Just finished some freezer pizza as we unwind and sort through the piles of loot we hauled up from the car.
Sheesh.  Does the stuff multiply on the way here from Fresno?

Must clean before house guests arrive on Sunday afternoon....

What are you up to this fine evening?

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DH and I are just lazing in bed. Mostly staying out of the way of the laundry fairy (my mother) and enjoying the rainy gray weather (yay!!!).

Although it's supposed to rain on my parade on Monday..... Oh well.

Went to see Narnia last night courtesy of some movie passes Santa was supposed to leave in my stocking. It was excellent. However, I would think twice about taking younger kids to see it. Much more explicitly violent than I imagined it would be. Hell it's a Disney film. More thoughts on the film in the extended...

On today's agenda: Dressed-Up Family pics with the inlaws. Oh joy Oh bliss. Pray for me around 6:30 PM PST, ok? more...

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Well, as usual I come back to the computer to find that momentous events have taken place in my absence. It is with deep sorrow that I report Jack's father, William Martin Grant, lost his battle with cancer this morning. Understandibly, Jack has comments off, but if you know Jack, drop him a note and let him know how much we're all thinking of him and his mom right now.

On a happier note, junior Diva London Avery was born last Tuesday morning to Phoenix of Villains Vanquished and her Prince Charming.

Also, the fair Jen and her Beau are preparing for their wedding on Saturday. Keep them in your thoughts and prayers, especially the Bridezilla

Christmas was good for us. Lots of presents, most notably one of these for DH and one of these for yours truly.

So, was Santa (or the Hanukkah Fairy, for that matter) good to you this year? What did you get (good or bad)?

Posted by: caltechgirl at 08:35 PM | Comments (5) | Add Comment
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1 Thank you very much for recognizing my Dad. He was a good and honorable man who like so many others labored in quiet obscurity trying to make sure his family was provided for while not asking anything for himself, an attitude he had until the very end, thanking his nurses at the hospital every time they did anything for him. Men such as he are all to rarely recognized, and far, far too rarely thanked. I appreciate your recognition and sympathy of our sorrow. It means a lot to my family and to me. Thank you again.

Posted by: Jack at December 26, 2005 10:30 PM (9A8Mh)

2 Santa, or as he is my world hubby was very good to me this year. As well as giving me better pressies than I deserve, he stopped me going into complete mental breakdown, which is good. As for the pressies, he got me the following: Two more series of Xena on DVD which means I now own the complete set, confirming my position in nerd world ... Also two DVDs of an Australian miniseries, which probably is known nowhere else in the world (Ruth Park's 'Harp in the South' and 'Poor Man's Orange', based on her books that I've read a dozen times) A folder to start organising all my recipes that I have on bits of paper From other people,got the obligatory food like choccies and the such that I probably will not eat and will not be chucked out until the expiry date as I don't like to junk presents. Also, some movie tickets that will certainly get used. Hope you all had a good Christmas.

Posted by: Amanda at December 27, 2005 02:46 AM (h4wHt)

3 Oh, I'm sorry to hear about Jack's father. I don't know him, but any loss is devastating, especially a parent. My thoughts are with him and his family. As for Christmas, we got a few things, but Brandon made out like a bandit!

Posted by: Amanda at December 27, 2005 05:18 AM (C8YO7)

4 I got a new roaster and a couple dvd's I've been wanting. The boy got so many toys he doesn't know what to play with first. Glad your Christmas was pleasant!

Posted by: oddybobo at December 27, 2005 09:26 AM (6Gm0j)

5 Please allow me to offer my condolences to Jack, as well. The holidays are rough enough. . .*sigh* As for your other question? Santa/DH was very good to me. All year. He gave me a baby. LOLL Seriously, we didn't have presents for each other under the tree; we bought a couch and chair with ottoman for the living room and that was Christmas, Birthday, Anniversary, etc. LOL! The Boy™ got a pressie he was totally not expecting so THAT was fun. He reeeeeeaaaalllly wanted it but I told him NO WAY. Santa overrode my decision and put an iPod Nano under the tree for him. He was, to say the least, STOKED. He's growing up so fast. *SIGH* I figured that there are very few opportunities to get him exactly what he wants for Christmas left. You know? He's so sweet - he comes up to me at odd times during the day, still thanking me. ) All my love, M

Posted by: Margi at December 27, 2005 10:00 AM (nwEQH)

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Say what you want about her fashion sense and her latest album, but Gwen Stefani is one of my favorite singers, and until this album, one of my favorite female songwriters.  She's smart and funny and kind of a geek.

