Saturday Six Catch-Up

Patrick's Saturday Six: O/P/Q

1. O is for OATMEAL: What does your ideal breakfast meal look like?
soft-boiled eggs on toast with butter, along with strawberry/banana fruit salad

2. O is for OBESITY: How achievable do you believe your “ideal” weight actually is?
I don't know what my official ideal weight is, but my personal ideal weight is completely achievable.

3. O is for ODOR: Which odor do you enjoy the most in a kitchen?
cilantro

4. O is for OIL: How much did you last pay per gallon for gasoline?
$3.07

5. O is for OVEN: Which food is your particular specialty?
chicken parmesan

6. O is for OZ: Which character from The Wizard of Oz movie is your favorite?
Scarecrow


1. P is for PAIN: What’s your pain tolerance: do you handle pain well or are you a baby when it comes to discomfort?
I can handle a lot of pain.

2. P is for PARTY: Are you the type that’s in the center of the action at a party, or do you wind up in a corner with a few folks you know well?
I'm usually in a corner with the people I know well, though I'm not afraid to jump into the main spotlight if I have something particularly witty to contribute.

3. P is for PAYMENT: How often do you write a check instead of paying cash or using a debit card?
Never, if I can possibly avoid it.

4. P is for PENCIL: On the desk where your computer normally is, are there more pens or pencils?
Pens. Pencils are a pain in the rear. (I know that's not where they go. I'm referring to the sharpening, the lightness of the printing, their temporary and changeable nature...)

5. P is for PINTO: What is your favorite kind of bean?
Black beans

6. P is for POT: Copper, Non-stick, Stainless Steel: What are most of your cooking pots made of?
half are non-stick, half are stainless steel


1. Q is for QUACK: What’s the worst medical advice you ever received?
The doctor (a surgeon) who diagnosed my lymphoma in 1988 told me the first thing we should do was remove all the cancerous lymph nodes (which was all of them) from my chest. Not that it was never done (in back alleys and third world countries... kidding... Google if you're seriously looking for info), but it is not the standard treatment. It would not only have significantly reduced my chances of remission, but would have put me at increased risk for succumbing to countless other infections and illnesses afterward, because of my lack of lymph nodes and immune response. I am forever grateful to another doctor in the same office, who immediately got me into MD Anderson (which was referral-ONLY at the time), where I received state-of-the-art treatment and eventual cure with chemo and radiation.

2. Q is for QUEEN: What do you think you’d most enjoy about living the life of royalty?
the cool clothes

3. Q is for QUICK: What household chores are you least likely to procrastinate about doing?
laundry

4. Q is for QUIET: Where do you go when you feel like you need quiet time alone with no distractions?
The bathroom is the only 100% reliable place, but I could probably have quiet time in the front bedroom, as long as I close the door. Everyone would assume I was working out. I could just be lounging in the bean bag chair.

5. Q is for QUIT: What would you most like to quit doing in 2013?
I'd like to find a job, so I could quit looking.

6. Q is for QUIZ: What subject in school did you most dread a pop quiz in?
history

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Swarosvski Crystal Worlds

Must go there on my next European vacay, although I want to go to Italy next. Hopefully we could fit it in as well.

Swarosvski Kristallvelten (Swarosvski Crystal Worlds)

SO cool. I enjoy just milling around the Swarosvski store, with their little items. I can't imagine how amazing these huge displays must look in person. Sparkly!


Saturday 9: Same Old Lang Syne

1) This week's song is the tale of an accidental holiday encounter between former lovers. (Hear it here.) They sit in her car and spend hours catching up, then she gives him a chaste kiss and they never see one another again. Is there a past love who still has a special spot in your heart, despite the years or the miles since your relationship?
Each of them does. As long as you don't have lingering hostilities between you, I don't know how anyone with whom you've been a serious relationship could disappear from your heart. Not that you would ever date them again, but just like your old best friends, they are special people from your past, with whom you'd enjoy catching up if you ran into each other at the grocery store.

2) This week's song includes a play on the traditional Scottish song, "Auld Lang Syne." Have you ever visited Scotland?
No, but I would love to!

3) Mother Winters has long told Sam that if she has a glass of water for every glass of champagne she drinks on New Year's Eve, she'll feel better on New Year's Day. Do you have a favorite hangover prevention tip or cure?
Don't drink more than a drink an hour, and drink plenty of water before you go to bed.

4) Do you like champagne?
Not really. I'll have one glass, if everyone is having it.

6) This year at midnight, Crazy Sam will kiss the nose of her puppy, Chico. Will you be kissing anyone when the clock strikes 12?
Jeffery!

6) The Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy was the runaway publishing phenomenon of 2012. It was so successful that the publisher, Random House, was able to give its employees massive bonuses this year. Have you read it?
Nope. My friends tell me it is a great story, but poorly and immaturely written.

7) Year-end is a time for newspapers, magazines and websites to run lists. According to Askmen.com, Jennifer Lawrence of The Hunger Games is the at the of the year's "Most Desirable Woman" list. People magazine has declared Channing Tatum "The Sexiest Man Alive -- 2012." Do either of these two set your pulse racing? If not, who is your celebrity crush?
Channing Tatum is pretty hot, but there would be quite a few gorgeous men on my list before him. Bradley Cooper is the celeb catching my eye most often lately.

8) Pasadena, California, is known for hosting the traditional Rose Parade. It begins at 8:00 AM on January 1, so the people who watch it live must be there very early. Does the thought of getting up and dressed to sit in the California sun, bright and early on New Year's morning, appeal to you?
There are many events for which I would rise early and sit outside far ahead of time in the wee hours of the morning after a wild night out. Just not the Rose Bowl Parade. 

9) Sometimes aches and pains that aren't serious can still really hurt. For example, Sam just dropped a can of tomato paste on her foot and the little red mark it left is making her crazy! Are you suffering through a bump or bruise or cut right now?
I bit my tongue, but it's about healed now. Thank goodness.

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Christmas

Christmas was the bomb-diggity. (Are we still saying bomb-diggity?) I have the most thoughtful daughter, who gave the most fun and perfect gifts to everyone. Plus, her wrapping was beauuuutiful! My gifts looked lame-o next to hers. She must get her gift-wrap skillz from her grandma.

We went to the Chihuly glass installation at the Dallas Arboretum, which was amazing, particularly in the dark at night. The Artistry of the Nativity display (a separate exhibit) is what moved me the most. It is two collections of hundreds and hundreds of nativity sets from around the world. Some are cute and cartoony, others are very expensive Waterford and Faberge and the like. Just remarkable. Plus, I'd never been inside the DeGolyer Mansion, which is an attraction in itself. (I want that master closet please. Kthanks.)

We attended the annual telling of the Christmas Story at my in-laws' church in Frisco on Christmas Eve. Much singing of Christmas carols there! We opened presents after that, which made Christmas morning the biggest letdown ever. Eh. Whatever the fam wants to do. 

The Hobbit rocked like Bob, but we saw it in 2D, so I also have to also see it in HFR to get the full experience. Or just to see it twice. I'm not even sure myself. The story is missing a hot Aragorn-y character, but other than that, it's just supercool to be back in Tolkien mode after so many years.

To complete the 2012 holiday experience, I still need to see Les Mis, go to IKEA for a few things and give Kathy her Christmas gift when she gets back from Houston.


Friday Five: Sum

1. Who stands out among people you met in 2012?
Alex, who I finally met after emailing and speaking on the phone for five years at the Foundation. He's a really cool guy in person.

2. What new interest did you discover in 2012?
Bradley Cooper

3. In what way was 2012 better than 2011?
2012 was a bit more relaxed.

4. What small, symbolic item might serve as a good souvenir for 2012?
a Tylenol

5. Many years from now, what song, when you hear it on the radio, will remind you most of 2012?
"Call Me Maybe" because of all the funny videos made

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Off to Big D

So the first child of one of my close friends has gotten MARRIED. Holy moly. Cathy won "First Marriage" and "First Baby." Kimberly wins "First Married Child." (Yes. As a matter-of-fact, it is a contest.) Congrats to the Mother-In-Law! I'd love to have her as my mother-in-law! Lucky Rachel. :)

Leaving now for the DFW metroplex. See y'all later!


