It's Beginning to Look a lot Like..

Christmas! And you know what that means, chocolate oranges! You know, whack and unwrap. OK, so that's not what it's about, but I love those things and I happened to see them at the store the other day. Seems like they only make an appearance around Christmas time. Dee-lish!
I have been so bad about posting lately. Actually we're always bad about updating, but this time seems to be worse.

James and I had a nice Thanksgiving together. We were all alone (pout, sniffle, sniffle) and of course it would have been wonderful to be with family, but we had a quiet and relaxing few days and even made some pretty yummy Turkey Day grub. I was missing good ol' Southern cornbread dressing and James was missing his family's potato rolls, neither of which we attempted to make ourselves. Hopefully we can get our fill of those traditional dishes at Christmas.

I did get my Christmas tree up as well as a few other things, but I'm feeling like I'm not quite done. Here's a peek at the tree- I couldn't get a really good picture, maybe it's all the twinkling lights messing with the camera? The lime green and red ornaments made their appearance for a 2ND year and this year there is a little aqua blue in the mix.

I also have another new (and kinda old) addition to my holiday decor. My mom made this little stocking for my first Christmas (way back in 1982!) and every year since it would get hung with my "big girl" stocking. A few years ago when we pulled it out of the attic at my mom's for another Christmas season, it was looking kind of sad and some of the threads had started coming apart- I think moths may be to blame. I decided it was time to put it under glass. After a few years of forgetting to do that until I pulled it out for another Christmas, I finally had it framed!!! It looks so cute and hopefully it will last much longer now. I currently have it propped on a plate stand, but I may end up hanging it up somewhere.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I tend to skip ahead because I get so excited about Christmas, but I really do enjoy Thanksgiving and I think it's a really great time to stop and reflect. James and I have so many things to be thankful, among them are family, friends, a happy/healthy marriage and stable jobs in a tough economic time.

Here's to a wonderful holiday season! Sheesh, can't believe tomorrow is December 1st!!

You Gotta See This...

It's time once again for another episode of: "Funny, Cool, and/or Weird Videos from Around the Internets". The title is a little wordy, but you'll be glad you stayed tuned to this channel.

First, I don't know how many of you know what "Auto-tune" is so let me explain: it's a device being used by a number of musicians today that digitally corrects the pitch of their voice so it always sounds melodious. Now the beautiful people don't have to lip-sync to the beautiful voices of merely average looking people, they can lip-sync to their own digitally manipulated voices! Yay!

Anyway, a recently exploited feature of auto-tune is that it can take regular speech and make it sound like singing. Now everyone can sound like a karaoke robot from the comfort of their own living rooms! You may have seen the YouTube video, "Charlie Bit Me" where a couple of adorable British kids have become internet stars. Now, for your viewing pleasure is the auto-tune "Charlie Bit Me" song! Both videos are very cute and funny.

One downright cool video is called "Symphony of Science" in which someone has auto-tuned a scientific documentary featuring a number of prominent scientists (including Carl Sagan and Bill Nye) talking about the nature of our atomic makeup. I do not agree with all of their scientific conclusions regarding our existence or the existence of the universe we live in, but the obvious pleasure they take in discussing how vast and amazing life is, is quite inspiring! How can you argue with the line "the beauty of a living thing is not the atoms that go into, but the way those atoms are put together."? Not to mention the song is quite catchy.

Finally today, here is a treat for you movie fans out there. This is a Star Wars themed tribute to composer John Williams. Fans of a cappella music will be especially thrilled! I think this qualifies as funny, cool, and weird, but I'm guessing it depends on who you ask.

Next blog update will be: whenever we get around to it. Hopefully sooner rather than later!

Look What We Woke Up To..

Yes, that's right ladies and gentlemen, it has begun!

It snowed a little late yesterday afternoon, but it was rain/snow mix, so it turned into a big slushy mess. This morning we woke up to more snow, but not too much, just a nice dusting with the roads being mostly clear. James hates it, I on the other hand I'm glad to see a little snow, I may have even done the happy dance- making sure no one was around of course.