And she's pregnant.  Gwen told the audience last night at her concert in Ft. Lauderdale that the baby is due in June and she's taking an indefinite break from the biz.

I know she's wanted this for a long time, and I'm really happy for her and her husband.

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An oldie but a goodie, Foamy the Squirrel and the War on Christmas.  NSFW unless you have headphones....

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But I was deeply saddened to hear of the death of James Dungy, 18-year-old son and second child of Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy and his wife Lauren.

It's always sad to hear of the death of a young person, especially this close to the holidays, but this really got to me, probably because I know the Dungys are a very close family and it must have been hard for them to let their son move back to Tampa, only to lose him so soon.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Dungys and their friends and family as they cope with this devastating loss and search for answers.  I pray that their strong and deeply felt faith will guide them through this difficult time.

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1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate.  Definitely.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? If Santa is me, then yes.  When I was a kid (and even some years since I've been "growed up") Santa even used to leave me a map to a special present.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Multi-colored on the tree, same outside.  This year we have loops on the patio fence and lights wrapped around the balcony railing upstairs.  White lights are boring.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No, but my Mom has a kissing ball hanging year round in her dining room.

5. When do you put your decorations up? ASAP after thanksgiving.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? My stuffing or cranberry sauce.  Hard to decide.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Santa Maps (see above).

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? What truth?  You mean that he is the embodiment of the spirit of giving?  A long time ago.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes.  My family generally gets together (Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, etc.) and we open those presents on Christmas Eve

10. What kind of cookies does Santa get set out for him? It varies.  Anything from homemade fudge to popcorn to Oreos.  Whatever Santa wants

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it!!!!  Especially how quiet it is outside when it is snowing.

12. Can you ice skate? Oh hell no.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift as a child? Barbie.  Preferably with a fancy dress.

14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you? Being together with the family, seeing everyone enjoy their gifts.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Cheesecake, fudge, and cookies.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Christmas Eve with the family, opening one gift at a time on Christmas Day.  Yes, we even take turns.

17. What tops your tree? A big Winnie the Pooh Angel

18. Which do you prefer Giving or Receiving? Both

19. What is your favorite Christmas Carol? I have several: We Three Kings, Oh Holy Night, O Come Emmanuel, and Adeste Fideles

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? YUMMY!  but Peppermint only, please.

What about you?
Found here and here

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1 You prefer hot chocolate to EGGNOG? Outrageous! But, I don't care for what Starbucks has done to it, mixing it into a weird, burnt latte-type situation.

Posted by: Cardinal Martini at December 21, 2005 01:43 AM (nLV11)

2 Forgive me, I'm getting all emotional. You share many of the same traditions. I use to get so annoyed with my dad when he would, on Christmas Eve make us take turns opening presents. I definitely prefer multi-colored lights. White are boring. And, the MUST blink. Hot Chocolate, most definitely. Egg Nog is too much like Pepto-Bismol. My favorite toy was undoubtedly the Cabbage Patch Doll-Everett Jeffy. Loved him. Although, I loved fancy Barbie's. Santa, for our girls, leaves the presents unwrapped. It's just more Santa'ish. Besides, it's too hard to buy special santa wrap with two little girlies with you all the time. I'll shut up now. This was the best little meme.

Posted by: thirdee at December 21, 2005 08:18 AM (mtexj)

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I have el zilcho for motivation today. Not for work or blogging or anything.

But I suppose getting woken up at the ass crack of dawn because DH couldn't find his school keys AGAIN doesn't help either.....

So here are some random thoughts while I wait for cuppa coffee #2

Bubbles in the water cooler are nice.

The mall is empty on Sunday morning. You can even park.

There's nothing I would like better than to get the hell out of here and go home and curl up with the princess under my favorite blanket next to the Christmas tree.

Eggnog Chai Latte is about the worst possible culinary idea of all time. Yecch. Of course it is served by Whorebucks.

Speaking of, my cup at a time takes less than 5 minutes to brew.

Saw about 3 minutes of the Prez on the CNN rerun last night. The man has balls. Stupid like a fox, I tell you.

There's nothing quite so good as The Full Monty on one channel and Sherlock Holmes mysteries on the next. With staggered commercials!