Sunday Stealing: The Mixed Bag Meme

1. How many songs are in your library?
2,745

2. Do you like Christmas music?
Yes!! Currently lovin' Cee Lo's version of "What Christmas Means to Me"...



3. What magazines do you have subscriptions to?
Real Simple, More and Consumer Reports

4. What is your favorite scent?
ocean air

5. Do you give money to charity?
Yes

6. What is your theme song?
Let's see... "The Sound of Sunshine" Michael Franti



7. What's in your wallet?
2 credit cards, about $15, my ID, my Regal Cinema card

8. Do you generally think before you act, or act before you think?
Think before I act.

9. Is there anything that has made you unhappy these days?
too much

10. Do you have a good body-image?
probably average

11. How are you spending your holidays?
Christmasing in Dallas with the in-laws

12. What have you been seriously addicted to lately?
New music! Particularly Bruno Mars and Christina Aguilera.

13. Tell us a secret?
I know about a certain unusual feature of one of Cathy's exes' private parts. I leave the identity of that person open, because of course I want all the exes to wonder if it's THEM value people's privacy.

14. What’s the last song that got stuck in your head?
"Just a Fool" Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton. It's country, but it happens to be great.

15. What’s your favorite item of clothing?
My new dark wash jeans.

16. Do you think Rice Krispies are yummy?
I love the texture, but they need sugar.

17. Is Santa real?
"...In all this world there is nothing else real and abiding... Thank God he lives and he lives forever. A thousand years from now... nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."

18. What should you be doing right now?
Packing. :) Have a very merry Christmas, y'all!

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Home and Out Again

Home from Galveston and heading up to Dallas tomorrow.

Cathy and I had a blast celebrating her birthday! We spent Thursday shopping at the outlet mall. Thursday night we had a very fancy and wonderful dinner on the water at Willie G's, then walked too many blocks in the icy cold wind to Crow's, where Soulshine was playing. Great crowd there that night, including a fun group of Aggies!

Friday we hung out at Jimmy's on the Pier and then ran around UTMB, visiting with employees and trying to locate the old pedi endo lab. (I worked there the summer after high school.) We gave it a good effort, but I think it is hidden in a construction zone. The whole hospital is a construction zone, since Hurricane Ike- weird temporary hallways, lots of doors that say "no exit." It's sort of the thing nightmares are made of, now that I think about it.

The two things I really recognized as exactly as I remembered were the entrance to the hospital and the campus medical library. We (my fellow high school grads and I, who were in the research program) used to go to the medical library during lunch and watch videos of all sorts of births, just so we could gross ourselves out. It was a very effective method of birth control for our particular age group.

So yeah. Winter on the island can be fun!


SATURDAY 9: HAPPY HOLIDAYS

1. As you can see, Sam loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. Yet some children are reluctant to climb into Jolly Old St. Nick's lap. Did you enjoy the tradition or were you shy? Or did you by pass it altogether -- either because you wrote him a letter or because your family didn't celebrate Christmas?
I wasn't at all shy with Santa. I figured the best chance of getting something on my wish list was to meet with him personally.

Dad's company Christmas party- age 3. Looks like
Santa is a bit worn down from my detailed list.

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there?
Nice. I'm always nice! :p

3. Did you ship any gifts to friends and family this year? If so, which one traveled the farthest?
I had a pretty, live evergreen centerpiece shipped to my Grandpa in Dallas. Does the check to my 19-year-old cousin in Denver count?

4. Did you buy yourself a gift this year?
I cannot tell you how many ubercool things I passed up for myself at the Blue Genie art show and the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar and the mall. So no, I have not bought myself a Christmas gift.

5. What's your favorite holiday-themed movie?
Love, Actually

6. Thinking of movies, Christmas is lucrative for Hollywood. Have you ever gone to a movie theater on Christmas Day?
We all go as a family pretty often on Christmas afternoon.

7. Have you ever suffered an embarrassing moment at the company Christmas party?
Nope.

8. What's your favorite beverage in cold weather?
coffee

9. What will you remember most about 2012?
What a craptastic year it was. Eagerly anticipating a wonderful 2013!

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One Small Step...

Several times now, I've tried to organize and write down my thoughts on what could be done to attempt to reduce the number of mass shootings. As I've talked with my friends, we all seem to be able to identify the various factors involved, but we struggle to specify a particular mitigating measure for any of them.

Gun control is complicated. I don't own a gun, and never will, but the Constitution allows citizens to own guns if they choose. I could go into the history, but you probably know it, and if you don't, the web is a great resource.

Mental health issues- also complicated. We haven't locked up psychotic people simply for their psychosis for decades. There has to be a crime committed or an imminent threat. At least now, I think people will finally start stepping forward and reporting things they find suspicious, rather than assuming people are "just joking" or that they "would never do something like that."

The one thing that I think most of us can agree would be very simple, and effective in deterring some cases, would be for the media to never identify the shooter by name or photo. Ever. In print, on TV, anywhere. Sure, you can tell us about the person. We're all curious why they did it, what their background is, etc. Just provide the information in generic terms. Then at the very least, people know when they are planning these evil acts that they will not garner one minute of personal "fame" from it.

As an added bonus, you also avoid debacles like the misidentification of the shooter in Connecticut.

I don't blame the media for these events, I just think it would be helpful if they kept the identification of these particular types of people out of the news.

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Product Recs

Two product recommendations this morning:

1) BB Cream. Ladies, if you aren't using it as your foundation, stop reading this minute and hie thee to your nearest drugstore or beauty counter! I've only tried one- Loreal- but I can confirm that it is FANTASTIC. Skin tighter, tone even, small wrinkles spackled. It's not heavy at all, which is so nice. It is the miracle it claims to be. Want to test it for yourself? Do what I did- apply your regular foundation on one side of your face and BB cream on the other to compare. The difference was very apparent for my skin. Get a shade lighter than you think you need.

2) Mio. It's my new favorite beverage. I usually drink water with either a splash of tea or lemonade in it. We got the lemon-flavored Mio to try. I use one squirt in 16 oz. of water (about half the smallest intended amount) and it's GREAT lightly flavored water. Zero calories. And the portability factor is awesome. It doesn't need refrigeration and it's tiny, so you can carry it anywhere. Find it in your bottled juice and powdered drinks aisle at the grocery store.


Saturday 9: Christmas Carols

1) What's the first holiday song that comes to mind?
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"

2) Are you sending cards (either by postal service or email) this year? If so, have they gone out yet?
Not sending any this year

3) Can you see any holiday decorations from where you're answering these questions?
I'm in the living room, and I can see several things. Stockings, A&M Football candles and ornaments on the mantel (thank you, Angel), some Christmas knick-knacks...

4) Do you wrap gifts in paper or take the gift bag route?
Most of them are wrapped in paper. Gift bags are good for certain gifts, but if I can, I prefer to wrap in a box. I love the ripping of the paper. It also takes longer, thus prolonging the anticipation, versus yanking something out of a bag.

5) The holidays are an important fundraising time for charities. Here's an opportunity to do a shameless plug for your favorite. What organization or cause do you wish got more support at the holidays, and all year around?
MD Anderson Children's Art Project - Purchase products featuring the art of young cancer patients at MD Anderson in Houston, to benefit patient services!

6) Andy Williams was famous for his family holiday specials. What TV family would most like to spend Christmas with?
The Modern Family gang. OMG this week was freakin' hilarious. My favorite line:

"There's something about going to work that makes you feel like... I don't know... you're worth something. No offense, Mom." -Haley

7) The holidays are a big time for travel. Where did you go on your first airplane flight?
Frankfurt to Houston

8) Does the weather have an impact on your mood?
When it's cloudy, I tend to be sleepy. Happy, but sleepy. There's a dwarf joke in there somewhere. 

9) Snack time! You're about to make yourself your favorite sandwich. What ingredients do you need?
I would never have an entire sandwich as a snack, but OK... Reuben: rye bread, corned beef, Thousand Island dressing, Swiss cheese and sauerkraut.

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Our Hearts Go Out

My thoughts are with the parents of Sandy Hook students who died tragically yesterday in the horrific mass shooting. I cannot imagine their grief.

Absolutely heartbreaking.

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Interview!

Well, I just finished my first interview. It went really well! I'm hoping I get the job, but even if I don't, it's so nice to have that first interview behind me. WHEW.


Today I moved my photos from my phone to my computer. As usual, I found some interesting ones I forgot about:

accidental screencap from Bad Piggies?

Shawn's "First Degree Burn"-- so good!

Lauren's roommate's kitten, Nala, on Lauren's bed

shirt and tie I wanted to buy for Jeff
It's awesome, right ladies?!

At the fro-yo place by IKEA in Round Rock. That is totally... what she said.

Friday Five: There's a Theme. Trust Me.

1. How self-conscious do you get when someone’s pointing a camera at you?
More than average. 7 on a scale from 1-10.

2. What was the last meal you took a photo of?
Lauren's first dinner she completely planned and cooked herself, for the family- mustard rosemary chicken and roasted asparagus. Yummy yummo!

