A Message from the Mini Monster

hey crazy pups,

I've made a resolution this year: to try my best to magically become hypoallergenic for my Mama. She's been scratching her eyes and sneezing like crazy lately! In the meantime, anyone got any suggestions for a good allergy med that won't put her to sleep?

A puppy note for tonight: party your tail off, but be careful out there! Looking back on my wilder days, I know its better to be safe than sorry.

Happy New Years everyone! Take it away Mama.

Woof!

Minners

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks my lil' girl. I hope you can stick to your resolution. This year my resolution is to lose another 10 lbs. It was pretty easy to lose the first 10, so hell, why not be a little more ambitious? I'm expecting to frolick around in my swimsuit this summer without being paranoid about how wide my ass looks to those behind me. I think I'll keep to this one. (With the help of WW, duh.)

What's your resolution?

Sitting here with Babers right now, our fourth day in a row together. You'd think we'd be wrapped up, right? Nope. He's playing his new PSP toy and I'm, yep, making jewelry and blogging. :) We're just saving up for tonight. We've got a huge bonfire to spend the evening in front of - J says its easily 40 foot wide and 20 foot tall, full of wood, branches and Christmas trees ready for burning. I just love the country life. *sigh* Hopefully I'll get a few good photos out of tonight to share.

Hope everyone has an awesome New Years Eve!!!

xoxo

Jill

Christmas 2007

At last - photos from my third annual Christmas party - grrrr!!! I've been trying to post this for two days. Slide finally let me win.

It was a really long party after a really long day of preparation, but it turned out great. Even Mini had a good time - she's quite the entertainer. Ameretto Sours, a little frou frou wine, Crown, pesto cheese spreads and lots of vain people (sadly including myself) taking lots of photos. Thankfully this year we didn't spill over into the courtyard - it was nice to have a smaller, close-knit group this time with mainly family and friends we spend most of our weekends with. It was a blast - I laughed so much my face hurt!

At a little after one in the morning, one of the guys in the group rounded everyone up and hollered "time to call it quits people!" He later told us when he saw me fighting to keep my eyes open and J with his eyes closed and head on my shoulder that it was time to leave. Guess we're getting old! (We're okay with it though.)

So a few people have asked what I got for Christmas from Babers... so, I can't hold it in any longer. I had hoped to keep it a secret, keep it to myself for a little bit to cherish, but alas I must fess up and let everyone know... that J got me... an iPod Nano!!!!! YES!!!! Oh, did you think he got me something else? heh heh.

This little puppy is the shizzle! (Fo rizzle.) I loaded all my music on it and even some photos. I have space for 2,000 songs but only have 68. *snort* I know, sad right? I'm thinking about starting a little mp3 exchange with some people, maybe an MP3 Monday exchange of sorts where a little group of us email everyone one song a week or month from their collection. Is that a safe thing? I'm sort of in the dark about all this stuff. Somebody please give me the knowledge. Also, let me know if you're interesting in participating.

And of course, J got me the second season of our FAVORITE SHOW: The Office!! I'm so excited to watch this, you have no idea. When the office comes on tv I'm in ackward humor heaven and then BAM, its over in 30 minutes. But the w h o l e s e a s o n - laaaaaaaa!!!! (Hear the angels singing?) I can see it now. J and I sitting beside each other watching it, leaning over waiting for the next unbearably uncomfortable moment, me covering my eyes cuz I just can't take it but can't look away!!! J yelling at me to MOVE MY HANDS! Me squealing because Michael is just so freaking ackward. Does anyone else feel this way about The Office? PLEASE TELL ME SO.

I won't keep you much longer but I just have to share one special moment Babers and I had this weekend. We had Friday through Wednesday together, both of us taking off a little extra time to spend together. Before he left Wednesday we got to talking about house plans. J really wants to build a home together and has a few ideas in mind. He grabbed a sheet of paper and sketched his ideas on paper. He then passed me the pen and asked what I wanted. Doing that together was just so touching and exciting for me. I guess it made something we've talked about doing in the future seem a little more real and a little closer. :)

I'm Alive!

Just wanted to post a quick hello - its been an awesome but tiring and very busy week. I'm trying to post my slide show photos from the Christmas party but Slide is giving me fits. I'll try again this evening!

In the meantime, I'm off to visit everyone. Its been a nearly a week since I've been in blogsville...

