Post Christmas Catchup

Okay, I know I haven't been around for a while. But, I was really worn down from all that Christmas work, and then I caught then damn virus I got. I've been home sick from work since Wednesday. I feel really guilty about missing work during the last week of the year, but I just didn't think I could get out of bed. Today is the first day I can even stand up without being so dizzy I fall back down. Plus, I still have a fever. I'll have to give the doctor a call when her office opens. But, anyway. It's been an absolutely horrible week so far...I hope the weekend goes a little better.

Anyway, let's catch up from Christmas...I hope your Christmas was nice.

On Christmas Eve, Beanie and I got to my parents' house around 4:00. When I got there my older nephew, my brother and my parents were there. My younger nephew wouldn't be over until around 7:00, so we decided to open presents around 4:30 without The Snake (younger nephew) and then we would all watch The Snake open his when he got there.

So, we opened gifts - it was a scaled down gift-giving year for us. We each only got one gift (which is odd for us). So, I got my perfume with a frame. My mom got her lotion, bath gel and some other lotiony stuff. My dad got gift cards to Darden Restaurants (Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, Red Lobster, and Smokey Bones) and my brother got money. That's it, that's the kind of stuff we like.

The boys, on the other hand, got more. We all bought for the boys. So, Z (my older nephew) got some snowboarding pants and a snowboarding coat (unbelieveably expensive crap), a digital camera, an iTunes giftcard, and some money. That didn't include what his parents got him. That was just from my parents and me.

After we opened gifts, we ate - YUMMEH!! We had ham, roast beef, hash brown casserole, pasta salad and a few other little things. It was good stuff. Eventually, my uncle and my cousin came over and we sat around and chatted. THEN, The Snake came over and we all gathered in the living room to watch him open his presents. From J and me, he got a digital camera and a RC Monster Truck that turns into a race car. From my parents he got one of those 20 Questions game, and some other games and toys that I had never heard of. Sorry, I couldn't specify.

Anyway, that was a Christmas Eve - we all sat around and chatted. My cousin got my mom, my uncle and me stuck on this one song from the 80's and none of could figure out who sang it. You know that song, "Nobody's gonna break my stride, nobody's gonna slow me down, oh no, I got to keep on movin'"? Yeah, that was the song and none of could remember who sang it. After a few searches on the internet, we found it - it was Matthew Wilder (oh my - who's ever heard of him?). Oh well, we were relieved to figure out who it was so that my cousin could get it for his iPod (he got an iPod for Christmas and brought it over for me to help him figure it out since I've had mine for quite a while now).

Finally, on Christmas Day, I stayed home and rested (I had been feeling like I was getting sick for a while and I thought rest would do me well). Oh well, I got sick anyway!

Tell me about your Christmas!

'Twas The Night Before Christmas

How could I not post this?

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, except Papa's mouse.

The computer was humming, the icons were hopping,

As Papa did last minute Internet shopping.

The stockings were hung by the modem with care,

In hope that St. Nicholas would bring new software.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of computer games danced in their heads.

PageMaker for Billy, and Quicken for Dan,

And Carmen Sandiego for Pamela Ann.

The letters to Santa had been sent out by Mom,

To santaclaus@toyshop.northpole.com -
Which has now been re-routed to Washington State

Because Santa's workshop has been bought by Bill Gates.

All the elves and reindeer have had to skedaddle

To flashy new quarters in suburban Seattle.

After centuries of a life that was simple and spare,

St. Nicholas is suddenly a new billionaire,

With a shiny red Porsche in the place of his sleigh,

And a house on Lake Washington that's just down the way.

From where Bill has his mansion, the old fellow preens

In black Gucci boots and red Calvin Klein jeans.

The elves have stock options and desks with a view,

Where they write computer code for Johnny and Sue.

No more dolls or tin soldiers or little toy drums

Will be under the tree, only compact disk ROMS

With the Microsoft label. So spin up your drive,

From now on Christmas runs only on Windows ME.
More rapid than eagles the competitors came,

And Bill whistled, and shouted, and called them by name.

"Now, ADOBE! Now, CLARIS! Now, INTUIT! too,

Now, APPLE! and NETSCAPE! you are all of you through,

It is Microsoft's SANTA that the kids can't resist,

It's the ultimate software with a traditional twist -

Recommended by no less than the jolly old elf,

And on the package, a picture of Santa himself.
Get 'em young, keep 'em long, is Microsoft's scheme,

And a merger with Santa is a marketer's dream.