3. When were you last bitten or stung by something?
I have a random bite on my arm from this morning. No idea what it was.

4. What’s something people miss most when they move away from your area?
the beautiful outdoor spaces- hills, hiking trails, parks, lakes

5. On long day-trips, do you prefer to be the driver or passenger? Why?
I don't mind either. I guess I would rather be the driver. I get motion sickness if I use my phone too much or read or anything in the car anyway. May as well let everyone else use their electronic devices.

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Kingsbury 'n' Stuff

Thank you Chad (who excitedly told me the very cool story of when he met Kliff Kingsbury), for informing me that Kingsbury's blood "runs red! Never has it run maroon!" To that, I say...

:p

Kidding. Best of luck at your alma mater, Kingsbury! Now the Tech girls (and their moms) can drool over you every week.


Totally unrelated, in the Austin news...
Drinking and driving is a crime, sometimes with fatal consequences, but I have a big problem with the law that makes bars (and party hosts) responsible for how much patrons drink. Austin PD released its annual list of what they call "DWI Bars," which are the places at which people arrested for DWI report having their last drink. So many other factors are at play in such a poll, including the sheer popularity of a bar. It's impossible to use that data for anything.

Only one person is responsible for how much you drink and if you choose to get behind the wheel of a car, and that is you. The bar has no idea how much you drank before you showed up. They have no idea if you are even driving. They don't know if you're someone like me who gets tipsy after one infrequent glass of wine, or a big drinker who has a bottle every night. It's shouldn't be their responsibility to babysit customers. The reason it's been made their responsibility--- bars have more money than individuals for lawsuit payouts.

May as well blame the liquor companies, while you're at it. How about the Stop 'n Go that sold the drinker the six-pack he drank before he went to the bar that night? The car manufacturer? The friends who let him drive? Silly, silly.

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Bunco Christmas Party

Funniest moment at Jean's party, or perhaps ever: At the end, Jean's mom told Laura, with great concern, that Laura should call a cab to get a ride home, because Laura had had too much to drink.

The thing is- Laura didn't have a drop of alcohol last night.

Priceless.

After dinner, we did an ornament exchange and Amy said someone's ornament looked like a bedroom toy. (She used the D word, but I don't know if I can say it here without getting classified as an adult blog. Then you guys would have click through a screen to promise you are 18 every single time you come in here. No one wants that.) Well, another guest came unglued and declared that she didn't know it was "that kind of a party." She started going on and on about it. Amy didn't hear any of the hubbub from across the room.

See, there were two crowds there this year- Jean's girlfriends from work and from bunco. Our bunco group, like so many for some reason, can get pretty raunchy. It's just assumed that when we get together, you're going to eventually see some naked body parts or someone's new bra (like Amy's last night- she was on a roll) or find out valuable information like which stretch of green on the neighborhood golf course is the best for fooling around in the middle of the night.

The offended girl was from the work group, not that I would put all the work gals in the "easily offended" category. Just saying that this person probably wasn't fairly warned that when bunco chicks are there, it is, indeed, that kind of party. I actually assumed the offended person was joking, because she was three sheets to the wind drinking wine all night, but it was pretty apparent pretty fast that she wasn't kidding.

Jean was fabulous and just moved along quickly to the next ornament unwrapping. Bravo. And of course, we had a little fun with it later when it was just us hanging out at the end.

So great to catch up with everyone!

Curious as a Cat

1) Do you have any friends you regret not keeping in touch with?
one of my best friends Ina who I met at work (who was the one who actually stopped keeping in touch with me), my childhood friend Frank with whom I last chatted just after high school grad, and most of all Eddie- one of my new and fast friends freshman year at A&M. We were inseparable that year, yet oddly, I have absolutely no recollection of why we didn't keep in touch. Not sure if he left school or what happened. Why can't I remember? So weird!

2) Would you have one of your fingers surgically removed if it guaranteed immunity from all major diseases?
Absolutely.

3) Which is creepier to see in your kitchen: a mouse or a cockroach?
definitely a mouse

4) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.

This reminds me of Kelly Clarkson's hair on the Thankful album cover...

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Johnny Football, Baby!

Johnny Manziel wins the Heisman. Freakin' amazing! What a surreal and wonderful night for him and for the Aggie family. Still smiling! :)

When they went to the last commercial break before the announcement, I said that Johnny looked like he was going to throw up. Lauren said, "I'M about to throw up! I imagine he is, too." So funny!

By the way, great job on this event, ESPN. Much, much better than the Football Awards show.

And... Heisman winner and Houston Oilers running back Earl Campbell was at the ceremony! So awesome. My Oilers fave, a Longhorn supporting our guy from Tyler. Campbell is a cool cat from way back.


Patrick's Saturday Six: N

1. N is for NAME: Were you ever tempted to change your name, and if so, which name would you rather have had?
I've always liked my name. It's particularly cool that I can go with the sophisticated "Katherine" for some situations and the fun and casual "Kathy" for others.

2. N is for NATURE: What do you enjoy most about being in the great outdoors?
Connecting with something bigger than myself. (That's what she said.) I find it very centering to be under the infinite sky, hearing the birds and other sounds, feeling the breeze... It's a sort of "reboot," getting away from the busy, hectic world for even a moment.

3. N is for NEWSSTAND: If you had to purchase a magazine at a newsstand, which title would you be most likely to buy?
Real Simple

4. N is for NICKEL: If a president were to replace one of the current presidents on our coins, which one would you like to see immortalized on our currency next?
Reagan

5. N is for NOSE: Which aroma from the kitchen is your favorite?
Cilantro. Oddly enough, Lauren's very least favorite!

6. N is for NUT: When you’re ready for a snack, which variety of nut is your favorite?
cashew

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Cooookieeeeee

I've made all my cookies for Jean's party tomorrow night. Rum balls. I know, they are supposed to sit for a few days, but one day will have to do this time.

Laura: Are you going to Jean's party?
Me: I may go late. The presentation of the Heisman trophy is at 7, but who knows how long they'll stretch that thing out. This is funny-- I thought the Heisman announcement was Monday night, and I was trying to decide if I should cancel dinner plans with friends to watch! Turns out it's Saturday night, so it's not a problem.
Laura: Saturday?
Me: Yes.
Laura: Well Jean's party is on Sunday.
Me: I thought it was Saturday!

Yeesh. I think my brain is on vacation.


Saturday 9: Blue Christmas

1) Do you ever suffer the blues during the holidays?
No, although I have moments where I really miss my mom, who passed away December 19 six years ago.

2) More than 18 million visitors have toured Elvis' home, Graceland. Have you ever been there?
Strangely enough, Mom and I made a point of visiting the tiny, tiny home where Elvis was born in Tupelo, on our way to Nashville once, where we did NOT tour Graceland. It was her 20th high school reunion in Huntsville AL. Dad was working, so she and I went. We hung out there for a couple of days, did the reunion and stayed with her best friend Francis, and then went to Nashville for a couple of days with Francis and Larry and their kids.

Not to go on a tangent, but I am remembering vividly watching my mom chatting with her desperately serious and completely unattainable high school crush at the reunion. I can't believe I can't remember his name right now, but this was one of those über-popular guys who she adored back then, who was incredibly handsome (still was, at 38) and so charming and sweet, and made the effort to get to know kids from every single clique in the school. You know that guy, right? Everyone thinks he's awesome. I think every high school class has one. Ours was Peter Griffith.

Anyhoo... He hugged her and kissed her on the cheek when they met at the reunion, and I could tell she was DYING. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... So cute! He didn't do that with everyone. Many of the ladies, but not all of them. He sat at our table and talked with the group for quite a while. She and Francis giggled like teenagers about it for two days.

3) Elvis dyed his naturally light brown locks black. Do you dye your hair?
Nope

4) He also insisted his young girlfriend, Priscilla, dye her hair jet black. If your lover asked you to change your hair, would you?
Sure. As long as it doesn't look awful. Now ask Jeff how many times I've asked him to let his hair grow out into its wavy/curly glory. But noooooo...

5) Elvis served his country at an Army base in Friedberg, Germany. Have you ever been to Germany?
1) lived there from birth to age 3- Heidelberg/Worms area.
2) Visited when I was a freshman in high school- Dad's side of the family in Worms & Hamm, my uncle Brian and family then stationed at Wiesbaden, then toured all over the countryside up and down the Rhine staying in guest houses.
3) Jeff, Lauren and I went back when Lauren was 3- Munich for a week, then Berchtesgaden for a week.

