1. Wrapping or gift bags? Wrapping paper, with bows. But I’m cheap, so I’ll use bags if that’s what I have leftover from last year.

2. Real or artificial tree? The Dog hasn’t been interested in destroying my tree, so real tree it is.

3. When do you put up the tree? I resist the urge to put it up the day after Thanksgiving. First weekend in December.

4. When do you take the tree down? December 26 if it’s already dried out.

5. Do you like eggnog? I like a little sip of eggnog. A whole glass is just gross.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I got a few cameras throughout the years.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? DH likes cheesy stuff like moose scupltures. I compromised and got a little tiny “Alaska” themed nativity. The wisemen are a moose, sea lion, and polar bear.

8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? The clothing. It was terrible. I have one distant cousin with good taste in clothes, other that that, YIKES! Velvet overalls, the sweatshirt with a row of cats (backsides) wearing santa hats, the mother-daughter matching tie-dye moo moos, the sweater, the ruffled bodysuits, the white turtleneck with scales, the fourth-of-july-picnic on a blouse. The clothing, it was terrible.

9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Neither. I’m not that into giving/receiving cards. If DH wants to send a letter, he can write it, address it, print photos, lick stamps himself, and stand in line at the post office himself.

10. Favorite Christmas Movie? You know, that one, black and white, with the guy who throws himself off a bridge?

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas? October. I spread it out over 4-6 paychecks.

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Gingerbread.

13. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Color.

14. Favorite Christmas song? “Carol of the Bells”

15. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home (its a fantasy though).

16. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer.Yes.
Dasher, Dance, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. Rudolph, too.

17. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star

18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? Christmas morning.

19. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Expectations.

20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? Blue/Silver snowflakes and icicles.

21. What do you leave for Santa? I’ve never left anything for Santa.

22. Least favorite holiday song? Christmas songs by Amy Grant

23. Favorite ornament? Stephanie sent us an “our first christmas” snowflake. I should put a picture in that sucker.

So lately, I’ve been taking a lot of pictures of my dog.



But only because he isn’t so good to look at from this angle.

We went on an Alaskan cruise!

 I was very proud of this picture:

Back to reality.

Tagged by (and copied from) Spacerider:

Once you have been tagged, you have to write a blog with 5 interesting facts about yourself. Then choose 5 people you want to tag and list their names.Five facts:

Five facts:

1. I am pathetically obsessed with closet organization. Everything must have its own place! On date night, we go to The Container Store, and if DH is lucky, he only has to spend $200 to make me stop drooling and hugging the items for sale.
2. I’m a daydreaming escapist. I had entire families of imaginary friends growing up, usually big brothers or aunts and uncles. I am still chronically lonely.  
3. In spite of how much I blog, I feel like I don’t have that much to say.
4. I rode a horse in the Rose Parade. My goofy grin was on CBS for 30 seconds.
5. I talk to myself when I think noone can hear me. Shhhh!