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

So, what did Santa bring you?

Thursday 13 - Presents for Loved Ones

I'm seriously running out of ideas for my Thursday Thirteens but can't bear the thought of retiring from it altogether. So, this one will be less about me and more about my loved ones.








13 Presents Under the Tree for My Loved Ones


1. A multi-photo frame for my sister which consists of photos of her, her little one (Toot), her niece, and of course I threw one in of her and I as well cause you know we take some gorgeous photos! *snort* I cropped and backed each photo with this really funky scrap paper that I thought looked like her. She just got a new place so I'm helping her decorate! Oh, and I made her a pink pearl cha cha ring too.


2. My Maw Maw is sooo hard to buy for so I bought her a jar of La Madeline's delicious tomato basil soup, some prissy gold earrings and I also made some glazed pecans that I placed in a festive tin for her. She's a foodie like me!


3. A vanity mirror for my mom. It was a request, but I always like to give gifts that aren't on the list, so I ordered a PostSecret book for her as well. She loves to read and is a creative soul as well, so I'm hoping she'll like.


4. My little brother gets a 80's Rock Ballad cd this year. My ears perked up one day when he mentioned how much he loves the older rock like Whitesnake and Damn Yankees. "Its about time you got better taste" I ribbed him. (He used to listen to rap.)


5. My sister in law gets some funky furry purple slippers and a necklace and earring set I made for her. I know, you're thinking "slippers??" but this is SO up her alley. She practically lives in slippers and wears them out with the quickness.


6. My daddy is getting a buck knife from Cabella's. I refused to go in with my siblings yet another year on something he basically picked out himself at Home Depot or Sears. I was so not buying the "I need t-shirts and socks" spill either. Get over it. You're getting a bad ass pocket knife and that's final.


7. Toot (my precious nephew) is getting the Transformers DVD and a obnoxiously HUGE dinosaur. What? Oh! No, its a fake one.















8. Babers is getting Sirius radio for his truck. Yes I know he reads my blog but he already knows what he's getting. I hate that he does, but it was one of those things I was uncertain about buying and knew he really wanted it. Besides, he doesn't know the other presents he's getting. *rubbing hands together*


9. My aunt and uncle are getting some fleur de lis houseware, including a beautimous fleur de lis wrought iron key holder. Their entire house is packed with knick-knacks and beautiful art work, so I'm sure this will just add to the collection!


10. My brother and sis-in-law are also receiving a handmade scrapbook of their new baby girl, who's turning a year old this Christmas. I'm wrapping it and tagging it to be from Kaiter Butt, as if she made it herself, and I even kid-scrawled the name tag to read "To Mama & Dada From Kaitlyn". *squeal* I love it!
















11. Kaiter Butt (my new baby niece) is getting the DVD collection of Elmo's World. I hear this and Baby Einstein are pure genius and can entertain and educate your little one for hours.


12. The Mini Monster got a new plaid flannel pillow puppy bed. I gave it to her early because she didn't have a bed of her own here yet. And now since I love her, I decided it was time for us to take the next step in our relationship which was buying her a bed for my place. Kind of like giving your boyfriend a key to the apartment.


13. J's parents are getting a beautiful colored glass fleur de lis cookie jar. Its one of those beauties that you can use as a centerpiece even, its so decorative. I also had some prints of me and Babers photos done and I'm giving them a frame with a photo of us in it. J's mom has a ginormous book case with all kinds of photos of his younger brother and his girlfriend. Well, I wanna be on the bookshelf toooo.... *crossing arms and pouting*

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I have lots of party preparation and house cleaning to do before this weekend, so I may be MIA for a few days, but I will surely be visiting blogs in the meantime (meaning at the office).

I just wanted to tell everyone Merry Christmas!!! or if you celebrate something other than Christmas, cheers to that as well! Hope everyone has a fantastic holiday filled with lots of love, presents, and enough goodies for a little jeans-unbuttoning. Hee hee.

Hugs & bloggy kisses,

Jill

Cheese, Boobs and Office Party Rules

Night Club cheese anyone?

So this weekend J and I met a group of friends out for a birthday bash. Well, not so much a bash - more like a really bad hour at a horribly cheesy bar.

J and I are so over the bar scene its not even funny. Been over it. In fact, the night we met each other (that decided our fate as a couple) was one of those nights where we were both dragged to a bar with friends who were not so much over the bar scene. That night should have put the clubbing to rest so that we would never, EVER need to be subjected to the bar scene again.