I will say that it definitely makes me want to make a big pot of chili, blare my Christmas music and start "decking the halls." James said I have to wait, at least until Thanksgiving. Sigh... Well, that hasn't stopped me from making plans for my decorations this year. I'm going to stick with my lime/apple green & red tree decor from last year, after all it's only a year old and I still really like that combo, but I'm thinking of adding a little teal/bluish to the mix this year. I've seen lots of that color around and I even picked up a few ornaments in that color. Who knows, I may not like the blue mixed in, but I'll play around with it and see how it looks.

What about y'all? Doing anything different with your decorations this year? What about Christmas cards? I have been searching for the perfect card to send out to fam/friends this year, but can't seem to find exactly what I want. I had hopes of making my own, but I think I've decided against that, for this year at least.

Ode To a White Dodge Dakota

Gather 'round dear children and hear my sad tale,

about a little white truck with the heart of a whale.

Many years ago when I was but a lad,

I needed a new ride so I called up my dad.

I looked around once, he looked around twice,

and found a small pickup for just the right price.

It had a few flaws as used trucks do,

but it ran like a dream and had a stereo too!

I got in my new truck to go for a ride,

it started right up and rumbled with pride.

As I started uphill I was startled to hear

a loud moaning sound that sounded quite near.

I knew the solution for just such a sound,

I turned up the stereo and let the bass pound.

One day I got out of my little white truck,

I tried to close the door, but somehow it stuck.

For awhile brute strength would keep it shut tight,

but that all changed out at WalMart one night.

In the dark and the rain I prayed to the Lord,

and remembered somewhere I had a bungee cord.

People would smile at my door latching device,

but it kept the door shut and it was just the right price.

Then in the terrible winter of Oh-Nine,

a sad thing happened that really crossed a line.

While attempting to escape from a snowy, white grave,

I heard a great CA-CHUNK as the four-wheel drive gave.

It pained me to think it, but I knew it was so,

It was time for me to let my poor white truck go.

So many long drives, so many good times

I need to end soon I'm running out of rhymes.

I will miss that little dodge dakota truck,

I hope it brings the new owner great luck.

Say goodbye now dear children as it drives away,

be sure to wave for me if it drives past you someday.

Leaving On a Jet Plane

Tomorrow morning, bright and early, I am leaving K-town and heading to Cincinnati to attend The SEARCH Institute's Healthy Communities/ Healthy Youth Conference. This is actually not a work function, but for PATCHworks, a local Non-Profit Board I sit on that promotes the Developmental Assets Model for children/youth within the community. This is an annual event that representatives from our board and community attend, and I was just about the only board member who had not yet attended the conference. So, I'm joining our Executive Director and heading to Ohio for the annual shin-dig.

I kind of have mixed feelings about actually going. While Cincinnati would not be my destination of choice, it will definitely be great to get off "the rock" and you can't really knock a free trip, right? On the other hand, work is so crazy right now and I just know I'm going to come back to 200 emails and a desk stacked full of crap! Plus, traveling definitely makes sticking to the Nutrisystem plan much harder. My game plan is to take some foods with me and the rest of the time, carefully watch what I'm eating and be sure to grab plenty of fruits and veggies.

Too bad this conference couldn't be in the deep south. If that were the case, maybe I could steal away and visit family and friends for a few days. Anybody going to be in the Cincinnati area this week? Anyone have any suggestions for sites to see while I'm there?

In other thoughts, with the end of Daylight Savings, it is getting dark here at almost 4:00pm!!!! I hate that, and I know until Dec. 21st, it will just continue to get worse. Sigh... Well, I am looking forward to decorating for Christmas and even seeing a little bit of snow. Shhhhh, don't tell James! I believe he has previously referred to snow as the "white, flaky menace".

Let me know if you feel like making a random trip to Cincinnati!