To the top of the NASDAQ! to the top of the Dow!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away - WOW!"

And Mama in her 'kerchief and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

The whir and the hum of our satellite platter,
As it turned toward that new Christmas star in the sky,

The SANTALITE owned by the Microsoft guy.

As I sprang from my bed and was turning around,

My computer turned on with a Jingle-Bells sound.

And there on the screen was a smiling Bill Gates

Next to jolly old Santa, two arm-in-arm mates.

And I heard them exclaim in voice so bright,

Have a Microsoft Christmas, and to all a good night

The Good News Is...

I was able to get my Christmas shoppping done. Granted, mom was still with me, but I got it done. I started fresh today and we were able to get everything taken care of without any tears shed or high blood pressure - thanks MOM!

Here's who drew whose name:

Mikala - Dad

J - Mom

Dad - J

Mom - Bro

Bro - Mikala

First off, I got to mom's around 1:00 pm. I was running late because my neighbor finally came over and asked if he could get in my backyard to cut and get rid of all the tree limbs from his tree (the ones that fell during that ice storm - he's such a nice guy). Then, we headed out to Crestwood Plaza (which was unusally empty considering the date). We parked by Dillard's, the one at which I worked (and Linlee too). Since J had drawn my mom's name, I had to do the shopping for him so mom wouldn't be left without a gift to open while we were all opening ours tomorrow night. So, we had to head to Victoria's Secret (remember, it was just for lotion, nothing sexy - wouldn't that be awkward?). So, we hit Victoria's Secret and I buy mom's lotions for her. Yes, she was with me. Yes, she actually carried the stuff to the checkout and yes, I still plan to keep it in a pretty bag for her to open tomorrow night.

Since my brother picked my name and my dad picked J's name, mom had to do the shopping for them, as well. Yes, my brother is 35 and my mom has to do his shopping for him (dad has a legitimate excuse - he's never actually Christmas shopped on his own - I usually do it when he buys mom something, he'll just give me the AmEx or the cash). Mind you (about my brother) this is the same guy that graduated, with honors, from St. Louis University. Anyway, I told my mom that we could go ahead and get my gift now. That way I'd know what I was getting too. So, we walk the entire 2 miles to the other end of the mall to hit Macy's. We get all the way down to Macy's and that particular Macy's didn't carry the perfume I wanted. The only one that carried that perfume was the Galleria Mall Macy's. So, mom and I walked another 2 miles back to my car (a 4 mile walk for nothing - but it felt good).

We get back in the car to leave Crestwood Plaza and decide to head down to the Galleria. This was really easy...we parked about 4 cars from the Macy's door and ran inside. They had my perfume - YES, I'm getting my Juicy Couture perfurm. We paid for it and immediately turned around and left.

By this time I was so happy that things were turning out so well that I was pumped and ready for anything. After the Galleria, we had to head to Walgreen's to get the Cardinals Monopoly game for my youngest nephew, The Snake. He saw that we had bought it for someone else, and he made it very clear that he wanted one too. So, we run into Walgreen's, buy the game and look around for a few minutes (because mom still needed some ingredients for baking). We were in Walgreens all of 10 minutes when we were ready to leave.

After Walgreens, we headed over to Wally World to see if they had mom's baking ingredients and dad's favorite store-popped popcorn. We walk in and go get the popcorn (which hangs on a rack at the Blimpie inside Wal-mart). As we walk away to check for our baking ingredients, the guy sweeing yelled at us and said we had to pay for the popcorn at the Blimpie Checkout. My mom corrected him and said that she could pay at the regular checkout and that she does it all the time. Unfortunately, the guy insists, so we walk over to the Blimpie checkout. We pay for the popcorn and asked them if we could have paid at the regular Wal-mart checkout and they said, "of course". Go figure, but oh well, what can you do?

We finally head over to the baking ingredients aisle and they don't have what mom needs. It's official, we have to go to a grocery store (do you know how crazy grocery stores are this weekend?)!!

We head back to the Schnuck's (a local grocery store) by my mom's house and we get what she needs with relative easy, I might add. Both of us even bought a few Powerball tickets (no, I didn't win - y'all would be the fourth and beyond to know - there'd be me, J, my parents and all of you). Anyway...we are finally headed back home and it is only 5:00! Can you believe it? We got everything done today that we wanted to get done yesterday. I was so happy and so relieved (and less depressed). Plus, I get my perfume tomorrow!

