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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