Fun with Books... TAG!

Okay, so Ann tagged me for this one, and it looked like so much fun I just had to do it! Oh, and I'm tagging Everett, Tooz, and Becca for this one!

1. Find the nearest book.
2. Name the book & the author.
3. Turn to page 123.
4. Go to the fifth sentence on the page. Copy out the next three sentences and post to your blog.
5. Tag three more folks.

Okay, I'm going to cheat a little on this one. I am simultaneously reading two different books, both of which were Christmas presents. One is "The Lost Continent" by Bill Bryson (which was Christmas present from a certain guy I know and is great fun to read). The other is "Eragon," by Christopher Paolini. It was a present to me from Rachel (picked out by Jamie). I'll look at page 123 in both of them, and see which one is more entertaining. They're both pretty good so far, so we'll see which one has a more riveting page 123.

Okay, I can't do page 123 on "The Lost Continent" because there is only one sentence on the page, which happens to be the last sentence of a paragraph, and the paragraph is the last bit of that particular chapter. So that one's out.

So, in "Eragon", we have:

"He had lavished all of his skill on it. The shale roof shadowed a railed balcony that extended from a tall window on the second floor. Each waterspout was a snarling gargoyle, and every window and door was framed by carvings of serpents, harts, ravens and knotted vines."

Ooooh, that was fun. Thanks for tagging me on this one, Ann. And thanks, Animal, for starting it!

"The Talk"

Hoo, boy. It's almost "that" time. The time for "the talk" with Jamie. He's almost nine now, people, and he still has no clue about basic human reproduction. Does this make me a terrible mother, or a good one? I'm dreading the look of horror and the squeaked out question, "I came out of where?" So, I've put it off. But the fact cannot be ignored that he has entered puberty. Even his doctor said so. Of course, this was quite a few months ago, but let's just say we're getting to the point where the talk cannot be put off much longer. Especially since I don't want him coming home from school with lots of misinformation. But, then again, I'm still dreading that look of horror. Ack! Anybody got any suggestions on how a mom can have this talk with her son with the least amount of mental discomfort (on both sides)?

The Holiday Before the Holiday

So, today is my bonus holiday paid day off. Woo hoo! So far, I've slept until 11 a.m. (very very VERY nice), gathered up the trash for Jamie to take out, contemplated doing the dishes (and decided to wait until later), shared an orange from my work Christmas stocking with Jamie, and received a work-related phone call from my boss. He went in to work today, and since he had already told the rest of us the office would be closed, went in by himself. So, when he couldn't find what he needed, he called me. This happens fairly often when I'm off work either due to my illness, Jamie's illness, a vacation day, or a bonus holiday. I think I've decided to be flattered that they need me that much. I guess it's kind of nice to be needed.

On another note, I got a nice bonus from work yesterday, so later today we get to go spend it. More Christmas shopping! Woo hoo! I LOVE to shop, but only when it's stuff for other people, not me. I hate going clothes shopping for myself. Absolutely hate it! But I love clothes, so I suffer for my clothes obsession. LOL!

Love you all.

Update!

Much has happened since the last time I blogged. Let's see, where should I begin?

1. Rachel's grades were posted yesterday. I'm very very proud of her! Three A's and two B's. Way to go Rachel! Woo hoo!!!!!!!

2. Dad has returned from his "vacation" and Jamie and I are supposed to go down to see him Saturday afternoon, spend the night, do a mini Christmas gift opening Christmas Eve morning, then come back in time for our Christmas Eve service at church. While we're at Dad's, he's sending me to Wally World with some $$ so I can pick out a present for "Papaw" to give to Jamie. At least this way, Jamie will get something he likes. Now I just have to figure out what Jamie and I are giving Dad for Christmas. Any suggestions? (Last year, I gave him a calendar with pictures of donkeys. He said he wanted and needed a calendar, so I got him one that was suitable to the way he was behaving at this time last year. He didn't get the joke. I still grin every time I see it!)

3. My illness is still lingering on. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. And I don't think it's quite healthy to have lost 10 pounds in less than a week. The doctor's office says it's just a virus and will pass. But since when do viruses last almost a week with no sign of getting better? Oh, well. I'll get over it eventually.