6) Elvis famously had an affair with Ann-Margret during the filming of Viva Las Vegas. Have you ever indulged in a dalliance with a coworker?
I went out with a few waiters while I was a hostess in high school. I also dated JohnN, a comp sci major with whom I worked in the Dean's Office my junior year of college.

7) Thinking of his movies ... Elvis was, by and large, unhappy with his film career and once said, "The only thing worse than watching a bad movie is being in one." Are you happy with the way your career is going/has gone?
*eye roll* The timing of this question is lovely. Not happy in any way, shape or form with the way my career is going. I've convinced myself that some perfect opportunity is about to come up.

8) Elvis lost "the battle of the bulge" toward end of his life. Are you happy with your weight?
I'm working on losing 15 pounds at the moment. Ask me again in a couple of months. :)

9) As a teenager, Elvis worked as an usher at a movie theater. What was your first job?
selling newspaper subscriptions over the phone for the Houston Post when I was 16

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Is It Friday Yet?

It is!

Huge congrats to Johnny Manziel for winning the O'Brien Award (first freshman and first Aggie ever) and to Luke Joeckel for winning the Outland Trophy (first Aggie ever) at the Home Depot College Football Awards last night! Waiting, waiting, waiting for the Heisman announcement on Saturday night. Go JFF!

Still wondering when they'll do a Home Depot Tool of the Year award, so it can to go to one of those irritable, pop-a-gasket coaches.

Tool... Home Depot...

I'm sure going to miss making that joke every week, now that football season is over.

I hate to say it, but the whole awards show was just odd, from the awkward skits to the long silences to the mostly misread teleprompter. (The winner is... Joel Joeckel from The University of Texas A&M? Oy. Big moment bombed.) I think the problem was that the event needs to choose a personality. Is it solemn and meaningful or is it fun and celebratory? Here are all these stars of college football in one room, with somber presenters and little levity... and they jarringly throw in randomness like a DJ and goofy skits.

I'm more a DJ & goofy skit girl myself, so I wish they would have run with that and kept the presenters more smiley and casual, except for perhaps the more personal Disney Spirit Award honoring UT's Nate Boyer and the Contribution to College Football Award honoring former Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian.

They also tried to do several impromptu "bits" that really require some sort of rehearsal, like having the first three winners throw the football around the room. Everyone was unsure what the heck they were supposed to do. You could almost see the cuing from behind the camera. I think they should have had more pre-recorded segments, like the golf game and Disney thing, to feature the players. The Te'o skit could have been pre-recorded, too. Cute, but the timing was off.

The only thing that could have made the event more uncomfortable and weird would have been comedian Richard Lewis hosting.


I said here yesterday that I thought the twenty minutes we saw during season 1 of AHS were from the pilot. It turns out it was from episode 10 of 12. I guess we jumped in later than I thought. Heh. And it was Tate and Violet in Violet's room with a chess board (Colonel Mustard in the Study with a Candlestick *gigglesnort*), not in the attic with a Ouija board.

Details, details.

Either way, we're watching the final two episodes of season 1 today!


Friday Five: Themeless

1. You know those delicatessens that name sandwiches after famous people? What would be the ingredients of the sandwich named after you?
a hot panini made with Fontina, genoa salami, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions and banana peppers on ciabatta

2. What’s your favorite part of staying in a hotel?
a king size bed and a fabulous shower

3. What was the last book you read, and how was it?
Skinnydipping by Bethenny Frankel. It was good!

4. What’s something super-unhealthy you’ve recently eaten?
Hello Dolly bars I made at Thanksgiving-- so worth it

5. What do you do with all those Christmas cards with photos of friends and their kids?
I put them in albums. They're the only things I've put in albums in the past ten years.

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American Horror Story

We've been watching "American Horror Story: Asylum" since episode 1. Lauren and I were mostly intrigued by the guest appearance of Adam Levine. It turned out to be the scariest television show we've ever seen, so now all three of us are hooked.

I saw all the comments from friends and reviews from critics last season about how terrifying "American Horror Story: Murder House" was, so Lauren and I watched about 20 minutes of one episode, which I thought was the pilot, but it wasn't. (I think there was a scene with Tate and Violet using the Ouija board in the attic or something.) We thought it was slow. We are now watching the first season straight through on Amazon. We're at episode 6 and I still haven't seen the parts we watched. It is freaky scary, not slow at all.  It's like reading a book... you don't want to stop watching to see what happens next! With access to all the episodes, it's hard to not just keep going.

Plus, there are gratuitous nude scenes of the gorgeous Dylan McDermott. Can't beat that with a stick. (Or a shovel. Right, Ben? Mwahaha...)

At the end of each week's episode of Asylum, we all whine out loud when it's over and wait on the edge of our seats for the previews for next week. I don't know that I've ever done that with any show, ever.

If you're not watching, and you like horror films or books, don't miss it! Wednesday at 10 pm EST on FX. The actors are top-notch. Stories are well-written and there's a shocking turn at every corner. Check out season one (Murder House) if you have access via Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc. There is a lot of blood, sex and foul language- just a warning. Not a kid-friendly show at all.

The opening credits for both seasons (especially season 2) are SO frightening. Intense, genius-scary music, too. If there is any portion of the show I will not watch alone or in the dark, it's the opening.

The Making of the Asylum Opening:


Asylum Opening Credits:

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Merengue vs. Hip-Hop

I'd like for everyone to please get out of your chairs and try a little something I discovered while doing Zumba, for the first time since that terrible flu-ish cold thing overcame me for a couple of weeks.

Everyone up?

I'll wait.

Okay. Do a V-step (men, that is a step forward with the right foot, then left, apart like the top of a V, then back with the right then left, together like the bottom of a V). Forward-forward-back-back, right-left-right-left...

Now, if you pop your left hip out when you step on your right foot, and then pop your right hip out when you step with the left, you are doing Merengue. Merengue is very smooth and wavy. If you pop your right hip out with your right step, then the left hip with the left step, you are more doing
a stripper move hip hop. It's sort of gritty and linear.

Holy frijoles. I actually managed to find on YouTube (in less than 2 minutes of searching... BOO-YAH) the actual clip that I was watching when I figured this all out. A snippet from a 45-minute workout video that happens to appear in this preview video.

*bows*

This is the Activate DVD Preview. V-step @ 00:13, the very first clip after they introduce the workout. Watch Tanya (in the pink pants) the first time through. When they put their hands up, they're done with V-step, so just click back to 00:13. Tanya does what I do there- the hip hop move, pushing out the same hip as the foot that is stepping. (Actually, her very last step goes just a tad Merengue...)



Now go through it again. The girl in the back, on the right, in the green shirt is doing the Merengue move, hip opposite of the foot that is stepping. See how different it is? Both cool. Very different. I just have to concentrate to do the Merengue wiggle there.

For some reason, I can very naturally salsa (which is also with the alternate hip from the stepping foot) all day long without wearying a brain cell.

Oh. I probably should have just let the men sit in their chairs and watch the vid of hot, gyrating chicks, instead of peer pressuring you to get up and do the steps yourselves. It was fun though, right? And now you know what a V-step is. You're welcome.

Incidentally, Tanya has inspirational abs. I mean, honestly. And Gina has the most gorgeous hair.

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SEC's Johnny Football Video

WHOOP!

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Wow, Y'all...

I have seen, for the first time, a Facebook Timeline that has been filled in to the hilt with all of someone's lifetime highlights. He's not a teenager either. He's 50. It is painstakingly detailed and very impressive. I can't imagine how long it took to enter all the stuff, much less to research and remember everything and scan photos for each one.

It has marriages, divorces, moves and buying houses, new jobs, career highlights, news items, births and deaths of family and friends, just everything. And photos for every single item, of course.

*slow applause*


Patrick's Saturday Six: M

1. M is for MAC: Which brand of computer do you use most often?
HP Pavilion desktop PC

2. M is for MACARONI: Which pasta dish do you enjoy most?
Italian sausage and peppers with penne

3. M is for MAIL: How often do you actually mail a letter versus sending an email or chatting online?
I mail about one snail mail letter every year, usually to a business. I send email and chat online almost every day.

4. M is for MICROPOLIS: If you had the choice to earn a decent salary at an enjoyable job and could be certain that you could afford a comfortable lifestyle, would you prefer to live in a big city, a small town, or something in between?
I strongly prefer living in the suburbs of a city. It's important to me to have ready access to concerts, shows, restaurants, malls, movies, etc.

5. M is for MOVIE: What is the next movie you are looking forward to seeing in a theater?
The Hobbit

6. M is for MUSEUM: Which type of museum would you most likely pay to enter: an art museum, a history museum or a science museum?
I love all of those!