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
   Stood in church and sang hymns with my family, instead of somone elses.
2. What places did you visit?
   San Jose, Ca -Blogher
   Dana Point, Ca – 1st Anniversary
   Toronto, and Ottawa, Ontario
3. What was your favorite film of this year?
   You expect me to remember the films I’ve seen this year?
4. What was your favorite holiday in 2006 and why?
   Ugh. Gosh. Halloween is usually my fav, but The Kids are too old for it now.
5. What was your most watched tv show during 2006?
   Waaaaay too much Law & Order, The Pretender
6. What was your favorite TV program?
   Gilmore Girls
7. What was the best book or book series you read?
   Dean Koontz, Odd Thomas series
8. What was your greatest musical discovery?
   The Afters
9. Which celebrity/public figure did you read about/keep up with the most?
   Heather B. Armstrong
10. What relationships began, ended, or significantly changed during 2006? Why and how?
    Hmmm. Ended a couple of friendships because of family drama (it wasn’t your fault guys, but I can’t deal with this). Got an out-of-the-blue phone call from BFNF#2 (Best Friend Not Forever #2) from junior high school. She came out of nowhere.
11. What was your biggest expenditure in 2006? Do you feel you got your money’s worth?
    12 day trip to Canada
12. Who was your mentor or role model in 2006?
    Hmmmmm?
13. Who was the most helpful professional or service person you dealt with in 2006?
    The Southwest Airlines lady who let me change my nonrefundable ticket to a work conference at the last minute.
14. Who was the least helpful professional or service person you dealt with in 2006?
    Avis Rental Cars. Please don’t get my husband started on this one.
15. Did you learn any new skills in 2006? If so, what?
    Hmm.. it’s been a while since I burned dinner.
16. What skills did you work on developing further or fine tuning in 2006?
    Teaching introductory computer classes is getting easier.
17. What did you learn about yourself in 2006?
    I need to stop hanging on to friendships that aren’t there. If you love someone, set them free..
18. What did you learn about someone close to you in 2006?
    Since when does he not like Cherry Tomatoes?
19. What did you keep close to your heart in 2006?
    My Halloween candy dish
20. What transitions did you experience in 2006?
    650 square foot, one-bedroom apartment shared with another person.
21. What was your biggest achievement/accomplishment/personal gain of 2006?
    I’m bad at answering stuff like this.
22. What was your biggest failure/setback/disappointment of 2006?
    I gained back a portion of the weight I had previously lost and became even more sedentary than before, which I did not realize was possible.
23. What was your personal success that was the most meaningful to you in 2006? (Not the same question as 21 as the biggest may or may not be the most personally meaningful)
    Ditto #21
24. Did you suffer illness or injury in 2006? Is it ongoing or better now?
    I don’t remember. Let me check my archives… DH is the one who’s been sick this year.
25. What was the best thing you bought in 2006?
    A shopping question? Come on, you can do better than that!
26. What was the best gift you received in 2006?
    A family bible, a red pea coat, and a suprise birthday party.
27. Whose behavior merited celebration in 2006?
    Am I supposed to rate my friends and family like a child?
28. Whose behavior upset you greatly?
    Again, is this a third-grade report card?
29. What did you do for fun in 2006?
    I went to BlogHer
30. What song will always remind you of 2006?
    Waiting, Waiting on the SONG to change!
31. What do you wish you’d done more of in 2006?
    exercise
32. What do you wish you’d done less of in 2006?
    Sitting at my computer
33. Did you fall in love or date anyone significant in 2006?
    That’s kinda frowned uppon in wedlock.
34. How many one-night stands or brief encounters did you have in 2006?
    Again, frowned uppon.
35. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
    Same list, pretty much.
36. Do you love anyone now that you didn’t love this time last year?
    No, but I have a blogcrush on Carmen!
37. What did you want or need and get?
    A red wool walking coat!!
38. What did you want or need and not get?
    I didn’t get to decorate my home for Christmas.
39. What was your absolute weirdest encounter with another human being during 2006?
    I have a few nutty students… shouldn’t go there in public though.
40. What was your best/happiest encounter with another human being during 2006?
    BFNF#2  called me out of thin air.
41. What was your worst/most distressing encounter with another human being in 2006?
    BFNF#1 still hasn’t explained why she wasn’t at my wedding (BFNF#3 did, but it was a crappy excuse).
42. What got fixed and improved in 2006 and who fixed it?
    Ray fixed our garbage disposal a few times.
43. What was the prettiest thing you saw during 2006?
    The beach on our first anniversary.
44. Who did you miss in 2006?
    BFNF#1, #2, & #3, see above.
45. Whose presence were you grateful for every day (or nearly every day)?
    That Guy I Married is *always here, I can’t figure out why he keeps coming back!
46. Who was the best new person you met or got to know in 2006?
    Ok, these questions are getting circuitous: my bloggy crushy.
47. What was the best gift you gave to another being during 2006?
    I gave somebody something? I can’t remember.
48. What are you proud of from 2006?
    I made it through 12 days in Canada in WINTER and didn’t complain about the cold ONCE!
49. What good thing did you persist in despite tiredness, boredom, or discouragement during 2006?
    Helping with the preschoolers in Sunday school. LORD, I’d rather be in the nursery instead!
50. What dumb thing did you persist in despite better knowledge in 2006?
    Eating out all. the. time. the first year we were married. Bad, bad idea.
51. If applicable, what kept you sane?
    The occasional jog.
52. If applicable, what drove you crazy?
    I’m to tired to count. See this year’s archive for “Stop Poking Me.”
53. What was your most meaningful moment of 2006, the thing that makes you say, “yes, this is all worthwhile!”?
    Ugggh. This is starting to sound like a college application!
54. What stable thing in your life became less stable in 2006?
    Oh, we’re teetering on the ledge of sanity here!
55. What unstable thing in your life became more stable in 2006?
    A few friendships.
56. What political issue made you the happiest?
    Who put “political issue” and “happiest” in the same sentence?
57. What political issue disturbed you the most?
    Why do you tell me that my vote matters, and then tell me that I live in a blue state, so I already voted as a Democrat?
58. What decisions did you make in 2006 that will likely affect 2007 and beyond?
    The finances. We have a plan. Darn it!
59. What is a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006 that you would like to pass on to others?
    People who are screaming at you: it’s usually not really about you.  
60. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
    “I’m coming out of my cage, and I’ve been doing just fine.” The Killers, Mr. Brightside.

’nuff said.

Leave a comment!

I’ve had a site redesign in the works since BlogHer 06. The masthead is done, the blogskin is done, any guesses when you’ll actually get to see it?

An excerpt from Christmas With My Mother:

“Yes, honey, alchohol and sugar make wine. Its called fermentation. When yeast breaks down, it pisses out wine. When yeast farts, it makes bread.”

