Christmas is Over. I'm Going to Bed.

Merry Christmas?

Please accept, with no obligation, implied or implicit, the best wishes of the Legal Department (sometimes hereinafter referred to as the "wisher") for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all, and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great, (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only "America" in the western hemisphere or that there are not other hemispheres of equal dignity), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, or sexual preference of the wishee (or lack thereof with regards to any or all of such factors) (and further not to imply that the winter solstice should be considered a holiday for those afflicted, through no fault of their own, with some form of psychological or physical depression occasioned by the natural reduction of sunlight or increase in precipitation due to seasonal factors (or increase/reduction for those in the so-called Southern Hemisphere)).

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A Christmas Quiz

Deb had this on her site the other day. She seemed to think I wouldn't respond to it because it is Christmas themed. Just to prove her wrong, I did it. Feel free to send me your answers!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
Gift bags every time.

2. Real tree or Artificial?
I like real ones, but artificial are so much more practical.

3. When do you put up the tree?
Haven't put up a tree in about 3 years. But if I did put it up it would be the first Sunday in December.

4. When do you take the tree down?
Before New Year's Day.

5. Do you like egg nog?
Yeah, baby!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
My Friend Mandy doll.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
No

8. Hardest person to buy for?
Greg's dad.

9. Easiest to buy for.
Mom

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
I'm all about email, but I'm not sure that is socially acceptable yet.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
White Christmas and Miracle on 34th Stree.

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
Who hasn't?

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Yes.

15. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Colored

16. Favorite Christmas song?
Snoopy & the Red Baron. I remember staying at my grandma's house and listening to my uncle's record of this. I loved that. I finally bought the CD for myself last year.

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Stay home, please.

18. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeers?
Sleepy, Dopey, Doc...

19. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
Christmas morning.

20. Most annoying thing about this time of year?
Stores that put up Christmas decorations before Halloween is over. I think I might have mentioned this in a previous blog. :-)

21. Favorite ornament theme or color?
No particular favorite.

22. Favorite for Christmas dinner?
It's all good!

23. What do you want for Christmas this year?
I know I'm not getting anything, but if there really was a Santa Claus, I'd ask for an I-pod.

24. Who is most likely to respond to this?
Leah.

25. Who is least likely to respond to this?
Michele.

What's That On Your Head?

A WIG!

Man, I love the B52's. I love it even more when I can use a song title to introduce a blog post.

In an effort to keep all my readers up to date with the latest fashions, I give you Kitty Wigs! You guys have to check this out. Seriously.

This is a quote from one of the descriptions:

Pink makes your kitty feel elegant, modern and quintessentially feline.

Um, okay.

You guys HAVE to comment on this one. Seriously. Tell me what you think and which ones you are ordering for your cats. I think Zinger would look smashing in the Electric Blue that

...gives your kitty a sharp look -- jazzy and totally copacetic.

Zingy must ALWAYS be copacetic.

Oh. My. God. Check out this link for more fun and frivolity. What is your favorite look? I can't decide between Princess Yoshi and Wonder Yoshi. Vote now!

Wild Weather!

We have had some wild weather the last couple of days. Friday it rained all day and was really cold. We had a few snowflakes make an appearance, but they were mixed with the rain and nothing came of it.

Saturday was supposed to be the interesting weather day. They were predicting snow, and to hear the weather people talk about it, we should have expected 10 feet. Just a wee bit over enthusiastic. Saturday morning I woke up to the occasional snowflake. It gradually increased and we got just enough snow to cover the grass for a few minutes, but then it warmed up and melted away. Sigh. Snow is so pretty. I was really looking forward to a good storm. It did rain pretty good all day, so that was at least something.

Sunday our weather people were telling us we were going to get hurricane force winds and rain. I love a good rain storm, so I was looking forward to this one too. But noooooo. The weatherman lied AGAIN! The coast had the storm, but all the interesting stuff was gone before it got to the Portland area. Bay City got gusts up to 129 miles per hour. That’s a category 3 hurricane anywhere else. In the Northwest, apparently it is just a lot of wind. Whatever.

So all we got was a few snowflakes and a lot of rain. I’m so disappointed.

One other thing of note happened with this storm. The largest sitka spruce in the United States, which just happens to be on the way to Seaside, blew down. They estimate it is over 700 years old and was 17 feet in circumference. Boo hoo. And there was a new letterbox there I haven't gotten yet too. I hope we can still get to it! Notice I have my priorities straight.

Holiday Eating Tips

My friend Michele sent me this. I thought I would share with everyone since it made me laugh out loud. Enjoy!

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat step #3.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello!?!?!?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:

'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO what a ride!'

Have a great holiday season!