Its the time of year when you start thinking about all of the blessings in your life and the child within starts dreaming and wishing. As a child I remember pouring over the Sears catalog, circling doll houses, model horses, and tinkertoys with enthusiasm and writing letters to Santa, assuring him that regardless of what my brother said, I really had been a good girl that year.
I remember school Christmas parties where Santa would make a grand appearance, handing out presents to each girl and boy and then patiently sit through photos with all of the children in attendance. I remember searches for the perfect tree and the styrofoam gingerbread ornaments that I loved to hang on the tree. I remember a pair of elf dolls dressed in red, green and white that my brother and I would carefully tuck onto the tree branches. I remember the sweetness of peppermint sticks in stockings and the orange that would always be tucked in the bottom....and the warmth of the woodstove while snow drifted lazily out of a gray winter sky.
As in my childhood, I find myself these last few days making another Christmas list. Not one for toys and trinkets, but one for peace, love and strength. I would wish these to my friends and family, and one big one to the world at large. I would ask for strength for my family struggling with worry. I would ask for health for those in pain. I would ask for peace for those who have lost and joy for the memories that remain. I would ask that we grow closer as a family and work together on our problems. I wish LOVE. Because long after the wrappings are torn off and tree is emptied of its bounty, love would still be there; an ongoing, eternal reminder of how much we mean to one another and how none of us are truly alone.
Let me close this with a song I love at Christmas....Here is a link to the video by Amy Grant.
My Grown Up Christmas List
Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
Well, I'm all grown-up now
Can you still help somehow?
I'm not a child, but my heart still can dream
So here's my lifelong wish
My grown-up Christmas list
Not for myself, but for a world in need
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list
What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?
Maybe only in that blind belief can we ever find the truth
No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal our hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list
This is my only lifelong wish
This is my grown-up Christmas list
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
2 minute update
Car: got it back on Friday (thanks for the lift teachinfourth!) and couldn't help being excited to have my wheels again. I was smart enough to wait until after I'd left the dealership to lay a kiss on it seeing as the guys were already laughing at me about running my hands along the car and saying "I am so glad to have you back in one piece" to it. The bumper is new and looks great and the car is, indeed, purring like a kitten. When its really cold out it does lug a little until it warms up more but the guys said that's not an issue and the final story they can come up with was I had ice in my gas line. I've been chastised to keep at least a half tank of gas in the car during the winter and they tossed a bottle of Heet in there for good measure.
Camera: (sigh) I've posted an ad on ksl.com but don't think anything will come of it. I looked around Teach's place last night and its not there either. I have officially declared it good and lost and will start looking around for a new one to buy next year. Ten months wasn't nearly enough time but now I know I would like a camera with manual focus ability. And I did get some really amazing shots from that camera while I had it.....I just wish I still had it. Guess that will teach me to not leave expensive things in my car.
Christmas: hooray! Its nearly here! I've been making several batches of fimo dough "cookies" as ornaments and they turned out darling. I gave a set to my friend Cynthia in a clear bag tied with a ribbon and they looked like the most delicious sugar cookies...I'm happy they've turned out so well. In fact, they turned out so well that I am going to start working on them throughout next year and start selling on Etsy in the fall (when crafters start seriously thinking about Christmas). So far I've made sugar cookie stars (with bright colored bead "sprinkles"), snowflakes in blue and white icing and brown gingerbread men. I need to pick up a tree cookie cutter as well...I thought I had one but I think it was with all of those cookie cutters I gave away when I moved down here. No biggie....at least cookie cutters are cheap.
Winter in general: I've enjoyed the lull we've had in snow and its actually been decently warm in the day so my fleece-lined hoodie is all I've needed. Today is supposed to be a bit of snow and rain mixed but the news last night thinks we may end up with 4-6" here in town. There is a very fine snow just starting outside but it'll be awhile before that accumulates into anything. It may be more of a White Christmas after all...of course, I DO like it when it stays off the roads!