Now that I’ve ruined bread and wine for you, here, have a Christmas picture.

Merry Christmas.

Ok, Ok, Ok! I’m here, really!

Time to admit that (gasp!) I got sick of NaBloPoMo. I tried to fake it and post-date a couple of entries, I tried to bribe the husband to go post something for me, but naaaaah, I’m over it.

Then again, It’s NaBloPoMo and here I am… posting.

I’ve officially received a “Where have you been?” email from a blogosphere friend. Don’t worry! I’m here, I’m fine, just busy.

We are deep into the Christmas Crazies. I’ve been online long enough to read my feed and keep up with y’all, but not enough to write.

I’ve been offline and spending evenings cooking, reading a Dean Koontz novel, catching up on a huge-stack-of-unread-magazines and tv episodes. I’m in between terms at school, so I’ve been prepping for my next class. Wanna hear a Stress Dream?

So this summer I picked up a class that was particularly stressful to teach. Before that class, and again last night I dreamed that I walked into the classroom full of students and started talking but they weren’t listening. So I truck along and write something on the board, and when I look back at the class they have all turned their chairs and monitors around and are facing the back of the room, with their backs to me. Ignoring me? Taking someone else’s class? I’m not sure, but I wake up feeling insecure. Like I need more insecurity in my life.

That Sweet Man I Married was kind enough to endulge my request for yarn and a crochet hook last night. He went out at 8:30 and brought home yarn, hooks, books, and chocolate. Its cold, I’m tired, and I wanted someting mindless to do with my hands while watching tv. Nevermind that last night’s Gilmore Girls episode was Knit, People! Knit!

What are you doing reading blogs? Go outside and enjoy the Santa Ana Winds!!!

 

The Animal Planet episode chronicled the adventure of some idiot who set out to pet a cobra on the head. Apparantly Steve Irwin died in vain. The camera man, he was smart enough to back away when necessary. After I snapped the picture of that scintillating episode, we headed out to Venice for Turkey dinner.

My Cousin sold her soul to now hosts Thanksgiving at her house every year to justify paying for this beautiful kitchen remodel.

We had a very yummy dinner, and this year she actually let everyone help. Yay. I was afraid she was starting to turn into my Grand Martyr Mother.

The turkeys were yummy. Yes, I said “turkeys” plural. Maybe we still need to work on my cousin and the overdoingitness. She bought two “smaller” ones this year so that she would have an easier time of flipping the bird (hee hee) half way through cooking it. Flipping the bird has something to do with keeping the turkey moist. Whatever. It worked. Yummy.

I have found stuffing that I will eat. Someone brought cornbread dressing, and it wasn’t reheated soggy breadcrumbs like that other cr stuff. I shall have to scour the net for a similar recipe.

I was Out-Potatoed. I brought sweet potato puree and some fancypants brought Pecan And Walnut Crusted Sweet Potato Bake. Is there an emoticon for MOCKING!? Pecan And Walnut Crusted… meh meh meh meh meh. It was better than mine. Dang it. I guess I have to come up with a new trick.

And the pie. Good grief. There was so much pie.  Two people were told to bring one, and they each brought three. Pecan, chocolate mouse, apricot, peach… I ate ice cream instead.
We made it an early night because My Cousin has an unrelenting retail job and has to be up at 5 a.m. 257 days a year.

DH and I went looking for something to do at 8 p.m. We had two choices one of them was wait in line at Walmart for whatever-is-supposedly-worth-waiting-in-line-all-night-for.

I was not about to let Ian stand in this line all night, or take pictures of the crazies people standing in the line. Movie! Movies! Let’s go to a movie!!!
We saw Deja Vu. It was good. Go see it. I even stayed awake all the way to the end, that’s how good it was!

Apparantly DH is just now getting in the swing of Christmas Shopping. Is there anything we need to get up at 5 a.m. to go buy? Are you sure you don’t want anything from Fry’s? I’ll go stand in line if there’s something that you want. Who are we shopping for? What are we getting him? Her? Them? We decided that nothing had to be purchased at 5 a.m.
As we settled into bed, DH says: “I want to get up at five just to go take pictures of the people in the line!”

“Good NIGHT Ian!”

Happy Post Turkey Shopping, Internets. I think I shall go back to bed.

A converstation about what restaurants are open for breakfast on Thanksgiving Day.
Breakfast.

A conversation about what stores are open on Thanksgiving Day.
A trip to the Drugstore to look around.
A vow to walk up and down every single isle. Start on the south side of the store.

A stop at the card isle, and read every. single. card.
Select card to frame at home.

A conversation about the lack of carwashes on this side of LA county.
A trip to the car wash.

A trip home to kill some time before we go to L.A.
An experiment with uploading pictures from the camera phone.

Upload photos and wonder why That Weirdo I Married is watching this on TV.

A huge thanks to the Lord, at least it isn’t football!