Have a Happy New Year everyone!
Saturday, December 31, 2005
YUK...
I feel gross...I'm freezing and I have a sore throat. Someone please come take care of me. I think I'm going to be in bed for New Years...hello betty!! I'll need a manservant. I'll pay by the hour. I swear!
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Thursday Thirteen!
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2. It's 10:38 a.m. EST and I still have my jammies on! 3. I do have things I must get done today so I will have to actually get a shower and get dressed. 4. I am enjoying a cup of Folger's Chocolate Silk coffee. It's very yummy if you've never had it. 5. It tastes especially chocolatey if you put in a strong shot of Godiva chocolate liquer. Although I do not condone drinking first thing in the morning. 6. I usually wait until 9:00. 7. Resolutions, resolutions...any one making them? 8. I know some blogger buddies out there have some pretty special plans to ring in the New Year....anyone care to share? (their plans that is...) 9. I think I will be going to Harrisburg this year for the New Year's celebration. This is something my nephew has always wanted to do, so I think that's what we're doing. There will be fireworks and live music by a couple of bands, one of them being the Luv Gods. 10. The lead singer Shea Quinn is like a music icon round these parts. I remember seeing his band The Sharks back in the 80's at my highschool. I thought he was a god of some sort. You know, he had the long hair...and some nice lips, let me tell you! 11. I think the weather is supposed to be pretty decent this weekend, maybe some rain but at least it won't be freezing outside. 12. Speaking of weather...how's everyone down Texas way?? You don't have fires in your backyards do you? 13. Hope everyone has a great day and a most festive New Year no matter what you do! Don't forget to give the bail money to someone responsible. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
It's a Beautiful Day!
Another beautiful close to a beautiful day.
I also found out that my coworker/friend passed away on Christmas Day. Certainly bittersweet in that it's sad to lose such a wonderful person but thankfully her pain and suffering is over. Rest in peace gentle soul.
Death is not extinguishing the light,
but putting out the lamp
because the dawn has come.
-Rabindranath Tagore
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Home is Where the Heart Is
Did you ever notice how warm the home gets when it's filled with loving family, laughter and wonderful food? I'm generally always chilly. But today when my family arrived, and we started cooking, we started laughing, talking and just being a family, how warm I got. I actually had to take off my sweater. We then started the marathon Trivial Pursuit game. My nephew Patrick and I started the game earlier in the morning, then as his parents arrived, we added players. We'd stop play to eat or open gifts. Then resume play for an hour or so. This is the millenium edition of the game. And for the longest time no one had more than one or two pie pieces. Ironically, after I started drinking wine, the pie pieces were coming at me like lightening! Needless to say, I won the game. I am ruler of Trivial Pursuit! Challengers need to step up to the plate!!
Hope each of you had a most wonderful holiday how ever you chose to spend it. The Rev. is skiing, Mark was in the the deep, blue ocean (hopefully), Dean was home in Germany, thankfully safe and sound, the rest of us took the traditional approach with family/friends. I hope all of your homes, hearts and/or tummies were filled with warmth in some way.
Hope each of you had a most wonderful holiday how ever you chose to spend it. The Rev. is skiing, Mark was in the the deep, blue ocean (hopefully), Dean was home in Germany, thankfully safe and sound, the rest of us took the traditional approach with family/friends. I hope all of your homes, hearts and/or tummies were filled with warmth in some way.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Friday, December 23, 2005
Day is Done
Day is done, gone the sun,From the hills, from the lake,From the skies.All is well, safely rest,God is nigh.
Happy Friday!
(Everybody sing...) It's springtime for Hitler and Germany....o.k. that was a little rendition from The Producers, my point is, the weather here is beautiful! It's sunny, the snow is melting the temps are in the 40's!
Findley and I were out as you may have read on yesterday's post. She wisked me off to the local Harley store in search of Christmas gifts for her brother. Well, that's what she was looking for anyway. Luckily she found what she was looking for, I didn't. The traffic was horrendous! We had to pass a horrible accident on the way to the store as well. After shopping we stopped for dinner and drinks and ended up staying till well past 11:00. Yea, it was a good night!
I was at the gym this morning and The View was on, which I think is a most ridiculous show, but I wasn't paying too much attention anyway. Has anyone else noticed how great Star Jones looks? She's a little wisp of a thing now. She must have lost 100 pounds or more! Funny how you only see reports on how fat someone is but when they work at losing weight, no one mentions it.
