So, tonight (and also tomorrow morning) was the Christmas play at our church.
Jason played the main character's husband. He did well!!
Jay played in the drum corp and also a shepherd. He didn't tell me he needed sandals and so he was a poor shepherd who couldn't afford to shod himself. Sad.
The whole thing went without a hitch. Jason was worried he'd flub the same line he'd been flubbing in practices but he didn't. (The line: "Christmas would mean nothing without Jesus." The flub: "Without Christmas, Jesus means nothing." Making for a very frustrated director!)
I might be able to finagle pics or possibly a video segment or two for you all, but that depends on Jason.
Afterward, we invited his family (Dad, Step mom, and Grandma) and my sister's family to our house for dessert in a sort of after-play fellowship thing. And, to my surprise, they all came! I expected my sister to since we feel the same way about stuff like this, but as I've blogged before, Jason's family is holiday retarded! I was shocked, but pleased that I wasn't going to have massive amounts of snack foods left over! Pleased indeed!! Although, now I have to make something else to continue that dessert war I'm having with my neighbor! ;^P
Who knows? Maybe my constant griping about the continual let downs has gotten through. Here's hoping!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Ghost of Christmas
Technically, what we're experiencing isn't one of Scrooge's visitors. The garage door and lights keep coming open and on. Not the motion sensor light, the ceiling fan lights that require the switch to be on. So far, it's more annoying and freaky than anything else. If my dog gets out and lost, I will be a very unhappy person! I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation for all this. Surely!
I recently discovered that the plunger measuring cups I wanted with Alton Brown's cartoon face on them are sold out and unavailable for back order. GRRRRR!!!!! Pampered Chef has them, but not with his adorable face. I'll take those instead, but if anybody did get the AB ones, I will reward you greatly! (Reward depends on who is the wonderfully thoughtful gift-giver!)
Stainless steel and glass mixing bowls have made my list. (The stainless steel ones can be used to make popcorn the way my dad used to!) Preferably at least a couple large ones.
And, it has been pointed out that I have a tad of a box thing. Pretty gift boxes are a weakness! What can I say?
I recently discovered that the plunger measuring cups I wanted with Alton Brown's cartoon face on them are sold out and unavailable for back order. GRRRRR!!!!! Pampered Chef has them, but not with his adorable face. I'll take those instead, but if anybody did get the AB ones, I will reward you greatly! (Reward depends on who is the wonderfully thoughtful gift-giver!)
Stainless steel and glass mixing bowls have made my list. (The stainless steel ones can be used to make popcorn the way my dad used to!) Preferably at least a couple large ones.
And, it has been pointed out that I have a tad of a box thing. Pretty gift boxes are a weakness! What can I say?
Monday, December 7, 2009
O Christmas Tree
Today, we finally finished putting the decorations on the tree. Well, not the last little tin spiral thingies that get place just inside the branches as to swirl and reflect the light out, but the pieces that make for a photogenic tree are there. Voila!
And where I play with the sepia setting!
And where I play with the sepia setting!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Sooo Tired!
So, last night was the women's "Dirty Santa" get-together at church. (Dirty Santa is NOT what you think it is, unless you think it is a gift exchange where someone can steal your gift. Then it is!) You'd think women in a church wouldn't be so aggressively evil! It was a fun fun time had by all! No pictures as there was food and none of us relish our picture taken with food. NONE! I ended up with Rubbermaid locking leftover containers. Somebody stole the tart warmer I did have. Meh!
I was supposed to take peanut butter bars, but I guess somebody didn't read the portions on the side of the box when it was bought and six bars would NOT be good for the 100 women! Just no! So, we stopped at the local grocery store here in town (more like a convenient store disguised as a grocery) and bought those fruit filled tart things. Yummy, but they weren't peanut butter bars!
Learned the recipe for a couple of things which I will definitely try for future get-togethers! (One was for melted Hershey kisses inside circle pretzels. Yum!!)
