Buh-bye 2008 ~ Oh Hai 2009

I have my New Year's Eve outfit,
now I'm ready to go out and party.
I plan on having fun!

Have a safe night celebrating,
however you choose to ring in the new year.

I Forgot to Take Christmas Pictures

Caitlin and Lola

and with Ray

Christmas Day was relaxing and laid back. As we do every year, we gathered at my sister Sandi's house. This year, there were a few from our tribe that were missed.

My mom and step-dad are smart enough to have stayed in Florida. My niece and her family (the only little ones) are arriving today for a New Year visit. Allison (another niece) was with her boyfriend and his family. My son Bryan, went to his fathers early, then met up with a girl wasn't feeling well.

When I unloaded my camera, I realized I never took one picture on Christmas Day. Caitlin, her boyfriend Ray, and Lola were over Christmas Eve. These shot's are the only thing I have to represent Christmas 2008. Quinn and Bryan didn't even get in any. I am a bad mom.

Ben and Lola had fun fighting over chewy bones playing.

(Ben's really licking her)

One guess who wins out every time.

Caitlin being camera shy.

Actually, I have about 20 photos of these two, acting goofy and making faces, but I'm sure they'd rather I not post them.

I'm going out celebrating New Year's Eve. I'll take my camera in hopes that I'll make a better effort to capture some memories.

Mr. Pink

Women have secret famous boyfriends. Some of us have a complete menu of them.

When Queen of the Mayhem asked me, "If you could hook up with one celebrity who would it be and why", the Rolodex in my brain rolled like a ferris wheel.

The hotness of George Clooney or Brad Pitt immediately pops into mind. The sexy seducing "come hither" looks from Johnny Depp are irresistible. Seasoned, well experienced handsome Robert Redford would be an interesting "hook up", as well as the ever classic Jack Nicholson.

I know who'd I'd pick though.

Considering the definition of "hook up" being having a date with, hanging out with, getting to know and spend time with, made my decision easy.

I've put this guy sitting next to me at the "if you could invite 10 people to dinner, who would you choose" question every time.

See if you can figure it out by some of the roles he's played.

Garland Green in "Con Air"
Dave Veltri in "The Wedding Singer"
Donny Kerabatsos in "The Big Lebowski"
Rockhound in "Armageddon"
Crazy Eyes in "Mr. Deeds"
And my favorite, Mr. Pink in "Reservoir Dogs"

"Why am I Mr. Pink? Why can't we pick out our own colors? Yeah, Mr. Pink sounds like Mr. Pussy. Tell you what, let me be Mr. Purple. That sounds good to me, I'm Mr. Purple."


Steve Buscemi


He plays odd, strange character roles and to me, he's always played them well.

I'd like to see how his thinking parallels to the offbeat characters he's done. Even the best of actors have a bit of each of the characters personality they portray, no?


Maybe it's his "different" look. Not at all the Hollywood lead male heartthrob. I think he's sexy-cool ... in his own way.

How Cold is it in Michigan?

It's been so cold that I have been keeping a lit candle next to "Puppy's" fish bowl because he doesn't move much otherwise. The first time I lit a candle by him, he swam over and was playful ... can a fish can be playful ?!?!?

So I leave just a tea candle going (don't want to boil that water) and he seems to be doing much better.

I can't believe some of the things I do for my pets.

And the weather? In the single digits or low teens at night, in the twenty's during the day. Damn cold.

Merry Christmas Ellie!

Merry Christmas to all,
And to all a good-night.

Photos With Santa

Since the beginning of the month, I've been doing a countdown to Christmas by using cute photos I found on the web of children unhappy about their visit with Santa. (All in jest, I'm sure their trauma is long forgotten.)

I received an e-mail from *Ellie* at Me and You and Ellie telling me she has a photo, that fits right in with my theme, of her two nephews and their sister.

So for the Christmas Eve countdown photo, here is her adorable nephew who is obviously afraid he's made the naughty list!

"Oh noooooo, what if he really knows if I've been bad or good?"

Tomorrow, Christmas Day, I have one last photo and I will post it with all the others I've posted this month.

Happy Festivus Day ~ 2008

December 23rd
It's time to celebrate!


May all of your grievances be aired,

May your feats of strength be tested,

May you give from your heart to the Human Fund.

Happy Festivus
A holiday for the rest of us!

Secret Santa

I know the whole point is to keep it a secret.

I'm having too much fun with it so I thought I'd tell you what I've been doing.

Most mornings, I stop at McDonalds (hush, I know) for a Yogurt Parfait.


I go through the drive-thru and when I get to the window to pay, I also pay the order for the car behind me. I ask the cashier just to tell them I said Merry Christmas. As I drive away I can see the cashier trying to explain to that person and the dumb founded look ... then they look ahead to my car with smiles and waves.

Something so inexpensive and easy. I'm getting a kick out of this and I hope it helps these people start the day off with a little smile, and a feeling of some holiday cheer.

Give it a try. I bet you'll feel just as good about it as the person in the car behind you.

Twilight, the Saga

I saw Twilight last night.

Humm, I really wanted to like this movie.

I've read the first two books, "Twilight" and "New Moon", but I'll wait until the next two, "Eclipse" and "Breaking Dawn" come out in paperback to continue reading.

After I finished the first book, I gave it to my sister with a review of, meh, it's a "Harry Potter" for teenage girls. It's very predictable.

I do like the whole vampire theme, but I think I'd prefer to see a Laurell Hamilton or Ann Rice vampire series on film more than this Twilight series.

But, Twilight, the movie . . . . .

Books are usually better than the movie, and since I feel the book is written for a younger audience, I had hope the movie was going to be beefed up a little. Even if it was just in the special effects, but it wasn't.. The casting missed the mark, and the makeup was awful. Edward and Bella's characters are likable enough, but they lack in acting ability.

Still, I am glad to see a series, aimed at youth, without drugs, sex, or gangsta street violence.

Just your average high school vampires. With a side order of wolves.

Winter Wonder Land

If you click on the pictures,
you can see how hard it's snowing.

"Walking in a Winter Wonderland"
(The driveway at work, less than a half hour after plowing)

Walking maybe, 'cuz nobody was driving in this mess.

Yesterday's view from my office window.
Yes, I went in and worked all day.

No, these weren't edited to black and white.
Yes, it was a big snow dump.

Guess what's coming later today and tonight?
More of the same.

8" - 10"