New Years

Your New Year's Resolutions

1) Get a pet wallaby 2) Eat less tuna 3) Travel to Korea 4) Study urban anthropology 5) Get in shape with capoeira

All of which are totally doable. . . except the capoeira cause I have no clue what that is . . . and I'm probably allergic to the Wallabies.

hattip Rich

Happy New Year ya'll!

Oh, I am going to be in Charlottesville Virginia for the next week if anyone is in those parts . . .

Wheee!

Holy Christmas Batman!!

Here is what Santa left at our house.

Guitar Hero - WE ARE GONNA ROCK! WHEEEE!

This is what is known in our house as "swimming in wrapping paper" my mama does the Christmas thing real big as you can see. This is the aftermath.

The Boy had a wonderful Christmas and we hope you did too!

Merry Christmas

To everyone. I hope it is a wonderful holiday for you. For my joooish friends - Happy Chanukkah.

May the next year be a blessed year for you all. As for me, this year cannot be over soon enough.

Sick Boys

Last night, as I was frantically trying to wrap presents (the ones from Santa) - I hear a thump and a wail. It was nearing 2 a.m.

In bursts the Boy in tears. I yelled at him to go back to bed (I was wrapped) so he sobbed back to his room. I thought better of being so harsh and went to see why he was crying.

I was met with the most horrific site I've seen in a very long time. The Boy had gotten sick - really and truly sick - all over the bed. folks, he sleeps in my old Queen sized bed. It was a mess. I felt so bad for him.

I got him cleaned up, roused the Husband unit and told him that he would get up and that he would be washing sheets and blankets (I don't do clothes). He reluctantly did as he was told.

I then made up a camp bed for the boy - shiny side of a sleeping bag up - easier to clean. Within 1/2 hour he was sick again and then again and still again. We have no clean linens or blankets left.

Out comes my sleeping bag on my floor and fleece blanket. While he did manage to get sick once more about 6 a.m., he made it to the bathroom in time. I understand he is still asleep. Poor baby. Who knew a tiny belly could hold so much.

As I was leaving, I see my big Boy "Unka Matt" on the couch. I woke him up as he was 2 hours late for work. He informed me that he too, had been sick all night. Great! They didn't eat together or eat the same food yesterday so I am most assuredly dealing with a stomach bug.

I will likely have it Christmas day. Yay me.

As I'm dealing with 2 hours of sleep, please forgive me if I leave an interesting comment at your place!

Christmas Spirit

Wanna lend me some? I'm all out.

Birthday

Today is the Hubby's Birthday.

The Boy bought him a video game and a Wii accessory blaster. . . Never let a child do the dad shopping. Seriously.

He also picked out a card with a painted pig on the front which when opened played "I wanna Rock and Roll" by Kiss. The Boy danced to it all morning.

Gotta love birthdays.

Soldiers Angels

The Blog competition for Project Valour IT is over, but it is never too late to donate or volunteer for Soldiers Angels. Chuck has a great post up highlighting how selfless Patti - the founder of Soldiers Angels is.

The economy is flagging, and our friends and family and coworkers' spirits are low. But even in this time, the generosity of those around us shines through. I didn't feel as if I'd done enough for Project Valour IT when the blog competition ran, so I arranged a Denim Day at work.

I am proud to state that we raised almost $1400.00 for Project Valour IT. It was simple. $5.00 for jeans on Friday. The interest that I garnered from this project was phenomenal. I signed some ladies up as volunteers and was given some assurances that next year would be better.

Don't forget the men and women that stand ready to do violence on our behalf. Don't forget them, ever - but especially at this time of year.

Christmas Smiles

Need some Christmas smiles?

Bet Ya'll are smiling now . . .

