Friday, December 31, 2010

Christmas Surprises

Ok so I love trying to figure out what gifts are before I open them - or someone else opens them (depending on who said gift belongs to). I mean some are really easy, especially when no trickery is involved. When you wrap a book or DVD on it's own the most guessing that comes into play is down to specifics. But when I got home and saw this gigantic thing (the blue one) - with no name tag on it - naturally my mind got to working and I secretly hoped it was mine.


It didn't take much cajoling - "Hey Mom...who's is that?" - to figure out who it would soon belong to - "Oh, that big one? Yours." - Yippee! Now the guessing begins. Not out loud, just to myself so my pride won't be hurt when I don't get it right. Some kind of put-it-together-yourself furniture? I do need a new/bigger dresser or bookcase (I think I always need a new one of those. Some sort of DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) esq. game for the Wii? Some kind of wall art to make my room decor a bit more mature? The last option ended up being the closet to the truth. And look how excited I am when I finally opened it up and found out!


FINALLY!!! My diploma frame that I was supposed to get last year - when my mom "forgot". Because it really is every year that one of your children graduate from the best university in the world. NOT! Anyway, I was really excited I mean look at that face. Now I just have to put it on the wall, which may be a while because Christina has had her frame since right after graduation and she still hasn't put her diploma in it, let alone hung it on the wall. Besides, I don't want to put any more holes in the wall.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Christmas Movie Weekend Extravaganza!!!

OH yeah...it happened!!

Laura and I planned this long weekend where we would eat junk food and watch cheeeeeezzzzyy Christmas movies. You can find out more of the planning here but let me just tell you it was a success!

I'm am pretty sure we didn't get through even half of the movies that we wanted but there was A LOT of junk food consumed and 3 full days of movies. We had a blast and I'm thinking that we should make this an annual weekend so anyone that wants to join us next year, claim your seat today!

Food that was eaten:
cookies from students
sausage,cheese, and crackers from one of those Christmas package thingys
hot apple cider
sparkling cider
cinnamon rolls
chips and french onion dip
lentil stew - that was all Laura; I chose not to be adventurous
leftovers

Be jealous!

What were some lessons learned from this weekend?
- Fun romantic things happen around Christmas time.
- Crazy supernatural things happen that bring joy to the world around Christmas.
- All I need to classify a movie as a Christmas movie is for it to be set on or around Christmas whether the time of the year has anything to do with the story or not (ie Sleepless in Seattle).
- I love Christmas!!! (I didn't just learn this now but reaffirmed it.)

I will admit that we did have to take a short but much needed break from the cheezyness. I hope Laura kept track of the movies we watched so we don't repeat.

What an awesome way to start off my two weeks of vacation!

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

NYC Adventure

OK so I think craziness is the best way to describe this past weekend adventure.

I would like to preface this story with...it was a once-in-a-lifetime adventure - as in never again will I do that!

Not really sure how it happened but I got talked into taking a quick trip to NYC. When I say quick I mean I was in the city for a short period of time. Travel time...not so quick.

At 10 pm on Friday I boarded a charter bus in the Franklinton Baptist parking lot with about 20 other people from Funkytown - many I haven't seen in a long while, others I had never met (and still don't know). 15ish minutes later we pulled into the Roses parking lot in Henderson where we acquired about 30 more people. Now comes the good part...I sat in a bus seat for 8ish hours. On a bus. A freezing cold bus. After I taught all day. My legs were cramped, I was cold, I was sitting up. I got about 2 hours of sleep in 15-20 min intervals and needless to say I WAS NOT a happy camper throughout the day on Saturday.

We got into the city at about 8am and got dumped in front of Macy's and told to be back at 6pm to leave. First stop - the bathroom. Second stop - the subway to go to Chinatown. We spent 4 HOURS in Chinatown/Little Italy making our ways into little backrooms, up creepy stairwells, etc in search of 'the it' handbag or other item that you just gotta have. Mine you, I don't know anything AT. ALL. about 'the it' anything let alone handbag so I just look to see if I find something I might possibly feel comfortable carrying. I did find a super cute "Coach" bag that I couldn't decide - at the time - whether or not I would keep for myself or give as a Christmas gift. I kept it for myself FYI. Did a bit more shopping/wandering around/following creepy people to sketchy places and then decided to go to our next destination.

Keep in mind that I am with two people that have never been to New York and are small town people used to strolling along - not in any kind of hurry. Subways are new to them and Joanna would prefer to NEVER EVER ride one again. The getting on and off of them was a bit of a task - making sure they were behind me and I didn't lose them. This includes the walking through large crowds. Every five seconds turning around to see that they are there.

If you know me at all and remember I DID NOT SLEEP and know that when I do not sleep I am a cranky pants. This day was not my cup of tea and not one of my shining moments. I made sure to not freak out on anyone but I am sure they knew I was not in a good mood and I am sure they felt a bit of my crankiness however unintentional toward them it was.

Anyway - back to my story - now we are in Times Square kinda like a been there, done that feeling. Walked to Central Park - again been there, done that. Not sure if it was my mood, the cold, or really that I am unimpressed not that I have been there a few times before.

By 4 we were back at Macy's wasting time and exhausted. The bus came at 6 and I was exhausted but not excited for another long bus ride. Not 30 minutes into our ride, in New Jersey, we feel a thump thump thump. You guessed it - blown tire. Apparently since it was a back double tire its all good - to the men on the trip anyway. Not only am I going on lack of sleep and uncomfortable in my tiny space but now I have to worry about a blown tire. Can this get any more ridiculous?

Oh but it can!

We stopped for dinner at Cracker Barrel - one of my all-time fav places - but I am really tired and not very hungry. I decided on breakfast and ordered a milk. Our waiter - fairly cute guy - says "I have a surprise for you when I bring your milk." REALLY?!?! What kind of surprise can you bring me with my milk? Yikes...a bit scared. Jody and Joanna are getting this scheming look on their faces and I just put my head down. Oh no! He brings my milk and it is in a frosted mug. He says "I like my milk really cold and wouldn't serve it to you any other way. No extra charge." OH MY GOODNESS. I look a hot mess - not a good thing - and this guy is trying to hit on me over milk. He comes back later - very attentive - but I am tired and so not cute plus we are in Jersey nothing gonna come from it not wasting what little energy I have - but it was pretty funny.

Back on the road. Jackie - a girl from work - texts me from her husband's office party with "I have a surprise 4 u..."
Response: "Oh goodness."
"I'll send a pic in a min..."
Response: "Oh goodness."
Its a guy that works with her husband - really cute.
"Need a pic of you."
(Remember hot mess here.)
Response: "Heck no. I'm a mess" blah blah blah self deprecating and ridiculousness to not send a pic.
"Don't u have a pic on ur phone."
Response: "NO. I don't make it a habit to take pics of myself on phone."
"He's offended." blah blah blah etc etc etc
REALLY 2 guys one night look a mess both trying to hit on me - not really - but still.

What do I do? Pray to God for guidance and clarity and sleep. Shaking my head!

Made it home - safely - sometime after 3 before 4 - fall into bed - not changing clothes or anything.

Adventure? I think yes!