I did some grocery shopping today and made some of the food for tonight festivities and this weekend. Now the sink is full of dishes and I think I need a nap.
Bone, don't forget to pick me up at the airport! Can't wait for the Festivus party!
Findley and I were out as you may have read on yesterday's post. She wisked me off to the local Harley store in search of Christmas gifts for her brother. Well, that's what she was looking for anyway. Luckily she found what she was looking for, I didn't. The traffic was horrendous! We had to pass a horrible accident on the way to the store as well. After shopping we stopped for dinner and drinks and ended up staying till well past 11:00. Yea, it was a good night!
I was at the gym this morning and The View was on, which I think is a most ridiculous show, but I wasn't paying too much attention anyway. Has anyone else noticed how great Star Jones looks? She's a little wisp of a thing now. She must have lost 100 pounds or more! Funny how you only see reports on how fat someone is but when they work at losing weight, no one mentions it.
I did some grocery shopping today and made some of the food for tonight festivities and this weekend. Now the sink is full of dishes and I think I need a nap.
Bone, don't forget to pick me up at the airport! Can't wait for the Festivus party!
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Thursday Thirteen!
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2. Funny, the last couple of days of fall here in PA have been frigid and snowy. So, here comes winter and the temps are in the 30's. Christmas day is supposed to be near 50! WHOO HOO! 3. I only have to work until 10:45 today. 4. I will not return to work until January 3. 5. Believe it or not, I have a party to go to tomorrow. Really, it's more like a gathering of friends, but isn't that what a party is anyway? 6. I never got Bone's invitation to the Festivus party. I'm really kinda bummed! 7. The Rev. never got the deviled eggs I sent him. I'm thinking there's a postal conspiracy going on here! 8. For those of you keeping tabs, last word from his family, is that Dean is still stuck in limbo-land. 9. Lass, thanks for posting the fictional story blog, that was fun! You people have some very vivid imaginations and I like it! 10. Do really sad things happen around the holidays or is it that they are just more magnified? 11. I know there are some folks outtherer in blogland that are going through some personal struggles and I found out yesterday a coworker that has been hospitalized for a few days has been taken off life support. 12. She was a breast cancer survivor for 5 years and then it came back and is taking her from her husband and children. She is the bravest soul I know. She knew this was going to claim her life but she would tell me about her illness without regret, without a tear in her eye. If I ever get a terminal illness, I can only hope to be as strong as her. 13. Have a great day everyone and a very Happy Christmas! Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, IÂ’ll add you here!) |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. ItÂ’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Reality is Overrated!
I got this from Lass's blog and I'm also going to take the cheap way out of a post today and use this. I think I know who will shock me and who will make me laugh, so let's see if you can prove me right or wrong. :) If you read this, and you happen to have a few seconds and a dollop of creativity to spare, please post a comment with a completely made up (read: FICTIONAL) memory of you and me. It can be anything you want - good or bad - but it has to be fake.When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people don't actually remember about you. Try it, it's fun
Monday, December 19, 2005
New Rules for 2006
Got this via email today and thought I'd share the rules with all of you. Please be advised some people may be offended by the following. If you're easily offended, I'm not sure why you stopped here in the first place.
New Rule #1: Stop giving me that pop-up ad for Classmates.com! There's a reason you don't talk to people for 25 years. Because you don't particularly like them! Besides, I already know what the captain of the football team is doing these days: mowing my lawn.
New Rule #2: Don't eat anything that's served to you out a window unless you're a seagull. People are acting all shocked that a human finger was found in a bowl of Wendy's chili. Hey, the chili costs less than a dollar. What did you expect it to contain? Trout? Luckily, it was only a finger! If it were a whole hand, Congress would have voted to keep it alive.
New Rule #3: Stop saying that teenage boys who have sex with their hot, blonde teachers are permanently damaged. I have a better description for these kids: lucky bastards.
New Rule #4: Ladies, leave your eyebrows alone. Here's how much men care about your eyebrows: do you have two of them? Okay, we're done.
New Rule #5: There's no such thing as flavored water. There's a whole aisle of this crap at the supermarket, water, but without that watery taste. Sorry, but flavored water is called a soft drink. You want flavored water? Pour some scotch over ice and let it melt. That's your flavored water.
New Rule #6: The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the asshole. If you walk into a Starbucks and order a "decaf grande half-soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extradry, light ice, with one Sweet-n'-Low and one NutraSweet," ooh, you're a huge asshole.
