What I've been up to

Funny how things start to pile up if you don't blog about them fast enough. I have lots of great pictures and recommendations about where to go look at Christmas lights, but I guess I 'll have to wait on that. However, you don't think I would really neglect to post pictures from Christmas, do you? Here is a rather LONG post to tell you how we celebrated baby Jesus' birthday:

We started with cheering the Longhorns to victory at the Big 12 Championship game in Dallas. (Yes, my shirt has bevo with a santa hat. I looked EVERYWHERE for a Raider Red with a santa hat shirt, and they don't exist. Plus, look how cute we looked in matching shirts.)
We spent several nights driving around looking at lights, looking at the "snow" and giant Macy's Christmas Tree in the Domain and anything else Christmas-y we could think of. You'll have to wait until next December to see those pictures and hear about how much better North Austin was at "Keeping Austin Weird" than the rest of the city was.

Larry and I decided that we would start a new "Christmas pedicure" tradition, so here he is in his massage chair. Real men aren't afraid of a nice pedi.
I spent hours (literally) in the kitchen, baking. Loaves of pumpkin bread are pictured.
We spent Christmas Eve doing the Mobile Loaves and Fishes truck - I helped make the 140 sandwiches while Larry loaded the truck.
It was c-c-c-cold that night! Therefore, once we got home from church, I made myself a nice chocolate peppermintini and sat by the fire.
Blossom got a new rubber chicken for Christmas. She tends to destroy any sort of plush toy, so I was excited that this chicken was made out of tough rubber. Here she is playing with it:
And here she is about 5 minutes later, licking her lips after chewing off every single one of the chicken's toes. (If you look closely at the picture, you can see the toes scattered amongst the blanket.) The new chicken lasted *maybe* 20 minutes before we threw it away so that she wouldn't swallow any tiny pieces of rubber. Guess we will have to stick with rawhide.
As usual, Larry did a great job on my gifts this year - he went with 2 themes: Tech and Happy Hour, 2 of my favorite things. I got a bottle of my favorite "special occasion only" wine, a new little corkscrew set, and gift cards to 6 of the places we frequent. (The case of Shiner was a gift from our neighbors for dog-sitting their pooch for a week. It was just too heavy to move.) The Tech gifts consisted of Alamo Bowl tickets, a purse made out of a football with the Double T embroidered on it, and earrings and a bracelet made out of red/black/white guitar picks bedazzled with shiny bits.
Here is a close-up of the bracelet:
Larry and I were supposed to head to Lubbock on Christmas day, but they got snow and ice and the roads were dangerous, so we didn't go. I was sad, but we had a nice meal at the IHOP and took a nap. We went the next day instead - Larry is so sweet... he drove me all the way there just to make sure it was safe. We got there at 2pm, visited with my family for a bit, then we took him to the airport to catch his 5pm flight! While there, my parents gave him a new windsock for the backyard. (He loves windsocks.) This giant pepper is named "Pepe."
Unfortunately, my camera battery died right after that picture, so I didn't get ANY of my precious nieces and nephews. I used my mom's camera and am waiting for her or my sister to upload them into Shutterfly or Snapfish. (hint, hint....)

Here I am wearing all of my Tech garb right before the Alamo Bowl. You wouldn't believe how many compliments I got on that purse!
After the Tech win:
(No comment on the whole Mike Leach firing. I am very upset with the Administration. Regardless of the outcome, I don't feel that things were handled in a manner becoming of a Division I school.)

All in all, we had a blessed,wonderful Holiday season. I am amazed that I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by the most incredible man, family and friends. Looking forward to seeing what 2010 has in store!

meh

Still working up the energy to do any blog posts that require photos. Instead, I did a meme looking back at 2009. (Does anyone else miss doing the myspace bulletins?)