However, all that social business seems to have drained every ounce of energy out of me! I spent today doing nothing! I mean, nothing! I didn't even watch TV! Hope my DVR doesn't fail me tonight! :^D
I was supposed to take peanut butter bars, but I guess somebody didn't read the portions on the side of the box when it was bought and six bars would NOT be good for the 100 women! Just no! So, we stopped at the local grocery store here in town (more like a convenient store disguised as a grocery) and bought those fruit filled tart things. Yummy, but they weren't peanut butter bars!
Learned the recipe for a couple of things which I will definitely try for future get-togethers! (One was for melted Hershey kisses inside circle pretzels. Yum!!)
However, all that social business seems to have drained every ounce of energy out of me! I spent today doing nothing! I mean, nothing! I didn't even watch TV! Hope my DVR doesn't fail me tonight! :^D
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thanksgiving and Other Things
So, this year, instead of only getting sick (which I did), I also fell multiple times. I added injury to insult. I'm resisting going to the doctor's though. Just too much to do! I only have a massive bruise on my shin, and a sore left side (entire), and my foot has puffed up like never before. I can hear my mom's voice from here, "Why are you so stubborn??? Nevermind, I know it's your dad's fault!"
On Black Friday, Jason and I got up early (I should say, Jason got up early then called to wake me up) and surfed the crowds at various stores. He went to Best Buy. (I got a cell phone finally!!) We both stood in line for 2 1/2 hours at Menard's. They always have good doorbuster sales there!
My friend, Kasey, came into town that night, and we spent a really nice weekend. Mostly just resting. :) She has pics of my house up! Check 'em out! And, she's right, we're not done!
Tonight, I helped the ladies at church decorate for the holidays. It was fun! I can never get enough decorating and my small house can only hold so much! (Can you hear Jason's screams of frustration with all the Christmas clutter??) At least this year, I'm not taking up valuable space with craft stuffs! Although, next year, I make no promises! Crafting most likely will start in about May. :^P
I have so much stuff to cram into this month before I leave for my parent's in North Carolina! I wish Jason could make the trip with me, but he recently got promoted and his company holds class on that week. Heathens!
I have to get my house ready for caroling. And, by caroling, I mean, a bunch of people are coming over and using my house as central station while they wander around my neighborhood caroling. I'm excited about that, although so very nervous about having my house clean enough. And, I just know I'll notice some dirt somewhere only after guests arrive! Isn't that always the way??
Then there's the Christmas parties. (First one on Wednesday!!) And the Christmas play at church. (Jason and Jay both have parts!) Packing and partying and insomnia, oh my!
On Black Friday, Jason and I got up early (I should say, Jason got up early then called to wake me up) and surfed the crowds at various stores. He went to Best Buy. (I got a cell phone finally!!) We both stood in line for 2 1/2 hours at Menard's. They always have good doorbuster sales there!
My friend, Kasey, came into town that night, and we spent a really nice weekend. Mostly just resting. :) She has pics of my house up! Check 'em out! And, she's right, we're not done!
Tonight, I helped the ladies at church decorate for the holidays. It was fun! I can never get enough decorating and my small house can only hold so much! (Can you hear Jason's screams of frustration with all the Christmas clutter??) At least this year, I'm not taking up valuable space with craft stuffs! Although, next year, I make no promises! Crafting most likely will start in about May. :^P
I have so much stuff to cram into this month before I leave for my parent's in North Carolina! I wish Jason could make the trip with me, but he recently got promoted and his company holds class on that week. Heathens!
I have to get my house ready for caroling. And, by caroling, I mean, a bunch of people are coming over and using my house as central station while they wander around my neighborhood caroling. I'm excited about that, although so very nervous about having my house clean enough. And, I just know I'll notice some dirt somewhere only after guests arrive! Isn't that always the way??
