Christmas Wrapping - The End

You know, after reading over yesterday's post again, I realized that there really isn't much to tell.

I mean, Christmas with the Smalls' is always a blast! The two of them are hilarious - each in their own way. Tiny doesn't say many words, but he sure knows how to communicate. And Biggie is becoming such a boy. It sounds silly, but he seems so grown up now. 

As you saw from the picture on Monday, Tiny got a little four-wheeler. It has a battery and he just pushes the button and it goes. He hasn't really mastered the art of steering yet, so he just drives in whatever direction the wheels are pointing until someone stops him and turns him.

Biggie got a new bike and a scooter from me. He didn't quite get the hang of the scooter yet, but I think he'll learn to love it. And if not, I do.

My cousin, Munchkin* came over to visit on Christmas and she told me that she loved talking to me because I was so funny - I immediately ran out and bought her another present. (Ok, maybe not, but I do love it when people tell me I'm funny.)

Otherwise, everything was pretty run-of-the-mill Christmas. Lots of food. Lots of cheer. Blah, blah, blah.

In the spirit of my Christmas gift, I have signed up to run a 5K on New Years Day. This year I would like to participate in more races of the 5 and 10K varieties and I figured what better way that to start the year doing one?!? 

This means that I will most likely be in bed early on New Years Eve, which doesn't really make me said because a) I'm an old lady and b) NYE has never really been all that great for me. I don't really like crowds and they are pretty much unavoidable on NYE. So, if you need me, try to contact me before 10 pm - otherwise, it'll have to wait until 2011.

Christmas Wrapping

I have discovered my problem.

I sign onto my blog to write a post for all of you to enjoy. Then I see that the authors of the blogs that I follow have posted new posts and I get to reading those. Then before I know it, I'm out of time and have to sign off to run to the next thing I have scheduled.

I know, my life is pure madness.

But let's talk Christmas.

For all the crazy that is my family, spending time with them is a blast!

And spend time is what we do.

On Christmas Eve Match, Papa,  SuperFan, and I headed to church and then to Granny B's. Where we met the rest of the crew.

Let me tell you a funny story. (Well, maybe not so funny.)

We aren't big drinkers at the holidays.

My friends talk about their Thanksgiving celebrations and how everyone gets drunk and watches football. I think that is crazy.

Apparently way back in the day our holidays were a crazy mess of drinking and drama, but a good portion of the peeps realized that they probably ought to stop drinking and they sought out help and now we all say the Serenity Prayer.

So, last year, Match's older brother, Professor*, and his family came to town from Texas for Christmas, it was the first time in ages that they all came. And his wife is a Class-A bitch. I'm not even kidding you. I had this great plan to make shirts for everyone and wrap them up with only tags that said who they were for, then have everyone unwrap them at the same time and all of us would have shirts that said, "Team Professor" and hers would say, "Team Dena."

I didn't do it, but it would have been hilarious.

Either way, with her in town the tensions were high and YogaHippie and I decided that it wouldn't be a bad idea to crack open a bottle of vino to ease it a little. So, we did just that.

This year, Professor and his family weren't in town, but Granny B called me a couple of days  before Christmas and told me that we would go through her wine to make sure that we had a few bottles for us girls to enjoy at dinner.

So, Christmas Eve rolls around and we get out the wine and she tells me to pour her a half a glass of white wine. Then says, "This will either calm my nerves or make it worse." I told her if it made it worse, I'd pour her another glass.

Dinner was swell and then my immediate family headed over to Aunt PieRanch's house for some Christmas dessert and present opening with that side of the family.

Pretty uneventful.


Then we all went to sleep and the Best.Santa.Ever. visited Match and Papa's house.


I'm not kidding you.


For at least a year I have been wanting the Garmin Forerunner 310XT watch.


Every time I go to the gym, I stare at the picture of it and read all of it's features. I have visited the website for it numerous times. I dream of it. Then Banana read a blog post from a girl who got one and I cried a little because she had my watch.


So, when I was putting together my list for Santa, I thought, What the heck, I'll put the watch on there.


