2009 in Review

I blog for the time capsule effect.

January: Notes from the Prairie

February: She's Gone to the Dogs

March: Auntie Apes

April: the link to the whole freakin' month, I loved looking back on these.

May: Festival Weekend and On Buying Local

June: How It All Went Down: Asheville, Cop Cars, Losing Money and Sleeping at Walmart

July: Unleashing the Inner Crafty

August: The Grey Blur

September: The Weekend We All Became Plumbers

October: Tweetial Pursuit

November: NaBloPoMo

December: Santa Was Too Kind

Photo of the Day

I must admit, internet, that I'm definitely more of a warm weather photographer. I can't find the motivation, despite the pretty sweet new camera, to layer up and get my butt outdoors to find some beauty.

But sometimes the beauty is found sitting around on my bed. And sometimes I remember to take a picture of her. I'm constantly in awe of just how still Molly can sit for a picture. I've heard dogs don't have souls, but one long stare into those eyes of hers always leaves me questioning that theory.

Santa Was Too Kind

Jonathan turned 15 on the 23rd.


Twas the night before Christmas a day later and the tree was stuffed.


I opened some gifts,

Like...
a pretty pink iPod (video and radio...I love it)
a pretty camera strap
a sling style camera bag
a 50mm lens
cute boots
a pretty scarf and fingerless gloves to match
Glee 1 and 2
Ultimate Jackson 5 Collection
Apples 2 Apples
2 books
pretty house slippers
Skip Bo

The neighbors got pretty handmade gifts, especially since they are really the only people we buy for.

A homemade fruit basket with clementines, pears, apples and bananas, a container of peanuts, candy canes and soft peppermint, a snowman decoration, gingerbread men and a loaf of homemade banana nut bread.


And for the other set: pumpkin spice cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, decorated snowflake shaped sugar cookies, soft peppermints, a loaf of banana nut bread and a Christmas ornament.


Jon got lots of purposeful gifts, that was the theme this year. Everyone got what they wanted but none of the crappy fillers that nobody ever uses. This photo is of an airsoft bb gun for the record. I just love his face here.


Dad loved his socks and pictures and pjs and such.


And for the record, my mom has not actually scrapbooked a day in her life. But if the Cricut inspires her, so be it. She was clearly smitten.


It was simple and perfect. And after a stressful few days leading up to it, the holidays were exactly what I needed.

Obligatory

Santa brought me an early gift, a 50mm lens for my camera to photograph Christmas with. Can't wait to play around with it more tomorrow.

Tomorrow being the day my baby brother turns 15. I can't deal.

How to Feel Old While Christmas Shopping

Find out while Christmas shopping that they make toy laptops for little bitty kids.

Remember that when you were little bitty you received a toy typewriter for Christmas.

Realize that kids today have no clue what a typewriter is.

Find out aforementioned toy typewriter is hanging out in your attic.

Figure out that you're probably sitting on antiques at this point.

Almost 24, man. Yuck.

A Few of My Favorite Things

7digital and Amazon's Digital Download Store, drm free MP3s? I'm so there.

Tons and tons of blankets all piled up on top of me.

Lifetime, Hallmark, or ABC Family Christmas movies. These are all the best. And superior to anything else on television this year.

Hulu and Netflix. Since restarting Netflix I've found I'm enjoying it more this second go around.

Pat & Gina Neely

Bravo television.

Ukelele kid and Beatles music:



Making homemade Christmas ornaments.

Planning an entire weekend of cookie and ornament making.

Buying Riley Christmas presents. It's magical!

...and then they drugged her

"There was enough tension in the room to send a fleet of the nervous running for their tranquilizers."
— Charlaine Harris (Dead Until Dark)

Last night's Italian final was so easy I could spit about it. Like the kind of easy you get pissed about because you realize all semester long you've had the hard ass teacher and the cakewalk is actually the head of the department who wrote the final.

It still kind of hurts.

