Book Meme

OK, Rach tagged me,
Here are the rules:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

From, A Year of Living Biblically One Man's Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by AJ Jacobs.

"Now that I am doing it, I don't want to stop."

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy -- Exodus 20:8

Day 97. It's a Tuesday afternoon in December, but I feel like I've just experienced my first real Sabbath.

Let me explain: The doorknobs in our apartment fall off on an alarmingly regular basis. They are mecurial little suckers. We don't even need to be touching them -- it's more of a natural-life-cycle type of situation, like icebergs calving or my hair receeding.

Gottcha, want more? Read the book! Hee hee.

Valentine's

My hubby did the sweetest thing for me. Above is my Valentine's gift. Now normally I am the type of woman who eschews this holiday -- maybe because of traumatic high school years -- but I am usually the non-romantic person who says, "Don't spend money on flowers because they are just going to die." I know, that's horrible and my kids will probably spend years in therapy recovering from such a pragmatic mom. But this morning my hubby gave me this adorable charm... a replica of a water meter cover from N.O. Why do I love it so? Because he notice me admiring it at Thanksgiving when his aunt got one for her birthday and he remembered. It is that thoughtfulness that means so much to me. I never asked for it -- but I loved it. It is part of a city that we both love so much, a city where we met and fell in love, a city that he loved and left to be with me. What more can a girl ask for?

I also have a secondary memory about sewer/water meter covers. When C was little 3 or 4 she was a precocious thing, very wise beyond her years and quite self-confident. Back then when we only had 2 kids and lived on a quite street we used to go for walks every night after dinner. These walks would take quite a long time because everytime we passed a sewer cover she would have to stop and do an song and dance routine on it. She really believed that these were little stages placed along the road for her to perform. And since she was the oldest and S was safely strapped in his stroller, we indulged her night after night. I am glad that we did take the time for that because she grew out of that stage quickly and for a long time she avoided the spotlight. The show girl we thought she might be was in hiding -- this became the chick who RAN off the stage after finishing her part in a student recital. Well, it looks like "little miss" may be raising her head -- and is hitting the HS Battle of the Bands with group of guys --- playing mostly Dave Matthews covers -- but still playing ... on stage... with a pick-up on her violin .... :) will wonders never cease.

This is what happens when you go to a party and your husbands refuse to dance, they sneak and take pictures of you on night shot... and yes, those are 80's hands flapping in the breeze...what can I say. Dancing husbands or not, it was still fun!

SNOW

Happy SNOW! Though this happened last week, I am finally posting a pic of my beautiful kids -- couldn't get them together and take one for Christmas -- but this will have to do! The aftermath of all the fun -- snow walks and sledding in the dark -- thanks to a "cool mom" who somehow knew that there would be NO SNOW DAY... I sometimes get the feeling that Calvin and Hobbs visited my house....

test your vocabulary!

Ok, this A- means that I got one wrong... that can't be... :)

Your Vocabulary Score: A-

Congratulations on your multifarious vocabulary!You must be quite an erudite person.

How's" Your Vocabulary?

morning person?

You Are a Morning Person

You're optimistic, alert, and full of energy to start the day. While you would love to party all night, you rather be up at the crack of dawn. You don't procrastinate or spend time worry about what to do next. You take life by the reigns, and you like to have an early start.

Are You a Morning Person or Night Person?

Christmas fun

My friend Sara sent this to me, so I thought I might share it just for fun!

Don't be a Scrooge; have fun, and enjoy reliving and sharing the memories!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? He wraps and wraps and wraps, what is Christmas without a mess of paper all over?
3. Colored lights on tree/house, or white? Both
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No, I have teens in the house, with friends J
5. When do you put up your decorations? After the 1st Sun of Advent
6. Tree -- real or artificial? Fake-a-rooney, it lives in a box in the attic—burn a Yankee Candle Mistletoe candle, you’ll never have to water again!
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? The four of us waiting on the stairs to come down and open presents—it always seemed like HOURS—we couldn’t go down until Grandma was in the living room with her cup of tea—and 80 year old women don’t move so fast.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? WHAT?? No Santa??
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? In my house yes, but it is always pj’s from me; in N.O. all of the family gifts (around 2 in the morning); in my mom’s house, NEVER
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? The more the merrier, usually with all the ornaments about midway up (as high as the little ones can reach)
11. Snow! Love it or dread it? LOVE it!
12. Can you ice skate? I suppose I still could, loved it as a kid – and we did it outside too! Though, I was always the one that found that tree root or rock to fall over.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift as a child? Yes, a big Barbie head to put make up on (which I loved until my sister decorated her with markers)
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you now? Family and traditions
15. What is your favorite holiday dish/dessert? Joyce family Christmas cookies – everyone is original!
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? One that actually started out sad for me. Rhett’s family is German and they celebrate Christmas Eve and sleep on Christmas. We were newly married with nothing to do on Christmas day – so we started going to the French Quarter (it’s all closed ‘cept a few restaurants) When we are in N.O., Christmas dinner at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville (happy birthday Jimmy) is my kids N.O. tradition
17. What tops your tree? A gold cardboard star Rhett made when we were 1st married and money was tight (it’s still pretty high tech—there is a spot in the center for a Christmas light)
18. Which do you prefer -- giving or receiving? Honestly, giving
19. What is your favorite Christmas carol/song? I have a bunch, but Sara’s song is stuck in my head now and all I hear is “God rest ye merry gentlemen…”
20. Candy canes, yes or no? As a treat? Yes! On a sweater? Oh, heck no!
21. Do you feel Christmas is too commercialized? Yes.
22. What is your favorite Christmas TV special (not movie)? Charlie Brown Christmas
23. What is your favorite Christmas movie? Tug on your heartstrings? It’s a Wonderful Life. HAVE to see it every year? A Christmas Story. New addition to the classics? The Nativity. Admitting to the church ladies that I have a dark side? The Ref.
24. Do you have a favorite Christmas book/story? I buy a book (or 2) each year so I have amassed quite a collection—but the all time favorite that makes me cry EVERY SINGLE TIME is The Christmas Miracle of John Toomey. I am loving Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg’s collection Family Christmas this year
25. Anything else you want to share about your holiday memories/traditions that you haven't shared? I hate that I seem to always get caught up in the perfectionism of Christmas, which actually paralyzes me and then nothing gets done. This year I am doing all in my power to enjoy my family, the season, to anticipate the birth of Christ and to not get bogged down in perfectionism (yet, it took me more time to make sure that each response was written in a different color than Sara’s and that it was merry and bright!) Here’s to late Christmas cards, imperfect bows, overdone cookies and gift cards!

Lawn Darts

See, when kids are forced to go outside and unplug from the matrix they can come up with some fun games, like playing lawn darts! Dad & Uncle Larry get to lob footballs in the air and get points if they hit anyone -- and they actually played this game for over an hour!! I wish I could get into the brains of the male species sometimes...

Substitute Teacher Post 2

All credit due to the wonderful creator of Close to Home, I hope this isn't a copywrite infringement, but this cartoon is just priceless!

It is actually not true -- I never need a taser! :)

my life in the car

Do you feel like you live your life in your car? Sometimes I wonder if this is how the kids will remember me when I am gone...just a face in the mirror, that occasionally screams at them to stop kicking each other...
(photo courtesy of C)