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Rambling Monday Post

Talked with MelissaN yesterday about the complete lack of job prospects. In six weeks, I have found only five jobs for which I think I am qualified, and had zero interviews.

It all boils down to this: Right now, companies (at least in my fields of technology and research) don't need to hire anyone but mid-level and higher professionals, because there are so many great people with years of current experience looking for jobs. Because of the 19 years I've been a SAHM, I'm trying to re-enter the workforce as a level 2 data analyst (out of 4, I was a 3 before), and the lowest level opportunities I've seen or heard of are level 3. I applied for them and was politely dismissed.

I thought perhaps I should get my software certification, to put something current on my resume. Well, because that training is typically paid for by employers, the cost is completely outrageous for an individual ($4000 for five days). If there were a guarantee that I would be hired afterwards, I would more than happily put up the cash; however, I am painfully familiar with job prospects in Austin at the moment, and without several years experience, you're going to have to go with entry-level retail and restaurant jobs. There aren't a lot of those, either.

If it were less expensive, I would just do it. It couldn't hurt. As many people on job boards have said though- if you apply for a lower-level position, you aren't expected to have much experience and the company will train you. If you apply for the mid-to-high level positions and come in with your expensive training, but little (or plenty of 20-year-old, basically useless) experience, you still aren't qualified. Either way, you've wasted your time and money paying for training/certification yourself.

I've also searched jobs in healthcare that I would love to get into, where I am most likely considered to have no relevant experience, historical or otherwise. There aren't entry-level openings there either, except for a few that actually said in the postings, "No career changers or workforce re-entry." I can only guess that's an age discrimination tactic. A more politically correct way to say that is "Recent college grads only." There are a few of those! Good luck with that, tens of thousands of college grads.

Now I understand why so many parents I know and have run into with graduating children report that their kids are working the paint department at Home Depot or something else that doesn't require a $100,000 degree.

So yeah. The economy still sucks. Hold on to your jobs, folks.

Melissa reminded me, as others have, that hiring will pick up a bit after the new year. Let's hope so.

And now, we dance!


Saturday 9: Beer Barrel Polka

1) Have you ever danced the polka?
Once, at a beer festival in Germany.

2) Frankie Yankovic was a stellar accordion player. What instrument have you mastered, or would like to learn?
I have not mastered an instrument, although I can play piano. Would love to learn electric guitar, but from my attempt at acoustic guitar, I know that my fingers are far to delicate for it.

3) When Frankie died in 1998, his obituary proclaimed him as "America's Polka King." Lucille Ball was "The Queen of Comedy" and Michael Jackson was "The King of Pop." What royal title do you deserve?
Baroness of Word Games

4) Do you like light beer?
Not generally.

5) In 1901, daredevil Annie Taylor successfully went over Niagara Falls in a barrel. She was badly bruised but otherwise fine. How much money would it take for you do to do something that dangerous?
There isn't enough money in the world.

6) When was the last time you visited a pet store?
This summer, Lauren and I visited a pet store at the mall in College Station. I haven't seen any other pet stores in years, since all the puppy mills were exposed.

7) What's your favorite salad dressing?
my homemade lemon poppyseed

8) Sam Winters is crazy about her smart phone. She uses it to take pictures, record videos, listen to tunes, answer emails and surf the net and, oh yeah, she even uses it to make calls. How indispensable is your mobile phone in your day-to-day life?
Not as indispensable as it is to most people I know.

9) "Kocham cię" is "I love you" in Polish. Can you say "I love you" in a language other than English (and Polish)?
German, Spanish, Latin, French, Italian

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Johnny Football for Heisman

So, I have been one of the people who has been hesitant to put my full support behind any freshman to win the Heisman, not because they don't deserve it, but only because if you win it your first year, I wonder what's next for you in college ball. You hit your college football ultimate goal year 1. Now what?

However, I was swayed by a comment on the Johnny "Football" Manziel for Heisman Facebook page yesterday to throw my enthusiastic support behind Johnny... or any other fabulous freshman who is deserving in the future. It was in response to the post:

Tweet from Jim Rome after Johnny's interview:
"Regarding boneheads who won't vote for a freshman for Heisman...I just rapped with Johnny Football. Nothing about him says freshman."

A fan pointed out the simple fact of the matter is that the Heisman is for the best college football player of the year. It doesn't say, "...who is not a freshman."

Yeah!

Sports message boards are lit up with support from fans across the country, because of his accomplishments this season. There are Johnny Football-isms all over the net, similar to the Chuck Norris-isms... or the Dos Equis guy. (Chuck Norris is afraid of only one thing... Johnny Manziel outside the pocket.) Pedro's son was wearing an A&M jersey yesterday in Dallas and random people were yelling "Johnny Football!" We had lunch at Torchy's here in Austin on Thursday, and while it was very loud in there and the TV had no sound, a Johnny interview (in an empty Kyle Field... not sure who it was) came on and many customers were watching the screen intently and talking about him at their tables.

The kid is a phenom. He's done amazing things on the field, some of which have never been seen in football. His stats are incredible. The fact that he is a first-year player only makes it all the more impressive. Give him the trophy. :-)

And as far as my question about what Johnny would do for the next three years after winning the Heisman... Kathy's immediate response:

"Try for another Heisman!"

Whoop!

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Flannel Sheets, Baby

I have a winter bedding tip for all of you. Get flannel sheets. I hate getting all comfy cozy and ready to get into bed, and then feeling the shock of icy cotton sheets. We used to have an electric blanket in winter, for the sole purpose of warming the bed before we got in, but this process requires forethought and most times, I was impatient and just got in anyway.

Flannel sheets were an experiment, a total shot in the dark, and they work perfectly! No wires to feed around your mattress and headboard, no time to heat up. They are warm the second you slide into them. They're probably the cheapest sheets you can buy, too. I got my queen set, including everything, at Target for $25. Ta-da!!


I got presale tickets yesterday for Matchbox Twenty!! Whee! Usually presale tix aren't that great, but these are. Even if they hadn't been, there isn't a bad seat in the house at ACL Live. It's all up close and personal there. My favorite concert venue by far.


Patrick's Sunday Seven
This week’s topic is about sitcoms that I just didn’t see the appeal of. I’m curious to see how many of them didn’t do it for you!

My 7 Least Favorite Long-Running Sitcoms

1. Married ... With Children- just didn't get it
2. Family Matters- Urkel is incredibly annoying
3. The King Of Queens- too much yelling and arguing
4. Friends- Cathy's gonna kill me for this one. I watch reruns now and they're funny enough for the middle of the night, but I never saw a single episode when it was originally on.
5. The Beverly Hillbillies - I just found it to be making fun of all kinds of people- uneducated people, rich people, pretty girls, older people... everyone was a caricature or stereotype
6. The Andy Griffith Show- I watched it sometimes, but I only really got a kick out of Don Knotts, the rest was sort of too "goody two-shoes" for my taste
7. Webster- I didn't find Emmanuel Lewis as adorable as everyone else seemed to

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Annoying Software Updates

I feel like I'm constantly badgered into updating software lately. I get it from my PC, my netbook and my iPhone. Between this and having items plugged in all over the house recharging all the time, technology is beginning to give me a tic.

Every day it's something. On my phone, it's usually apps I don't even use that are pushing notifications they need to be updated. If it's Facebook or WWF, great! If it's Flixter, eh. I've started deleting apps I rarely use, even though it would be nice to have them, because they are too frequently buzzing me to update.

On my PC, it's iTunes, Windows, Java and Adobe Reader, followed by other individually less frequent, but collectively annoying software. Holy bajeebus, can't these programs go even a month without popping up on my taskbar to be updated?

I want to tell these programs to auto-update in the middle of the night or something, but my only option is whether or not to check for updates automatically. Turn that off, and you're having to remember to manually check every program website for updates.

I'd also like to tell them no, when they ask to update, to leave the updates for the next time. Windows lets you do that, although it lays on a huge guilt trip about being irresponsible by not keeping your computer safe from viruses and other malicious attacks, and insinuates you probably weren't held enough as a baby.

iTunes for PC likes to give you an option to not update, but then nag you every 24 hours until you do. Actually iTunes itself has a "don't ask me again" button, but the dang iCloud and QuickTime updates are relentless! And sans said button.

I never did figure out how to get my phone to stop bugging me about updating to iOS 6, so I finally just updated it. I'm convinced that was the point all along. While we're talking about iPhone, I also don't like to have to log in every single time I download an update. Let me turn that off and just download when I say so.