4. Bonus day off! My boss decided that, instead of us working a half day this Friday, he didn't want to come in so the whole office is going to be closed Friday in addition to Monday. Woo hoo! And, he's treating us to a company Christmas lunch on Thursday (which means we'll be shutting down the office for at least a couple of hours that day, too). I have a nice boss (remind me of this next time I start grumbling about my job, okay?) We also have stockings at work with each person's name on them, and we all have been contributing presents to our coworkers' stockings. We get to take them home on Thursday after work.

5. I have a wonderful, generous son. He has proven to me, and his teachers and classmates, over and over again that he's growing up to be a wonderful boy. I'm very proud of my sweet young man. (And remind me of this one, too, next time I'm grousing about my kid, okay?)

6. Friday, Rachel and I are taking the kids shopping for their mommies. Rachel is taking Jamie and I'm taking Destiny to pick out presents for their mommies (and each other). So that will be lots of fun!

7. Friday afternoon, I might be taking Jamie and his best friend Ramo to the movies to see "Night at the Museum". It looks like the kind of clean movie two rambunctious young boys would love to see!

Much hugs and love to you all. Merry Christmas!

The Semester is Officially OVER!!!

I just submitted my last paper for the semester, which officially ends at 11:59 p.m. tonight. Woo hoo! So far, my final grades are:

US History (1865 to the Present) - B
Criminal Evidence and Procedure - A
Women: Images and Perspectives - A

I just turned in my last paper for Dance, Gender and Culture, but I'm fairly certain I'm getting an A in that class. The paper I turned in is worth 20 points, but I only need to get 14 on it to still have an A in the class. Considering the fact that I'm very ill still, I'm darn proud of myself for getting it done on time. And not to be conceited, but I'm fairly certain I'll get higher than a 14 on it. Unless of course I'm still coasting on a phenergan-induced high which has led me to believe my academic prowess much greater than it actually is at this point.... I'll keep y'all posted.

Love and big hugs to all.

We're All Sick Puppies

I don't mean that we have dark senses of humor (well, Rachel and I do sometimes, but not the kids). Everybody in the house is sick. It started with Destiny having a severe ear infection, then Jamie started coughing, then Rachel, then me. But the weird thing is, none of us have an illness that is contagious. It's all infections, not viruses. Jamie has a sinus infection and upper respiratory infection. He missed school Tuesday and part of today. Rachel missed work over the weekend taking care of Destiny (then having to rush her to the ER with a high fever Sunday morning). Monday, I had to come home early because of severe vertigo (which I found out today may be caused by a nasty sinus infection) I missed work yesterday and today, and I'm trying to go back to work tomorrow. Jamie's going back to school, Destiny back to daycare and Rachel to her own work. Please pray that we all can make it through our respective daily routines without having to come home due to illness. We've all been to our different doctors, and they all say we need time, rest and antibiotics to heal. Well, time's up. We have to go back to work and the kids to school/daycare if the adults want to keep their jobs. So, please pray for wellness and healing. Thank you and love you all.

Christmas Spirit

I used to wonder what happened to the Spirit of Christmas. Then, when I was at a nearby drug store today picking up stuff for work, I saw this.



I think it's what my mom used to call "cutsey-sh#t" stuff like this that scared the Christmas spirit away. There was so much wrong with this decoration it hurt my eyeballs. Am I the only one affronted by this? Am I the only one who sees this at the ultimate in tackiness?

Meme List: Holiday Edition!

Okay, so this was e-mailed to me by Tooz, so I decided to morph it into my own blog entry. Woo hoo! Thanks Tooz!!!


Getting to know your friends - Christmas Edition


1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate?
Definitely Hot Chocolate

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Santa leaves the presents as-is under the tree. That distinguishes them from the ones Mommy gives him, which are all wrapped up.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
Jamie likes colored lights, but I prefer the white ones.


4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No, I'm allergic to it.