Other in general: I am thinking I seriously am in need of a haircut. It'll probably have to be tomorrow after work though....I have too much I need to get done tonight, and I didn't grab the picture I found for her to style it like. I won't lose much hair, it'll just have some shape to it since its at that mess-stage where you want to grow it out but can't do anything with it. I also want to see James Cameron's Avatar but that will be a treat for Thursday since I believe I have the entire day off.
Oh, and I didn't get around to the Christmas cards in time. I will instead be sending out homemade Valentines cards to everyone, so keep an eye out for yours.
And last but not least I think Stephanie Meyer is now a subject I won't be writing about....I wrote a blog nearly a year ago about her final book "Breaking Dawn" and dang if I am not still getting peeved-off-fangirl comments about it. Todays was particularly scathing about her how dare I berate her beloved Stephanie (equating SM's sales figures as a sign of how exemplary her writing skills are) I can honestly say it was a surprise to see that nasty thing in my inbox and it hardly sets the mood for a good day. Shame on me for giving my critique in the first place on such a cult phenomenon (bad, bad Shawna!) You know what, I admit I have re-read the book recently and still found it to be seriously lacking. Take THAT fangirl! I understand the reason for the huge following and our feminine desires for decent fantasy without a lot of excessive Harlequin-style porn tossed in....but that still doesn't excuse a poor finish to what could have been a decent series. Dream or no dream (and fans are hot over that whole "its based on a dream" thing) I still think she let us down in the end. Yes, that really is MY opinion little fangirl and if YOU don't like it you freaking did not have to read it in the first place. Its not like I held a gun to your little teenybopper head and cram my opinion down your throat. Honestly people, its not as if my opinion really makes a difference in the world of literature anyway.
Camera: (sigh) I've posted an ad on ksl.com but don't think anything will come of it. I looked around Teach's place last night and its not there either. I have officially declared it good and lost and will start looking around for a new one to buy next year. Ten months wasn't nearly enough time but now I know I would like a camera with manual focus ability. And I did get some really amazing shots from that camera while I had it.....I just wish I still had it. Guess that will teach me to not leave expensive things in my car.
Christmas: hooray! Its nearly here! I've been making several batches of fimo dough "cookies" as ornaments and they turned out darling. I gave a set to my friend Cynthia in a clear bag tied with a ribbon and they looked like the most delicious sugar cookies...I'm happy they've turned out so well. In fact, they turned out so well that I am going to start working on them throughout next year and start selling on Etsy in the fall (when crafters start seriously thinking about Christmas). So far I've made sugar cookie stars (with bright colored bead "sprinkles"), snowflakes in blue and white icing and brown gingerbread men. I need to pick up a tree cookie cutter as well...I thought I had one but I think it was with all of those cookie cutters I gave away when I moved down here. No biggie....at least cookie cutters are cheap.
Winter in general: I've enjoyed the lull we've had in snow and its actually been decently warm in the day so my fleece-lined hoodie is all I've needed. Today is supposed to be a bit of snow and rain mixed but the news last night thinks we may end up with 4-6" here in town. There is a very fine snow just starting outside but it'll be awhile before that accumulates into anything. It may be more of a White Christmas after all...of course, I DO like it when it stays off the roads!
Other in general: I am thinking I seriously am in need of a haircut. It'll probably have to be tomorrow after work though....I have too much I need to get done tonight, and I didn't grab the picture I found for her to style it like. I won't lose much hair, it'll just have some shape to it since its at that mess-stage where you want to grow it out but can't do anything with it. I also want to see James Cameron's Avatar but that will be a treat for Thursday since I believe I have the entire day off.
Oh, and I didn't get around to the Christmas cards in time. I will instead be sending out homemade Valentines cards to everyone, so keep an eye out for yours.