In the end, the real problem is the frequency of software updates. Do Microsoft engineers need to sit around all day, every day, fixing tiny Windows bugs and shooting out the fixes, which always require a reboot (gah), every 2-14 days? Really? Whatever happened to patches and updates that came out every six months to two years? If you were having problems or heard about some improvement, you hunted that patch down and downloaded it and installed it. And you were happy about it.

Shout out to Firefox on getting it right. Firefox allows you to choose to update automatically, as all things should. Thank you Firefox, for working as software should work. You are setting an example for the world.

If programs won't let us give them permission to just update at will, then I wish to be able to set a time, like every 6 months, where the computer checks all my programs for necessary updates. Maybe I'm missing some functionality for several weeks, but that is alright with me. If there is some serious security fix- and I mean SERIOUS- I'm looking at you, Windows updater- then it can let me know immediately. Otherwise, I'll catch it all one day when I get the massive notifications for all my software at one time.

Also, stop installing shortcuts on my desktop, updaters. I will never need to be a double-click away from Quicktime every moment of my day.

And that final message you get from most of these installers, right after you update--

"Checking for updates..."

What the...??! Don't even think about telling me there are updates to the updates.

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The Last Goodbye

Jamming to this awesomeness on headphones on repeat at full blast!



Tossing in a little PS22 harmonies. Just... yay. :)

We all sang the ever-loving crap out of this thing at ACL Live when David played on Halloween night last year.  SO fun!

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Cancer Sucks

Guess what I found out. People like me, who have a history of lymphoma or leukemia, cannot have the shingles vaccine. Super! So, shingles may be in my future. I usually say that if it ain't cancer, it ain't a big deal. Well my mom got shingles. It was excrutiating pain like she'd never felt before. I'll just hope they come up with a better treatment in the next several years.

(While they're at it, maybe they'll develop something less invasive than a colonoscopy before I'm 50 as well. Not looking forward to that.)

My friends who can get the vaccine, you better get it! If you don't, and you get shingles, I'll visit your bedside just to stare at you and shake my head.

I won't say "I told you so" out loud.

Speaking of cancer, my uncle Rob just found out he probably has kidney cancer. Ugh. I can't believe it. That's three out of five siblings. My uncle John had genetic testing when he was diagnosed after my mom. They determined that they did not have Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, a rare, but the most common genetic issue in families who present with multiple cases of kidney cancer, which is rather rare itself. However, there is another genetic abnormality that runs in families, which, if one parent has it, gives the children a 50-50 chance of getting kidney cancer.

One good thing- If Rob's tumor is indeed malignant, it is tiny (8mm), and he has a good prognosis. They also would only remove a very small portion of his kidney. The only reason they even found it is because the siblings are having annual kidney cancer checks from age 50+. They saw it on his CT scan. Lucky lucky.

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"Facebook Law for Idiots"

CollegeHumor's Favorite Funny Videos

Some general advice: If it sounds alarmist, it probably is. There are simple ways to find out if things are true before spreading them around the net, and the poster has a responsibility to do that. Or they just look silly. :)

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Tuesday Already?

Dear Maroon 5,

Please add an Austin date between Houston and Dallas. There's a perfectly good night in between. I mean, why not? Right?

Love,
Me

On an unrelated note-- Les Mis AND The Hobbit next month. Yaaaay!!


Patrick's Saturday Six: L

1. L is for LACTOSE: What’s your favorite dairy product?
mint chocolate chip ice cream

2. L is for LANGUAGE: If you could learn any language that you haven’t already studied in any way, which one would you choose?
Russian

3. L is for LAUGH: Who is the last comedian to make you literally laugh out loud?
Craig Ferguson

4. L is for LEATHER: How many items made of leather do you own?
Several pairs of shoes... one purse... some belts...  I don't know really. The first leather item I ever bought for myself was a black leather pencil skirt in London when I was a teenager. That should be on my Facebook Timeline as a life event. One of my coolest purchases ever.

5. L is for LEFTOVER: Which specific food leftover from Thanksgiving dinner do you tire of the fastest?
turkey

6. L is for LIBRARY: How often do you visit your local library?
I haven't been in probably 12-13 years. When Lauren was little, we practically lived there.

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Christmas Shopping

Starting Christmas shopping today! This year, I have decided to make a list before I buy anything. Then I can just go to the stores I need to visit and order online in one big order, instead of milling around the malls looking for "something cool for Aunt Freda."


Saturday 9: Cold Turkey

1) Are you still feasting on cold turkey, or any other leftovers, from your Thanksgiving meal?
Actually on Sunday, I had some cranberry sauce with my sandwich at lunch. That is the last of the leftovers. I'm not a big fan of eating the same thing over and over, so leftovers are usually frozen for later use around here. The leftover turkey is in two big bags in the freezer.

2) AAA says Thanksgiving is a big travel weekend. Did you venture far from home for your holiday dinner?
We stayed at home. Jeff's family came down from Dallas.

3) Is this weekend the official start of the Christmas season for you?
Yes

4) Which couple would you rather hang out with -- Fred and Wilma Flintstone or George and Jane Jetson?
I'd rather hang out in the future than the past, but if we're talking strictly personality, I'd go with Fred and Wilma. George is that annoying, know-it-all type. You can only take so much of that.

5) Have you/would you ever get your teeth whitened?
I use super-whitening toothpaste, but I've never gotten them professionally whitened. I'm not against it, just haven't done it.

6) Do you still have your high school class ring?
I didn't get a high school ring, because I knew I wouldn't wear it after high school. I did get the miniature high school class ring that hung on a chain. I wore it all the time my senior year, but I have no idea where it is now.

7) Here's $50. You must spend it all in one place. What are you going to do with it?
buy something pretty at Pier 1 to replace the vase that Maya broke when she knocked it off the mantel

8) Could your vehicle use a trip to the car wash right about now?
yep

9) Did you hit the snooze button this morning?
I never hit the snooze button.

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Welcome to the SEC

A&M 10-2 for our inaugural season in the SEC. And the naysayers said we would suck. HA!

Yes, I feel better having gotten that off my chest. :)

Did I mention we lost those two games to Florida by only 3 and LSU by only 5 and we beat Ala-freakin-bama? It is true. Okay, even I didn't think the season would be that awesome. What a joy to be wrong!

Johnny is a big factor, but the entire team played well, even the second string, which we saw a lot of because of all the high scoring games. Going into next year, we will retain a very strong team, perhaps even stronger. Recruiting is crazy good.

Another big factor- Coach Sumlin. Bravo to him for his great coaching, including not letting even big names get away with breaking team rules. Sumlin is admirably cool and level-headed on the field, proving that one does not have to pop a blood vessel, yelling and tossing clipboards like many highly successful college coaches who the fans love to hate around the NCAA. Congrats, Coach!

And a shoutout to Kliff Kingsbury, because he's hot. Okay, he's a star offensive coordinator, too.

That trick play in last night's game, where Manziel magically went from QB to receiver and would have gotten a touchdown, but for the remarkable efforts of a Mizzou defender? (Directly in front of our seats, by the way.) Holy COWCATS, that would have been so incredible! Our section was dying. Like AWWWWWW MAAAAAN...

I hope we see that play again.

Another football note--- While I was prattling on about college football at a million miles an hour on Thursday, I accidentally referred to the TCU Horned Frogs as the TCU Horndogs. I don't care who you are, that is funny right there.


Lincoln was SO good. I didn't realize that the two political parties have been dug in against each other since those times. I love the way the representatives talk to each other.

"The representative from the state of Ohio is a no-good scallywag!"

"How DARE you, sir!"

I wish our reps would talk like that. I'd watch C-SPAN every day. Perhaps, similar to Talk Like a Pirate Day, there could be an official Talk Like a Civil War Era Congressman Day. Yeah!

For someone who can't sit through a history class without shifting around in my chair and checking the clock, this 2.5 hour film kept me completely immersed in the times, and even though I knew the outcome of about everything that happened, I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see it on the screen.

Excellent acting, of course. Brilliant direction. Just a fabulous film all around.


Sunday Stealing

1. Where was your profile picture taken?
outside G Rollie Coliseum before an A&M football game

2. Name someone who made you laugh today.
No one has made me laugh yet. Jeff and I have talked, but he wasn't funny. :)

3. Do you believe exes can be friends?
Yes. I consider all my exes friends. Not super close friends, but like casual, going-to-lunch, Christmas card friends. For instance, as much of a non-issue as it should be, it would be awkward to take your families on vacation together or live next door to each other.

