Christmas Meme

I'm stealing (borrowing??) this Meme from a blog that I read. Hope she doesn't mind :)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Prefer paper, but will do bags for the odd to wrap stuff.
2. Real tree or artificial? Both, I think. I have always had a real tree, but seems everyone in Tx has a fake one so I gave in after Joe was born. This year I might put the fake one (which looks wonderfully real) in the front room in the window and a real one in our family room. I just love that fresh pine smell....
3. When do you put up the tree? The week after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take down the tree? I am usually ready to pack it all up on New Years Day.
5. Do you like eggnog? It's ok. I have egg nog creamer in my coffee right now.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I can remember a few... A pink barbie "big girl" bike with a banana seat and sissy bar on back; the barbie dream house; my first "stereo" - it would play albums AND 8-tracks; wow...I better stop now. I am really dating myself.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My father in law.
8. Easiest person to buy for? My husband and kids
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No. Which surprises me since my husband is Catholic.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. Usually late though.
11. Worst Christmas gift ever received? Can't remember one.
12. Favorite Christmas movie? Christmas Vacation and all the oldies (charlie brown, rudolph, grinch, etc..)
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? A few things here and there in Nov. Most of it in Dec.
14. Ever recycled a Christmas present? Don't think so. May have donated one down the line.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Everyones goodies.
16. Lights on a tree? Definitely. All white and LOTS of them.
17. Favorite Christmas song? "Bobby wants a puppy dog for Christmas" - Merle Haggard. I love his Christmas album!! It was one of my Dads favorites when I was growing up.
18. Travel or stay home at Christmas? Seems like we are either traveling to somewhere, or people are traveling to our place. This year....we get to stay home!!
19. Can you name all Santa's reindeer? Of course...
20. Angel on top of the tree, or star? I'd like to, but just can't seem to find the right one.
21. When do you do presents? Christmas morning.
22. Most annoying thing this time of year? Traffic.
23. Favorite Christmas dinner? The traditional - turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, rolls.
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? For my little family to be happy and healthy. On a more commercial note.... the HP Touchsmart computer, a new zoom lense for my camera, a flour sifter, an external memory with LOTS of space, our new gym to open up down the road, my son to suddently LOVE to read, our dog to stop shedding, my body chemistry to change in such a way that my fat cells only know how to shrink, a live in housekeeper, my roots never to show, and my husband to suddenly long for the evenings to come because he just can't wait to give me a foot massage every night...with lotion :)

Ooooh doggie....this is going to be a very interesting 4 years. Mainly because I am so curious to see if everyone is still as happy a year or two from now. People are expecting BIG things from Obama. I think quite a few people voted for him and his issues, however I think the majority were just voting against the big Red Monster, or to make history with a black president (which is basically why my black friends told me they were voting for him..and the only reason they were voting for him). It came pretty clear to me when I was standing in line to vote last week. There was a couple standing 2 spaces behind me, and after about 45 min of waiting she said "I hope Obama appreciates what we are doing for him!". Once others around them knew they were voting blue they all chimed in too and conversated about how great it is going to be. I have a funny feeling that alot of people are expecting their life to change dramatically now - like that sweet lady in the video below who believes that now she will not have to work so hard to put gas in her car or pay her mortgage.

People are not patient. This has become a society of "what can you do for me" and "I want it now". It is not going to be pretty.... Hang on to your hope, because there will be change - and it may just come in the form of higher taxes which will mean less jobs (i'm already paying out 40% when I take on projects, any more and i'm practically working for free); this new gov't wanting to take control of our 401k's...never a good idea (google it...); Islamic Finance 101 and Shari'a compliant financing to assist with our US bailout on Nov 6th- WTF! - google this too because it is fascinating reading. Holy shit... call me ignorant or any other names you want, but this is crazy.

If you get a chance - click over to and read this post by Roughneck. I found him during my search for my "don't blame me, I voted for..." bumpersticker. I am not very good at putting thoughts to pen, but this California Man took all the jumbled words in my head and posted them as his own... hehe :) jk - I can only wish to post something so well written.

Good luck Obama - there are alot of people counting on you to bring change. I don't think any gov't can do what they are expecting of you.

Seriously? No....seriously????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=381gFG4Crr8

Halloween

There once was a princess named Jenna. Jennerella, as

her Daddy likes to call her.

She was very upset because her brother, Darth Vader,
insisted on messing with her and sticking his light
saber in her face.

She called in her Troops of Clone and that gave Darth V someone else to focus on....

Jennerella had a great time going door to door collecting all kinds of goodies - completely oblivious to the fact that at midnight her beautiful carriage was going to turn back in to a wagon pulled by her Daddy. This did not do much for 'rella's mojo.

Needless to say, both Jennerella and Darth V eventually came down from their sugar highs and crashed like a ton of bricks into their beds - sleeping well into the hour of 6am when they wanted to get up, watch cartoons, and eat some more candy.... Mommy and Daddy were so happy.

But seriously - we had such a great time. We go to our old neighborhood a couple miles away and trick or treat with our friends who still live over there. That neighborhood is huge and everyone goes all out for Halloween - hundreds of people dressed up and roaming around visiting, haunted houses, one guy turns his driveway into a movie theatre with his garage door being the movie screen. It is awesome.

Hope you all had a great time too.