So, mom and I headed back to her house to bake. Okay, fine, I took a nap because I'm getting sick and she baked. When I woke up I decorated the sugar cookies with icing and that was that. At 9:00, Beanie and I were headed home.

Now, tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I will have to be at my parents' house by 3:30 or 4:00. That means, I'll get up early tomorrow, straighten my house, wrap presents (I still have to wrap my dad's gifts and I told mom I'd wrap all of the gifts that she bought so she wouldn't have to worry about that while she was worried about baking and cooking tomorrow's delicious Christmas dinner), get ready and take off. Then, it's Christmas Eve celebration time!!! Woo HOO!!!!!

I'm so happy and THANK YOU FOR BEARING WITH ME MOM!!!!

Oh, and you want more good news? J got his box today. I had three Christmas gifts, a card and some cookies in his package. I immediately asked him to open one particular gift. He opened it and loved it. It was a mini replica of the World Series Trophy. Remember, he wanted one to rub it into the Houston guys' faces (since he's working down in Houston right now). Too funny.

Since this was one big ramble post, please excuse any typos, grammatical errors or spelling errors. I'm too tired to worry about it.

Can y'all believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve, 2006? My Gawd, where does the time go?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?

I got this e-mail the other day and thought it was fitting since we just had our "Holiday" parties at work.

T’was the month before Christmas When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying Nor taking a stand.
Why the Politically Correct Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people’s feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a “Holiday”.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe’s the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny’s and Sears
You won’t hear the word Christmas;
it won’t touch your ears. Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate “Winter Break” under your “Dream Tree”
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!


What you do guys think of this "poem"? I get the gist of it, but is it a little harsh or am I just feeling a little sensitive today? I am Christian, Catholic to be exact, so I am saddened by the degradation the usual Christmas celebration (not the toys, etc.), but is this just going to be something else we're going to have to fight about? I mean, they made CHRISTMAS a national holiday, why is it hurting people's feelings to say Merry Christmas? I, certainly, don't mind hearing "Happy Cinco de Mayo" on May 5th. I just get sick of political correctness. But, I don't know if this poem makes me feel better or not. Can't we all be a little less sensitive?

Defeated by Christmas Shopping

Yesterday, mom and I thought we'd get up around 8:00 and get out shopping by 9:00. Well, first, I didn't get to her house until 10:00. Then, we had to drive my nephew to a friend's house. Then, we drove out by my house to go to the bank and by my insurance company. By that time it was already 11:45, so we figured we'd eat before we get started on the crazy shopping.

Well, we got to Macaroni Grill around noon and ate (the food was awesome by the way). Right when we finished eating, my brother call and wanted to be picked up.

He's an over-the-road truck driver (with a degree in Geology from a prestigious university - go figure) and his co-driver had dropped him off in St. Peters. So, mom and I jet out to St. Peters to get him and we get there around 2:00.

From there we went back towards my parents' house and stopped at Wal-greens to get the gift cards I wanted for my dad. Finally, we dropped my brother off and stayed at the house for a few minutes. Around 3:00, we hoppped back in the car and tried to get to Wal-mart and the mall.

Well, we went through Wal-mart real quick because I needed a few things like milk, bread and face lotion. Finally, we get to the mall where everything that was left still to get would be there for me. We run through Macy's and mom picks up a present for J. Then, we run to Victoria's Secret for my mom's gift (just lotion, guys, don't get all hyper). Well, this is when I get depressed because 1) my mom knows her gift and 2) she's standing right beside me buying it. And, she doesn't care. But, I've always been more of a gift-giving person and I've always been happy to see the recipient's face when they open my gift. So, this got me all upset, to the point of almost crying. But, we grab the lotion she wants, etc. and we walk towards the ONE checkout desk. Well, there were 2 people checking people out and I'm not lying when I say there was a line with about 35 people in (that's not exaggerating or anything). So, mom and I looked at each and shook our heads "no". That was it, I had been defeated.

By this time, I'm super upset because I have no one else to shop with, I hate going by myself because I get too impatient and my mom (the one person that deserves a great Christmas gift) doesn't have one yet and will know what it is when I do get it for her. So, this whole time I'm on the verge of tears and then my dad calls and wonders what we're having for dinner! So, mom and I head back to their house around 5:30 and order Chinese food.