New Rule #7: Girls, just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it doesn't make you spiritual. Come on, it's right above the crack of yourass and it translates to "beef with broccoli." The last time you did anything spiritual, you were praying to God you weren't pregnant. You're not spiritual. You were just high when you picked it out.
New Rule #8: Competitive eating isn't a sport. It's one of the seven deadly sins. ESPN recently televised the US Open of Competitive Eating, because watching those athletes at the poker table was just too damned exciting. What's next, competitive farting? Oh wait. They're already doing that. It's called "The Howard Stern Show."
New Rule #9: If you're going to insist on making movies based on crappy, old television shows, then you have to give everyone in the Cineplex a remote so we can see what's playing on the other screens. Let's remember the reason something was a television show in the first place is the idea wasn't good enough to be a movie.
New Rule #10: No more gift registries. You know, it used to be just for weddings. Now it's for babies and new homes and graduations from rehab. Picking out the stuff you want and having other people buy it for you isn't gift giving, it's the white people version of looting.
New Rule #11: and this one is long overdue: No more bathroom attendants. After I zip up, some guy is offering me a towel and a mint like I just had sex with George Michael. I can't even tell if he's supposed to be there, or just some freak with a fetish. I don't want to be on your web cam, dude. I just want to wash my hands.
New Rule #12: When I ask how old your toddler is, I don't need to know in months. "27 Months." "He's two," will do just fine. He's not a cheese. And I didn't really care in the first place.
New Rule #1: Stop giving me that pop-up ad for Classmates.com! There's a reason you don't talk to people for 25 years. Because you don't particularly like them! Besides, I already know what the captain of the football team is doing these days: mowing my lawn.
New Rule #2: Don't eat anything that's served to you out a window unless you're a seagull. People are acting all shocked that a human finger was found in a bowl of Wendy's chili. Hey, the chili costs less than a dollar. What did you expect it to contain? Trout? Luckily, it was only a finger! If it were a whole hand, Congress would have voted to keep it alive.
New Rule #3: Stop saying that teenage boys who have sex with their hot, blonde teachers are permanently damaged. I have a better description for these kids: lucky bastards.
New Rule #4: Ladies, leave your eyebrows alone. Here's how much men care about your eyebrows: do you have two of them? Okay, we're done.
New Rule #5: There's no such thing as flavored water. There's a whole aisle of this crap at the supermarket, water, but without that watery taste. Sorry, but flavored water is called a soft drink. You want flavored water? Pour some scotch over ice and let it melt. That's your flavored water.
New Rule #6: The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the asshole. If you walk into a Starbucks and order a "decaf grande half-soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extradry, light ice, with one Sweet-n'-Low and one NutraSweet," ooh, you're a huge asshole.
New Rule #7: Girls, just because your tattoo has Chinese characters in it doesn't make you spiritual. Come on, it's right above the crack of yourass and it translates to "beef with broccoli." The last time you did anything spiritual, you were praying to God you weren't pregnant. You're not spiritual. You were just high when you picked it out.
New Rule #8: Competitive eating isn't a sport. It's one of the seven deadly sins. ESPN recently televised the US Open of Competitive Eating, because watching those athletes at the poker table was just too damned exciting. What's next, competitive farting? Oh wait. They're already doing that. It's called "The Howard Stern Show."
New Rule #9: If you're going to insist on making movies based on crappy, old television shows, then you have to give everyone in the Cineplex a remote so we can see what's playing on the other screens. Let's remember the reason something was a television show in the first place is the idea wasn't good enough to be a movie.
New Rule #10: No more gift registries. You know, it used to be just for weddings. Now it's for babies and new homes and graduations from rehab. Picking out the stuff you want and having other people buy it for you isn't gift giving, it's the white people version of looting.
New Rule #11: and this one is long overdue: No more bathroom attendants. After I zip up, some guy is offering me a towel and a mint like I just had sex with George Michael. I can't even tell if he's supposed to be there, or just some freak with a fetish. I don't want to be on your web cam, dude. I just want to wash my hands.
New Rule #12: When I ask how old your toddler is, I don't need to know in months. "27 Months." "He's two," will do just fine. He's not a cheese. And I didn't really care in the first place.
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Last night I was getting ready to go to a surprise graduation party. And as I was leaving I was treated to one of the most beautiful sunsets. As Findley says, the colors were yet unnamed. It was wonderful, and me without my camera. Maybe I should ask Santa for a camera phone!