We were so wrong.

One of our friends is recently divorced and dating another friend of the group. She's young at heart and loves to dance. Therefore, by default, we are victims of cheesy night club sights: cougars wearing skirts small enough to cover only my knee cap, these older women dancing to the beat of their own drum, touching the ground and bouncing their asses while their teeny skirts run up over their bums to expose their thongs.

Some of these people stood on the level we were on, dancing and jigging, raising their hands in a sort of "raise the roof" fashion to a booty shaking song I've never heard before. The women. Y'all, its just too much. I know I already spoke about them but COME ON. If you are over, I dunno, 40ish you really shouldn't be wearing crop tube tops. Really. Its just wrong. Unless you are a prostitute. These women clearly dressed and behaved like they wanted nothing but a quick land in the nearest hotel. Who sticks their fingers in their mouths when they dance?? Ew, ew, EW.

Did I not mention the chic who decided it was okay to fit her extremely full figured bod into a size 4 dress and shove her ta tas up to her neck? This amazonian woman grabbed our friend and I guess for his birthday decided to give him a boobie face washing. You know what I'm talking about - taking his face, shoving it into her large fatty breasts, jiggling them about. Thankfully J & I left before that horrific scene took place but we were told that the birthday boy's girlfriend (the new divorcee) was none too happy. I don't blame her, do you?

Needless to say we left after about an hour. I can't believe I wasted my new top on that evening...


Baber's Office Christmas Party

As I expected, it was fun to get all dolled up and knock back a few glasses free of charge. Met a few of the higher-ups, ate some good food and even took a photo together. The human resources chic will be emailing the photos to everyone so once J sends ours to me (and it deems presentable, meaning J looks as handsome as he really was that night and I look as skinny as I pretended to be) then I'll post it. ;)

I had on my new heels that night and wasn't quite used to them. Imagine me trying to trail behind my long legged boyfriend, teetering and wobbling while loudly whispering to him "Psst! Slow down!" Guess you had to be there. I thought it was funny. (Laugh damn it.)

Small rant about gift giving

People. If someone gives you a present, thank them. Open the present when they give it to you and not two hours later. This person went through the trouble of choosing a gift that would fit you personally and you could show a little appreciation. No need for song and dance; a timely thank you will do just fine.


My Office Christmas Party

And now for a segment of what not to do or talk about at your annual office Christmas party! If you would like to play along, please put your two cents in at the comment box. Any advice is welcome.

Rule #1: Do not whine about your place at the table, especially if you arrive last. Grow the fonk up or get your act together and arrive on time. Besides, if you whine about your position at the table its very likely you are offending the people you are sitting beside.

Rule #2: It is beyond inappropriate to speak of your sex life at this function. I do not want to hear how your husband's mouth dropped when you put on your sexy, see-through lingerie. I know you think you're hot, but I don't. I'm straight. Write that down.

Rule #3: If you are working for the same boss I am, I'm sure you don't have a problem feeding your children. Kinda weird that you boxed up your leftovers along with the table's leftover desserts and appetizers. Especially seeing that most people double-dipped on their side of the dessert. Say it all together now: Ew.

Wanna Know About Me? Sure you do!

I saved this meme a while back when I saw it on another blog. Thought it was a really interesting questionaire and well, I'm just tired of seeing the potty post at the top of my blog (as I'm sure you are too!)

Please - play along if you wish! After a weekend full of parties, cheesy club scenes, and making goodies I need a minute to absorb before letting it all out on the blog.

What kind of soap is in your bathtub?
Lever Rain Scent. Boring right? My parents used it so I do. Isn't it funny how we just carry on using the same items our parents did when we lived with them? J has recently introduced me to a really sexy smelling one, so once my 8 pack is out I'm trying something new!

Do you have any watermelon in your refrigerator?
Nope.

What would you change about your living room?
I should probably say I'd like it larger, but its just so cozy. Maybe a rug?

Are the dishes in your dishwasher clean or dirty?Clean. I'm too lazy (and busy!) to unload right now.

What is in your refrigerator?
The fridge is packed because of my party this weekend. Usual items: pickles, cheese, eggs, orange juice for babers, a big jug of tea, salsa, pesto, wine, beer. Oh, and some leftover veal cutlets and s'ghetti from last night's dinner. Seasonal current items: Heavy cream, olives, cheese for dips.