A couple of days before Christmas I was meeting Big T to give him the Mary Kay products he purchased for Mrs. T (I just love practical gifts) and I told him that if I got that watch, I would have the best "Santa!"


So when I opened it on Christmas Day, I thought that I had died and gone to Heaven.

There it is! My baby.


I should have taken a picture of it on my wrist so you could see how big it is.


But I LOVE it!


It is the coolest watch ever! I could spend all day telling you all about the features, but I don't think you really care that much...


Suffice it to say that being a good girl this year paid off!


Now I must run - I'll tell you more about Christmas tomorrow.


Stay tuned...

Miscellany Monday

1. Worst.Blogger.Ever.

Yep, that's me. I can't believe it's been a full week since I last posted. The truth is, I've started at least two other posts and just never finished them. It seems like every day has been one of those days where things just keep coming up and before I know it, I've been away from my house for 12 hours and nothing has gotten done. 

2. Best.Santa.Ever.

Christmas was AWESOME! I'm working up a whole post to let you all in on how great it actually was, but for now, enjoy this most adorable picture of Tiny cruising around his new wheels.

3. Movie Marathon.

Since Thanksgiving, I've been on a crazy movie-watching extravaganza. I think I have seen more movies in the last month, than I saw all last year. I LOVE the redbox! Next on the list is The Town.

4. Fiesta!

On Friday, Biggie and I will be walking in the Fort McDowell Fiesta Bowl parade. I'm sure he is thrilled. I am excited to spend the time with him.

Miscellany Monday

How is it already Monday again?

one.

IT and her bf are in town (he doesn't get a name until she gets a diamond). Yesterday, her parents had a party so that her entire family could meet him.

Poor guy. Her family is loud and crazy and Italian.

So Peach and I went to serve as buffers. And, well, Peach hadn't officially met him yet, so he had to do his interrogation.

I think it went well, and the bf held his own pretty good.

Though I may have seen him slamming beers in the corner.

two.

As I was writing this post, I was thinking, I wish that blogger could identify the words that I have already used as labels and automatically label a post with them.

How cool would that be? Then I wouldn't have to go back and forth to make sure I don't forget anything or anyone.

three.

I was cleaning out my camera's memory card last week and I found the few pictures I took while in DC.

Who doesn't love the Capitol? I mean, the architecture is amazing.

Ah, the Jefferson Memorial... 

 

His view of the White House. LOVE!

See that fountain on the lawn? I've touched the water in it.

I'll have to tell you that story one of these days.

Have You Ever Really Been Alone?

Back when I was in college (like a hundred years ago), PapaBear was going to get an award at an event in Tucson. So, Match and he picked me up and we went to the ceremony.

Now, Match and I tend to be a little silly when we get together. And if you do something that we think is funny, we'll never forget it. 

At this particular event, there were a couple of people who were giving "retirement" speeches. The event was already going really long and Papa had already received his award. Match and I wanted to leave, but we thought we'd wait for the next speech to end.

Then, they turned all of the lights in the place off except one spotlight and this girl comes on the stage and says, "Have you ever been alone? I mean really alone."

Then she starts in on this story about camping in the woods by herself for some amount of time. Match and I looked at each other, started laughing, and then decided it was time to leave.

I told you that story to tell you this one:

I went to the movies yesterday.

Alone.

You can pick your jaws up off the floor now, because apparently that is something totally crazy to do.

As a matter of fact, I'm almost certain that the people two rows up were talking about me.

But I figure:

1. You're not supposed to talk in the movies anyway.

2. I watch movies alone at home all of the time.

3. I really like the company of all of my personalities. :)

Ok, I was kind of kidding on that last one. But I do really enjoy being by myself.

Obviously not all of the time, but some nice alone time every now and again is good for my soul.

I told you that story to tell you this one:

I saw How Do You Know?

It was great!

At one point in the movie, someone tells Reese Witherspoon, "Find out what you want and ask for it."

How great is that advice?