I am actually starting my Christmas shopping as of today. I don't have much to get, it just going to require a lot of popping around and sitting in long lines of traffic.
Mike, thanks for having the bail money ready for us on Friday, but as you can see, I'm not in jail. Don't think anyone else is in jail...maybe I should check! We had a great time celebrating Findley's birthday. There was much silliness, and plenty of dancing like Elaine from Seinfeld followed up by the "can you spare a square" routine in the bathroom. By the end of the night, it was just me Findley and her son Kyle, pronounced keelay (not really but that's what we call him.)
I'm already starting with the gotta go to work tomorrow blues. Fortunately, it's a sunny day, and I have lots to do.
P.S. Just chatted with Dean. He's still in transit but should be sprechenden Deutsch innerhalb ein paar Tagen.
I am actually starting my Christmas shopping as of today. I don't have much to get, it just going to require a lot of popping around and sitting in long lines of traffic.
Mike, thanks for having the bail money ready for us on Friday, but as you can see, I'm not in jail. Don't think anyone else is in jail...maybe I should check! We had a great time celebrating Findley's birthday. There was much silliness, and plenty of dancing like Elaine from Seinfeld followed up by the "can you spare a square" routine in the bathroom. By the end of the night, it was just me Findley and her son Kyle, pronounced keelay (not really but that's what we call him.)
I'm already starting with the gotta go to work tomorrow blues. Fortunately, it's a sunny day, and I have lots to do.
P.S. Just chatted with Dean. He's still in transit but should be sprechenden Deutsch innerhalb ein paar Tagen.
Friday, December 16, 2005
By the Light of the Silvery Moon
The sky was pretty clear, moon beaming brightly this morning when I went out to shovel. Yesterday started out with snow and ended with sleet and rain. So, there was a nice crust on top. Most notably when I went out this morning was that it was almost balmy! The temp was like 35 degrees. And I was dressed for the tundra. Needless to say, I was sweating my butt off by the time I was done. The temps also melted a lot of the snow so shoveling was quite a chore. Each shovel full weighed 50 pounds I swear! So, I did my driveway and walks and then did my neighbors. There wasn't any way a snow blower was getting through this stuff and I wasn't letting them shovel the heavy snow.
I suspect in about an hour, I'm going to need a nap and some Advil!
Today is day two of the feeding frenzy. My manager takes the entire unit out for lunch. Today we're going to The Macaroni Grill. Maybe I can get a nap in before the festivities tonight celebrating the birth of our dear Findley! Tomorrow night I have another party. I swear, I don't usually party this much. Really!
I've been in "tropical state of mind" lately. I just started reading A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffet and listen to Radio Margaritaville while I'm at work. Kinda makes one forget it's chilly and snowy outside.
Have a great Friday everyone!
I suspect in about an hour, I'm going to need a nap and some Advil!
Today is day two of the feeding frenzy. My manager takes the entire unit out for lunch. Today we're going to The Macaroni Grill. Maybe I can get a nap in before the festivities tonight celebrating the birth of our dear Findley! Tomorrow night I have another party. I swear, I don't usually party this much. Really!
I've been in "tropical state of mind" lately. I just started reading A Salty Piece of Land by Jimmy Buffet and listen to Radio Margaritaville while I'm at work. Kinda makes one forget it's chilly and snowy outside.
Have a great Friday everyone!
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Thursday Thirteen!
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2. I have a little over one month to do what I want with my evenings. 3. I actually only had to carry 2 things in to work with me this morning as opposed to the usual 2 things and big, heavy book bag. 4. I won't have to spend my lunch time studying! Whoo hoo! 5. Today is the first of the feeding frenzies in the office. 6. I made deviled eggs. And yes, they're good! 7. Everyone say Happy Birthday to Findley Labrador. She's turning 30 tomorrow! 8. We are planning to go out and celebrate her birthday after work tomorrow. Watch your local news for the details. 9. We'll be going out if the roads aren't skating rinks. 10. We're due for a snow, sleet, freezing rain, ice storm. Perhaps there will even be swarms of locusts just to round things out. 11. That means the liquor stores, grocery stores and gas stations will be jammed. There will be no bread, eggs or milk at the stores. I swear, everyone makes French Toast when it storms! 12. And speaking of French Toast, check out Smoke and Mirrors for the recipe for French Toast Casserole. mmm, yummy! 13. Hope everyone has a great Thursday! Links to other Thursday Thirteens!1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!) |
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Dreamin'
Can I just say how much I wish this was me? It's been quite cold and snowy here in the Northeast. We're due again tomorrow evening for an ice storm. Not fun! Unless of course, there's no work on Friday because of it!