Then there's the Christmas parties. (First one on Wednesday!!) And the Christmas play at church. (Jason and Jay both have parts!) Packing and partying and insomnia, oh my!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Gifts and Holidays
Gift list add on: Cashmere by Victoria Secret. (I'm sure someone will buy me this as soon as they pick themselves up from their faint. Perfume is such a girl thing for me to want, I know.)
Yay!! Turkey Day is almost here!!! Wooo!!! And, oddly, it isn't the food that I love about it. It's the family getting together and the games and loudness and fun. I grew up with that. I missed it the few years I didn't get to go. Never again! :^) Jason, I love you, and I love your family. I just can't spend holidays with them, sorry.
My one downfall is, I get too excited and make myself sick. Every! Year! Since forever! I think my aunts and Grandma would argue over who was gonna be the unlucky "Keeper of the Sick Girl." (I think Aunt Debbie "won" that prize the most over the years. Lucky her!)
Monday, November 16, 2009
I Heart Faces Entry!
I actually have one this week! Yay!
If you've read this blog, which most have not, you know that I took this at the local Windy Ridge Farms Fall Fling thing they had. And now you all know. :^P It was a fun, fun day!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Gift Ideas For Me
I've promised certain members of my family that I would keep a sort of running tally on gift ideas for me since I'm apparently so hard to buy for!
- The movie "Up."
- Almost anything from Alton Brown's site: extra points for stuff with his cartoon face on it.
- Autographed Tenth Avenue North paraphernalia! (What can I say, I tend to "superfan" stuff.)
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Veteran's Day
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Weekenders
So, Jason's family is a different denomination than Jason and I. Jason grew up in theirs, of course, and according to them, I brainwashed him, the little heathen vixen I am. The weekend went just about how I thought it would go. Some judged me for not segregating myself from the males, some judged me for not having my hair properly done up, and some for the fact that I only dressed up for the wedding. Now, for Sunday service, I did wear a nice outfit, but since it is dress slacks instead of an actual dress or skirt, it is not dressy.
Other than that, the weekend was lovely! Lovely weather, and well, the weather is all I can really say I enjoyed. But I did enjoy it a LOT!
The hotel suite was suitable, until we pulled back the covers on our bed to reveal some previous room occupant's bodily fluid of some sort. Horrifying!
Jason forgot a dress shirt and I forgot my black dress shoes, so we went in search of them. They apparently do not have big and tall men in Iowa (at least in Dubuque) because several stores didn't have anything close to the size needed. I found a pair of shoes at WalMart, but they were painful after wearing them for more than twenty minutes, so I bought a different pair at Kohl's. The Kohl's pair were fine, until we got back to the hotel when we discovered that the bottoms were cheap. They looked like I had taped cardboard to the bottoms and then got them wet! Very disappointing! They will be going back ASAIC! (As Soon As I Can) Jason did finally find some shirts very decently priced at JC Penney's. ($17 a shirt for his size is rare!)
On Sunday, after service, Grandma's friend Warren drove us out to his farm (and I mean a real massive acre working farm, people!) and gave her some various frozen elk meats. (She gave us some; I plan to make swiss steak! Yum!) He has such a pretty farm house!! All real oak furniture and trim with a southwest decor. Lovely! (I'd have pics of the house and his great big 6-month-old rottweiler pup if my camera battery had been charged!)
Then we drove home for four and a half hours.
Then, Jason and I went to a Tenth Avenue North / Mercy Me concert. (Johnny Diaz opened.) Very fun!! I won a ticket to a Newsboys concert next Friday! (Can't wait!) I would have got autographs and chatted with the groups had Jason not started to feel poorly. Boo!
Which brings me to how I spent today. Jason had a very rough night last night! I won't go in to details, but general flu symptoms apply, all of the usuals. This morning, against my judgment, he went to work. Jay's school called at 8:30am to inform me he'd gotten sick as well. Jason ended up coming home from work early and I drove both of them to the ER. Turns out, it was a simple flu bug, but we have to keep an eye on Jay because he was complaining about sharp abdominal pains and a few other symptoms (blood work and scans) that possibly could be early signs of appendicitis. Scary! So, at the very least, he'll be missing school for the next few days. (School says he can't go back until he's 100% and the doctor says so.)