And last but not least I think Stephanie Meyer is now a subject I won't be writing about....I wrote a blog nearly a year ago about her final book "Breaking Dawn" and dang if I am not still getting peeved-off-fangirl comments about it. Todays was particularly scathing about her how dare I berate her beloved Stephanie (equating SM's sales figures as a sign of how exemplary her writing skills are) I can honestly say it was a surprise to see that nasty thing in my inbox and it hardly sets the mood for a good day. Shame on me for giving my critique in the first place on such a cult phenomenon (bad, bad Shawna!) You know what, I admit I have re-read the book recently and still found it to be seriously lacking. Take THAT fangirl! I understand the reason for the huge following and our feminine desires for decent fantasy without a lot of excessive Harlequin-style porn tossed in....but that still doesn't excuse a poor finish to what could have been a decent series. Dream or no dream (and fans are hot over that whole "its based on a dream" thing) I still think she let us down in the end. Yes, that really is MY opinion little fangirl and if YOU don't like it you freaking did not have to read it in the first place. Its not like I held a gun to your little teenybopper head and cram my opinion down your throat. Honestly people, its not as if my opinion really makes a difference in the world of literature anyway.
Monday, December 21, 2009
The Gift That Keeps On Giving
No, its not the Christmas spirit.
Co-worker called this morning...*cough* *cough* "I won't be in today" croaked out in a horribly raspy voice. "I think it might be strep. I'll see the doctor this morning and get some antibiotics and I'll be in tomorrow. Oh, and I have a present for all of you. I just need to finish up the Christmas candies and cookies I started yesterday and I'll bring them in with me."
Strep...and still baking?
Oh yeah, lets not forget her 2 oldest are coughing so hard she pulled them out of school today and her youngest is running a fever of 103.
Lets also not forget this gal has been to the doctors at least once a week for the last month with different illnesses for herself and her kids...and gotten antibiotics each time. At some point those antibiotics have got to stop working as this is a regular routine for her family. If she's not at home she's usually taking someone to the doctor.
Those aren't Christmas Chocolate balls.....those are balls of disease. So not the way I want to start my new year, thanks just the same.
Co-worker called this morning...*cough* *cough* "I won't be in today" croaked out in a horribly raspy voice. "I think it might be strep. I'll see the doctor this morning and get some antibiotics and I'll be in tomorrow. Oh, and I have a present for all of you. I just need to finish up the Christmas candies and cookies I started yesterday and I'll bring them in with me."
Strep...and still baking?
Oh yeah, lets not forget her 2 oldest are coughing so hard she pulled them out of school today and her youngest is running a fever of 103.
Lets also not forget this gal has been to the doctors at least once a week for the last month with different illnesses for herself and her kids...and gotten antibiotics each time. At some point those antibiotics have got to stop working as this is a regular routine for her family. If she's not at home she's usually taking someone to the doctor.
Those aren't Christmas Chocolate balls.....those are balls of disease. So not the way I want to start my new year, thanks just the same.
Monday, December 14, 2009
There he goes.....
As I type this my car has just gone by...strapped to the back of a tow truck.
I am car-less. Without wheels. Unable to do a darn thing about it.
Long story short....had a gal back into my car in a parking lot in the wee hours of Saturday morning. She whammed my car pretty good while I, in typical slow-mo dream fashion, watched from across the 7-11 parking lot. I got her information and then drove my car home....the damage didn't look TOO bad....though I will definately need to replace that bumper it wasn't crumpled...just gouged, chipped and cracked. It misfired on the way home but, as it was cold out I didn't really pay an excessive amount of attention to it. As I didn't need to be anywhere this weekend I stayed home Saturday and Sunday and worked on coding homework (while rotting my brain out with about a jillion movies playing in the background).
This morning was another story. Chipped a weekend's accumulation of crusted snow from my car and headed for work. Hmmmm, I thought. Must be really slick out because I am just not getting out of the driveway quick and the car felt....funny. A few blocks later it began misfiring like crazy, lugging and the check engine light was blinking madly as if its very life depended on it. By this time I was already pulling onto Center Street and halfway to work (thankfully I live a short mile from work!) so I continued on my way, hoping and praying I wasn't doing further damage to whatever was gasping its last under the hood.
My dealership agreed that driving to Bountiful was just not an option so they sent a tow truck. As we speak my car is Northbound on a tow bed on I-15.
I miss my car already.