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Monday, December 12, 2005
Twas The Night....
Twas the night before Christmas,
When all through the house
Not a creature was stirring,
Not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung
By the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas
Soon would be there.
The children were nestled
All snug in their beds,
With no thought of the dog
Filling their head.
And mamma in her 'kerchief',
And I in my cap,
Knew he was cold,
But didn't care about that.
When out on the lawn
There arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed
To see what was the matter.
Away to the window
I flew like a flash,
Figuring the dog was free
And into the trash.
The moon on the breast
Of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of midday
To objects below.
When, what to my wondering
Eyes should appear,
But Santa Claus
With his eyes full of tears.
He unchained the dog,
Once so lively and quick,
Last years Christmas present,
Now thin and sick.
More rapid than eagles
He called the dog's name.
And the dog ran to him,
Despite all his pain.
'Now, DASHER! Now, DANCER!
Now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! On CUPID!
On, DONDER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch!
To the top of the wall!
Let's find this dog a home
Where he'll be loved by all'
I knew in an instant
There would be no gifts this year,
For Santa'd made one thing
Perfectly clear.
The gift of a dog
Is not just for the season,
We had gotten the pup
For all the wrong reasons.
In our haste to think
Of a gift for the kids
There's one very important
Thing that we missed.
A dog should be family,
And cared for the same
You don't give a gift,
Then snap on a chain.
And I heard him exclaim
As he rode out of sight,
'You weren't given a gift!
You were given a life!'
-Author Unknown
When all through the house
Not a creature was stirring,
Not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung
By the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas
Soon would be there.
The children were nestled
All snug in their beds,
With no thought of the dog
Filling their head.
And mamma in her 'kerchief',
And I in my cap,
Knew he was cold,
But didn't care about that.
When out on the lawn
There arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed
To see what was the matter.
Away to the window
I flew like a flash,
Figuring the dog was free
And into the trash.
The moon on the breast
Of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of midday
To objects below.
When, what to my wondering
Eyes should appear,
But Santa Claus
With his eyes full of tears.
He unchained the dog,
Once so lively and quick,
Last years Christmas present,
Now thin and sick.
More rapid than eagles
He called the dog's name.
And the dog ran to him,
Despite all his pain.
'Now, DASHER! Now, DANCER!
Now, PRANCER and VIXEN!
On, COMET! On CUPID!
On, DONDER and BLITZEN!
To the top of the porch!
To the top of the wall!
Let's find this dog a home
Where he'll be loved by all'
I knew in an instant
There would be no gifts this year,
For Santa'd made one thing
Perfectly clear.
The gift of a dog
Is not just for the season,
We had gotten the pup
For all the wrong reasons.
In our haste to think
Of a gift for the kids
There's one very important
Thing that we missed.
A dog should be family,
And cared for the same
You don't give a gift,
Then snap on a chain.
And I heard him exclaim
As he rode out of sight,
'You weren't given a gift!
You were given a life!'
-Author Unknown
Friday, December 09, 2005
Winter Wonderland
As expected this is what I woke up to this morning:
This resulted in about an hour's worth of shovelling at 6:00 a.m. this morning in order for me to be able to get out of my driveway. I of course attempted to shovel my neighbors walk but was promptly told by my neighbor to stop! So, I finished their front steps which prompted the delivery of homemade blueberry muffins at my door when I returned home this evening. YUM!
In case you are unfamiliar with these tracks, they are from a very illusive creature known only to these parts.
The greater northeastern snow cat!
And of course, by the time I got home, I wasn't able to pull in my driveway because the big, yellow monsters that remove the snow plow the driveways shut again with compacted snow.
But anyway, all the walks are cleared and the roads too for that matter. I'm cold but I'm home and don't see any need to go any where else.
This resulted in about an hour's worth of shovelling at 6:00 a.m. this morning in order for me to be able to get out of my driveway. I of course attempted to shovel my neighbors walk but was promptly told by my neighbor to stop! So, I finished their front steps which prompted the delivery of homemade blueberry muffins at my door when I returned home this evening. YUM!
In case you are unfamiliar with these tracks, they are from a very illusive creature known only to these parts.
