Craptastic days

The last two days have been absolutely craptastic.  I mean, it’s putting crap on a whole new level.  The only place where things haven’t fallen apart is home and thank God for that.  The hubby and I are great.  The toddler and I are great.  The dogs are great.  Thanksgiving will be wonderful with friends and family.  I just need to make it through the next couple of days and then I get to celebrate with those that I love.  Please just get me there…

 

So, let’s focus on some good things.  First good thing (great thing) is that I’ve finished my husband’s stocking.  I’ve also finished making my daughter’s, but I just have to add a scarf to the little bunny on it.  I started making mine last night.  I know I’ll be done by Christmas, but ideally, I’d like to be done by Friday.  Think I can do it???  Doubt it.  Maybe at least by the end of the weekend.  I just need to focus once Emma’s in bed and sit and do it!  Second good thing is that Christmas is around the corner.  On Friday, it will be appropriate to bust out the music and display the decorations.  I think we’ll stay off the roads on Black Friday – people get crazy then.

 

Alright, those are the only good things I can think of right now.  I’ll just hang on to those.  If I don’t get to post again before Thanksgiving – I hope everyone has a happy one!

I’m fabulous???

I got a wonderful surprise when I logged on to my friend Katy’s blog.  She gave me this award:

I’m supposed to name 5 things that I think are fabulous.  I was sitting here thinking about it while reading Katy’s blog and actually had a hard time!  However, I will try.

 

1. Dexter.  Honestly, BEST show on television.  It’s in its third season now and each season and episode is better than the last.  Michael C. Hall deserves an award for his performance this year – it’s  master class in subtlety.  Jimmy Smits deserves a nod for the best guest appearance on ANY show.  Very few shows are able to surprise me, but just last night, Dexter delivered a blow that I’m still talking about today and it was done so perfectly that I understand why I didn’t see it coming.  I can’t wait for the 3 episodes that are left this season.

 

2. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I love decorating for Christmas, listening to Christmas music, watching Christmas movies, planning parties and menus, baking, wrapping presents, buying presents, filling stockings, looking at Christmas lights - the whole thing.  There’s not one part of the Christmas season that frustrates me.  I don’t care about the lines or the traffic.  For the most part, everyone’s a little bit nicer.  We even get our dogs into the spirit of things – they’re not always too happy about that…

 

3. Harry Potter.  Anything Harry Potter related.  There are great websites devoted to Harry Potter that I have POURED over.  The best is http://www.hp-lexicon.org.  Yes, that man was involved in a lawsuit with JK Rowling, but you MUST check out his site – the research he’s done is incredible.  I think that JK Rowling is one of the best authors I’ve read.  She’s a fabulous writer, but an even greater story teller.  The books are such great lessons on responsibility, courage, loyalty, destiny, and goodness.  Harry is one of the best heroes ever written and the supporting characters are memorable and just as good.  Incredible…

 

4. Nanny’s chocolate pudding.  You can put it in a pie or you can eat it hot as just some scrumptious pudding.  It’s absolutely delish and takes me back to the days on the lake with Nanny and Grandpa.  It takes me back to Sunday nights at home with Mom watching the movie of the week on ABC.  And now, I’m creating new memories with my husband and my grandmother’s pudding.  Huh…  That sounded dirty.  I mean, we’re making a tradition of having chocolate pudding on those days when we want to treat ourselves to something nice. 

 

5. My baby girl.  I know that sounds cheesy and I know some parents are rolling their eyes right now.  But honestly, I have a really good baby girl who I absolutely love to be with.  She loves to laugh, but laughs harder when she makes YOU laugh.  She’s independent, but you better not leave her eyesight or she’ll freak.  You know when she’s up to something because she gets a mischievous grin on her face – yes, even at 14 months.  She plays her toy piano and tries to sing the notes (and she’s pretty close – can’t wait to see where this voice goes!).  We put her in her crib at bedtime and she puts herself to bed.  In the mornings, she’ll talk to herself until we come in there to get her up - sometimes for more than an hour.  She loves to read, but gets impatient finishing a book and wants to get on to the next one.  She loves on the dogs and gets upset when we scold them.  She loves music and that will always calm her.  She won’t want anything to do with you, but if she gets hurt, she just wants you to hold her so she can rest her head on your shoulder.  And whenever I get her up in the morning or pick her up from school in the afternoon, she’s waiting there with a hug.  She makes me feel like I’m the greatest mom in the world.  I know this won’t last, so I’m taking it all in now and thanking God every day for this precious blessing.