We eat our food and then I have my mom check on a box I had shipped to J on Monday (to see if he had gotten it yet). Well, there's no information on the package to even track it, they give us a tracking number and that it was processed into their system but that's it. Now, I don't know if he'll get his package by Christmas or not! I was livid considering the Post Office promised his package would get there in 2-3 days. So, I asked my mom to call this morning and then I left - I was in the worst mood ever. I grabbed Beanie (whom I always take to mom's when I go so she can play with Baxter aka JD short for Junkyard Dog while we're out shopping and doesn't have to stay cooped up in the house). I cried the whole way home. Then my mom calls and says not to be upset and that we'll go shopping today (I don't want to, the point was to get it done yesterday so I could work around the house today).

And, in case you're wondering why I waited so long to buy these last two gifts was because my family just decided last Sunday to draw names! I'm an online Christmas Shopper and you can't do that with one week to buy things.

Letters To Santa

Deer Santa,

I wud like a kool toy space ranjur fer Xmas. I'v ben a gud boy all yeer.

Yer Friend, Billy
**********
Dear Billy,

Nice spelling. You're on your way to a career in lawncare. How about I send you a book so you can learn to read and spell? I'm giving your older brother the space ranger. At least HE can spell.

Santa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Santa,

I have been a good girl all year, and the only thing I ask for is peace and joy in the world for everybody!

Love, Sarah
**********
Dear Sarah,

Your parents smoked pot when they had you, didn't they?

Santa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Santa,

I don't know if you can do this, but for Christmas, I'd like for my mommy and daddy to get back together. Please see what you can do.

Love, Teddy
**********
Dear Teddy,

Look, your dad's banging the babysitter like a screen door in a hurricane. Do you think he's gonna give that up to come back to your frigid mom, who rides his ass constantly? It's time to give up that dream. Let me send you some Legos instead.

Santa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Santa,

I want a new bike, a Playstation 2, a train, some G.I. Joes, a dog, a drum kit, a pony and a tuba.

Love, Francis
**********
Dear Francis,

Who names their kid "Francis" nowadays? I bet you're gay. I'll set you up with a Barbie.

Santa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Santa,

I left milk and cookies for you under the tree, and I left carrots for your reindeer outside the back door.

Love, Susan
**********
Dear Susan,

Milk gives me the shits and carrots make the deer fart in my face when riding in the
sleigh. You want to do me a favor? Leave me a bottle of Scotch.

Santa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Santa,

What do you do the other 364 days of the year? Are you busy making toys?

Your friend, Thomas
**********
Dear Thomas,

All the toys are made in China . I have a condo in Vegas where I spend most of my time making low-budget porno films. I unwind by drinking myself silly and squeezing the asses of cocktail waitresses while losing money at the craps table. Hey, you wanted to know.

Santa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Santa,

Do you see us when we're sleeping, do you really know when we're awake, like in the song?

Love, Jessica
**********
Dear Jessica,

Are you really that gullible? Good luck in whatever you do. I'm skipping your house.

Santa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Santa,

I really want a puppy this year. Please, please, please, PLEASE, PLEASE could I have one?

Love, Timmy
**********
Dear Timmy,

That whiney begging shit may work with your folks, but that crap doesn't work with me. You're getting a sweater again.

Santa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dearest Santa,

We don't have a chimney in our house. How do you get into our home?

Love,
Marky
**********
Dear Mark,
First stop calling yourself "Marky", that's why you're getting your ass whipped at school. Second, you don't live in a house, you live in a low-rent apartment complex. Third, I get inside your pad just like the boogeyman does, through your bedroom window.

Sweet dreams,
Santa
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don't know about you guys, but when reading these letters and responses from Santa, I picture Billy Bob Thornton in a dirty, old Santa suit over a bottle of Wild Turkey. Most likely with a cigarette in one hand and a pen in the other. He's definitely not guilty of Political correctness, huh?

Some Christmas Trivia

The idea for using electric Christmas lights came from an American named Ralph E. Morris in 1895. The new lights proved safer than the traditional candles, which often started fires by falling in the dry Christmas trees.

The use of a Christmas wreath as a decoration on your front door, mantel or bay window symbolizes a sign of welcome and long life to all who enter.

Due to the time zones, Santa has 31 hours to deliver gifts? This means that he would have to visit 832 homes each second!

In North America, children put stockings out at Christmas time. Their Dutch counterparts use shoes.

In 1836, Alabama was the first state in the USA to declare Christmas a legal holiday.

In 1856, President Franklin Pierce decorates the first White House Christmas tree.

In 1907, Oklahoma became the last USA state to declare Christmas a legal holiday.

The biggest selling Christmas single of all time is Bing Crosby's White Christmas.

