Getting To Know You

Got this as an email and changed it around a bit to use here on my blog. Thought it was a bit of an interesting way to give out some facts about myself that people might not know. Cut and paste the questions to your blog and change the answers to apply to you. (Leave me a comment and let me know if you posted this to your blog--would like to get to know my readers a bit more!)


1. What time did you get up this morning? Morning? There's a morning?

2. Diamonds or pearls? DIAMONDS! (Got wonderful ones for Christmas.)

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Could it possibly be "Christmas With The Kranks" last year? Oh, my. (We have HBO, etc. and have the tendency to buy DVDs.)

4. What is your favorite TV show? Lots of shows I like. I love House, Boston Legal, Gilmore Girls, 24, The Shield, Everwood, Monk...I need a life!

5. What did you have for breakfast? COFFEE...the most important food of the day.

6. What is your middle name? Marie--has gotten to be a tradition: my mother, me, my first daughter, and my first grand-daughter all have the same middle name.

7. What is your favorite cuisine? American

8. What foods do you dislike? OOOOHHHHHHHH...too numerous to mention. I am a very picky and unadventurous eater. (Though you would never know by looking at me.)

9. What is your favorite Potato chip? Probably Lay's...don't eat that much potato chips cause there are too many other snack foods that I like better. Cheetos, Doritos, Fritos, yummmm.

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Still enjoying Rob Thomas' "Something To Be" and, as always, I'm loving Eric Clapton. His newest and at-the-moment fav is "Back Home."

11. What kind of car do you drive? A GMC Jimmy--and can't believe it took us this long to finally get a 4WD!

12. What is your favorite sandwich? I'm really enjoying the bacon-chicken ranch at Subway, these days.

13. What characteristics do you despise? Manipulation, condescension, and being a drama queen. (I am the drama queen--no one else can be!)

14. Favorite item of clothing? My daily uniform: yoga pants and t-shirt.

15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, it would be: Australia and New Zealand, without a doubt!

16. What color is your bathroom? White with blue accessories.

17. Favorite brand of clothing? Anything that fits and looks decent. (Unfortunately, those are few and far between. It's hell being this short!)

18. Where would you want to retire to? Don't know if I particularly want to leave where we are.

19. Favorite time of day? NIGHT! (I would do so well working the night-shift.)

20. Where were you born? Michigan

21. Favorite sport to watch? Hockey

23. What type of detergent do you use? Whatever fragrance-free detergent I can find a Sam's Club. Right now it is All.

24. Coke or Pepsi? DEFINITELY Coke.

25. Are you a morning person or night owl? If you have read this far, and if you know me AT ALL, you know I am a night owl.

26. What size shoe do you wear? 6-6 1/2

27. Do you have pets? My fat-cat (15+ pounds!)

28. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with everybody: I actually kind of enjoyed Christmas this year.

29. What did you want to be when you were little? When I was real little: a telephone operator. (Remember those?) Then when I was older: a doctor or a medical researcher.

30. Favorite Candy Bar? Right now, probably Hershey with almonds. I overdosed on Snickers, finally.

31. What is your best childhood memory? Nothing really pops into my head.

32. What are the different jobs you have had in your life? Other than full-time wife and mother, dental assistant and teacher aide. My volunteer jobs are WAY too numerous to mention.

33. What color underwear are you wearing? Underwear? Going commando mean anything?

34. Nicknames: Sis is the closest I ever got to a nickname.

35. Piercing? 5 holes in my ears.

36. Eye color? Green.

37. Ever been to Africa? No, but would love to go. Anyone want to offer to take me?

38. Ever been toilet papered? NO--I've lead a very boring life!

39. Ever Loved someone so much it made you cry? Of course--hasn't everyone?

40. Been in a car accident? Twice--once when I was very young, about 5 years old, and once when I was driving--and it WASN'T my fault!

41. Croutons or bacon bits? Maybe croutons--doesn't matter either way.

42. Favorite day of the week? At this point in time, with me not working and K doing the ever-changing shifts, it really doesn't matter. One day is pretty much like another.

43. Favorite restaurant? No favorite.

44. Favorite flower? Alstromeria--the longest-lasting florist flower I have ever seen.

45. Favorite ice cream? Vanilla--I know, very boring.

46. Disney or Warner Brothers? Warner Brothers--can't get enough of Bugs Bunny and I love Gossamer.

47. Favorite fast food restaurant? McDonalds? Really, I eat from all of them except Wendy's.

48. What color is your bedroom carpet? Gold.

49. How many times did you fail your driver's test? Passed the first time.

50. Whom did you get your last e-mail from? The last personal one I got was from my friend C--other than that, it was something I subscribe to; comics, newsletter, etc.

51. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Probably Dell--it would have most of the gadgets I could be happy getting.

52. Last person you went to dinner with? C? I would say K, but we bring food in more than go out.

53. Ford or Chevy? Would have to go with Chevy--but actually I would choose GMC first. (I know, GMC and Chevy are really the same company.)

54. What are you listening to right now? Best of B.B. King. I usually listen to a mix of whatever I have on the computer.

55. What person have you learned the most about life from? Myself--it has been a lot of learn-as-you-go in my life.

56. How many tattoos do you have? One--for now.

Leaving 2005 With A Smile

It doesn't matter how cynical and crusty I get year after year, this website is going to make me go "awwwwww" every time I visit it. If you want to feel sappy and get all kinds of warm-fuzzy feelings, go to CuteOverload.com. It is worth it to put a smile on your face. :)

Have a fun time celebrating tomorrow night and, please, do it safely. I want all of my (few) readers to be back here in 2006. Happy New Year, all!

Post-Christmas

It has been a few days and I thought I would give a bit of an update. I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas--great gifts, good food, and fun times with loved ones.

The grandkids really liked what they got from us. I was so glad to hear that everything was a great hit. I also got an unexpected bonus: one of the gifts managed to FINALLY drive C out of her mind. We got the baby a Hide-n-Seek Eeyore and C had to disable it by the time it was unwrapped: it drove her crazy! I had to chuckle cause I was beginning to think there wasn't anything I could do to annoy her. Terrible to be happy about being able to annoy a person, hey? :)

On Christmas Eve we spent time with some very good friends. The visit was so enjoyable. I really love that that visit has become such a tradition for us. Long may the tradition go on!

We got a very unexpected--and pleasant--surprise on Christmas day: A and her fiance came to visit. They got here just in time to have dinner with and they spent the entire evening with us. She went through a lot of the stuff she still has here and managed to take quite a bit out of this house--YEAH!!! The visit went well and not much was said about The Parents, which kept me from having a meltdown. She did mention a few things that I chose to ignore until I could ponder them at a later time. And once I pondered them, I cancelled them from my mind.

While Christmas is the season of giving--and I LOVE to give gifts--I have always had a particular fondness for receiving. And I am very lucky that I have a husband who likes to give me gifts. And he likes to give jewelry. This year was no exception as he gave me two wonderfully beautiful pieces of diamond jewelry: an 'o' necklace and an eternity ring. He sure knew how to put a big smile on my face this year!

So, after the last paragraph, now I will do a little rant against the hubby. I love him dearly and he is so very good, but sometimes he drives me crazy by being TOO good. Case in point: today we received a thank you card from The Parents. I couldn't figure out why, so I mentioned it to K. He said it must be for the card "we" sent--I NEVER sent them a card. I said that it was a little bit of overkill to send a thank you for a plain card, to which he said that he put money in the card as a Christmas gift to them. I quit giving them gifts of any kind several years ago--don't need to reward their behavior toward me. This, of course, caused me to have a meltdown and I asked if there was anything else I should know. Of course, he also gave a card and money to our godchild. Now, that completely sent me over the edge. I spent the month before Christmas busting my ass looking for all of the ingredients needed to make a special bracelet for her--this in addition to the Christmas ornament we always give and another little bracelet I had purchased. I'm sorry, but I figured that was more than enough for a child we see once every year or two--a child whose parents have disowned us. (This is The Brother's child and he no longer considers me his sister.)

Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows I have hated Christmas for as far back as I can remember and this year I actually, almost, kind of didn't hate the thoughts of living through the holiday. And this Christmas was by far the best I have had in a long time. This is why the events of today have me so bummed out. But, I will get over it--hopefully sooner rather than later. I am trying my hardest to get past this and I'm sure all will be well again in a few days. So, on that note, I will sign off. Have a good rest of the week!

Counting Down The Hours

It is around 60 hours and Christmas will be over again for another year. I really don't count Christmas Day as part of the holiday, as we always do our celebrating/gift opening, etc on Christmas Eve. While this hasn't been one of my "Scrinchiest" years, I still will be happy to get back to the usual routine of life.

K has just left to go up north to deliver the gifts for C and her family. Without knowing if he was planning on stopping at The Parent's house, I decided to stay home--don't need to have an argument with him at this time of year. The house is feeling a little empty with all the gifts gone, but it is also a nice feeling. I will put K's gifts under the tree today, so there will be something there.