White or wheat bread?
Wheat

What is on top of your refrigerator?
Lordy! Too much. Ameretto, tequila, vodka, sweet & sour, a huge margarita pitcher, grenadine, margarita salt, chips for party this weekend, box of tea bags (I have a tiny pantry) and a box of cereal I really need to throw out.

What color or design is on your shower curtain?
Striped earthy tones. Reds, browns, sage greens. Need a new one, doesn't reflect my style.

How many plants are in your home?
One small bamboo plant. I want more but have no room.

Is your bed made right now?
Nope. My bed is made on very rare occasions. Maybe this weekend?

Comet or Soft Scrub?
Scrubbin' Bubbles!

Is your closet organized?Ha. Pfft. Well, I try about twice a year but the shoes just take over. You'd never know I have a walk in closet.

Do you drink out of glass or plastic most of the time at home?
Both. Whatever's clean.

Do you have iced tea made in a pitcher right now?
Why yes I do!

Curtains or blinds?Blinds

How many pillows do you sleep with?
Two: Mine and the one that smells like J *sigh*

Do you sleep with any lights on at night?
*blush* Yes, I have a nightlite. Always have. That's a really interesting story for another post. (Note to self)

How often do you vacuum?
Once a week. Is that the norm?

Standard toothbrush or electric?
Regular old standard does the job just fine

What color is your toothbrush?
Grey

Do you have a welcome mat on your front porch?
I have a mat but it does not say Welcome on it.

What is in your oven right now?
Actually, some glazed pecans that I plan on giving out this year.

Is there anything under your bed?
My mounted charcoal drawings from college, a couple of paintings and a tub of photos.

Chore you hate doing the most?
Washing dishes

What retro items are in your home?
I don't think any...

Do you have a separate room that you use as an office?
I wish. Some day I will have an art room...

How many mirrors are in your home?
Four - dresser vanity, bathroom, standing mirror for full body shots (ha, I said body shots), and one above my dining table

What color are your walls?
white - i live in an apartment and cannot paint the walls :(

Do you keep any kind of protection weapons in your home?
No, unless you count my kitchen knives or J's gun when he stays with me

What does your home smell like right now?
Probably glazed pecans and vanilla almond bark

Favorite candle scent?vanilla or mulberry

What kind of pickles (if any) are in your refrigerator right now?
I'm crazy for pickles y'all - I have relish, spears and sliced dills

What color is your favorite Bible?
I can't remember what color it is. Bad little Catholic girl.

Ever been on your roof?
Not on my apartment roof but on my parents' roof. When I was in high school a friend thought it would be a good idea to sun bathe on the roof. Closer to the sun, better tan! I am terrified of heights so I'm still uncertain as to how she talked me up there. Once we were on the roof we realized our mistake and started screaming for my parents. It took a good 5 minutes before they heard us, but my brother's friend (a volunteer firefighter) finally got us down by climbing up a ladder and practically carrying us down it.

Do you have a stereo?
I have a "jam box"!

How many TVs do you have?
Two

How many house phones?
None. So lovely.

Do you have a housekeeper?
Bahahaha! I almost fell out my chair on that one.

What style do you decorate in?
My style. I love reds and browns and hope to put more of my art work on the walls this year

Do you like solid colors in furniture or prints?
I have both. Keeps it interesting.

Is there a smoke detector in your house?
Yes and it very sensitive.

In case of fire, what are the items in your house which you'd grab if you could make only one trip? my purse (which contains my life), jewelry box (the one that holds inherited jewelry) and as many of my photo books as I can carry. The rest can be replaced.


Pick a question, any question and answer it in the comments if you don't feel like doing the whole post. I'd love to know anything new about you!

Potty Humor and Cocktail Attire

Since the subject of my dirty boss is still hovering in the air from the post below, I thought I'd share something even more disgusting with you. Bet y'all are just on the edge of your seats...

Yesterday at 4:00 pm I went to powder my nose. I stepped into the restroom and immediately stepped right back out.


The reason I didn't use the unisex bathroom is because the last person who visited it decided to completely miss the toilet and pee directly on the floor in front of it instead. Now, usually he dribbles and I have to contort myself while hovering in order not to get my slacks wet, but this time there was a puddle. A PUDDLE people. It was actually running into the drain in the center of the floor which is about two feet away from the toilet.