It reminded me of one of my favorite quotes, that I've shared with you before, but it bears reminding:

"The world bursts at the seams with people ready to tell you you're not good enough. On occasion, some may be correct. But do no do their work for them. Seek any job; ask anyone out; pursue any goal. Don't take it personally when they say 'no' - they may not be smart enough to say 'yes.'" - Keith Olbermann

An Exciting Life

I got a Christmas card from the bride of one of my MOH stints today. It alluded to the fact that she was pregnant. With her second child.

I have known for a week that she was expecting, but I thought it was a secret so I didn't say anything to her.

After I opened her card, I sent her a text message to tell her congratulations.

This is the same girl I went to lunch with after she had her first child. I said something to the effect of, I can't believe you have a baby.

She responded, Airplane, we're 27 years old. It's time to start having babies.

I wasn't offended by the comment, there are no schedules for life.

However, after our text conversation today, I started thinking about that conversation.

Here we are, nearly 3 years later, and she is a dentist and expecting her second child.

I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up and I'm certainly nowhere closer to bearing my first child.

But, I've done some cool things in my life.

I worked for the President of the United States.

I met him.

I met his father.

I met his daughters.

I drove his sister around Albuquerque, NM.

I met the Vice President.

I toured the West Wing of the White House.

I spent 10 days on the South Lawn of the White House.

I have the cell phone numbers for two United States Congressmen.

I got to go to the Bahamas for four days this summer.

There is a good chance that I'll be spending a week in Guam at the end of February.

A couple of years ago, I got to spend a week in Hawaii for work.

Until I was a freshman in college, I was able to be raised around all four of my grandparents.

For almost 30 years, I have been able to witness the love of two wonderful people who I call mom and dad.

I have three amazing siblings, two great in-laws, and the cutest nephews on the planet.

My friends are some of the best you'll find.

I may not be married. I may not be having children. And I may be damn near 30 years old.

But I'm happy.

And starting today, that is what I'm going to be.

I may slip and fall from time to time.

My positivity may turn on its head every now and again.

When that happens, just let me be.

I'll get back here.

I promise.

You Just Might Get What You Need

I was sitting here on my couch. Listening to rain, drinking hot chocolate and feeling sorry for myself.

Then my blackberry vibrated with an email. From my friend in DC.

The subject was: I cried reading this.

The body was only this link: http://www.lucasdanielboyce.com/living-proof-the-book/ 

You see, we know Lucas.

We worked with him back in 2004 while trying (ultimately successfully) to get George W. Bush reelected as the President.

I can't promise that you won't cry when you read the excerpt at the above link - I cried myself.

However, I think it is a good reminder for all of us. 

Enjoy! 

Viva, Las Vegas

We survived the Second Annual WNFR Extravaganza.

It was touch and go there for a while, but two days after returning, everyone is still standing.

I have to tell you, this year's trip did not do anything to change my opinions of the National Finals Rodeo.

Our adventure started on Thursday mid-day. Dirty and I hit the road in Shooter*, Vegas-bound.

Let me back up real quick...

On Wednesday, around 1:00 pm, I started to feel a little yucky. My stomach was crampy and I was nauseas. There were no real side effects except that getting out of the fetal position on the couch was VERY painful.

Thinking that it may just be a 24-hour thing and sleep may help, I went to bed around 6 pm.

When I woke up in the morning, I was feeling a little better, but still not ready to eat anything.

I figured things would get better as we made it down the road.

We made it to Vegas around 3 pm and pulled up to the Bellagio with all of our belongings.

When they unloaded our car onto a cart, it was hilarious!


It looked like the Clampett's go to Vegas.

Oh yeah, that's a full-sized ice chest! And a bag of Doritos.


And yes, that is only the luggage for Dirty and me - Diddy doesn't arrive until tomorrow.


We watched the rodeo and hung out for a while that night, but headed home early because we had two nights to go.


Friday turned out to be the GREATEST.DAY.OF.MY.LIFE!


I am not kidding you!


Dirty and I headed to the convention center for some Cowboy Christmas shopping. We were sipping Bloody Marys and celebrating our purchases, not paying a whole lot of attention.