The greater northeastern snow cat!And of course, by the time I got home, I wasn't able to pull in my driveway because the big, yellow monsters that remove the snow plow the driveways shut again with compacted snow.
But anyway, all the walks are cleared and the roads too for that matter. I'm cold but I'm home and don't see any need to go any where else.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Simple Pleasures Part Deux
I was perusing the blogosphere and was checking in on one of my usual blog reads and saw the title was "Simple Pleasures." And I thought, hey, did he steal my title? Then I see I was tagged by my friend Aaron to list the top five simple pleasures I like most. And I will be nice because of the busy time of the year and just say if you want to participate, please feel free, I will not "tag" anyone.
My five simple pleasures:
1. Falling asleep with a cat close by that is purring
2. Sitting by a fire
3. Doing something nice for someone (even something really small) and they act like you've just given them the world
4. Doing something "out of character" and finding out it was pretty fun
5. An impromtu gathering of friends that turns out to be a blow out party!
Here's wishing everyone their "simple pleasures" this weekend!
My five simple pleasures:
1. Falling asleep with a cat close by that is purring
2. Sitting by a fire
3. Doing something nice for someone (even something really small) and they act like you've just given them the world
4. Doing something "out of character" and finding out it was pretty fun
5. An impromtu gathering of friends that turns out to be a blow out party!
Here's wishing everyone their "simple pleasures" this weekend!
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Simple Pleasures
Today was full of little surprises. I was anticipating hearing from my French Prof as I did and I will not talk about that any longer....I don't have to take the final!
Besides that bit of good news, the president and CEO of the company I work for gave us a half day of paid time off to be used between now and December 22. I know to some a half day of paid time off is no big deal, but I know to some folks at my company it was probably a God send. I think I will tack on the extra hours to my already approved paid time off between Christmas and New Years.
Finally, the last pleasant surprise of the evening was a knock on the door from my neighbor. These are the 90 year old neighbors I've written of before. On Sunday it had snowed a bit here but I was obsessed with getting my research paper done. I didn't even bother to go outside and shovel the walks or driveway. So, round noonish, I hear the familiar sound of a snowblower just outside my window. I immediately felt guilty that I didn't a) bother to do my own walks but b) didn't bother to help my neighbors.
So, he finished up my driveway and walks so later that night I took over a pan of sticky buns for them for breakfast the next day. Tonight's visit was him returning my pan, with of course another container of freshly made, still warm pierogies. And thus begins the season of eating!
In my unit today at work we signed up for what we were going to bring to the "unit lunch". Then we had to sign up for what we were going to bring to the week of pre-holiday eating that's just for our small unit. I hear the gym calling!
Besides that bit of good news, the president and CEO of the company I work for gave us a half day of paid time off to be used between now and December 22. I know to some a half day of paid time off is no big deal, but I know to some folks at my company it was probably a God send. I think I will tack on the extra hours to my already approved paid time off between Christmas and New Years.
Finally, the last pleasant surprise of the evening was a knock on the door from my neighbor. These are the 90 year old neighbors I've written of before. On Sunday it had snowed a bit here but I was obsessed with getting my research paper done. I didn't even bother to go outside and shovel the walks or driveway. So, round noonish, I hear the familiar sound of a snowblower just outside my window. I immediately felt guilty that I didn't a) bother to do my own walks but b) didn't bother to help my neighbors.
So, he finished up my driveway and walks so later that night I took over a pan of sticky buns for them for breakfast the next day. Tonight's visit was him returning my pan, with of course another container of freshly made, still warm pierogies. And thus begins the season of eating!
In my unit today at work we signed up for what we were going to bring to the "unit lunch". Then we had to sign up for what we were going to bring to the week of pre-holiday eating that's just for our small unit. I hear the gym calling!
Patiently Waiting
I took the very scary French test last night. And, it was just that...scary.
Mme Bowley will be grading our tests today and will let us know by this afternoon whether or not we have a 95% average and therefore exempt from taking the final.
By the way, she reads my blog, so everybody say really nice things about her!
P.S. Is everyone o.k. from last nights panic with the blogs being down? Hope no one was too terribly bored!
Mme Bowley will be grading our tests today and will let us know by this afternoon whether or not we have a 95% average and therefore exempt from taking the final.
By the way, she reads my blog, so everybody say really nice things about her!
P.S. Is everyone o.k. from last nights panic with the blogs being down? Hope no one was too terribly bored!