Because of their sickness, I had to wash all the bedding, but my dryer is notoriously slow on the drying of large things such as comforters and sleeping bags, so we had to go to WalMart to purchase new blankets. Luckily, I caught a good sale! I also bought some dietary stuff for their doctor-ordered BRAT diet. (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) Blandtacular!
Hopefully, I will not catch whatever it is they have!
Other than that, the weekend was lovely! Lovely weather, and well, the weather is all I can really say I enjoyed. But I did enjoy it a LOT!
The hotel suite was suitable, until we pulled back the covers on our bed to reveal some previous room occupant's bodily fluid of some sort. Horrifying!
Jason forgot a dress shirt and I forgot my black dress shoes, so we went in search of them. They apparently do not have big and tall men in Iowa (at least in Dubuque) because several stores didn't have anything close to the size needed. I found a pair of shoes at WalMart, but they were painful after wearing them for more than twenty minutes, so I bought a different pair at Kohl's. The Kohl's pair were fine, until we got back to the hotel when we discovered that the bottoms were cheap. They looked like I had taped cardboard to the bottoms and then got them wet! Very disappointing! They will be going back ASAIC! (As Soon As I Can) Jason did finally find some shirts very decently priced at JC Penney's. ($17 a shirt for his size is rare!)
On Sunday, after service, Grandma's friend Warren drove us out to his farm (and I mean a real massive acre working farm, people!) and gave her some various frozen elk meats. (She gave us some; I plan to make swiss steak! Yum!) He has such a pretty farm house!! All real oak furniture and trim with a southwest decor. Lovely! (I'd have pics of the house and his great big 6-month-old rottweiler pup if my camera battery had been charged!)
Then we drove home for four and a half hours.
Then, Jason and I went to a Tenth Avenue North / Mercy Me concert. (Johnny Diaz opened.) Very fun!! I won a ticket to a Newsboys concert next Friday! (Can't wait!) I would have got autographs and chatted with the groups had Jason not started to feel poorly. Boo!
Which brings me to how I spent today. Jason had a very rough night last night! I won't go in to details, but general flu symptoms apply, all of the usuals. This morning, against my judgment, he went to work. Jay's school called at 8:30am to inform me he'd gotten sick as well. Jason ended up coming home from work early and I drove both of them to the ER. Turns out, it was a simple flu bug, but we have to keep an eye on Jay because he was complaining about sharp abdominal pains and a few other symptoms (blood work and scans) that possibly could be early signs of appendicitis. Scary! So, at the very least, he'll be missing school for the next few days. (School says he can't go back until he's 100% and the doctor says so.)
Because of their sickness, I had to wash all the bedding, but my dryer is notoriously slow on the drying of large things such as comforters and sleeping bags, so we had to go to WalMart to purchase new blankets. Luckily, I caught a good sale! I also bought some dietary stuff for their doctor-ordered BRAT diet. (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) Blandtacular!
Hopefully, I will not catch whatever it is they have!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Frustrations
So, Jason's cousin is getting married this weekend. That means I need a dress, or at least a nice skirt outfit.
What frustrates me is sales clerks who care more about selling than the customer's needs.
I try not to buy ruffles. Why would they try to force me into a ruffled skirt? Or that dress that looks more like a grandmother's nightgown?
It doesn't help at all that I have lost enough weight to put me into apparently the most popular size! (Don't get me wrong, weight loss has been great! Just made it harder to find clothes that fit properly somehow.)
I settled on a plain black dress skirt and a gray top with (I actually don't know what those things are called) faux gemstones around the neck. It's nice, and I'm sure the uncomfortableness has more to do with my anxiety issues than the clothes themselves. I just wish I had had somebody other than Jason to shop with. He knows nothing about girl clothes. Blah! Why couldn't his cousin wait til next month to get married!?!