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Rented a convertible to drive up and down the Pacific Coast Highway with girlfriends
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Don’t really make them, I am a continuous work in progress. However, I *did* want to lose at least 10 pounds, which I did NOT do. Maybe this year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! Sister-in-law gave me a new niece and Sister gave me a new nephew
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Fortunately, no.
5. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Will-power and more patience.
6. What countries did you visit?
Do border towns in Mexico count?
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why:
Hmm. Nothing really comes to mind.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Making 5 “A”s in graduate school, having a paper accepted for "publishing" and adding new distance sites at work
9. What was your biggest failure?
Being a good housekeeper
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing to speak of.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
15 hours of graduate school
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My sister and sister in law graduated college and brother did really well on LSAT
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Bernie Madoff needs to tell where the rest of the money is.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Aside from the obvious grad school, the waitstaff and bartenders at several North Austin establishments.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Girls weekend in Cali and vacation with Magical White Guy in Scottsdale
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Dollar dollar bills
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
ii. thinner or fatter? Much fatter
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer, grad school will do that to you.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Send birthday cards to everyone, calling old friends, organizing my office, and exercising
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Eating, facebooking, wasting time
20. Did you fall in love in 2009?
More and more every day. (awwww)
21. What was your favorite TV program?
Hm. Maybe the Biggest Loser when I don’t have to work on Tuesday nights.
22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
The job market
23. What was the best book you read?
Didn’t get to do much reading for pleasure this year. But the new Jennifer Weiner and Jodi Picoult were good
24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Guy LaMontagne and Michael Franti & Spearhead
25. What did you want and get?
All “A”s
26. What was your favorite film of this year?
I don’t remember seeing any movies this year.
27. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you (optional)?
I turned 32 and the Magical White Guy was out of town, so Lana had me over to her place and made me delicious lasagna
28. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
The perfect job for the Man.
29. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Lots of cardigan twin-sets in varying shades of black, grey and white.
30. What kept you sane?
Prayer, Magical White Guy, Blossom and blogging
31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
None that I can think of immediately. I do wish Jim Caveziel would come out of hiding though.
32. What political issue stirred you the most?
Public health care paying for abortion
33. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
You can do it.
34. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
All of these lines across my face
Tell you the story of who I am
So many stories of where I've been
And how I got to where I am
But these stories don't mean anything
When you've got no one to tell them to
It's true...I was made for you

Y2K was 10 years ago

I managed to get an ugly head cold and doubt I'll be much company this NYE. I feel like a bobble head - you know, when your head feels all giant and heavy? I have taken medicine and the Magical White Guy got me a nose spray thingee that is actually helping, so hopefully the cold will be short-lived. I hope so, because we are going to the Alamo Bowl on Saturday and I want to be at my best, as I'm sure there will be all sorts of clever signs about Gerald Myers and the James kid. In a way, I feel sorry for the poor little punk, as I doubt his parents knew they were throwing him under the bus.

Maybe I'll get a second wind and post a new blog tonight, as I really would like to at least post Christmas stories before St. Valentine's Day. If not, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Here's hoping that 2010 if full of friends, family, and fun!

what's that smell?

I will tell you all about Christmas later. (Thanks to the best boyfriend in the whole wide world for making it special even though plans changed. xoxo) Right now though, I want to tell you a little story.

We were dog-sitting the neighbor's dog, Tootsie, all week. I thought she and Blossom found something rank to roll around in the grass outside, because every time I was sitting near them on the couch, they stunk to high heaven. I thought they had infested everything in the house - the couches, the blankets, the throw pillows, etc. At one point I was even sitting next to Larry and told him that he smelled. I thought maybe he had really bad breath or smelly feet or that he had been sitting on a smelly blanket and it rubbed into his clothes.

Well, I was sitting on the couch indian-style and saw that I had something on my warm pink fuzzy slipper sock. I looked closer and even gave it a little sniff, as it looked like chocolate. Um... not chocolate. It was DOG POOP! I was the source of the stench!

I quickly apologized to Larry for insinuating that he was the source, then threw the socks in the washer and jumped in the shower. The lesson I learned today.... "he who smelt it, dealt it."

merry little cookies

I really intended to give you a new blog today. Instead, I was in the kitchen for about 6 hours, baking. Now my back and my feet hurt and the last thing I want to do is upload, resize and edit pictures. So, until I get my second wind, you can create a mental picture of what I baked today:

Sugar cookies - Stacy style. I call them "Stacy style" because I ate about a dozen of these suckers while staying at their house a few weeks ago. I used sugar cookie mix and then rolled them in red sugar before baking. Mmmmmm.

Red Velvet truffles - Bakerella style (she calls them cake balls but I prefer "truffles")

Pumpkin bread - Libby style. This is what Ed & Rita, the next door neighbors get every year because they say they love it. This is homemade and takes quite a bit of time, so I hope they really do love it and aren't just saying that.

Peanut butter thumbprint mini-muffin cookies - I just kind of made these up as I went along because I wanted to use my new mini muffin pan. Again, peanut butter cookie mix (yes, I taught home ec but am not afraid of mixes.) I just put them in the muffin tin and baked, then pressed my thumb down so that they are kind of like little shells. Then I used fudge frosting to pipe the chocolate insides. (I forgot to buy hershey kisses if you must know the truth.)

I had also intended to do cute decorated cupcakes but I think those may get axed.