Damn the Redskins kicked the Cowboys' asses! Yay! (Hope my boyz in Charlotte are watching the tape..... they play the Cowboys next week)

Holy Crap! Christmas is in 6 days!!!!

It's amusing to sit down on Sunday afternoon and chat with a friend over IM and then realize that it's Monday where she is. Hence why she is working at home (hi Amanda!)

I seem to be a magnet for friends named Amanda. Or maybe it's just my age. My best friend growing up is Amanda, my best friend in grad school is Amanda, and two of my best blog buddies are also Amanda. Bizarre, I say. Bizarre.

The sad thing is, I want to go home to get things done, but I know I wouldn't. So I sit here and try to think about work.....

More later, and perhaps even coherently

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1 I relate to the motivation problem today!!! I have no friends named Amanda -- how about that!

Posted by: Marie at December 19, 2005 11:17 AM (JfXX4)

2 For me it's Jen.

Posted by: Ith at December 19, 2005 11:17 AM (76QAm)

3 My best friend growing up was Amanda. Now it's...hmmmm....noone. It was Becky, Rebecca, Rebekkah in college. Three in one dorm of 16. Good grief. Two were in my room. Torture, I tell you..torture.

Posted by: thirdee at December 21, 2005 08:24 AM (mtexj)

4 Happy to say you are my best blog buddy! Was pretty cool chatting with you on IM,spins me out that on a Monday morning you've still got Sunday evening to relax in! Merry Christmas to you and yours,from me,hubby Brian, and doggies Billy and Benny, shame we can't get together to raise a glass and say cheers to the new year!

Posted by: Amanda at December 27, 2005 02:16 AM (h4wHt)

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I just saw the Terrence and Philip MovieBarenaked Ladies! Who wants to touch me? I said who wants to f*ckin' touch me???? < /cartman>

The show was a blast, mostly because it was at the Santa Monica Civic, which seats about 2,000 people, so it had almost a small room feel and there was no issue with parking or lines.....

Last night's opening act was the LeeVees, and they were fantastic. A Jewish band that writes and sings Hanukkah songs! Consider this a recommendation to any of you who are Jewish or want an album full of songs about Latkes and Hanukkah. They were funny as well as reasonably good musicians and songwriters.

BNL came on around 8:30 and played a 90 minute set. The first part included a kids choir from Orange, CA, and most of their parents were in the audience. The kids have been traveling with them for about a month and I think this was their last show, so there was much hamming and showing off from the kids.

Lots of BNL favorites and most of their holiday album, too. As usual, they were INSANE. From Ed and Steven being goofy to Tyler's "get off your lazy drummer ass" version of Feliz Navidad, it was a really fun show.

In a few days, I'll be downloading the concert from here.

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1 Touch you? Sure. I can't believe you made it. So cool. F*&K you? Nope, besides I don't have the equipment anyways. ;-)

Posted by: vw bug at December 14, 2005 02:52 PM (SCN6v)

2 Cool! LOL at VW... ;-)

Posted by: Marie at December 15, 2005 08:39 AM (JfXX4)

3 Glad you had fun and all that, but...jealous. /sniffle

Posted by: princess jami at December 16, 2005 10:31 AM (0gPLe)

4 Oh! I feel much better knowing I can download them. Yippee!!! :-D

Posted by: Princess Jami at December 16, 2005 10:32 AM (0gPLe)

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I swear I'm never putting the computer down again.

First, we learned this weekend of the passing of Steven Malcolm Anderson, a longtime denizen of Dean's World and minion of QOAE Rosemary, and quite an amazing character in his own right. I will miss his quirky individualism and his tradmark signoff: "HAIL TO THE QUEEN OF ALL EVIL!!!"

Also, this weekend, Bill Frey, father of BFLer Patterico passed away at his home. Patrick wrote a touching tribute to his dad that you can read here.

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If I sent you a Christmas Card, and you got it, let me know, so I won't worry that I sent it to the wrong place or that a pack of rabid wolves ripped the mailbag off the poor carrier's back and took it back to their den for sh*ts and giggles. Or whatever rabid wolves do instead....

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1 Ahhh... Princess's eyes are glowing....