The dealership says if its going to be a few days that they will work some way out so I can get a rental, preferably without having to get a ride up there. The wuss in me is hoping that whenever the car is done that the roads will be good....and if not, wondering if they will deliver.
Seriously, I hate the Interstate in the winter.
Still waiting to hear back from the insurance claims department about my bumper. I am not sure if the engine has anything to do with the accident since, as I said, I didn't see any crumpling, but then what do I know?
Oh, and I still haven't located my camera. I've chalked it up as good and lost, but still find myself looking around in sections of the house I have already covered several times over. Why do I think its good and lost? My trunk was open a crack at the grocery store last week and I have decided I must've hit the button in error as I headed into the store and someone took advantage of that to snag a free camera. Regardless, its my own fault and I will have to start saving to get a replacement.
I feel strange without my camera...and stranger without my car.
On the plus side, while pulling out some "essentials" from my car (since who knows how long the dealer with be playing with it) I found the sync cable for my mp3 player. I'd been looking around for that for about 2 weeks with no luck.
I guess every cloud has a silver lining in it somewhere.
I am car-less. Without wheels. Unable to do a darn thing about it.
Long story short....had a gal back into my car in a parking lot in the wee hours of Saturday morning. She whammed my car pretty good while I, in typical slow-mo dream fashion, watched from across the 7-11 parking lot. I got her information and then drove my car home....the damage didn't look TOO bad....though I will definately need to replace that bumper it wasn't crumpled...just gouged, chipped and cracked. It misfired on the way home but, as it was cold out I didn't really pay an excessive amount of attention to it. As I didn't need to be anywhere this weekend I stayed home Saturday and Sunday and worked on coding homework (while rotting my brain out with about a jillion movies playing in the background).
This morning was another story. Chipped a weekend's accumulation of crusted snow from my car and headed for work. Hmmmm, I thought. Must be really slick out because I am just not getting out of the driveway quick and the car felt....funny. A few blocks later it began misfiring like crazy, lugging and the check engine light was blinking madly as if its very life depended on it. By this time I was already pulling onto Center Street and halfway to work (thankfully I live a short mile from work!) so I continued on my way, hoping and praying I wasn't doing further damage to whatever was gasping its last under the hood.
My dealership agreed that driving to Bountiful was just not an option so they sent a tow truck. As we speak my car is Northbound on a tow bed on I-15.
I miss my car already.
The dealership says if its going to be a few days that they will work some way out so I can get a rental, preferably without having to get a ride up there. The wuss in me is hoping that whenever the car is done that the roads will be good....and if not, wondering if they will deliver.
Seriously, I hate the Interstate in the winter.
Still waiting to hear back from the insurance claims department about my bumper. I am not sure if the engine has anything to do with the accident since, as I said, I didn't see any crumpling, but then what do I know?
Oh, and I still haven't located my camera. I've chalked it up as good and lost, but still find myself looking around in sections of the house I have already covered several times over. Why do I think its good and lost? My trunk was open a crack at the grocery store last week and I have decided I must've hit the button in error as I headed into the store and someone took advantage of that to snag a free camera. Regardless, its my own fault and I will have to start saving to get a replacement.
I feel strange without my camera...and stranger without my car.
On the plus side, while pulling out some "essentials" from my car (since who knows how long the dealer with be playing with it) I found the sync cable for my mp3 player. I'd been looking around for that for about 2 weeks with no luck.
I guess every cloud has a silver lining in it somewhere.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
An exciting day for Astronomy
Saturn's hexagon weather system at its northern pole has been confirmed. Click here to see a video of the system in motion...its pretty cool. Science is at a loss to explain what is causing the phenomenon as Saturn has no bodies of water or landmasses to direct the windflow.
The Big Dipper has been discovered to have additional stars in it....you just can't see them. Turns out Alcor is actually a binary star with a much fainter twin that it dances around once every 90 years. Similar story happened for Alcor's neighbor, Mizar. Mizar was discovered by a colleague of Gallileo to be a binary star...and was then discovered at a later date that both "companion" stars also had partners! Alcor and Mizar are the stars at the bend of the Dipper's handle...Alcor is the smaller binary on the top and Mizar is the larger double binary on the bottom.