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Happy Stinkin Holidays!
As if I haven't said enough about my own hatred of malls, and the ridiculousness of it all, here's someone else's two cents:
Christmas is About Jesus, Not Money
Christmas is About Jesus, Not Money
Friday, December 02, 2005
Sweet Charity
As promised, some pics from the atrium of my office building. As I had said on a previous post, Social Services from the area compiles a list of underprivileged children in the area along with their "wish list" for Christmas. You can specify if you'd like a young child or a teenager. Some kids are very generic on their "wish list" and only ask for a sweater or Eagles sweatshirt. Others are very specific about the toy or CD they want.Those employees who choose to participate can choose one, two or however many children they want to purchase gifts for. There's always a dollar limit, but I don't think anyone stays within the limit. I think the employees have as much fun with this as the kids do in getting their gifts!
Often when people come into our building for one reason or another think we're having a gift swap amongst the employees. I love to take the time to explain to them what we are doing. It really does make a person feel good!
I have a friend in the Philadelphia area that is a Social Worker. Past Christmases she has been responsible for distributing the gifts received from a company that has done a similar project. She said it's very rewarding to be able to give these kids gifts and the parents are thrilled too.
Photographs courtesy of my coworker John Heckert...thanks! Nice job!
Merry Christmas, My Friend
Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.
I had come down the chimney, with presents to give and to see just who in this home did live
As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see, no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.
With medals and badges, awards of all kind,
a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I'd seen.
It Was Dark And Dreary,
I Found The Home Of A Soldier,
Once I Could See Clearly.
I'd heard stories about them, I had to see more,
so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.
The Face Was So Gentle, The Room In Such Disorder,
Not How I Pictured A United States Soldier.
Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?
His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.
I soon understood, this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night,
owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.
Soon around the Nation, the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
because of the soldiers like this one lying here.
I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.
He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice I fight for freedom,
I don't ask for more. My life is my God, my country, my Corps."
With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I watched him for hours, so silent and still.
I noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill.
So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
and covered this soldier from his toes to his head.
I didn't want to leave him so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
But half asleep he rolled over,
and in a voice clean and pure, said
"Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day, all secure."
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a goodnight.
This is an adaptation of a poem written by James M. Schmidt, who was a Lance Corporal in the Marine Corps stationed in Washington, D.C., when he wrote the poem back in 1986.
Over the years the text of "Merry Christmas, My Friend" has been altered to change Marine-specific wording into Army references.
After leaving the Corps, Corporal Schmidt earned a law degree and now serves as an entertainment attorney in Los Angeles and is director of operations for a security consulting firm.
In a one bedroom house made of plaster & stone.
I had come down the chimney, with presents to give and to see just who in this home did live
As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see, no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.
With medals and badges, awards of all kind,
a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I'd seen.
It Was Dark And Dreary,
I Found The Home Of A Soldier,
Once I Could See Clearly.
I'd heard stories about them, I had to see more,
so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.
The Face Was So Gentle, The Room In Such Disorder,
Not How I Pictured A United States Soldier.
Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?
His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.
I soon understood, this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night,
owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.
Soon around the Nation, the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
because of the soldiers like this one lying here.
I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.
He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice,
"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice I fight for freedom,
I don't ask for more. My life is my God, my country, my Corps."
With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I watched him for hours, so silent and still.
I noticed he shivered from the cold night's chill.
So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
and covered this soldier from his toes to his head.
I didn't want to leave him so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
But half asleep he rolled over,
and in a voice clean and pure, said
"Carry on, Santa, it's Christmas Day, all secure."
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a goodnight.
This is an adaptation of a poem written by James M. Schmidt, who was a Lance Corporal in the Marine Corps stationed in Washington, D.C., when he wrote the poem back in 1986.
Over the years the text of "Merry Christmas, My Friend" has been altered to change Marine-specific wording into Army references.
After leaving the Corps, Corporal Schmidt earned a law degree and now serves as an entertainment attorney in Los Angeles and is director of operations for a security consulting firm.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Thursday Thirteen!
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1. So many lists, so little time! 11. 20 days till the first day of winter and the shortest day of the year. I have really been noticing the shortness of days lately. It doesn't help that the sky is gray to begin with. 12. I think I'd like to go to Jamaica for Christmas....will be checking airfare. 13. I lied, I do have some Christmas decorations up at my desk at work....and two Christmas cards already. Have a great day all! |
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