We don't have much planned for Christmas. On Christmas Eve we will be with some friends--something that has gotten to be a nice tradition over the years. On our way back home from their house, we usually drive around and look at light displays. And when we get home, we open our gifts and that is the end of our celebrating. A nice, relaxing way to spend a holiday. K will be home on Christmas Day, so I will make dinner and that will be it for what we do. Maybe we will go and see a movie--that's a thought. I know he wants to see The Chronicles of Narnia, so that would be a good choice. Hmmm, just might have to do it.

The last time I heard from A, she said they would be up for the holidays. Of course, she meant they would be at The Parent's! It would be nice if she decided to quit treating them as if they were HER parents and not mine. Oh, well, I'm sure The Mother is absolutely delighted that she can have both of my daughters with her for the holidays--serves me right for the way I am, I'm sure she feels. A DID say that her and the fiance were going to stop here, so we'll see.

While this hasn't been the very merriest post, I will close with all the seasonal greetings I can. To all of my readers: have the merriest Christmas. I wish you and yours joy, peace, and love. May you be with those you love and care for and may you get everything you want. Have a joyous Christmas!

She Makes Me Chuckle

Just talked with C and she was complaining about being tired. (DUH!! Do you think?) Anyway, one of her problems was that Marcus woke her up "at the butt-crack of dawn." She sure can come up with fun ways to say things. :) Other than that, things are going well in her house--all are healthy and fine--at least till the cold season starts in earnest!

So, Who Said Lawyers Suck The Fun Out Of Everything?

Got all of my Christmas decorating done this week--YAYYYYYY!!!!! It feels good. Now if I only can stand to keep the decorations up past December 26th, I'll feel as if I did very well this year. :)

We are going out of town for the weekend and I hope we will be able to finish up most, if not all, of the Christmas shopping. It would be nice to come home and not have to think about buying anything else. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Hope you all have a nice weekend. Here is a little something to make you smile:


THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS in Legalese (author unknown):

Whereas, on or about the night prior to Christmas, there did occur at a certain improved piece of real property (hereinafter "the House") a general lack of stirring by all creatures therein, including, but not limited to a mouse.
A variety of foot apparel, e.g., stocking, socks, etc., had been affixed by and around the chimney in said House in the hope and/or belief that St. Nick a/k/a/ St. Nicholas a/k/a/ Santa Claus (hereinafter "Claus") would arrive at sometime thereafter. The minor residents, i.e. the children, of the aforementioned House were located in their individual beds and were engaged in nocturnal hallucinations, i.e. dreams, wherein vision of confectionery treats, including, but not limited to, candies, nuts and/or sugar plums, did dance, cavort and otherwise appear in said dreams.
Whereupon the party of the first part (sometimes hereinafter referred to as ("I"), being the joint-owner in fee simple of the House with the party of the second part (hereinafter "Mamma"), and said Mamma had retired for a sustained period of sleep. At such time, the parties were clad in various forms of headgear, e.g., kerchief and cap.
Suddenly, and without prior notice or warning, there did occur upon the unimproved real property adjacent and appurtenant to said House, i.e., the lawn, a certain disruption of unknown nature, cause and/or circumstance. The party of the first part did immediately rush to a window in the House to investigate the cause of such disturbance.
At that time, the party of the first part did observe, with some degree of wonder and/or disbelief, a miniature sleigh (hereinafter "the Vehicle") being pulled and/or drawn very rapidly through the air by approximately eight (8) reindeer. The driver of the Vehicle appeared to be and in fact was, the previously referenced Claus.
Said Claus was providing specific direction, instruction and guidance to the approximately eight (8) reindeer and specifically identified the animal co-conspirators by name: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen (hereinafter "the Deer"). (Upon information and belief, it is further asserted that an additional co- conspirator named "Rudolph" may have been involved.)
The party of the first part witnessed Claus, the Vehicle and the Deer intentionally and willfully trespass upon the roofs of several residences located adjacent to and in the vicinity of the House, and noted that the Vehicle was heavily laden with packages, toys and other items of unknown origin or nature. Suddenly, without prior invitation or permission, either express or implied, the Vehicle arrived at the House, and Claus entered said House via the chimney.
Said Claus was clad in a red fur suit, which was partially covered with residue from the chimney, and he carried a large sack containing a portion of the aforementioned packages, toys, and other unknown items.
He was smoking what appeared to be tobacco in a small pipe in blatant violation of local ordinances and health regulations.
Claus did not speak, but immediately began to fill the stocking of the minor children, which hung adjacent to the chimney, with toys and other small gifts. (Said items did not, however, constitute "gifts" to said minor pursuant to the applicable provisions of the U.S. Tax Code.)
Upon completion of such task, Claus touched the side of his nose and flew, rose and/or ascended up the chimney of the House to the roof where the Vehicle and Deer waited and/or served as "lookouts." Claus immediately departed for an unknown destination.
However, prior to the departure of the Vehicle, Deer and Claus from said House, the party of the first part did hear Claus state and/or exclaim: "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!" Or words to that effect.