 

So, now I have to pass on the award to 5 people.  Unfortunately, I don’t know how to hyperlink to the journals!  Help anyone???  In the meantime, they won’t be linked:

1. Katy.  I know she named me as a fabulous blogger, but she is SO MUCH better.  I check hers every morning and am so disappointed if there’s not a new one.  We did theatre together until she moved to San Antonio.  She’s an amazing woman and mother and I’m so lucky to call her a friend.

2. Kelly.  Kelly and I have been friends since junior high.  She just started blogging, but she’s doing a great job (when she does it) and learned how to put up pictures.  You can now see pics of her daughter who looks EXACTLY like Michelle Tanner.

3. The Louries.  This is actually my ex-boyfriend and it’s a photo blog of his kids.  They’re absolutely adorable and I check it regularly to see the new pics.  I know he’s a great dad and these kids look very happy.  I’m so proud of them.

4. O’Dell.  He is one of my closest friends.  He doesn’t blog often, but when he does, it always makes me giggle.  O’Dell, put up another blog post!

5. Kregg.  I don’t know Kregg that well (hardly at all), but I do know his fiance.  Krysti and I have known each other most of our lives.  Then she met and fell in love with Kregg and now they’re set to wed on New Year’s Eve.  Kregg is a great writer and I love it when he puts new things up.  However, he’s had a bit of a dry spell because nothing’s happened to him.  I guess that can be a good thing sometimes, though…

 

So there you have it.  Apparently I’m fabulous and these people are, too.  As soon as I learn to hyperlink (I promise I’ll figure it out), I’ll link you to the other blogs.  THANKS Katy for calling me out!

Best of TV

Every year, my friend Charlie and I discuss a countdown of the best TV of 2008.  With the writers strike last season, it’s a little difficult.  So my question to you is this: what has been your favorite of TV so far?  Favorite show?  Favorite episode?  I’ll go ahead and tell you mine.

Dexter is the best show on television, no doubt.  And the last few episodes especially have been shocking and terrifying and FREAKIN’ AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  From the very first episode where he killed a man outside of his “code” to this past Sunday, when he’s created a monster, it’s been brilliant.  My favorite episode so far was this past one “The Damage a Man Can Do.”  Jimmy Smits’s performance in it was a master class.  Seriously.  The episode was unbelievable and should be nominated for an Emmy.  A monster has been created…

What are your favorites???

The holidays

The holidays are here!  It begins with Thanksgiving and goes through New Year’s.  For Thanksgiving this year, my dad, his girlfriend, and my friend O’Dell will be coming over to celebrate.  O’Dell’s coming over in the morning and we’re making breakfast tacos while watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  After that, we’ll be playing the PS3 and watching Polar Express 3D on Blue Ray.  Dad will be over around 4 pm and we’ll eat at 5.  That night, we’ll be sitting down to watch the UT/A&M game.  I’m hoping my best friend and her husband (both Aggies) will come over for the game, but I’m not sure if that’s happening.

For Christmas, we’re hosting 2 of them.  One for my mom’s side of the family on the 21st and the other for family in general on Christmas Eve.  We’re having an Italian Christmas this year.  My grandmother is bringing the lasagna, we’re making noodles and sauces, and the red wine will be flowing like a river.  Emma will get to enjoy it all this year and might even help us open her presents (she was NO help last year).

What are your plans for the holidays?

Cleaning house

Every other year or so, I get this urge to “clean house.”  You know, get rid of any of the toxic people in my life.  Not that they’re toxic themselves, but toxic for me.  So, I went through my Facebook this morning and CLEANED HOUSE!!!  I’ve been getting emails lately from people in high school and the same old high school dramas have begun to resurface.  It took me back to a time that wasn’t all that great – my life was surrounded by a lot of unnecessary drama and I’ll admit – I took part in it most of the time.  However, I now have a hubby and child and a home that I like to keep drama-free, so there’s no longer any room for the daily soap operas that would play out in high school.  As much as I used to like these people, there’s a reason we lost touch after we graduated.  I still hang on to my dear friends from then – Cathy, Brett, Patrick, AJ, Christina, etc.  The rest need to go, though.  So, they’re gone.  A weight has been lifted!