At 4:30 my co-worker leaned in and said she was leaving for the day. Even though my scheduled time is to work until 5, I tucked behind her and did a quick wave goodbye to my boss. I had to pee for chrissakes.

I know you guys are like "Why are you working there??" but let me assure you - my boss doesn't treat me bad, he's just gross (and seriously ADD). He pays well and I'm not exactly busting my ass here either. Its the first job I've had that didn't give me nightmares. You know the ones I'm talking about: As a waitress I had dreams about being in the weeds. As an event coordinator I dreamt about being the only person manning the conference floor and my walkie talkie batteries kept running down. As a graphic designer, other designers would steal my best work and pawn it off as their own, raking in thousands while I still couldn't afford to move out of my parents house.


You get the picture. Its just a job. One day I will be my own boss selling my fabulous jewelry and eventually get back to taking childrens portraits and couples engagement photos. Maybe I'll even become a famous drunken painter after cutting my ear off like Van Gogh. *sigh* How romantical would it be to live my life as an artist again?


I just got some sweet comments about the last post and wanted you to know I wasn't getting beaten or threatened, or like some of you *gasp* sexually harrassed. Ew.


There were so many terrible boss stories, but for me there was a tie between two. The Most Ridiculous Horror Boss stories go to: Little Things & Roxy. Why? Because while reading their boss comments I puked a little in my mouth imagining mine doing such things. Oogy.
___________________________________________________

J's company work party is tonight. Its cocktail attire, so I sped my booty over to the nearest dress shop for something pretty to wear. I haven't purchased a cocktail dress in years - the closest was my prom dress 12 years ago. I love getting dressed up and I'm really giddy about putting on something purty for Babers that includes heels. In fact, I'm sort of feeling like it is a remake of my prom, seeing as we never got to go to a prom together at our high school, but spent the end of my junior (?) prom night flirting with each other anyway. My date was happy about that, let me tell ya. But, that's another story for another post.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Muah!

Work Rant

Okay. So I'm a little nervous even posting this rant about work because my blog address is in the browser history of my computer and the reception area computer. Before I start - Stephers, if you are reading this now, please clear the history on the front computer asap! Hee hee.

Today a co-worker asked me if everything was okay. Apparantly I am completely transparent and cannot keep even the slightest discontent from showing all over my face. My co-worker basically knew what was bothering me and just wanted to confirm. I told her.

My "job" is basically to keep my boss organized. Compared to the positions I've held in the past (event coordinator, association management, graphic designer) this position is really a breeze most of the time. There's no stress, no endless duties at hand, no deadlines, no panicky feelings because the conference is only 2 WEEKS AWAY!!!! Sorry, got a little carried away thinking about the past.

So why am I complaining? Well I'll tell you. The few things I cannot tolerate in people happen to all be traits my boss holds. He's helpless (or pretends to be), wasteful, and severely ADD. Not to mention MESSY. I like to call him The Tornado. How I am supposed to keep someone organized when he leaves his cell phone at random businesses on a weekly basis and can never find his keys?

People. The man will sit at my desk and dictate emails to me, which I type as he sits there. After each email I type I automatically print the email confirmation for our files. This does not keep him from saying "Print that out for me," though by now he should know that I'm going to anyway. After about 5 emails, I'll turn to look at him sitting at the end of my desk and gasp. My neat piles of paperwork have suddenly become a blanket across my desk, the piles no longer exist and he's decided to draw boxes and scribble all over letters that I just prepared for the next day's mail. Shoot me now.

"Where are the email confirmations?" He'll ask. What? I'll think, my eyes scanning the desk before me. I printed every single email out for him immediately after I typed it, what does he mean where are they??

"I just gave them to you," I say. He shakes his head like a defiant child and I stand so that I can begin picking up the mess he's made on my desk, hoping to prove him wrong and find these dang emails laying beneath something. While I'm trying to tidy up to find these, he's pulling papers out of my hand, moving the piles around as I'm organizing. WHAT did he do with them? Did he EAT THEM??

I shake my head and re-print them, handing them to him for the second time. Two minutes later he's asking for them again.

Do I sound petty and childish? I don't CARE. This is annoying. This makes me feel like I'm going cuckoo and I'm NOT. I have more.