What frustrates me is sales clerks who care more about selling than the customer's needs.
I try not to buy ruffles. Why would they try to force me into a ruffled skirt? Or that dress that looks more like a grandmother's nightgown?
It doesn't help at all that I have lost enough weight to put me into apparently the most popular size! (Don't get me wrong, weight loss has been great! Just made it harder to find clothes that fit properly somehow.)
I settled on a plain black dress skirt and a gray top with (I actually don't know what those things are called) faux gemstones around the neck. It's nice, and I'm sure the uncomfortableness has more to do with my anxiety issues than the clothes themselves. I just wish I had had somebody other than Jason to shop with. He knows nothing about girl clothes. Blah! Why couldn't his cousin wait til next month to get married!?!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
A Tale of Schoolwork
When I was in school, I didn't have a problem learning, especially if the teacher knew me and let me learn on my own. Teachers who didn't know me (whether new to school or substitutes) were the biggest hindrances to my studies.
Second to teachers who didn't know me enough to trust me were teachers who taught as though the students would never "get" what they were teaching.
I find this to still be true. I'm taking a class where the author of the book is a pompous pious self-centered know-it-all and I feel like I'm the only one that sees it! Everyone else is all "Wow, did you hear that lecture? It was so down-to-earth!" and I'm like "What? Did you not see him sneer at that girl who answered his question correctly??" Like a freaky trip to the Twilight Zone!
To make matters worse, the book is written with that same snide tone! Makes it phenomenally difficult to read! When I'm not having to keep myself awake from sheer boredom, I'm biting my tongue so I don't scare people sitting around me as I read it! (Of course, the tension building up in me keeps everyone at a fair distance anyway. *G*)
For you authors out there, (by the way: it is NaNoWriMo!), humility goes a LONG long way with most people! Just saying!
Second to teachers who didn't know me enough to trust me were teachers who taught as though the students would never "get" what they were teaching.
I find this to still be true. I'm taking a class where the author of the book is a pompous pious self-centered know-it-all and I feel like I'm the only one that sees it! Everyone else is all "Wow, did you hear that lecture? It was so down-to-earth!" and I'm like "What? Did you not see him sneer at that girl who answered his question correctly??" Like a freaky trip to the Twilight Zone!
To make matters worse, the book is written with that same snide tone! Makes it phenomenally difficult to read! When I'm not having to keep myself awake from sheer boredom, I'm biting my tongue so I don't scare people sitting around me as I read it! (Of course, the tension building up in me keeps everyone at a fair distance anyway. *G*)
For you authors out there, (by the way: it is NaNoWriMo!), humility goes a LONG long way with most people! Just saying!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Dream 11/02/09
I was running away from some sort of zombie monster that was eating my friends, or at least the people who were running with me, in a school. One by one, my friends would disappear only to be discovered dead in some way (decapitated, maimed, gnawed on, etc.). At the end, when all that was left was me, I discovered I was the monster I was running from. I killed/maimed/ate my friends. Lovely.
And, to complete that experience, I awake to my friend's pics of a Zombie Walk.
And, to complete that experience, I awake to my friend's pics of a Zombie Walk.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Halloween Updated!
For the record, Bug is only sleeping because she tired herself out being happy with the costume, not to mention the attention she received from neighborhood kiddies:
How the pumpkins looked before the carving:
Jay as Master Chief (Halo):
Jason as Big Sombrero Guy:
My pumpkin had too much candy (carved by Jason):
Jay carved his own pumpkin this year!
Jason's pumpkin had "Go Away" carved onto the back, but it wasn't small enough to project correctly. Lesson learned for next year!
We still have too much candy. No idea how to get rid of it all without children or husband annoying me with belly aches!
How the pumpkins looked before the carving:
Jay as Master Chief (Halo):
Jason as Big Sombrero Guy:
My pumpkin had too much candy (carved by Jason):
Jay carved his own pumpkin this year!