Norway had a puzzle on their hands as people witness an early-morning phenomenon in the form of a spiral of light forming in the sky. Here is a video linking together several videos and stills of the spiral in motion (for best image zip ahead to 2 minutes into the video). The Russian military announced later in the morning that it was a failed rocket launch and the spiral is the rocket spinning out of control while jetting out fuel and the light of the sun (which was just ready to rise) reflecting off the spray. Here is a video simulation showing how science thinks the event was triggered. For awhile this morning the internet was abuzz with theories of wormholes, alternate realities, time travel, ufos.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Mmmmmmm.....toasty!
My roomie and I went to the store the other day and took my car. Cruising along, feeling the freeze, the roomie suddenly exclaims "you have SEAT WARMERS?"
It took me a moment to realize what she was talking about. Apparently, whomever was last in the passenger seat had turned the warmer on and the roomie noticed her backside growing warm as we drove down the road.
Funny, but since I have never owned a car with a bun warmer, I had completely forgotten that it came with that option.
Yesterday was so cold on my ride home that I decided to give it a whirl. Sure enough, just before I arrived home the seat was noticeably warmer. Today I once again enjoyed the toasty both on my way to work and as I drove to class.
Why couldn't I have remembered this feature on my vacation when my back was out? This would have been PERFECT for the drive home.
Regardless, the bun warmer is now my favorite feature of the moment.....
Now if only the weather was good enough to go cruising.
It took me a moment to realize what she was talking about. Apparently, whomever was last in the passenger seat had turned the warmer on and the roomie noticed her backside growing warm as we drove down the road.
Funny, but since I have never owned a car with a bun warmer, I had completely forgotten that it came with that option.
Yesterday was so cold on my ride home that I decided to give it a whirl. Sure enough, just before I arrived home the seat was noticeably warmer. Today I once again enjoyed the toasty both on my way to work and as I drove to class.
Why couldn't I have remembered this feature on my vacation when my back was out? This would have been PERFECT for the drive home.
Regardless, the bun warmer is now my favorite feature of the moment.....
Now if only the weather was good enough to go cruising.
Another Day in the Life....
So what's been happening to me since Thanksgiving? Nothing majorly exciting I am afraid....
Lets see.....
I've somehow misplaced my camera and its driving me crazy trying to find it. Its not here at work and not in my car (which is where I had thought it was all this time). After class tonight I need to finish cleaning up my room (you can almost see my desk through all of the books, papers and accumulated junk). I can only hope that it got pushed underneath my bed since I've shuffled the desk around a few times and come up empty. So it wasn't the most expensive camera on the planet and I don't think it had a lot of pictures on it since I seem to recall clearing off the memory card in preparation for Thanksgiving.....but still.....it wasn't cheap and I really do love my camera.
I still have a bit of a cough....sorry dad, this is really hanging on.
I will (unfortunately) be spending a chunk of my weekend here in the office working on the year-end inventory. I am not looking forward to it at all since I will be spending most of the day in the warehouse and it is not heated.....freaking brrrrrr! I'll be in a sweater or two with a thermos of hot cocoa, that's for sure...between that and the cranked up music, it should make for a (hopefully) productive day. At least the temperature will be above freezing for Saturday!
Not really liking all of the snow (well, the cold really).....but dealing with it (seriously, what good is complaining going to do?) Sadly, I still get to hear the daily whining of someone I know who it seems can't wait to call me several times a day just to tell me just how hideous the weather is and how they aren't sure anyone should be out driving and what do I mean when I say I made it to work with no problems..... (sigh) this person always has something to complain about so I guess I should consider myself lucky to already know in advance what the rant of the day is likely to contain!