It’s been a long time

I know.  It has been absolutely forever since I’ve written.  And there’s actually been a lot to write about!  Let’s see – what has happened since this summer?

Well, first there was IKE who totally ruined my 30th birthday.  On September 11th, Emma and I evacuated to San Antonio.  Well, we got halfway there (it took forever) and then I found out my dad was driving up the next day.  I went back home, hung out with Adam, and went to San Antonio the next day with Dad and Emma.  It was so incredibly boring.  Back at home, Adam lost power for about 24 hours.  It’s been decided that the next time a hurricane comes through, Emma and I are staying at home with Adam unless they issue any sort of evacuation for Katy.  I think Emma would have an easier time being with both her parents and dogs and around the familiar.

We celebrated Emma’s first birthday – that was a big one.  It was a little emotional for me.  My best friend just had a baby a few months ago and I’ve started getting the itch to have another.  To see my little girl turn one…  I thought back to all the difficulties I had during the pregnancy.  I thought back to when she was completely dependent on us.  I looked at her and realized that she’s the future of America and it’s up to us to teach her and love her and support her.  I looked at her Dad with tears in my eyes as my heart felt like it would burst with pride.  And then Emma chucked her cake on the floor.  Back to reality…

We celebrated Halloween at La Centerra in Katy.  It was tons of fun.  There were lots of kids and everyone was dressed up.  Emma went as Tinkerbell.  While we were there, a little boy kept hitting on her.  She made her dad very happy by wanting nothing to do with the strange boy.  She’d run to her dad for hugs and kisses when he’d come around.  He needs to enjoy this now!

As far as TV shows, we’ve got quite a schedule we’re keeping.  First of all, The Office has not disappointed yet.  I love and miss Holly and hope that she comes back to the show.  She and Michael were absolutely perfect for each other.  I love what they’re doing with the JAM storyline.  And I can’t wait to see what happens with the Dwight / Angela / Andy storyline.  30 Rock just started again and that is definitely one of the best shows on television.  I don’t see it on the spring schedule, but the ratings are better than ever so I can’t imagine it going away.  As always, we love Chuck and Heroes, which has been getting a bad rap, but I think this is as good as the first season!  House is better than ever.  It was getting a little boring and I hardly watched last season, but the problems between Wilson and Cuddy and House are escalating and I think it will become a love triangle – WOO-HOO!!!  Gossip Girl is amazing.  O’Dell introduced me to it and I watched the first season in just a couple of days.  Now, I can’t miss it on Monday nights.  America’s Next Top Model is good.  I’m very glad Elena’s gone – she started off as my favorite, but then she became VERY annoying.  I think it will come down to Annaleigh and McKee, which I never would’ve called at the beginning.  Life is great – I’m so glad it was picked up for a 2nd season.  I don’t care for Kath & Kim, which is really disappointing.  I LOVE Molly Shannon, but the show just kind of sucks.  I’m VERY upset they cancelled The Ex List.  I think it was a great show and just needs a better night.  Hopefully they’ll bring it back.  Desperate Housewives is the best it’s been right now.  And I’ve fallen back in love with Brothers & Sisters.  My FAVORITE new show is True Blood on HBO.  It is absolutely fantastic.  If you haven’t been watching it, I highly suggest you rent it the moment it’s available.  Or get it On Demand.  WATCH IT!!!  The greatest and most clever show on television, though, is Dexter.  This season is completely different from what I expected and it totally works.  The 24 prequel is on November 23rd and the 7th season starts up in January.  I’ve really missed Jack Bauer.

In other news, we had a major election.  I’m pretty vocal about where I stand in politics.  During Bush’s Administration, I’ve completely lost faith in American politics.  I couldn’t believe that in a country where people like Washington and Roosevelt served as leaders, we could elect such a dumbass who had questionable agendas.  I realize he was hit with more crap than most presidents get – 9/11, Katrina, Depression (come on, let’s face it – we’re almost there).  However, a lot of common sense seemed to be missing from that Administration.  And I think it says a lot when your members of your staff keep resigning.  And when Powell left, that’s when I thought, “Oh, crap.”  But now we have hope, which is something we’ve been missing for some time.  I am very optimistic about the future of America.  We’ve elected someone who inspires.  Morale will go a long way, people.  My faith has been renewed.  We have our own Mr. Smith in Washington.  I couldn’t be more proud to be an American right now.

So, I think I’ve caught you all up.  I will try to write more often.