Posted by: Bill at December 09, 2005 08:18 PM (67MBU)

2 Cutest. Puppy. EvAR.

Posted by: Margi at December 10, 2005 03:49 PM (nwEQH)

3 Woof, woof!! That's doggy talk for, "got it!"

Posted by: Amanda at December 10, 2005 08:05 PM (+wL/A)

4 Can't speak for rabid, but wolves tend to go through and oogle pictures, like those of Princess, laugh at gramatical and spelling errors, and then use the worst of them to line the den against the cold. The rest they sell.

Posted by: Laughing Wolf at December 11, 2005 05:16 AM (5cMH5)

5 I didn't get mine... er wait, that's probably because you didn't send me one.

Posted by: Contagion at December 12, 2005 05:51 AM (Q5WxB)

6 Received intact, but sadly, no wolves accompanied its delivery.

Posted by: Ith at December 12, 2005 10:50 AM (Fv0oe)

7 Christmas card has arrived here in Iowa. What a cute doggie!

Posted by: Paul Burgess at December 13, 2005 11:38 AM (7EVyU)

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After several days of working at home (who wants to make a stressful 40-55 minute commute only to discover that their office is bereft of the internet), I braved the traffic to tie up loose ends at the office and discovered that my internet connection is back on line, meaning I can download grant stuff and send email and get images for my lectures. Yay!

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I get to work at 9:30. Strangely enough, there was a kick-ass parking spot open. Yay! So then I walk into the office, only to be greeted by "Yeah, uh, we don't have internet". So I sat and did what I could, then went and told our business manager that I was leaving. And left.

Got on the 110 N coming home, and (for a change) it was not bad. In fact it was wide open except for the I-10 interchange. I fly through downtown, and coming through the last tunnel in the RIGHT lane I see it all stopped ahead of me. DEAD stop. Shit. Can't get over for the exit. STUCK.

Arrrgh.

At least the right lane appears to be moving reasonably well compared to the other 2 lanes......

Then I hear "honk!!!! honk!!!!" behind me. Here comes the fire truck. SO I had to squeeze over for him to get through. Nice thing, though, I got back behind the fire truck, which cut off a lot of traffic.

Eventually we see what happened, a white Acura trying to take that first curve too fast (probably >80) flipped in the left lane and landed upside down in the right. These people should know, if the sign says 40, 80 ain't gonna do it.

Just before the exit. Grrrr.....

Anyway, the FD and ambulance were leaving as I got there, and the rest of the ride was uneventful.

Until....I get over to the right lane to turn right at the end of the freeway, and there's orange cones everywhere. Right and middle lanes, so I had to fight my way back left just to go right.

At least I made it home. Better than I can say for the dude in the Acura......

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I scored us tickets to Barenaked Ladies!!! We kept missing them in Raleigh and Chapel Hill. I found out they were coming entirely by accident, and I snapped up a couple of tickets. Yeah, they're in the back, but who cares.

Yay!

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Working from home today so I could run a few errands and do some cleaning in and around grant reading and prepping for my class next semester.

I just wanted to point out that I love Target. No really. Beyond all bounds. I found just about everything I was looking to get for DH for Christmas, and the printer we picked up for $17 on Black Friday just paid for itself by printing the address labels for the Christmas Cards!

Not to mention that that was the EASIEST printer install of all time. Yay!

Now to label the envelopes and then off to the PO!

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According to this BBC article, parents spend more money on their sons at Christmas than on their daughters.

Some 3,500 parents with children under 16 were surveyed by the retailer in the first week of November.

The poll found parents spend an average of £223 on presents for boys, compared with just £127 for girls.

The top five boys' toys for Christmas add up to £428.95, but just £162.45 for girls.

The Beeb thinks that this is because dollies and board games and books cost less than video games and electronics. I dunno, I think there are just as many girls who want an iPod or an XBox360 as those who want a Pink Glow-Doodle Bear.

In my experience, my parents and my friends' parents generally had a budget for each kid, and if Kid #1 got a big ticket item (like a Nintendo or a bike), the other presents were smaller or there were fewer of them than the other kids got. So they spent roughly the same amount on each kid.

In one foul and evil case, budgets being what they were, a friend got a Nintendo for Christmas, including 2 controllers and the obligatory Super Mario, but the siblings got all of the rest of the games, so the SuperNES lived in the living room and he had to ASK one of the others if he wanted to play a different game

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According to this BBC article, Knitting is the new Yoga.

Stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Julia Roberts, Uma Thurman and Madonna have been recently revealed as knitters.

John Lewis haberdashery buyer Lucy Wright said chunky knitwear was featuring on catwalks and knitting was "being referred to as the new yoga".