Speaking of cold and snow....I rescued a cat last night. No Jason, I am not going to keep it. My neighbor kicked a few kittens outside through the summer and promptly forgot all about them. My roomie and I have been feeding the neighborhood strays and both of these kittens have been amongst them. I haven't seen the older one for awhile now, but I did manage to catch the small one last night and haul it into the house. With the news stating we could see wind chill giving us a low around -20 the next few nights, I couldn't stand the thought of this little guy (or gal...I've never checked) freezing to death outside. Its so small and with its short-hair and scrawny build (no meat whatsoever on the poor thing) it just broke my heart to leave it out there. At least the other strays have long hair and thick coats. Anyway, I'll have to find a home for it in the spring as I absolutely DO NOT need another cat! It was still hiding under the couch this morning but it seemed happy (purring anyway) and why shouldn't it, I have its own dish of food and water under there with it! I am hoping it'll loosen up and become more of a "people cat" so it'll be easier to give away....goodness knows its pretty enough....inky black with pumpkin eyes.
But I digress.....
Class starts tonight for web coding....yes, I admit, I flunked a class at school. I just don't get the whole coding thing so here I am for the second time around. ANY POINTERS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! :d
As always, there is too much to do and not enough hours in the day to accomplish them in, so please understand if I don't blog much between now and Christmas.....addressing cards is next on the list so you should see those in your mailboxes soon.
My love to all....
Lets see.....
I've somehow misplaced my camera and its driving me crazy trying to find it. Its not here at work and not in my car (which is where I had thought it was all this time). After class tonight I need to finish cleaning up my room (you can almost see my desk through all of the books, papers and accumulated junk). I can only hope that it got pushed underneath my bed since I've shuffled the desk around a few times and come up empty. So it wasn't the most expensive camera on the planet and I don't think it had a lot of pictures on it since I seem to recall clearing off the memory card in preparation for Thanksgiving.....but still.....it wasn't cheap and I really do love my camera.
I still have a bit of a cough....sorry dad, this is really hanging on.
I will (unfortunately) be spending a chunk of my weekend here in the office working on the year-end inventory. I am not looking forward to it at all since I will be spending most of the day in the warehouse and it is not heated.....freaking brrrrrr! I'll be in a sweater or two with a thermos of hot cocoa, that's for sure...between that and the cranked up music, it should make for a (hopefully) productive day. At least the temperature will be above freezing for Saturday!
Not really liking all of the snow (well, the cold really).....but dealing with it (seriously, what good is complaining going to do?) Sadly, I still get to hear the daily whining of someone I know who it seems can't wait to call me several times a day just to tell me just how hideous the weather is and how they aren't sure anyone should be out driving and what do I mean when I say I made it to work with no problems..... (sigh) this person always has something to complain about so I guess I should consider myself lucky to already know in advance what the rant of the day is likely to contain!
Speaking of cold and snow....I rescued a cat last night. No Jason, I am not going to keep it. My neighbor kicked a few kittens outside through the summer and promptly forgot all about them. My roomie and I have been feeding the neighborhood strays and both of these kittens have been amongst them. I haven't seen the older one for awhile now, but I did manage to catch the small one last night and haul it into the house. With the news stating we could see wind chill giving us a low around -20 the next few nights, I couldn't stand the thought of this little guy (or gal...I've never checked) freezing to death outside. Its so small and with its short-hair and scrawny build (no meat whatsoever on the poor thing) it just broke my heart to leave it out there. At least the other strays have long hair and thick coats. Anyway, I'll have to find a home for it in the spring as I absolutely DO NOT need another cat! It was still hiding under the couch this morning but it seemed happy (purring anyway) and why shouldn't it, I have its own dish of food and water under there with it! I am hoping it'll loosen up and become more of a "people cat" so it'll be easier to give away....goodness knows its pretty enough....inky black with pumpkin eyes.
But I digress.....
Class starts tonight for web coding....yes, I admit, I flunked a class at school. I just don't get the whole coding thing so here I am for the second time around. ANY POINTERS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! :d
As always, there is too much to do and not enough hours in the day to accomplish them in, so please understand if I don't blog much between now and Christmas.....addressing cards is next on the list so you should see those in your mailboxes soon.
My love to all....
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