5. When do you put your decorations up?
Whenever I get around to it (which means sometimes it's as late as the week of Christmas. Ideally, I like to put them up the first weekend of December)

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Pumpkin bread (I don't consider that dessert)

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:
We were living in Oklahoma at the time, in what we called the "Mouse House" because it was infested with mice and rats. Mom didn't have very much money, Jodi's medical bills had just about drained Mom dry, Dad was refusing to pay his child support (this was before child support enforcement really existed) and we were sure we weren't going to be able to have Christmas presents for each other. But we woke up Christmas morning, and all three of us kids had the new clothes we all needed, nice soft new jammies and robes, and each of us got a big stuffed animal. Turned out my Great-Aunt Mary had sent Mom some money - enough to pay some bills, buy groceries for Christmas dinner and get us some presents. I still have my stuffed animal from that day (Jamie has inherited it). The thing that strikes me most of all is the happiness in my mom's eyes that she was able to give us something for Christmas.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I was eight, it was the Christmas before Jodi died. Joel came into my room to talk to me, and I heard a rustling sound in the hallway. I tried to get past him to see what it was, and he wouldn't let me by. I kept hearing this weird rustling sound, and I kind of figured it was mom dragging out the presents from Santa to put under the tree, but I wasn't 100% certain until the next morning. When I shook the packaging my Cabbage Patch doll came in, it made the exact same noise, so I knew Mom was Santa. However, I think the spirit of Santa is very real. That's why Jamie still believes in Santa.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Yes. Somewhere along the line it became family tradition that we open one gift on Christmas eve, and it's usually soft, pre-washed, warm jammies to sleep in that night. This year, Jamie's are Batman jammies complete with velcro-detachable cape.


10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
Usually with white lights, all the Christmas ornaments we used growing up (including the ones we handmade in Kindergarten), and lots of angel ornaments. There are even two special angel ornaments that represent my mom and sister.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
LOVE IT, and MISS IT!

12. Can you ice skate?
Yes

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Even though he was a couple of weeks late to be a Christmas present, Jamie is and always will be my favorite gift. Anything he makes for me is my second favorite.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Sharing the joy and love of the season with my son and those I've adopted as my family.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
That's a toss up between my grandmother's jam cake and homemade caramel icing and my grandmother's white fudge with candied cherries in it. Haven't had either one in 11 years.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Once the tree is up, take about 30 minutes each night after everyone else has gone to bed, turn off all the lights in the house except the tree lights, and think about all your blessings and joys, and pray and thank the Lord for all your blessings.

17. What tops your tree?
When Jamie was little and prone to trying to climb the tree to get pretty things, it was a red and gold bow. Now that he's older, we use a large fiber optic angel that reminds me of my sister.

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving?
Definitely giving (but it's nice to receive gifts that come from the heart, too!)

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Silent Night

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum?
Yuck

21. Favorite Christmas movie?
The Charlie Brown/Peanuts Christmas Special. This year we're going to watch The Polar Express to see how we like it, too.

22. What do you leave for Santa?
crumbs and an empty glass

Sometimes...

You gotta wade through a lot of poo to get to the light at the end of the tunnel. Next Friday, December 15 is officially the end of school this semester. Woo hoo! But to get to that glorious light at the end of this stressful time, I have to: take a double exam today for my "US History II (1865 to the present)" class - one part is on the last two chapters, the other part covers the entire semester and it counts as two separate grades; turn in my final paper this Friday for my "Criminal Evidence and Procedure" class - the paper covers the Rules of Evidence under Texas Law; I have to complete my final exam for my "Women: Images and Perspectives" class before next Friday; and I have to write and turn in a 6 page paper over George Balanchine's Don Quixote and how the choreography is a reflection of Balanchine's own quest for the perfect woman for my "Dance, Gender and Culture" class which is due by next Friday as well. Pshew!

But, once that is done, I'll have one whole glorious month before I have to pick up a text book again! Oh, Happy Day! One month to read trashy paperback novels, to read my Bible and not feel like I'll have a quiz over the contents later, one month to actually GET TO WATCH TV AGAIN! Hallelujah!

Then school will start again, but this time I was half-way smart and arranged my schedule so that I will be taking four courses total, but only three at a time. I'm hoping this will help me feel less frazzled.

EYE CANDY FRIDAY: SOCCER EDITION

As before, I'll add that these images are copyright Image in Motion, San Antonio, TX.