4. How do you feel about Dr Pepper?
love it

5. Who was the last person you took a picture of?
Lauren at Chili's on her birthday a little over a week ago

6. Are you upset about anything?
Nah

7. Do you think relationships are ever really worth it?
Always!

8. Are you a bad influence?
I can be. Nothing really bad, but perhaps worse than someone may have been without my encouragement. I'm particularly good at getting girlfriends to purchase a lot of stuff when we're out shopping, while I buy nothing all day. *adjusts halo*

9. Night out or night in?
almost always night out

10. Has anyone ever called you perfect before?
Yep. People sure say crazy things, don't they?

11. What song is stuck in your head?
"Innocent" Our Lady Peace



12. Someone knocks on your window at 2:00 a.m., who do you want it to be?
Kathy and the rest of my college friends, for a surprise reunion party

13. Do you smile a lot?
yes

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"I Take it Black, Like My Men"

Oh, Airplane. You're still hilarious after all these years.

I always stay away from shopping on Black Friday, and I will keep that tradition alive today. If you are shopping today, good luck and Godspeed.

Thanksgiving... The Texans won. The Cowboys lost. That always makes it a great day! ;) Mom would have been thrilled.

My Thanksgiving feast was yummy, even though the oven got turned off during the turkey heating process and delayed lunch by an hour. The turkey was smoked, so we could just have had it cold. But it was definitely better hot. And I managed to keep all my sides appropriately warm without getting overdone. Yay!


Friday Five: Black

1. What’s your favorite black article of clothing?
a casual pair of black capri pants with lots of pockets. Great for football games!

2. What’s the best black food?
black beans

3. How did you pass the time during your most recent extended blackout (power outage)?
We don't have many extended power outages here. A few years ago, our power was out for a couple of hours. I did some yard work.

4. When did you last play blackjack?
on our cruise in April

5. What are some songs in your iTunes (or other media player) whose titles contain the word black?
"Welcome to the Black Parade"- My Chemical Romance
"Black Roses Red"- Alana Grace
"Black Jesus"- Lady Gaga
"Black Bird"- Across the Universe soundtrack
"Black Cat"- Janet Jackson


Song Lyrics of the Day

...You turned your back on tomorrow
'Cause you forgot yesterday.
I gave you my love to borrow,
But you just gave it away.
You can't expect me to be fine,
I don't expect you to care
I know I've said it before,
But all of our bridges burned down...

"Payphone" Maroon 5
(because everyone needs a little Adam Levine on a Friday morning) 

you turned your back on tomorrow ‘cause you forgot yesterday I gave you my love to borrow, but you just gave it away You can’t expect me to be fine, I don’t expect you to care

Read more: MAROON 5 - PAYPHONE LYRICS

you turned your back on tomorrow ‘cause you forgot yesterday I gave you my love to borrow, but you just gave it away You can’t expect me to be fine, I don’t expect you to care

Read more: MAROON 5 - PAYPHONE LYRICS

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Happy Thanksgiving!

This is the first Thanksgiving I've hosted the fam. We've been doing our own Thanksgiving, both by ourselves and with friends, since Lauren was about 5, because we visited both sides of the family at Christmas. Jeff's mom, dad and brother are arriving this morning and staying through Saturday. We haven't seen them since the family reunion this summer. It'll be fun!

I planned a family beer tasting for tomorrow night. Jeff and I selected beers based solely on the names and the appeal of the bottles. A fine standard, if you ask me. I did a beer tasting party several years ago, and many of us were surprised that we liked the darker beers far better than the lighter. It's funny how different beer tastes when you are concentrating on the flavors. My favorite then was some sort of stout. Nobody liked the cherry beer, which I thought would be really good. It reminded us of cough syrup. No fruity beers this time.

We may all go see Lincoln at some point. We also play a lot of games when we get together. Not emotional games... actual board and card games. Heh.

Hope everyone travels safely and has a wonderful day today! Happy TG!

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Silver Linings Playbook

Silver Linings Playbook is really good!! It's a drama with just the right amount of comic relief. Everyone is so great in it. Bradley Cooper plays Pat, who is bipolar and trying to get his wife (and his job) back after almost beating his wife's lover to death and serving time in a mental facility for it. Jennifer Lawrence plays Tiffany, a friend's sister who also suffers from some variety of mental illness. When they meet, a friendship begins with Tiffany offering to help Pat contact his wife, if in return, he will help her with a special dance project. Robert De Niro plays Pat's dad, a die hard Eagles fan. Chris Tucker is Pat's buddy, Danny, from the institution.

One thing that struck me about it was the in-your-face honesty of both Pat and Tiffany, neither of whom have much of a filter. (Pat even says at one point that he doesn't have a filter.) But there is something refreshing about knowing exactly what people are thinking and feeling, especially with all the drama that is surrounding them.

Best scene (well, other than the obvious big event at the end, which was awesome)-- when Pat's dad angrily blames Tiffany for his woes of the day and Tiffany launches into a rant, including a stunningly detailed recounting of scores from the last several weeks of Philadelphia sports events. All the guys in the room are very impressed and are like, "WHOA. Wow!" 

Go see Silver Linings Playbook.

Kimberly is doing the daily November "thankful for" post on Facebook, and yesterday she said she was thankful that NPR had introduced her to an actor named Bradley Cooper. She posted a video having to do with the interview and said she had Googled him. I was first in a line of friends to say, "Excuse me?" Bradley Cooper? Where has she been? She said she wasn't a fan of movies about being hungover. Then came the replies of lists of Cooper's other movies. People's Sexiest Man Alive? Hello? I love that girl, but every now and then, she is a good distance outside the loop. ;)

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Good Morning! :-)

Bwahahaha!!...




So... I woke up this morning to a friend's posting of a Facebook photo of a glass full of cornbread soaking in buttermilk, which she said was delicious. WHAT THE...??! It is the most disgusting thing I've seen all year.

And now you can see it, too:

Why? Why would someone do this to perfectly good cornbread?

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2 Legit... 2 Legit 2 Quit

Best thing about the AMAs last night- the final number with Psy and MC Hammer doing a mashup of "Gangnam Style" and "2 Legit 2 Quit." OMG. SO GREAT!



The audience shots rocked.


I saw a Living Social deal yesterday for shooting all these high-powered guns- Desert Eagle, M4, AK-47 and Uzi- under the direction of former SWAT and special forces members. I thought Jeff would like it, maybe as a Christmas gift. So I asked JeffC, my consultant for all things gun-related. Luckily, he explained to me that they had already discussed that particular deal and how it's only 5 and 10 rounds per gun. The experience isn't a bad idea, it's just expensive, even with the coupon.

Turns out the two of them can shoot those guns anytime on their own. Meh.

Well, back to the tie rack idea.

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Sunday's Saturday Six

Patrick's Saturday Six: K

1. K is for KAKISTOCRACY: Which president would you rate as the worst in history?
As someone who has despised history class my entire life, I'm hardly knowledgeable enough to answer this question with any real authority. If you ask me who the worst president of my lifetime has been, by strictly an emotional, off-the-top-of-my-head response, I would say Nixon.

2. K is for KARAOKE: If you had to sing a song in a Karaoke tournament, which song would you choose?
"It's All Coming Back to Me Now" by Celine Dion. Yeah, baby!!



3. K is for KETCHUP: Which condiment do you use the most?
mayo

4. K is for KEY: What does the oldest key you own open?
my house- 17 years old

5. K is for KITCHEN: What would you most like to change about your kitchen?
I'd like to replace the over-the-range microwave with a stainless steel range hood, then replace the regular double oven with a stainless steel convection/microwave oven plus a standard oven. Then the kitchen would be awesome and have all matching appliances.

6. K is for KNOWLEDGE: Which single school subject has served you the best in your adult life? 
Biology, without a doubt. Helpful in my personal and professional life.

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Saturday 9

Never let your first outing after being sick in bed for several days be a trip to the grocery store. It's a long, labor-intensive errand that tires you out about halfway through, plus you always run into friends there. Alicia's greeting-- "Hey Kathy! You look sick!" Ugh. I know.

I'm still sick enough that I'm actually missing the A&M game today. That is CRAZY. Gig 'em Ags! BTHO Sam Houston State!


Saturday 9: Live and Let Die

1) "Live and Let Die" was nominated for an Oscar as best song. Do you have a favorite movie song?
"Come What May" from Moulin Rouge

2) The latest Bond movie, Skyfall, is crazy successful. Have you seen it/do you want to see it?
I'm not that into Bond films per se, but I'll probably see Skyfall because the reviews have been so good.

3) What do you think makes Bond movies so enduringly popular?
He's that guy who all the guys want to be and all the ladies want to be with. I'm more of a Tony Stark girl, myself.