Fall Into Me

When the weight of the world
Bears down so strong you
Leave footprints on the street
And there's too many miles to face
Without a few more hours sleep
The storm clouds overhead won't shed
Any rain to quench your thirst
I wanna be the one you reach for first

When your faith is stretched so thin
That you can see straight through your soul
And you can't find a nickel to buy a smile cuz ur pockets all got holes
You wanna shut the door and
Hide before the day can get much worse
I wanna be the one you reach for first

Fall into me
My arms are opened wide
And you don't have to say a word
Cuz I already see
That it's hard
And you're scared
And you're tired
And it hurts
And I wanna be the one you reach for first

I wanna be the bottle you've been drinking with your eyes
Or the road you run away on
You've been running all your life
The third row pew that you last knew
As a child in church
I wanna be the one you reach for first

Fall into me
My arms are opened wide
And you don't have to say a word
Cuz I already see
That it's hard
And you're scared
And you're tired
And it hurts
And I wanna be the one you reach for first

Before you turn the key
Before you fall asleep
Before you drift away
To fight those demons waiting for you
In your dreams
Before your arms are stretched wide open
Before you're reaching for the sky
Before you're searching for direction
And all the answers to your whys
Fall into me
Well, my arms are stretched wide opened
You don't have to say a word
Cuz I already see
That it's hard
And you're scared
And you're tired
And I know it hurts
yes its hard
and you're scared
and you're tired
and it hurts
And I wanna be the one you reach for first

Jennifer Nettles

Struggling

I've been struggling. I've been silent because I've been struggling. This time of year is typically a happy time of year - but it hasn't been because of this struggle. I can't wrap my head around what to do.

My tree is usually up the day after Thanksgiving, but it still isn't. I usually have all my packages and Christmas cards sent by now. They still sit. Because I am struggling.

Seriously peeps - this question is weighing me down.

The new nutcracker stamps or the traditional Christmas stamps. It's enough to drive a girl to drink. . . ;)

Things I've Done.

I stole this meme from everyone . . . so, everyone? Thanks. . .

Things I’ve done are in bold.

What I’ve done:

1. Started your own blog
Hello! McFly!

2. Slept under the stars
More times than I can count...

3. Played in a band
In highschool . . . I was a singer and played along on a guitbox though quite badly.

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity
I give most all of my free time to a charity too . . .

7. Been to Disneyland. Nope, never.

8. Climbed a mountain
Sorta . . . in the Tetons.

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped - not yet.

12. Visited Paris If you count zee airport . . .

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning
Never, ever eat chip dip from a convenience store . . . blech.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
and thought I'd die.

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train - no, but I slept on a train overnight . . .

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort
I live in PA . . .

25. Held a lamb
in my lap on the way to the slaughterhouse too . . . Damn lambs . . .

26. Gone skinny dipping
and still do . . .

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse
Does lunar count?

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
Best over a quiet beach

31. Hit a home run
Once . . . unless we are talking dirty then . . . I'm not tellin!

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
and rode a boat under them.

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
Korea, 2005. i not only visited their birthplace but their final places of rest as well . . .

35. Seen an Amish community
Seen one? Hell, I live in one and have nearly my whole life! - My section of Western PA is one giant amish community.

36. Taught yourself a new language
Does pig latin count?

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
Money isn't everything.

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelos David

41. Sung karaoke
I was really drunk at the time...

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
Wasn't really worth the wait.

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
Many times . . .

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater
I saw Platoon at a drive in theater.

55. Been in a movie
Ummm, a home movie.

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business
It was neither legal nor can I talk about it . . . but it was lucrative . . . *snicker*

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
Till I was kicked out of the brownies . . .

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving
Not yet . . . But I wanna.

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check
to the Farookin IRS!

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
I have a box of original star wars figures.

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt
kicking and screaming . . . I can't sew worth a damn.

73. Stood in Times Square
and conversed with a hooker.

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone
A bone in my foot, my wrist and my tailbone.

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
and one that came to a sudden, unexpected and unplanned and unwanted stop . . .

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book
working on that . . .

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
Started at 5 or 6 - what's it to ya?

88. Had chickenpox
the only school I ever missed from Kindergarten until senior year.

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous
Ben and Jerry of Ice Cream fame, Edward James Olmos, Billy Warlock, Patrick Swayze, Munch from SVU, the Samoan Twins from WWF, various radio and tv personalities, various sports personalities, and Sandra Day O'Conner - a few others too . . . can't think right now . . .

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby
The love of my life.

95. Seen the Alamo in person
It is really very small . . . I expected something bigger.

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit
I'm a lawyer . . . who litigates . . . I am involved in lawsuits daily . . .

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee
On my ass cheek . . . and many other places . . .

100. Read an entire book in one day
Several, in fact.

Feel free to indulge if ya wanna . . .