The man will stand in the doorway of my room while I am sitting at my desk speaking to a client on the phone and ask me loudly to copy something for him. The copy machine is right outside my door, exactly 1 foot away from his left hip and he wants ME to copy two sheets of paper for him.

One of my favorites: I'll be filing at my table and he'll walk up to me and point to the stapler. "Hand me that," he'll demand, the stapler 3 inches from his pointing finger while I'm a good 4 feet away from it.

He's a pen thief. About ten pens are pulled from the supply closet every Monday and placed into my pen holder. If he needs a pen he will literally pull the one out of my hand to use. I've gotten used to this and don't make a fuss. Instead, I just reach for a new pen from the holder. This happens on average 6 times a day. At the end of the day I may find a few of the pens he's taken laying on the desk or floor, but most of the time he's done who knows what with them.

The man drinks coffee all day and likes a couple of sugar packets in each cup. He has a nasty habit of ripping the sugar packets open, sloppily shaking the packets above his cup and dropping the packets INTO THE SINK to sit for the next two days and get soggy. Trails of sugar are left all over the kitchen counter which we all share. He also leaves Lean Cuisine boxes and the clear plastic wrapping in the sink. The trash can is just a mere 3, maybe 4 feet away. Just turn and put the trash there. Oh. And there's another trash receptacle under the sink too.

"Get me the Highway 16 project file" he'll demand when he walks in, before even saying good morning. Um, what do you mean the Hwy 16 project file? There are 200 Highway 16 files. "The one with the email you typed for me last week." You have GOT to be kidding me. Can you please be more specific. When he's in these moods, the questioning to figure out which file he needs can last a good ten minutes. "Who did I send the email to?" He doesn't know. "What was it about?" He doesn't know. Well, how does he know which file he wants if he doesn't know these things??? ARGH!!!

The phone will ring and I lean into his office "Its Don on line 1 for you." He looks really confused. (We only deal with one Don.) He wants know Don who? I stare blankly at him and tell him the first and last name of the caller. He still looks confused. You know, your architect, the guy you spoke to for an hour yesterday? I swear he's just putting on. Its like he's trying to be difficult.

Y'all, I'm not exaggerating. In fact, one of my co-workers may be reading this now and nodding her head wildly, thinking of so many other things she could add. I hope she leaves a good one that I've missed in my comments. *hint hint*

I just feel like I'm dealing with a 5 year old. Half of the time I'm just so shocked by his behavior that it leaves me speechless. He doesn't wash his hands after using the restroom. (The timing between the flushing and the door opening makes this obvious.) He pees on the floor. He probably kills 2 small trees a day with all the printing and throwing away.

*sigh* I just had to get that out. I should be thankful for the good living I make working for him, and for the lack of stress, blah blah blah, but how could I not share this with my readers? Its RIDICULOUS.

Tell me some horror boss stories. Please. Oh! We'll have a contest even: Most Obsurd Boss Moment/Habit EVER. The prize will be.... um, name it. Within reason. Maybe I should stop while I'm ahead...

Tagged! Christmas Meme - updated*

Names tagged me with a cool Christmas meme he created himself. After you read mine (ladies first!) go check out his interesting answers.

When people say Christmas you immediately think ...

Lights, giving presents, fuzzy sweaters, spending time with family. Christmas used to bring a bit of anxiety, but then I started purchasing all presents before the month of December. Now I really enjoy the season and just roll around in the beautiful color, yummy smells, and tons of cracking up that I know will come Christmas eve with my family.

Favorite Christmas memory

I already mentioned my favorite memory on a previous post, but I'll just elaborate: me and my two younger siblings waking each other up at the crack of dawn to sneak into my parents room to wake them so we could see what Santa brought. We'd crawl in real quiet, hiding under the sides of my parents' waterbed and would simultaneously jump in, all three of us busting out laughing. What a sight it was when we were too old for the tradition - three teenage children throwing their bodies onto the waterbed with two adults already occupying it, the water slinging our weight around, my daddy waking up yelling "You're going to make me SICK!", my mother giggling and telling our father not to fuss, its Christmas for chrissakes! I love, love, LOVE that memory.

Favorite Christmas Song/Carol

Silent Night or Drummer Boy. I love when Christmas music is playing around my sister and I, we always pretend to have the prettiest voices, singing at the highest volume possible before turning my brother into the grinch.