4) Do you have a favorite among the actors who have played "Bond, James Bond?"
Gotta go with the original- Sean Connery

5) Bond orders martinis -- "shaken, not stirred." What's your regular drink order?
margarita on the rocks with salt

6) Moving from the bar to breakfast -- do you have a favorite cereal?
Honey nut Cheerios. I like Raisin Nut Bran better, but the raisin nuts are all in one half of the box, which means you either get far too many or hardly any of them in a bowl. I hate most cereals with chunks that settle and ruin the flake to chunk ratio.

7) Let's daydream about warm weather. Would you rather swim in a lake, the ocean, or an outdoor pool?
Outdoor pool. Then you don't have to worry about leeches or jellyfish or crabs or sharks. Only snakes, like the one that was in Kathy's pool with us once.

8) Did you get 8 hours' sleep last night?
Ahahaa. I haven't gotten 8 hours sleep since I got sick. Last night was one of the worst- four hours from 4:00 - 8:00 a.m.

9) What are you wearing on your feet right now?
nothing

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Nope, Not Hallucinating

Proof this happened...



Yes, it's supposed to be funny and over-the-top. Still. When you're already feeling like you're going to lose your cookies, you have to look away.

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Sick

Holy Hell, have I been sick. I'm still barely functional, although from my appearance here, it seems that I have successfully logged on to my netbook.

I've had a fever and excruciating sore throat. Now I'm down to a nightmarish cough that hurts like all get-out. So I try not to cough, which is a pathway straight to pneumonia.

I hate being sick in bed watching television. Some vague memories between episodes of sleeping...

1) repeatedly seeing a loan company commercial and noting the small print said the interest rate was 90%-- ka-CHING
2) some marathon of "Million Dollar Rooms" on HGTV
3) Paula Deen made garlic bread with a stick of butter per half loaf... then cut the half in half and put her lasagna inside for a lasagna sandwich. You might think I dreamed that, but it's true.
4) I watched like fifteen minutes of some show through the little picture in the upper right corner, with the guide up


First spot of good news on the job search- I've been asked to fill out additional paperwork for one of the jobs I applied for. Yay!

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A&M 29 Alabama 24

WHOOOOOOP!!! Even the Corso Curse (he picked the Ags to win) couldn't keep us down. ;)

Best game I've seen in years. It was exciting and of course it was fabulous to win. So proud.

Best play of the game:



I don't always fumble, but when I do, I throw a touchdown.

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Spelling Bee

We've been yucking it up for three weeks now, wondering how I might ring the elementary school spelling bee bell when a child misspelled his word. I could be really hesitant and sweet and say, "Good job, hon'," with a delicate *tink* on the bell. I could really whack it and shout, "LOSER!"

All that time, I knew there would be four judges, and the chances of me getting to ring the bell were about zero. (Okay, 25%.)

I walked into the cafeteria for the spelling bee this week, and they immediately gave me the bell. It was the funniest. I was very polite with it, too, although it was one of those xylophone bells with a mallet, and I was constantly thinking about the scene from Grease, where Blanche gets carried away with the xylophone before Principal McGee's announcements.


Patrick's Saturday Six: J

1. J is for JAILBREAK: Would you ever jailbreak a piece of your technology to do things that weren’t supported by the manufacturer, even if it voided the warranty?
Maaaaybe, although I haven't been that desperate for a function yet. I would jailbreak it after the warranty expired. We did jailbreak some "cool" T-Mobile phone we bought at Amazon for Lauren many years ago, so she could use it at AT&T. We didn't sink much money into that though.

2. J is for JAZZ: What your favorite jazz tune?
"At Last" Etta James

3. J is for JELLY: What’s your favorite flavor of jelly?
blackberry

4. J is for JET: What’s the farthest distance you’ve traveled by plane?
5500 miles, from Houston to Frankfurt

5. J is for JEWELRY: Which piece of jewelry that you own means the most to you (and why)?
my wedding ring, because of its symbolic significance

6. J is for JOURNAL: Other than your blog, do you keep a private, written journal that is truly for your eyes only?
Not since college, when Jeff read mine and I threw them all away. Before that, my junior year of high school, John read the ones I had written at that point and I tossed those. I vowed never to journal again. I should have stuck with that. So while we're discussing it--- please do not read another person's journals. It's an extreme violation of trust. If you want to read it or have an excerpt read to you, don't be afraid to ask. I happily read excerpts of my journals with various friends and boyfriends on several occasions, and they did with me as well. It was fun! There is just some stuff in a journal that isn't meant for anyone but the writer to see. That's the point of a private journal.

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Ants

I was working in the backyard, doing various things, including getting rid of the curvy brick border around my never-realized flower bed. Half the bricks were used last year when we had our front yard professionally made over by ABC Home Services (whom we have used for almost 20 years for in-home pest control, handyman services and landscaping... on the upper-middle cost side but they absolutely stand behind their work and do the best quality home services I've ever had done). They expanded the front bed with bricks from the back to match the existing front bricks, which had been weathered for the same number of years. If we had used new bricks, they would have been a different color. Smart, eh?

Anyhoo... I was pulling these remaining bricks from the border, which is embedded in the dirt. I pulled one up that was covered with ants. Amazingly, I only got four bites. We've all had chicken pox, poison ivy, etc. that covered us in itchy spots, and we make it through. I'm telling you though, these four bites are making me cRaZY!!! Yeesh, am I a wimp.

I tried Orajel on them the other night, a tip from someone online, and it worked for a bit, but it was far too sticky to be practical. I need some Lidocaine cream. Or four tiny ice packs.

I pulled the other bricks from the underground ant colony area one at a time. In incredible haste, I extracted one brick, tossed it into the grass, left the area and waited about two hours for things to settle. Then I returned to extract the next brick. Time consuming, but I didn't get any more bites.

Another mini-project I took care of was nailing a fallen fence board back up. My neighbor happened to be in his backyard while I was hammering, and came over to find out WTH I was doing chat.

Matt: Whatcha doin' there?
Me: Nailing this board back in.
Matt: Nice work.
Me: I hope I'm doing it correctly. I used a galvanized nail. Isn't that the right kind?
Matt: Yes! Good job. I'll have to tell Jeff to...

At this point I think he's going to say, "...take you out to dinner" or "...buy you something with diamonds."

He says, "...get you a Home Depot gift card!"

Ahh. Yes. Well, I do need new gutter downspout splashes!

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The Morning After

While I can hardly rouse any excitement over four more years of Obama, I am quite relieved that the elitist and misogynous Romney is not President. I hope the Republicans and Democrats can come up with some better candidates next time. (Biden will not be that candidate, Dems. Just say no.)

Despite the current economy and the inflation we're all suffering through, Austin passed every government expenditure proposed. Not surprising. Worst one is Prop 1, a 63% Central Health tax increase (from 8 to 13 cents per $100 home value) to build a UT medical school. Many UT employees didn't vote for it because a new med school will take money away from other university departments. I didn't vote for it because you don't build something you don't need, just to get federal matching dollars (which we also pay for, thankyouverymuch). Typical government logic.

I don't need a Lamborghini. If someone said, "Hey. If you put $100,000 towards it, I'll provide 146% matching funds," I still wouldn't buy one.

The positive thing in all this is that in another week or so, we will no longer have to wade through the political madness on Facebook. Whee!

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Voting Day!

Lauren and I voted last week. We got these stickers:

It's a bit snarky, isn't it? It may as well have been...

 

It's okay though. Get out there and vote today! :-)

xkcd

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Four Hours of Sleep

I was up until 2:00 this morning, spending hours working on a resume, letter of interest and paper application (PAPER?) for a cool job for which I'm actually qualified and have current experience. Then I got up at 6:00 to finish the process and get it into an envelope to mail. (Did I mention... PAPER application?)

You know I'm not going to get this position, right? It will be the one I spend five minutes tossing together at the last minute. Still. I had to put in the extraordinary effort, as there is an element of *cue trumpet fanfare* Event Planning to this job. I love event planning!! Remember my wedding, where I had individual printed event notes for each wedding party member? Fun, right? I know!

:)


I actually took time to read through a lengthy, angry political conversation this morning in the comments on a friend's Facebook photo. One guy (not a friend of mine), a very extreme Republican, was ranting on and on about "sanctimonious Independents" and how they are the reason this country is such a mess. He said Independents voted Obama in four years ago, and they need to take responsibility for their stupidity.

Oh brother.

Replying liberals and independents alike had this guy in a tizzy. I think some were just toying with him to see if he would implode. So funny. Sometimes people just need to take a pill.

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