After that I just knew that today's history final, the one I'd worried about the least this week, would be the one that did me in. It was. All throughout the exam our professor kept writing encouraging tidbits on the board: be brave, keep thinking, your brain is getting warmer. I can't say my poor brain ever warmed up. I just keep hoping my grade prior to the final was solid enough that however badly I did it won't ruin things too much.

Now I wait. Waiting for grades to post is another dimension of hell if you ask me. Like the kind of dimension of hell that makes your mother slip you a quarter of a certain anti anxiety medication to make you chill out. (Not like that totally didn't just happen or anything.)

**********

You know what's funny? I just wrote all of that, left the room to take care of a few things (like stopping the damn cat from unwrapping all of the presents under the tree and eating the bows) (for real, she ate ribbon a few nights ago and puked up rainbows...it was epic)

...wait, where am I? (who am I?) (what am I doing here?)

I do know I always tell people I'm dramatic, and I'm not lying.

So I'm thankful for family that cares in their own special way and for Friday Night Lights on Netflix. I've finally stopped crying enough for the evening to maybe enjoy an episode.

(before I pass out, of course.)

ETA: Actually scratch the FNL, I remembered (god knows how) that Real Housewives of OC is on tonight. Those bitches make my life on Thursdays. Team Gretchen!

Finals Week

English final was this morning and I also turned in a paper. All on 3 hours of terrible sleep. Came home, ran errands, paid bills, mailed stuff, ate tacos and slept for a couple of hours. I'm putting together a study guide (this is my break time) for my Italian final which is at 8:30 PM tomorrow. I haven't had a night final since my freshman year. Brings back memories.

Thursday is my history map quiz and primary source session. And then I'm home free to bake Christmas cookies, wrap presents and watch all the cheesy Xmas flicks I can get my hands on.

Sometimes I sit around wondering what my life will be like without finals and homework and school in it. Then I think about going to grad school. And right about that point I shoot myself for even considering it.

*****

Last night I helped my mom find a deal on the last big ticket item she needed to buy for Christmas. It was for Jonathan, and while I wish I could share I can't be certain he isn't lurking about. I think she has a few more things to pick up but it's all stocking stuffer things I'm assuming. My Dad bought her a Cricut so I need to go pick up an extra cartridge or two for it at some point. And I'm sure he'll send me on a last minute run for something because he does that every year.

Our Dad is the hardest person to buy Christmas presents for. He just doesn't need a lot of stuff. And he likes getting goofy presents that normal people don't enjoy. Which means we picked up things like new thick socks, pajama pants and cologne. It's kind of hilarious.

But we did come up with an awesome present. On our last Sanibel trip he caught a big snook. We came home and I never printed pictures of it. All he's harped on for months is how he has no photographic proof of that fish.

So...I printed 70 shots of their various fishcapades on that trip and put them in a photo album. I also got some of them in 5x7 and 8x10 form and framed them.



Best Christmas ever? Probably. He's so easy.

Omg, now I want a British one...

I know I'm turning into a youtube blog, but whatever...the kids need to stop being cute. Blame them.

Classically-trained thespian and Royal Shakespeare Company alum Brian Cox guides 2-year-old Theo through the first sentence of Hamlet’s “to be, or not to be” soliloquy:

I'll Take One of These, Please

So he plays a bit fast and loose with the lyrics, just check out that killer ukelele playing! And the emotion!

Christmas Island Dreaming

Why can't I live somewhere where these are not only acceptable but appropriate to wear in December?

Instead I'm working on a history paper this morning while covered in 2 blankets, an internet search for warm slippers is pulled up on my computer and snow is on the ground outside my window.

Not fair.

Photo of the Day

This photo is classic Molly. Always wanting to both be on someone's lap, yet never content. She exists in some sort of heightened state of paranoia at all times.



This one? Just because.


I really hope I get a 50mm for Christmas. Santa, are you listening? Indoor shots would improve so much. It's taking a lot of self control for me not to just go ahead and purchase one. Sigh...patience is not a virtue I possess.

New Christmas list addition: The Dreamy Diana Lens

It's so pretty. Want. Want. Want.

And this is why I want a kitten for Christmas...