If you are our neighbor, you'll get a nice little plate of these delicious treats. Also, if you are homeless and happen to visit the Mobile Loaves and Fishes truck tomorrow, you'll get one that I put in a sandwich baggie and tie a little Christmas ribbon on.

Also.... "Little Drummer Boy" is one of my favorite Christmas carols. I love the line "I am a poor boy too" - like, what do I have to give? But after hearing at least ten different versions of it today, I might have to politely tune out the next time I hear it.

If I don't get the chance or find the motivation to post again before Christmas - many blessings to you and yours.

hands free

There is a local place called Hoover's by the house that the Magical White Guy (MWG) likes to visit. This is a picture of the entrance to the bathroom area:



They hung a stocking for all of the employees.

You know they like you when they also hang a stocking for YOU:



I think I know why they like him. He is a clever fella. For example, you all know what a bluetooth is. You see idiots wearing them all over the place - you think they are saying something to you and you're all, "Excuse me?" And then you realize that they are NOT talking to you, they are talking to the little piece of plastic that is hanging from their ear. They look like this:



Well, MWG called me one day from the car and told me that he was talking on his bluetooth. His phone is the old Nokia "brick" type phone, and I don't know that they are even compatible with a bluetooth. Doesn't matter... just give MWG a Texas Longhorns skullie cap and he'll create his own hands-free device. Look and learn:

I'm studying astrophysics and rescuing baby rattlesnakes in my spare time

My family sends out a Christmas letter. You know what I mean.

The letter that gives you the update of what has happened in the lives of all the family members. To tell the truth, I actually like those letters and read every one that comes in. I always learn something that I didn't know. I'll say things to myself like, "Huh! I didn't know they went to Costa Rica over Spring Break!" or "Oh my gosh, poor little guy broke his arm! At least he got a Spiderman cast." etc. My parents do a really good job on theirs. My dad usually makes it into some sort of a pamphlet or something with just a sentence or two to give a quick snippet on the lives of us all. (of course, maybe I think it is a good letter because I'm mentioned in it... who knows.)

This year, my dad asked us to write our own updates. What?!?! If you know me at all, you should realize that I really don't like to talk about myself. I'm not one for lots of attention or fanfare. Example: My entire family is musical and doesn't mind performing... we've got it all - singers, guitar players, bass players, harmonica players and djimbe players - yet I kind of sing along in the background and pretty much refuse to sing by myself. (unless there is wine involved.) I realize that having a blog could be considered a method of promoting myself or bragging, but since I don't have anyone around me when I'm writing, it's more like I'm just writing an autobiography.

So anyway, we were requested to send in our updates using 150 words or less. This is what I probably should have submitted:

Just to answer your question: Rachel is not married yet, nor is she sporting anything sparkly on her left hand. She has no children but enjoys dressing up her dog in an effort to satisfy her maternal instincts. She does have a really good job that she enjoys, although sitting in a cubicle has contributed to some weight gain. She is halfway done with graduate school, and is hoping it is worth the additional $20,000 of student loans.

Here is what I submitted:

Rachel is still in Austin, loving her job as a teacher educator in a certification program. She is half-way done with her master's degree in Administrative Leadership, focusing on Human Resource Development and Adult Education. She loves being “Aunt Bee” to her nieces and nephews and tries to visit as much as possible. In her spare time, she enjoys dressing her dachshund, Blossom, in ridiculous outfits as her boyfriend Larry hangs his head in shame. Together, they enjoy volunteering with Mobile Loaves and Fishes, hosting parties, and sharing the many blessings of life with family and friends. If you’re the blogging type, you can keep up with her at www.thatcatbythebar.blogspot.com.

(insert vomiting soundtrack here)

See? I'm really not very good at self-promotion. These things are so hard to write, because you want people to be happy for the exciting things that are going on in your life, but there is no way to word them without sounding a little pretentious. For instance:

Best Brags

Our daughter no longer colors, she designs . . .
[The daughter was three and a half, and not quite potty trained.]

Our high school won the State Football Championship this year . . .
[None of the family's children played, but they attended regularly. Go, Bulldogs!]

Our son was invited to send a biography to "Who's Who in American High School Students" . . .
[Main selection criteria: order a copy, for $49.99.]

I'm going to learn ancient Greek next year, so I can see if the Bible was translated properly . . .
Sent to Maryanne in California, as was the next.

Our daughter has mastered French. She isn't interested in Spanish and the school doesn't offer Russian, so she's taking Mandarin Chinese . . .
[Daughter who had mastered French was in the 9th grade.]

So anyway, if you happen to get a Christmas letter from my parents this year, don't laugh at my section. I did my best.