Favorite Christmas movie

I haven't watched a Christmas movie in ages, probably because they were crammed down our throats as children. The children's channels all played non-stop themed movies during the season, so at our age it wasn't like we could just switch the channel over to HBO or something.

Favorite Christmas character

Santa of course!

Favorite Christmas ornament/object

The Saints santa hat Babers picked up our first Christmas.

Plans for this Christmas

I'll have my annual crazy party the Saturday before Christmas. Christmas Eve is also J's mom's birthday, so lunch with her and dinner with my family that evening for our present exchange. Christmas Day is still up in the air for us, but most likely J and I will be stretched out between the two families.

Is Christmas your favorite holiday?

It hasn't always been, but now that I have someone new to spoil rotten at Christmas and snuggle in front of the fireplace with, hell yeah its my favorite now!

I forgot to tag some peeps for this one, so here goes:

Kelly at Cheaper than a Happy Meal - Don't deny it, you love memes! Yes you do, oh yes you do -- *cough*

Christie at Come on, Fall with Me

Kitty at Kitty's Bloggy Bits

Ari at Overthunk

Simply Curious

LBB

I also want to tag Fatwonkkid and Papa, but I'm not sure if they are meme kinda guys. So if you two are, go for it! And of course, anyone else I didn't tag should run with it too! *muah*

We're Not in Kansas Anymore

So I made the trekk to Baber's domain this weekend. I've only been once and had forgotten the drive. Windows down, Depeche Mode blaring in the cd player - All I eva wanted, all I eva needed is here, in myyy aaarrmmms - sorry, where was I? Oh yeah. 80 miles an hour on a smooth country road with nothing but rice fields and the occasional old, beautiful rustic home standing alone.

Sounds beautiful, right? That's because there's a little pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Screeech. Y'all. I so cannot take credit for that precious statement above. My guy actually told me that as I was talking to him on the way back home to my apartment.

J: You forgot your jeans babe.
Me: Which ones?
J: The blue ones.

*silence*

J: With the tan belt?
Me: Oh okay. Well, just bring them back here with you next weekend? *pause* This is a pretty drive, but a long one. I just don't know how you do this every weekend.
J: I do it because of the little pot of gold at the end.

Cha-ching. Automatic deposit in J's love account.















Is this the right trail?

Babers and I went 4 wheeler riding at a nearby campground about an hour away. The map of the trail doesn't look threatening, but about an hour and a half of bouncing on trails plagued with huge tree roots (with no sports bra on people) and flicking spiders off of each other, we were beginning to think otherwise.

Everything looked the same. Didn't we just pass that spot? I kept thinking. A couple of riders stopped to say hello as J was peering at our map and asked if we were lost. We asked how far camp was: 11 miles?? J's office Christmas party was only two and a half hours away and things were not looking good. Even though we didn't voice it, I knew J was a little worried too. I wondered, if we ended up really getting lost, how long could we survive on a sandwich, 8 beers, two bottles of water and a Diet Dr Pepper? Really?

We eventually got out of there and made it to the party fashionably late. *whew*

And now for a few photos from the weekend.

Y'all. This dog stands face to face with J. Twice this weekend he bumped into me and caused me to stumble. His name? Bubba.

Welcome to Louisiana baby.

















J's landlord owns a gizallion acres of land which he rents off to people. On a piece of this guy's land is a farm. Swear. This dude has pigs, sheep, goats, horses, cows, ducks, and a donkey. I shit you not. He actually owns a donkey. Quite charming creatures, actually. And now for a little photo essay of the farm:

















This little piggy's name is Bacon. Really. (I apologize in advance for any vegetarian readers I may have. Its not my pig.)















This photo makes me smile every time I look at it.
















Say hello to Jack the jacka-- you get the picture. He was actually really cute. Kind of like babies are when their heads are too big for their bodies. Ears too, in Jack's case.

One more to leave you with.















Heeerrreee's Johnny!

I'm sure I'll come back to post more about this weekend, it was too awesome for just one post. Boiled shrimp by the fire, clear starry nights in the double canvas chair with J, surrounded by Mini and the gang... what more can a southern girl ask for?

I mean, really?

P.S. - Look at the sweet tag Simply Curious made for me on my side bar. How can I possibly stay down when I've got lovelys like her to cheer me up? Thanks again SC! ((hugs))

The Blahs and Photos

I'm always amazed at how quickly the Monster comes and goes. As I told a friend/co-worker this morning "I just can't control it. Like there's something that comes in and takes over me and I just don't have any say in the matter."

