Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! We've been hanging out with great friends, seeing movies and visiting family for the past week-and-a-half. I don't have to go back to work until the 2nd, so... YAY!

Loved The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (excellent effects) and loved Hunger Games: Catching Fire even more (Stanley Tucci just cracks me up!). American Hustle (Bradley Cooper and stuff) and Frozen (Lauren says it rocks) are next on our list.

(I should do all my movie reviews in parentheses.)

We finally watched the last two episodes of The Sing-Off (congrats to Home Free!). Nick Lachey hosts and he was the mentor for the second-to-last show. When he came walking up to Home Free while they were practicing, one of the guys commented, "Gosh darn it, he's pretty." I almost giggled myself onto the floor, because it was so funny... and because I was thinking the same thing. 98 Degrees sang "I'll Be Home for Christmas" a capella on the finale. Their vocals were tight! Beautiful.



Gosh darn it. He is pretty.

I was talking about cooking shows with one of our recent interviewees at work (yeah, I start my interviews with hobbies and favorite TV shows and eventually work my way to human research ethics and methodologies) when he mentioned he is a fan of a YouTube series called Epic Meal Time. I finally had time to check it out. It's pretty entertaining. It's some guys cooking and eating various outrageous concoctions of bacon and stuff.



We're having friends over to watch the Aggies bowl game (BTHO Duke!) for New Year's Eve. Hope you all have a wonderful NYE and I'll see ya' in 2014.

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Three Months and I'm Still Sober

Every time I hear "Sober" by Kelly Clarkson, it gets me teary. Just that first strumming of the guitar starts it. I'm not even sure why. It's been a dang long time since I endured a breakup. I guess it's just a really emotional song and Kelly hits every word and note perfectly.

...I don't know, I could crash and burn, but maybe 
at the end of this road I might catch a glimpse of me...

I love that she tells the little story about her inspiration for writing the song in this particular video:



The Sing Off combined two of my favorite things last night- movies and music. And we got to see the best performance so far this season!

For those who don't watch, The Filharmonic are young Filipino guys who are basically a boy band without instruments. Great dancers, very cool. Home Free are mostly country and they cannot dance or do choreography to save their lives. So the two groups had a little fun with each other in the Ultimate Sing Off Battle (they both made it through... long story... six groups participated altogether...):



Rob doing the gopher dance- Ahahahaha!!

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Elgin Christmas Trees and Sausage

Went with Scott 'n' Julie to Elgin yesterday. We had barbecue at the Southside Market, which was amazing (I still have an unholy love for Salt Lick's sauce, but the meat at Southside was outstanding!). We visited a couple of Christmas tree farms.

Scott/Julie cut their own real tree, which I have never done. It was pretty cool! I would love to cut our own next year, but since it's mildly toxic to cats, and I'm SURE ours will chew it, I don't think it will be a great idea. Superfun to go with someone else though!

It was pretty funny judging all the trees and then trying to remember which was which, while winding back through the rows to find "that one with the sticky-outy branch that we liked so much." We even got a free hayride out of it. It was crazy cold though. Good gawd. Next year- double the clothing.

The funniest part of our afternoon was at a sausage market whose name I won't mention here, because I don't want to get anyone in trouble. An older lady was serving samples. I didn't see any of the sage sausage I had specifically come to buy, which I've loved since we had to actually make the trip to Elgin to get it when I was nine or ten years old. I asked her if they had any in the back or if they still made it at all. She squinched up her face very dramatically and said, "Ewww. Sage? I hate that one." She actually shuddered. "You can just get that at HEB."

Ironically, I had explained to our friends on the way there that HEB (our regional grocery store) used to carry it, but hasn't stocked that flavor for at least 10 years. Maybe in Elgin they do.

I said I would check with the guy behind the counter to see if they had some in the back.

"I also hate the garlic," she added. "Actually, the only one I like is the jalepeno-n-cheese."

Ahahahaaaa! Don't hold back.

So funny.

Luckily, I knew exactly what I was buying, so I was unswayed by her bashing of it. I bought them out of every package of sage sausage they had (5).


Sunday Stealing: The Blerp Meme

When you get a headache do you take painkillers right away or try to wait it out?
I try to wait it out.

Is there a really funny YouTube video you’d like to recommend to me?
From Austin's awesome O Henry Punoff. Punniest in Show 2012:



"This is just what Noah stood on the ARKansas..." Hee!

Did you watch Sesame Street when you were little? 
of course

What’s the last thing you touched, other than your computer?
 
my phone

When was the last time you talked to your best friend?
 
Yesterday.