I looked up the aisle and there was a crowd of people, standing in line to get autographs from Sherry Cervi. I casually say, Oh, there's Sherry Cervi. (She's from Arizona.)


And then, the skies opened up and the angels started singing and I saw him...


Ohmigosh - it's Joe Beaver!!


Dirty and I had a moment of making sure it was him before I continued to freak out.


Seriously, I was shaking. And talking really fast. And asking lots of questions.


And then, I walked up to the table and melted into a puddle at his feet.

I mean, how adorable is he?!?!


Diddy and BigSurprise were so jealous! And you couldn't wipe the smile off of my face.


(I would be lying if I told you that picture above wasn't the background on my cell phone right now.)


That night, Dirty and I went to the rodeo for Round 9 Live. Though I enjoyed watching it in person, I sure missed the sound of Joe's voice during the timed events.


After the rodeo it was over to the Palms for the Eric Church and Miranda Lambert concert.


We decided to grab a bite to eat before the concert in the food court at the hotel.


So we got a Panda Bowl to share and looked for a seat. Seeing none, we decided we would join a cowboy who was sitting all alone.


This guy was D-Runk!


And missing teeth.


At one point he says:


A lot of these girls around here look like they pants is too dry, huh?


I didn't understand what he was saying. I thought he may be making a dirty comment. Then later on another group of girls walked by in short dresses and he says:


There's more of them shrunk britches. Happens to mine when I put them in the dryer too long.


A lot of girls around here wearing those shrunk britches. They get all gaggled up - did you notice that?


Then he asks Dirty and I if we were girlfriends. 


I wish we would have taken his picture.


The concert was great!


Josh Kelley is totally the Doppelganger for Honker.


Eric Church ROCKED! I loved him before - and I can't live without him now.


And Miranda Lambert left me a little disappointed.


Don't get me wrong, I am still a huge fan, but I really expected more out of her in concert.


Things went downhill fast after that.


We ended up at the Mirage, dancing to the Ace in the Hole Band, talking to friends, and drinking.


Until 6:30 am.


One thing is for sure - I am too old to be staying out until 6:30 am.


The next day was spent mostly in bed.


And just in case anyone was wondering - when you are semi-recovering from a stomach virus, it is not a good idea to stay out drinking until 6:30 am. Take it from me.


Later that night, after we had gotten ready to go out for the night, I asked Diddy how I looked.


He responded, I'm not going to lie. You've had better days.


I can't even be mad at him for telling the truth.

I'm Coming...

I'm sorry for being MIA this weekend!

I was in Las Vegas for the NFR.

While I work to remember all of the details of the nutty trip, please refresh your memory of last year's trip here and here.

I'll be back soon!

Wednesday Wisdom

"Patience, n. A minor form of despair disguised as virtue."

- Ambrose Bierce

This made me laugh because Match is always telling me that patience is a virtue.

And, friends, it is one that I do not have.

I'm getting better, but I still lack a lot of the patience that would be helpful in dealing with people who don't think like I do.

She's Got Jokes

Have you ever had one of those days where everything goes seemingly well? 

You sing to yourself all the way home?

Get all fired up to bake shortbread cookies?

Open the cupboard under your sink to throw something away and find standing water?

Clean out the cupboard under the sink to discover that your garbage disposal is leaking?

Call the plumber who informs you that means that your disposal is shot and you need a new one?

Yeah, I had one of those today.

But, there is now a bucket under the disposal to catch the water, the plumber is coming over tomorrow, and I leave for Vegas on Thursday, so I think we're back on track.

Speaking of being on track...

I had to help Granny B yesterday. She needed me to come over and type up some jokes to send to her friend in Florida who has to emcee an event.

I got there and we sat down in her office where she told me jokes and I typed them.

Then we had to run a few errands.

The jokes were hilarious! And we had a blast!

One of the things I love the most about Granny B is that she thinks I'm funny.

I mean hilariously funny.

At least twice I had her laughing so hard she was crying.