I really tried to self-help last night: I had a glass of wine and I scrapped my little heart out. (I'll share later, promise.) Occasionally I had to dab a page with my sleeve where the stinkin tears were landing. Really, I tried.

My boyfriend must really love me. I dumped everything I was feeling on him last night and more. Sometimes I feel like I have a punch card though, as if I'm running out of emotional break down allowances and one day he's just going to say "Card's full, you're crazy. I'm outta here!" *nervous laugh* But, I talk to so many women that say they go through the same exact thing, so I know I'm not abnormal. I just wish I could control it.

Let's face it, any relationship takes work, but this long distance thing is really getting to me. We went from seeing each other every day for six months to seeing each other once a week. It's killing me. I know that if he were here with me, it wouldn't be this way. I wouldn't be on a permanent rollercoaster. And I hate like hell that he has to see this side of me...this weak, uncontrollable, emotional side. I'm supposed to be silly, light-hearted, fun to hang out with Jill. Drink-a-beer-and-play-I-Never-with Jill. Not the girl who shows up when the Monster takes over. Grrr.

So anyway, right now I'm still moping around but I've bullied myself into smiling today, no matter how bad the pressure behind my eyes is and no matter how much I want to go postal the next time my boss tells me to copy something for him as he stands right next to the frickin copy machine (while I'm in the other room). Life is good more often than not, and I feel guilty for these dips I have when I know things could be much worse. Much.

Did you really think I could stay away long? Blogging is a hobby, an addiction. Pfft. Can't even hold the promise of staying too depressed to blog. I do appreciate all your sweet remarks - its nice to know I'm not the only one who falls in the hole occasionally. The blog world is such a supportive place and reading over your comments really helped put a smile back on my face. Thanks lovies. ((hug))

Sweeping it under the mat for now. I've got something to share! *squeal* Please don't gag, I'm simply thrilled about this...

So my sweet little co-worker, Stephanie, is diving into the beautiful world of photography and did us the honor of taking our photos! Yes, I actually got Babers to pose for photos, and he even smiled for some of them. I can't decide which one is my favorite. One will be chosen for framing to give to the 'rents on both sides as a little Christmas present.

Hope you enjoy the silliness as much as I did.

Tired

Do you ever just get so disappointed with life and exhausted by it that you just want to say fuck it? Lay in the bed for a week, not call in to work or to your loved ones, just to see if they even notice?

I do.

I may lay low for a while, I'll check blogs and post once this passes. (If it does.)

I heart my Jammies

One of my favorite and most interesting readers, Claudia, has awarded me The Blog Most Likely To Inspire Pajamas Award. How cute is that?

What an appropriate award! As most of you have noticed, more than half of the photos I post of me on my blog are ones in which I'm wearing jammies. I once posted a Thursday Thirteen "Things I Am Most Thankful For" and pajamas made #1 on my list. The first thing I do when I get home for work is walk into my room to grab a pair of pjs to change into. I think pajama bottoms should be acceptable at the office. You get the picture.













These are just a few of my favorite pairs of pj pants. Most have a little story behind them. Two pairs were stolen from my little brother, which I love best because they are big enough on me that I must roll them down at the waist. Actually, at the hips - its the only way to wear pj pants. Most of these are worn with a football style t-shirt, like the ones you can always find at Old Navy or Aeropostle. I've owned these black plaid ones (my brother's) for ten years, as you can probably tell by the next picture:














Isn't that the most pitiful sight ever? I just can't get rid of them though.

I wonder what kind of pajamas I would inspire? I adore the prints that Victoria's Secret has, so hopefully a pair like those. Or maybe while in one of my sassy moods I would inspire a pair of leopard print pajamas like the pair I own above.

And now I'd like to pass this precious award on.

Preponderous Ponderings - Cuz I have a feeling she loves pajamas as much as I do, and why not add another great award to her collection? :)

Roxy - She speaks of the snow and cold where she's from and I just imagine she's sitting pretty in some warm fleece ones while blogging.

Stacie - Just noticing this funny chic and I have a lot in common, so she's got to have a liking for pajamas, right?

And for those of you I did not peg that wear pajamas on a regular basis, by all means, take the award! If you desire the comfort of pajamas and can't begin your evening until you've changed into some, you deserve the award. ;p