Heh. Although I've moved on to crocheting, now that I figured out how to hold the hook. Crocheting is easier on rheumatic hands since you're never holdign up the entire weight of the piece, as you often do while knitting.

And I'm up to my ears in big pieces (hint, hint)

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1 and it's harder to drop-a-stitch with crocheting. :-) I just wish I had more time for all those needlecrafts I did when my kids were in school. hee hee "new yoga" I hope I'm not the only one who remembers the NFL player Rosie Greer and his passion to needlepoint!

Posted by: Darleen at December 05, 2005 12:28 PM (FgfaV)

2 w00t! I knit, crochet, cross-stitch, and needlepoint!! ; ) I'm still one of the most Type A and highly stressed individuals you will *evah* encounter. Yoga my achin' a$$.

Posted by: Chrissy at December 05, 2005 01:50 PM (zJsUT)

3 I've been crocheting since a neighbor taught me how when I was 12 or so. I am so very distressed to discover that I am trendy. Heh.

Posted by: Deb at December 05, 2005 02:14 PM (ip0hZ)

4 Phew. Good thing I stopped doing it about 7 years ago. Otherwise I would be 'trendy' and that would scare me.

Posted by: vw bug at December 05, 2005 03:12 PM (BAHyt)

5 Am I the only one wondering about this: "And I'm up to my ears in big pieces (hint, hint)?" Isn't pilates the new yoga? ;-)

Posted by: Marie at December 06, 2005 07:09 AM (JfXX4)

6 I used to crochet. I want to pick it back up again. When Baby Girl was visiting from Japan, she taught herself to knit. She watched DH's mother do a couple of stitches and then she marched over to the crafty-people store and got yarn (DH's mom gave her all of her knitting needles) and started making something right there. People like that really piss me off. (wink) I'm kidding. Sorta. With my carpal tunnel, I think I'd have to hold off on the knitting and get back into crocheting. I used to do a mean chainstitch. LOL

Posted by: Margi at December 06, 2005 07:48 AM (nwEQH)

7 Crochet is one of the few things I do right handed. My mum gave up on knitting cus I always went backwards.

Posted by: Ith at December 06, 2005 08:05 PM (n4GLL)

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96% done (I need 2 more addresses from my Mother) and my tongue is tired and immune to the taste of the envelope glue. Yecch. Ptui.

Good thing DH is making dinner

If I have your snail mail address already, you're getting a card, otherwise I'm sending the same thing via email

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My brain is elsewhere today. Really elsewhere. Probably the result of rainy skies (which I love), too much cold medicine, and RIVALRY WEEK!

Tomorrow is the big game, and today I'm wearing my National Championship shirt and my USC hairbows. Like a 5 year old. Should I put up a picture?

Fight On Trojans! UCLA SUCKS! (turn it up, these are audio links)

I did want to talk about PJM for a second. I am so f*cking tired of this guy and that guy and the other guy taking offense or calling someone else jealous or whatever. It's all a crock. However good an idea it is/was/whatever, you people are losing readership directly because of your association with PJM. You know why? BECAUSE I CAN'T GET YOUR DAMN PAGE TO LOAD BECAUSE OF THE PJM ADS. And frankly, Your Puppy-Blenderness, I am not going to wait 2 minutes for your page to load on our T3 here at work just to see what you said "Heh" about this time.

Also, re: the President's speech at Annapolis this week. Quit yer bitching about not seeing this plan 3 years ago. Isn't it enough that the President actually has a rational and reasonable plan? You know who you are (and you're not liberals either), so I don't have to link you.

To Patterico: Sorry my friend, as they say in the business, you wuz Scooped. Too bad. But him or you, it still makes your point, I guess.

On a happier note, Chuck Z is back home, recovering from his latest heavyweight match with the surgeon.

I need coffee. I particular, the coffee from this place. They have their own blend, which you can buy in the restaurant but sadly enough, not via their webpage. Arrgh.....

Moving along. Geez. I really feel like GIR today..... Taquitos!

Speaking of which, the CotR for last week is up at Like News but Tasty.

Speaking of news, Dad should be home Monday. Yay!

Rob is still sober. YAY! And blogging good. Check him out.

One last, a little Cuban-flavored humor for you, courtesy of the crack staff of Babalu.

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Grant application out the door.

Of course, I got a much larger one to review and work on last night, so here we go again

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