Jason's pumpkin had "Go Away" carved onto the back, but it wasn't small enough to project correctly. Lesson learned for next year!
We still have too much candy. No idea how to get rid of it all without children or husband annoying me with belly aches!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Halloween!!
Happy Halloween Comments
If the weather clears up, we're all going for a haunted hayride on Friday! If not, we'll be going after "trick or treat" is done.
The pumpkin pics are on their way, I just have to get the after ones. I promise!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Dream 10/22/09
Energy vampires were chasing me. They looked somewhat like the Wraith from Stargate: Atlantis. They cocooned their victims and drained their energy over days eventually leaving them as withered shells. I eventually had them follow me into an android factory in Japan and had them "feed" on an army of these:
Which had the effect of electrocuting the vampires. Unlike all the horror movies, I didn't check to make sure they were dead, I just ran! I don't care if they are still alive, I am and would like to remain that way. The monster always grabs the checker and kills them! (As my dad always says, "That's in the script. They need another twenty minutes of the hero being chased to fit a normal movie length.") Self preservation is a great motivator!
I'm sure my thyroid issues were to blame for this dream's plot. For the vampires, I blame my crush on Joe Flanagan!
Which had the effect of electrocuting the vampires. Unlike all the horror movies, I didn't check to make sure they were dead, I just ran! I don't care if they are still alive, I am and would like to remain that way. The monster always grabs the checker and kills them! (As my dad always says, "That's in the script. They need another twenty minutes of the hero being chased to fit a normal movie length.") Self preservation is a great motivator!
I'm sure my thyroid issues were to blame for this dream's plot. For the vampires, I blame my crush on Joe Flanagan!
Monday, October 19, 2009
What I Did On My Weekend
A local garden center had their annual Fall Fling! (Note: clicking on the following images brings up rather large images. You have been warned.)
Fall Flowers!
Pumpkin Patch!
Corn Maze!
Hayride!!
Fall trees!
A hidden pumpkin!
Hay Bales!
A genuine good time had by all! I promise to post the pics of the pumpkins we picked later.
Fall Flowers!
Pumpkin Patch!
Corn Maze!
Hayride!!
Fall trees!
A hidden pumpkin!
Hay Bales!
A genuine good time had by all! I promise to post the pics of the pumpkins we picked later.
Take That Element Guy!
I was walking my dog this morning, when a man driving an Element stops me to inform me that my beagle could be his beagle's twin and that I was fighting an impossible fight I would never win by even thinking I could ever attempt to train her. My Bug's reaction to that was to sit calmly. She then walked by my side (not pulling on the leash) home and then wait patiently until I got her treat. Truly, an insurmountably untrainable dog! *eyes rolling*
She may give us problems now and again, such as pooping on the carpet because we dared leave her alone to go check the mail, or gnawing her way out of her crate rendering it unusable, but overall, she is the best dog ever! She doesn't chew on our stuff, unless we're stupid enough to buy things that look like small woodland creatures or things she doesn't want to be put in. She doesn't go in the house (except for the occasional mail incident). She cuddles with me when I'm sad or hurting. She calmly puts her toy beaver (version 2.1) in your lap when she wants your attention. And, other than the chocolate-colored sheet, and that one cheesecake (which clearly was irresistible), she hasn't gotten into serious trouble. She is my Bug.
She may give us problems now and again, such as pooping on the carpet because we dared leave her alone to go check the mail, or gnawing her way out of her crate rendering it unusable, but overall, she is the best dog ever! She doesn't chew on our stuff, unless we're stupid enough to buy things that look like small woodland creatures or things she doesn't want to be put in. She doesn't go in the house (except for the occasional mail incident). She cuddles with me when I'm sad or hurting. She calmly puts her toy beaver (version 2.1) in your lap when she wants your attention. And, other than the chocolate-colored sheet, and that one cheesecake (which clearly was irresistible), she hasn't gotten into serious trouble. She is my Bug.
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