How often do you listen to music?
 
at least twice a day, usually more often

What color is your cell phone? 
black, but it has a white cover

What is the last non-alcoholic beverage you drank?
milk

Do you like to wear sweatpants? 
I have mixed feelings about sweats. They are the most comfortable clothing known to mankind, but they are also the sloppiest. I feel so comfortable, but I also feel like a total slacker.

What song are you currently listening to? Who sings it?
The Fray "Love Don't Die"



Have you ever gotten a black eye? 
Nope

What caused it? 
N/A (I'm a data manager to the end. No blank answers, please.)

How many times have you checked up on your ex? 
Well... Facebook shouldn't count, because it's a passive observation of whatever they're putting out for public knowledge, right? Excluding Facebook, never. Now, people have occasionally told me things about them over the years, but I don't contact them.

If you had to get a tattoo what would it be? 
a very small Texas A&M ATM logo on my ankle

How many tabs are open right now?
4 - Blogger, Facebook, Google Image Search, YouTube

Are you scared of needles? 
nope

Do you believe love can last forever? 
yep

Are good-byes easy or hard for you? 
hard

Would you rather sing or dance?
Sing!

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Friiiiiii-daaaaay! YEEAH.

Those of you who don't have a balance disorder might be interested to know that parking garages sway a lot. Only a few things make me feel woozy, but swaying floors (like at the Erwin Center when Bruno Mars is performing) will do it.

In other news... Oh the drama at work. Holy. Crapsticks.

That's all I have to say about that.



(That video's for you, CJ. *snort*)

So... people are talking about the newly cast actress who will play Wonder Woman in the movie. Most are complaining that she is too thin to play the part. I agree. A tiny, waifish woman isn't going to save anyone from a burning building or bash around some collossal bad guy. She's gorgeous, but it's just like casting Adam Levine as Thor. Not that he isn't hot as all get-out, but he doesn't have a superhero body. ("Yoga body," remember? *ahem* Get out your mats, ladies...)

And now I'm going to have some wine and start my weekend. (You may think I've already been drinking, but no!) I hope you have all had a wonderful week and will have an even better weekend!

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Saturday Nine

I had to laugh the other day when the folks on The Chew (I record it- one of the best shows on TV) were discussing Adam Levine as People Magazine's choice for Sexiest Man Alive. Everyone was very complimentary except Daphne, who winced and said he was cute but she prefers a bulkier guy, rather than Adam's small frame and thin "yoga body." I am totally with her on that (and to each her own- there are plenty of women who dig it)... but I think he is the "package" guy- he has a combination of several very attractive traits. The funniest thing about Adam at our house is that he's exactly halfway between my age and Lauren's age, and we both drool over him and giggle at all his jokes every week on The Voice, while Jeff rolls his eyes. Great pick, People Mag!


Saturday 9: Back to Black

1) Black is this week's signature color because Friday, November 29, was "Black Friday," when retailers cut their prices and consumers flock to the stores. Did you score any "Black Friday" bargains?
I scored big Black Friday bargains at the outlet mall on Tuesday. I got some new boots for half price. (BOOTS! Yay!) Got a couple of cute winter tops, too. I haven't started shopping for Christmas yet, but I'll do most of that online.

2) Legend has it that Black Friday began as a neighborhood phenomenon among store owners in Philadelphia back in the early 1960s. What else comes to mind when you think of Philly?
the Founding Fathers and American history

3) Feasting and football are also popular Thanksgiving weekend pastimes. Do your Thursday-Sunday plans include pigging out or watching a game?
We've already been watching games out the yang. Two huge games today- the Iron Bowl (Alabama/Auburn- go Auburn!!) and Texas A&M/Mizzou (BTHO Missouri!). We had Thanksgiving lunch at the Lakeway Spa and Resort. It was VERY good. I think we all did pretty well at not "pigging out" there. I have no desserts at the house, only cut up veggies, so there isn't any pigging out going on here.

4) At Thanksgiving dinners, Crazy Sam's homemade gravy is always a hit. (Probably because she's so generous with the cognac, which gives the gravy a nutty taste.) Do you have a signature dish?
Nah. Everyone likes my sweet potato casserole the best though.

5) Among the biggest the Black Friday advertisers are Target, Kohl's, Macy's and Best Buy. If you could have a $100 gift card to any one of those stores, which would you choose?
Target

6) You're in a public restroom that offers both paper towels and a hot air hand dryer. Which one do you choose?
paper towels

7) While Back to Black is the best-selling Amy Winehouse CD, her first was called Frank, named for her hero, Frank Sinatra. Tell us about someone who inspires you.
My grandpa inspires me. He's 93 and still very active in his church and with his friends. He goes to the gym every morning. He still has his great sense of humor and tells wonderful stories of all the interesting things he's done and places he's been.