The first Christmas card was created in England on December 9, 1842. Hallmark introduced its first Christmas cards in 1915, five years after the founding of the company. An average household in America will mail out 28 Christmas cards each year and see 28 eight cards return in their place. More than three billion Christmas cards are sent annually in the United States.
In America in 1822, the postmaster of Washington, DC, complained that he had to add 16 mailmen at Christmas to deal with cards alone. He wanted the number of cards a person could send limited by law. "I don't know what we'll do if this keeps on," he wrote.

During the Christmas buying season, Visa cards alone are used an average of 5,340 times every minute in the United States.

In North America, children put stockings out at Christmas time. Their Dutch counterparts use shoes.

The Santa Claus' suit was developed in the 1930s. The Coca-Cola Company hired American artist Haddon Sundblom in 1931, to redesign Santa Claus. Sundblom chose the official colors of Coca-Cola, red and white.

Source: Twinkle Bulbs

Catch Up

I know I haven't really written anything lately, but I promise to get some info up on The Gangs of St. Louis. I haven't had any time to sit and gather my info. I guess I could update you on the rest of my life, although it's been pretty boring without J. Over the weekend, I just cleaned, shopped and put Christmas decorations up outside. See? Told ya, nothing special.

Yesterday, I got my birthday gifts from my brother because this is the first time he's been in town since my birthday. I have some weird fetish about Trivia. I love it, I can't control myself. So, since I already have all of the other Trivial Pursuit games, my brother got me Trivial Pursuit - Totally 80's Edition which I canNOT wait to play. I think my brother should play with me at Christmas. Anyway, he also got me a tool kit (since J takes all of his tools with him on tour, I am left without a hammer, screwdrivers, or anything else I might need). I love this tool kit. It has everything - I was too excited. So I just went through everything last night like a little kid on Christmas morning.

Oh, Sunday night, mom and I put up the Christmas decorations outside. While we were digging through the Christmas stuff in my basement, we found some old ornaments from when I was a kid. Again, I was giddy with excitement after finding these ornaments. You see, my mom has a theme Christmas Tree (all glass, Old World or Christopher Radko ornaments) and I have a theme Christmas Tree (all red, white or silver ornaments), so we haven't used these old ornaments in at LEAST 10 years. I found a Strawberry Shortcake (I loved Strawberry Shortcake as a kid) , a Best Friends ornament (with Christine & Mikala written on it - we grew up together), some ballet slippers of mine and some of those old reindeer that we made out of clothespins (this is a picture of them just so you know what I'm talking about - these aren't ours though, these are off the internet). I used to take forever to put the Christmas Tree up when I was a kid, because I wanted to sit and go through each ornament before we put them on the tree. I loved all of the ornaments, still do. Man, I miss Christmas as a kid!

As a kid, my brother and I took turns each year waking each other up on Christmas morning. See, we usually celebrated Christmas Eve early into the morning of Christmas Day. We'd start out at my aunt and uncle's house or at my grandma's (my mom's brother or her mom). We'd stay there until about 10:30 pm. Then, we'd head over to my other grandma's house (my dad's mom). We'd either hang out there or head over to Midnight Mass since my dad's family were devout Catholics (okay, I'll tell the truth, I never went to Midnight Mas - except for maybe when I was real young). I guess we usually got home around 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning (maybe earlier). My parents always wrapped presents on Christmas Eve (that way it seemed like Santa came while we were asleep), so my parents would often be up until 5:00 or 6:00 in the morning wrapping or putting together gifts . My mom often comments that the worst was when they had to put together my Barbie Dream House because it had all the little pieces for the refrigerator like little eggs, milk, etc. Anyway, my parents would go to bed and get about 1/2 an hour of sleep before us kids woke them up. It's funny, my brother who is 6 1/2 years older than I am, would often wake me up. Then, it was always my job to wake my parents. After waking them, we'd run into the living room and start ripping open our gifts! Those mornings were the best mornings of my life (so superficial huh?). I'd open a few and then I'd stop to watch my brother open a few just to see what kind of stuff he got. Then, after everything was said and done, I'd get on the phone to my best friend, Christine. We'd talk about what each other got and then we'd go to each other's houses. In the afternoon, my mom's family would come over to our house - we'd eat ham, talk, show our presents to our cousins, see some of their presents and just hang out. By the time evening rolled around, I was so tired I would crash in the living room. I can almost smell the cinnamon candles and the food now. Man, I miss those days.

Geez, how'd I get off on that tangent? Oh yeah, with the ornaments. Sorry guys...I should go for now...