Forget "Happy Holidays," It's "Merry Christmas"

I understand, to a certain extent, political correctness, but it drives me insane when people say you can't wish someone a Merry Christmas--it might make them uncomfortable! Is that the biggest bunch of BS, or what? Just give me a frickin' break! Why is it so intolerable to mention, or display, anything that might be looked on as coming from a Christian perspective? The more politically correct we get in this country, when it comes to minorities of ANY kind, the less tolerance is shown to Christians--I don't get it. It is okay to dress as a Nazi and scream "Heil Hitler," to have parades while wearing white sheets, to give speeches about "death to the infidels," and on and on, but a Nativity scene can't be set up in a town square--I JUST DON'T GET IT!!! Maybe this world IS going to hell in a handbasket.

And Life Goes On

It is surprising how quite busy life has been for the past few days. At least compared to how my life usually is. Nothing very important, just a lot of busy-ness.

Had a couple of doctor appointments this week. Again, nothing very important. I had my yearly with my GYN and if it wasn't for the fact that my boobs get mauled and things get put in awkward places, that visit would be my favorite of the year. See, my GYN has been my doctor for about 22 years--he delivered my last kid. He has seen me through surgeries and many awful things going on with my life and has made me leave his office in a better mood than I got there with. We ALWAYS begin my appointment with a technology talk--we discuss our latest tech gadgets and what we hope to have by next year. I don't have many people to "talk tech" with, so I'm always happy when I can find another geek to converse with. He is someone who "gets me"--I always judge my doctors by that criteria. I actually have not gone back to someone who hasn't understood my warped, dry sense of humor, so when a doc "gets me," I am his patient for life. It always is good to visit and laugh with someone--even if he is doing medical things to you. (That sounds terrible, doesn't it!)

I am actually, almost, kind of, not having a bad time thinking about the Christmas holidays this year. Can't for the life of me understand what is going on--nothing in my life has changed so much that this Christmas should be any different than any other year. But, I have been doing my annual before Christmas cleaning--something I really haven't done in the last four or so years--and can't wait to get started on the decorating. C told me I really need to have a very thorough medical exam because this just isn't like me--I must be REALLY sick! Or the end is at hand. :) But, anyway, here I am, NOT feeling like a total Scrinch. (A cross between "Scrooge" and the "Grinch.") And I think I like feeling like this! :)

C called the other day to tell of her latest trip to the emergency room. This time it was with Marcus, the one-year-old. His older sister had been doing homework and got up for a second--leaving her paper and pencil on the couch. Sure enough, before anyone could get to him, off he went running with the pencil in his mouth--lead-side in. Just as C was getting up to run after him, he fell and the pencil got lodged in his cheek. At least it didn't come straight through, but it bled like crazy. When they realized the tip of the pencil couldn't be found, they had to take him to be x-rayed to make sure it wasn't still in his cheek. She said the doctor showed her the hole the pencil made and it was unbelievable how big it was. Thankfully the x-rays showed there was nothing in his cheek, so they were sent home with some antibiotics and told he will be fine. She told the x-ray techs to remember Marcus' name, because they will be seeing him A LOT in the next 18 years--the kid is fearless and can get into trouble in a matter of seconds. He will definitely cause C to get a few grey hairs. :)

Last night I finally did something I have been putting off for almost a year--I cleaned up our old computer and got it out of this room. My desk is, barely, big enough for the two computers to be on and I have been living with the old one digging in my side for all this time and I decided enough was enough. It took me about eight hours to re-format, reinstall XP, download all of the updates, reinstall the software I wanted on it, and do all the necessary stuff. I really wasn't all that happy with the time spent--after all, I don't know if the damn thing will ever be used by either K or myself. He claims he wants it for himself, that he doesn't need anything too good for what he does on the computer, but we'll see if he actually uses it. I really have my doubts. Compared to this computer, the old one is as slow as a 90-year-old-man driving down the highway--nothing that is too fun to be near. I hope it doesn't become a very heavy doorstop.

I wish all of my readers a good weekend. I am planning on getting all of my decorating done before next week, so I'll let you know if I succeeded. Have a good one.