8) Do you consider yourself a pessimist or an optimist?
optimist

9) Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone (a verbal conversation -- not an exchange of texts)?
Jen

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Zumbaaaa!

I've done a lot of Zumba, but I hadn't taken a Zumba class at a gym until Crystal and I went last Sunday morning. It was superfun! I'll go with a friend to a gym (depending on what we're signing up for), but I just don't ever see myself joining a gym again and going on my own. It's just too easy to work out at home, if it's not going to be a social activity. No makeup required, no perfectly coiffed hair, no extensive supercute wardrobe of workout wear, no driving and gas costs, no certain time I have to be there... But it's perfect for the Ladies of Data Ops workouts, especially now that it's 32 degrees outside! Most gyms do punch cards now, so you get 5 or 10 classes at a time.

Jennifer Lopez sang several Spanish songs at the AMAs last weekend. One of them is on the Zumba  DVD set. The second the music began to play, Lauren and I looked at each other and said simultaneously, "ZUMBAAAA!"

'Twas hilarious.

The in-laws are here through tomorrow. We'll be trying to figure out things to do today that don't require driving near any shopping. For those of you venturing into the Black Friday abyss, I wish you good luck! (I bought a bunch of stuff at the outlet mall earlier this week at the pre-Black-Friday Black Friday sales, where several stores were 50% off everything. Yeah, baby!)

Patrick's Saturday Six

1. What about your current career would you most regret not doing if you changed careers tomorrow?
Contributing to a process that saves lives and improves quality of life. For example, I'm currently the DM on the study for a drug that appears to reduce the mortality rate for a particular illness from its current 87% to just over 1.5%.

2. When it comes to your weight and your mental picture of yourself, do you think it’s easier to see yourself heavier than you actually are or lighter than you actually are? 
I don't know which is easier, but I've looked in a mirror and seen myself at times in my life as thinner than I was and at other times as heavier than I was. It's not good to see yourself as anything but the size you are, so I think neither is easier. You really have to be aware of your body and it's true appearance to make better choices in eating and exercise, whether you're thin, average or overweight.

3. If you had no idea how old you actually were and someone asked your age, would your answer more likely be older or younger than your true age? 
younger

4. What aspect of your personality would most influence your answer to question #3? 
the desire to really "live" and have as many positive experiences in life as I can fit in

5. If you had to pick one or the other (no “equal mix of both”), do you tend to be more of a visionary or more practical in how you address problems? 
More practical.

6. Do you feel that you are better or worse at solving problems than a person who’d answer question #5 the opposite way you did?
I think 95% of the time, the practical solution is the most desired and most successful. I did make a notable visionary suggestion back in the day, when I offered the idea of using 3-part NCR for a study document that we were photocopying back in 1992. We used it for the next study we did and today it's the industry standard. (Not to suggest that I swayed the entire industry... I'm sure all the "occasionally visionary" data managers across the country were thinking the same thing! Why are we wasting time and causing ourselves problems photocopying these documents?)

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Don't Ship Your Pants, But...

...I may be the only person in America who had NEVER seen this commercial.



Bwahahaaaaa! *wipes tears*


Saturday 9: Sugar Shack
This song was popular 50 years ago today. Hear it here.

1) In this song, our hero orders espresso. What's your standard coffee order?
iced skinny mocha

2) Originally the phrase "sugar shack" meant a small cabin where sap from maple trees was boiled into syrup. So for breakfast today, would you rather pour syrup on pancakes, french toast or waffles?
waffles

3) The name of the group that recorded this song is The Fireballs. "Fireballs" is also the brand name of a red hot jawbreaker. Do you like cinnamon?
I like cinnamon, but not any of the cinnamon candies.

4) In 1963, when this song was a hit, newscaster Walter Cronkite was one of the most trusted and influential men in the country. Do you have a favorite TV newsperson?
Diane Sawyer and Anderson Cooper

5) The Rambler was named 1963 Car of the Year by Motor Trend, and their most popular model was a 9-passenger station wagon. What's the car of your dreams?
BMW Z4

6) The Zip Code was first introduced in 1963. How many different Zip Codes have you had throughout your life?
Nine-  67549 (Germany), 77502 (Pasadena), 66215 (Lenexa), 77507 (Pasadena), 77089 (Houston), 77573 (League City), 77840 (College Station... x2), 78741 (Austin), 78739 (Austin... x2)

7) What was the first thing you thought about when you woke up this morning?
My menu for tomorrow through Saturday, while the in-laws are here.

