigger, but I'm so glad they are still functional that I'm not really complaining! If nothing else, this year reinforced how much I appreciate my vision and good eye health.

2. What color eyes would you choose if you could change them?

I'd rather have more green in the hazel.

3. Do you wear glasses or contacts? What kind? Like 'em or hate 'em?

I've worn glasses for 35 years now. There was a period of a year or so when I tried soft contacts, but because I was allergic to the solution in which they were stored, they caused me no end of annoyance, pain, and loss of vision. I'm still pretty sure that my allergies were triggered in spade by this. In any case, it didn't work out and I am perfectly happy with glasses at this point.

4. Ever had, or contemplated, laser surgery? Happy with the results?

I have, briefly. When I mentioned it to my eye doctor a couple of years ago, he said I was not a candidate because of my genetics and eye structure. So, ok, won't be worrying about that. ;-)

5. Do you like to look people in the eye, or are you more eye-shy?

I'm terminally eye-shy, a word I've never heard before but will be using now!

Bonus question: Share a poem, song, or prayer that relates to eyes and seeing.

My favorite Shakespeare sonnet:

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red:
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak,--yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go,
My mistress when she walks, treads on the ground;
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.

Now THAT is love!

Friday Fill-Ins

(Link in blogroll)

1. Friends are the cement that holds my brain together.

2. Take care of your health; it's the most important thing you have.

3. I'm ready for a vacation. I'm totally not ready for almost anything else.

4. The smell of our house after a long vacataion is one of my favorite perfumes or aftershaves or smells.

5. The oldest ornament I have is one my mom had on her Christmas tree as a child. It's a porcelain angel/baby with moveable arms and legs, about 3" in length.

6. Take some teenagers, hard work, and food , mix it all together and you have a fun project.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to playing with the youth group and kids at our fundraiser tonight, tomorrow my plans include getting the house decorated (FINALLY!), and Sunday, I want to finish decorating, start wrapping, do some shopping, stop at work...aaah, cards!

Sensual Sweaters

Your Sensuality Score is: 55%

You are quite sensual, but you don't go overboard. You can appreciate a good piece of music (or pie) better than most people. While you love to treat your senses, you're not greedy. You enjoy any sensual experience that comes your way, but you are not a slave to your senses.

How Sensual Are You?

100% accurate. Mmmm, piiiiiiieeeee!

---

You Are a Cardigan

You are traditional, old-fashioned, and even a little conservative. More than anything else, you are a creature of habit. You haven't changed much over the years. You shy away from flashy ideas, people, fashion, and foods. You have simple tastes. You go for established quality and longevity every time.

What Kind of Sweater Are You?

Well, ok. I have several cardigans, but they aren't my first choice. Oh, well.

Circus

You Should Walk on Stilts

Your biggest talent is your ability to make people laugh. And like most comedians, you'll do anything to get a people roaring. You know how to work a crowd. You are witty, but you are also great at physical comedy. But you'll leave the daredevil stunts to other people... you don't need them to get your applause.

What Circus Act Should You Perform?

I dunno about biggest, but I do like to make people laugh. Sad and pathetic. However, I'm SO not getting on stilts, not this week especially! I've injured myself 3 times in as many days.

Manic Monday

(Link in blogroll)

What is the most expensive meal you've ever eaten?

We ate dinner with another couple at a steak restaurant in Milwaukee a few years ago, and the bill at the end, for four people, was over $350 for four steaks and a bottle of wine. But they were mighty good steaks.

What is the fastest speed you've ever traveled in a car?

Triple digits. Also in Milwaukee, in a car driven by one of the people we were at dinner with above. But it was a different visit.

What is the highest building you've ever been to the top floor of?

I've been at the top of the #1 and #5 buildings in the City of Big Shoulders.

Curious as a Cat

(Link in blogroll)

1) What one quality of your mother’s would you most like to share?

Her strength and stubbornness. They are hard to separate; they seem to feed on each other.

2) If you promised never to lie about anything ever again, in what area of your life would be it the hardest for you to keep the promise?

Feelings. Both mine and other peoples'.

3) If you found a fifty dollar bill in a vacant lot, what would you do with it?

I'd keep it. I'm not that way--if the lot really is vacant, and there really aren't any people around, I'd keep it. I would probably donate it, but I wouldn't waste any guilt in trying to figure out who dropped it.

4) What good deed that you didn’t do when you had the opportunity do you wish you had done?

There are so many...I wish I could take back some of the stuff I've said to one of the youth group members over the past year; I'm pretty hard on her.

5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.
Public Domain Photo

This is my mixer. It's also my mom's. I love these kind, because they are real workhorses that hold up to everything. Mom's was still working when she moved out of her apartment a few years ago--after almost 50 years of cakes, pies, and mashed potatoes!

What Kind of Sign Am I?

You Look Like a Leo

It's likely that you have great hair. No matter what the style is, it's the first thing people notice about you. Your hair tends to be a great color naturally, and it's likely you even get highlights from the sun. Overall, your body is slim and graceful. You seem comfortable in your skin. Your body is well proportioned. No part of you is unusually big or smile [sic]. Like most Leo people, you are probably lively, interesting, and fun loving. You are a good friend. You are naturally generous and hospitable.

What Sign Do You Look Like?

...and if you don't agree with my assessment of accuracy, I will bit your head off. ;-)