And I didn't even pull out my good stuff.

So, courtesy of Granny B:

A little boy is downstairs playing with his toy trains. He pulls one train into the station and says, "All of you son of a bitch passengers that want to get off - get off. And don't forget to take your packages with you. All of you son of a bitch passengers that want to get on - get on. Put your packages under the seat and there is no smoking allowed." Hearing this, his mom comes out of the kitchen and scolds him, "Son, you know we don't talk like that here. Go to your room for two hours and think about what you did wrong." He goes upstairs and two hours pass. He goes back downstairs and begins playing with his trains again. "All of you passengers who want to get off - get off. And don't forget to take your packages with you. All of you passengers who want to get on - get on. Put your packages under the seat and there is no smoking allowed. Those of you who are pissed about the two-hour delay, talk to the bitch in the kitchen."

Miscellany Monday

1. I got great news this weekend! 

The family I babysat for in high school is moving back to Arizona!

Seriously, I watched the boys when they were this small:

and now they are this tall:

And they have a little sister who is ALL girl:

The last time they were in Arizona was probably five years ago.

I'm SO excited for them to be back!

2.  I'm thinking about doing some Christmas baking today.

I don't know what I'll make, but I have lots of free time and a ton of recipes I want to try.

Who wants to be a taste-tester?

3. This afternoon I have to go help Granny B.

Stay tuned - something tells me there is going to be a great story!

4. I did some Christmas decorating.

I'm no Martha Stewart, but I like what I've done.

M used to collect Santa Claus figurines, so each year we would get her one.

Last year she gave them all back, our family gave her this one in 1987 - that was before SuperFan was born...

I thought about getting a Christmas tree, but time got away from me.

Figuring it Out

I got the strangest email the other day.

From an acquaintance that I haven't seen in probably 4 years.

It was weird. Out of the blue. Totally unexpected.

My first instinct was to write a nice note back.

Then I started thinking about it - he didn't care how I was doing.

He heard that I may be in a position that could possibly be of assistance to him in the future and he thought he better get back in contact. (Seriously, I don't even know how he got my email address.)

I guess part of growing up is figuring out when someone is a friend because they care - as opposed to when they think you can offer them something.

Growing up stinks...

Broken

I am broken.

My heart.

My soul.

My spirit.

My uncle says that expectations are what kill us.

And I know he's right.

But how can I stop having expectations?

Wednesday Wisdom

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover."

-Mark Twain

Red Writing Hood

This week's assignment is tough - so I'm going to have to work on it.

I'm not sure I want to be a fiction writer.

We'll see.

In the meantime you should know that I'm in a funk.

A serious one.

I can't explain it, but I hope it ends soon.

This may mean fewer, less entertaining posts.

I never can tell.

Miscellany Monday

one.
Ok - I'm back to simple template...This blog design thing is making me CRAZY!


But, I did visit the local library today and picked up a copy of:

So far, it is confusing. And I'm frustrated.


I think that the problem lies in the fact that I don't know what I want the blog to look like.


I need to come up with a plan. Stat.


two.
I can bench 135 pounds.


I'm serious!


In the absence of having a full time job, I have taken up filling my time with lifting weights.


Ok, ok, I just started today. A former client of mine is a power lifter and he is helping me learn more about weight lifting. To get a more toned look.


Today was our first lesson and we did a chest workout. We bench-pressed first, and my final set, I benched 135 pounds. Only once, but I was pretty proud of myself.


three.
Until Friday, I couldn't tell you the last time I went to the movies.

Actually, I think it was at midnight on my birthday, with Dirty, to see SATC2.


On Friday, I saw two movies - crazy, right?!


Tangled 3D was awesome and I recommend it to everyone! And I want my hair cut the way hers looks at the end.


Yes, I realize it is a cartoon.


On Friday night, Peach and I went to see Burlesque.


I don't know if I've told you, but I LOVE to dance!!


There were parts of the movie where I would have liked to just stand up and dance.


I can't wait for it to be on video and then I can put it on and dance around my house.


No - I'm not joking.