8) Are you a good pool player?
Not at all. Love to play though.

9) Do you actually make a wish when you blow out your birthday candles?
Always!

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The Thankgiving Meme

Congrats to LSU on their win yesterday. It's been a looooong time since we had a game like that. Hopefully it'll be a long time until we have another one! BTHO Mizzou!

This week on my radio station's morning show, they were talking about "tombstone texts." Your tombstone text is the last text you sent or received. That's what will be on your tombstone. The funniest one was Sandy's: "I got the big one this morning." (His buddy had shot a huge buck or bison or something.)

Ahaha!

My tombstone text is: "Back late tonight." (Kathy was on her way home from France yesterday and texted me from the Chicago airport.)


Sunday Stealing: The Thanksgiving Meme

1. What do you have for breakfast on Thanksgiving?
Something small. Usually cereal.

2. Do you go to a Thanksgiving parade or watch one on TV?
We watch one on TV.

3. Do you serve appetizers, lunch, or snacks during the day?
Limited snacks for football game watching.

4. What are the traditional favorites?
When I cook: kicked-up Pepperidge Farm herb stuffing, traditional green bean casserole, a sweet potato casserole with pecan brown sugar topping (no marshmallow- Icko!), canned jellied cranberry sauce (the best!), rolls with butter, turkey, apple pie. Super traditional.

5. What new recipes will you try this year?
We're going to a hotel dinner with the in-laws, but I will be making a coworker's amazing Almond Joy Balls to have at home.

6. What part of the meal do you never compromise?
The sweet potato casserole is a requirement. I've occasionally switched turkey for ham, switched up the way I make the stuffing, done different breads, but the sweet potato casserole is always present in its native form. It's one of several fantastic recipes I make from my old BFF, Ina. Thanks Ina!

7. Who gets to carve the turkey?
Jeff, because he likes to use the electric knife.

8. Family style around the table or buffet style and everyone sits wherever there’s room?
Ha! We have it set up buffet-style, but we all sit together at the table.

9. How many will be at your table this year?
Should be 6.

10. Once you're at the table, do you say grace or a toast or does everyone go around and say what they're thankful for?
If the in-laws are here, or the past couple of years when we've had Thanksgiving with Scott-n-Julie, we say grace. Some years, someone will have everyone say what they're thankful for and some years, it doesn't come up.

11. Cranberry sauce… yay or nay?
Yay!

12. What time do you eat Thanksgiving Dinner?
Usually between 11 and 2.

13. Three best pies for Thanksgiving dessert?
apple, pumpkin and fudge pecan

14. Do you have dessert right after the main meal or later on?
Usually later.

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Hallelujah, It's Vacation Time!

I mentioned one of the songs that makes me cry, "Hallelujah," recently here in response to a meme question. The very next day, Matthew Schuler sang it on The Voice. OMG. One of the best renditions ever...



And I am officially on vacation for the next week. WOOO-freakin-HOOO!


Sunday Stealing: The ASK Meme, part one

1. What’s your favorite candle scent? 
I like apple and berry scents.

2. What female celebrity do you wish was your sister? 
Hmm. Interesting question, which I've never seen in a survey. I guess it would be fun to have Tina Fey and Amy Poehler as sisters.

3. What male celebrity do you wish was your brother?
Yeesh. Um... Vince Vaughn would be a good big brother to have.

4. How old do you think you’ll be when you get married? 
Ahh, now questions 2 and 3 are making a lot more sense. I think I'll be... 23 years and two months old.

5. Do you know a hoarder? 
I don't think so. Would many people actually know if they knew a hoarder? I'm guessing hoarders don't have guests over much.

6. Can you do a split? 
I wish.

7. How old were you when you learned how to ride a bike? 
We were in Kansas, so I must have been 5. Daddy taught me in the parking lot of our apartment complex.

8. How many oceans have you swam in? 
Two- Pacific and Atlantic. 

9. How many countries have you been to? 
10: Mexico, Jamaica, Bahamas, St. Martin (a territory of France), St. Maarten (a territory of the Netherlands), Dominican Republic, Haiti, Canada, Germany, Great Britain

10. Is anyone in your family in the military? 
My grandfather and my uncle are both retired army colonels.

11. Have you named any of your body parts? 
I've named my pinky toe Sparkles.

(Nah, I haven't.)

12. If you had a child today, what would you name him/her? 
Ethan or Samantha.

13. What’s the worst grade you got on a test? 
Something in the 30's in Circuit Theory in college.

14. What was your favorite TV show when you were a child? 
Electric Company, Zoom and Sesame Street

15. What did you dress up as on Halloween when you were eight?
I have no idea.

16. Have you read any of the Harry Potter, Hunger Games or Twilight series? 
Not a one.

17. Would you rather have an American accent or a British accent? 
I would rather have an American accent and go out with a guy with a British accent.

18. Did your mother go to college? 
No. She went to secretarial school and then straight to Europe to meet hot foreign guys work.

19. Are your grandparents still married? 
My maternal grandparents were married were until my grandmother died. Then Christine and Grandpa were married until she died. My paternal grandparents were also married until Dad's father died and then again until his stepdad died. Hmm! Hadn't thought about that.

20. Have you ever taken karate lessons? 
Nope.

21. Do you know who Kermit the frog is? 
Yes.

22. What was the first amusement park you’ve been to?
I'm pretty sure my parents took me to Six Flags Over Mid-America when we lived in Kansas when I was in kindergarten.

23. What language, besides your native language, would you like to be fluent in? 
German

24. Do you spell the color as grey or gray? 
"Grey," because that spelling seems greyer than "gray."

25. Is your father bald? 
Nope.

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Pets and Furniture

Yesterday, we were shopping for a new sofa. We mentioned to the sales guy that we have two cats, so not only are we limited to colors that won't show black, white or orange fur, but we are limited to non-leather fabrics that won't show or be damaged too much by the occasional claw mark.  They don't scratch on furniture, but they do run around like mad every now and then, leaving claw marks here and there.

The sales guy laughed and told us about his yellow lab, who "ate a chair" when he was a teething puppy. They had an old upholstered chair in a spare room they just let the puppy chew on. When the teething process and chewing ended, they put the trashed chair in the back of a pickup and drove it to the nearest "Dempsey dumpster."

Stop here to note that I haven't heard anyone refer to a "Dempsey dumpster" since 1978. That made me laugh.

They asked the store owner if they could throw it away in their dumpster.

The store owner said, "Sure, but what IS it?"

Ahahaa!


Saturday 9: 1, 2, 3, 4

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1) In this song, the singer tells his girl he appreciates how she makes him feel. Who is the most supportive person in your life?
CJ. That girl would support me masterminding a bank heist. She would say, "Have you thought this through? Okay, well... I always thought you'd be a fabulous bank heister! Call me when you're done, because I want to hear all about it!!"

2) Our singer only has to count to 4, which is a cinch. Do you understand the more sophisticated math sciences, like geometry and algebra?
Oh yes. Calculus. Diff EQ. Whatever. Bring it on.

3) This video features a couple who shared their first kiss behind the high school. Tell us about your first kiss.
My first real kiss was with my first boyfriend when I was 15 (he was 16). We had just come home from a date and he lingered on the porch with me for a few minutes, before kissing me goodnight. I was very cool and said goodnight and then he headed out. I went inside the house and as soon as the door closed, I started squealing, "Eeeeeeeee!" and practically ran to tell my mom he had kissed me. (Lauren finds this story hilarious.)

4) Filmed in Chicago, this video features the Art Institute of Chicago, home to works by Monet, Gauguin and Van Gogh. How do you express your creativity? (Draw, paint, write, sing or play music ... )
When I have time, I write song lyrics. I've written several parodies of popular songs as well. The past few years, I've created Photoshop birthday messages and images, from several "custom Google pages" to a Real Housewives of Austin photo with our heads on the NYC Housewives' bodies.

5) Chicago is home to two of the world's tallest buildings -- the Willis aka Sears Tower and The John Hancock Center (which appears briefly in this video). Both have observation decks that offer panoramic views of the city. Are you afraid of heights? 
Sort of. I would more specify my fear is of looking down from a height, when there is a possibility, no matter how remote (like the CN Tower glass floor), that I could fall over, through or down. I do love a great view from an airplane or the top of a building.

6) The Plain White T's got their start in Lombard, a suburb of Chicago and home to Yorktown Center -- a huge, two story shopping mall. Do you enjoy going to the mall, or would you rather shop online, or in small, independent stores?
I like all three!

7) Naturally Yorktown Center has a food court. Would you prefer a pretzel from Auntie Anne's, a cinnamon roll from Cinnabon or a cookie from Mrs. Field's? 
pretzel from Auntie Anne's

8) While we're at the mall … Imagine you're at the customer service counter of a big department store. As you wait for help, you see an older lady pocket a Timex watch. Would you turn her in or look the other way?
I would TOTALLY turn her in. I would probably make a scene, actually.

9) Which puzzle would you have more success with: crossword or sudoku?
Sudoku

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