Hohoho!

Merry Christmas!

Love, Kris

Getting in the mood!

I got home from work yesterday and my daughter had retrieved the Christmas tree box from the carport and managed to put it together herself! Yes, in a way I do feel bad that my child had to put up her own tree, but in another I feel thankful for the help. So last night while she was at a friend's house, I wrapped presents. So we now have a tree with presents under it! I am starting to feel the Christmas spirit creeping in.

This weekend will be full of activities and family. Saturday my daughter and I (hubby has to work) are traveling for about an hour to my dad's house for Christmas. My brother, his wife, their son, my sister, her husband their twin sons, my stepsister, her husband, their daughter and son will be there. My poor daughter used to be the only girl among all the boys, so she is the one that usually gets picked on and poked. The other girl is too young to get involved with the rowdiness. I have purchased all the kids, including my daughter and my dad, who is the biggest kid of all, nerf dart guns. So I am hoping that they will be able to run around and play together without breaking anything!

Sunday we (husband, me and daughter) will be traveling an hour and a half to my mom's. My mom, stepdad, stepgrandparents, my brother, his wife and their son will be there also. I get to see them two days in a row! After all the presents are opened, we have to do our family tradition, watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Yes. I admit freely we are a redneck family!

What are some of your family traditions at Christmas?

Christmas joy?

Ahhh, the joys of Christmas. And you all wonder why I am not in the Christmas spirit. Nope, still no tree. Anyway, last year it was the central heat/AC that went out and had to be replaced at Christmastime. Now this year? Well we just forked over $225 so that we could flush the toliets, shower and wash clothes. The luxury of indoor plumbing!

Question #4

Do you like eggnog ?

Question #3

Real or Fake Christmas tree?

No lights! No lights!

Growing up we always went and cut down our own Christmas tree. I have many of the same memories from the movie National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. You know the part, where he has to cut off the entire top of the tree just to get it in the house. By the time my dad got through “topping” the tree, we basically had two trees.

When my brother was about 2, we went out to get our tree. It was cold too and we walked in to the woods. My dad found a tree and asked us what we thought. It was good. We all agreed, except for my brother. So we kept looking. We looked and looked and looked. It was starting to get dark and colder. Finally, my dad started cutting a tree. My brother started crying and throwing a fit in the middle of the woods. He was slobbering and blubbering something about, “No lights. No lights!” No one understood what he meant. Finally my mom got him to calm down. He explained to her that there were no lights on the tree.

My poor little brother thought that we were going to wander upon a pre-lit, pre-decorated tree out in the middle of the woods like they show on cartoons, magically glowing in the woods with a light shining down on it.

My mom had to explain to him that we had to do that when we got the tree home.

Question #2

Colored lights or white lights?

Huh?

From Joie's blog in regards to Joe: His PC at home is broke (caught a virus from Kris?!)

Why am I being blamed?

Is that a joke or are you serious?

NEXT Year!

I feel like I have been bad and I am being punished, sitting in a corner, by myself. I cant post comments on anyone's blog that has beta. I think this is something that we should have decided on a as group, but nooooo, all you “indivualists” out there wandered off by yourself! lol geesh! I thought we were a "family"! :-)

Joe? You said you had been blocked your own blog at work? Do you think it is because of the 'content' on your blog? I know that there are some blogs I cant get to and read from work. So nobody go too nasty or dirty or I wont be able to read you anymore.

Still no computer on the home front. Still no Christmas tree either. lol I may just put up the littlest tree we have and string some lights on it. It is only the lights that I really like anyway. I love to sit in a dark room that is only lit with the lights from the Christmas tree.

I think I know why I am in such a "scroogey" mood this year. Every year, every single, freaking year, I tell myself that NEXT year is going to be different. NEXT year I will start shopping early, NEXT year I will have more money, NEXT year I will get more decorations, NEXT year I will be better, NEXT year maybe we will have a bigger house. But I'll be damned if NEXT year doesnt get here too damn fast and nothing is different than the year before except Im a year older and my daughter is one year closer to moving out of the house to go to college. I am tired of always waiting for the NEXT year. I know, I know....I am the only one that can make these things different and there is no one to blame but myself.

Ok, and I think one of the reasons I dont like Christmas this year is because of the events of last year. It was a Sunday night. It was around dusk. I had been getting out and unpacking the Christmas decorations. I had finally moved the furniture around so that this year we could see the Christmas tree lights from the street! I was so excited. I got the lights all up on the tree and I said to my daughter and my hubby, "Come on! Lets go outside and look at the Christmas tree lights from outside!" We all went out the backdoor, walked down the driveway and around the end of the cars, then I looked up the street. Without thinking, I screamed "OH MY GOD!" and quickly tried to shield my daughter from looking. My husband saw it too. I pushed my daughter towards the backdoor, but she knew, she could tell. Then the neighbor from across the street came down her drive, from across the street she said, "They didnt even stop." I hurt because she had seen it happen. There in the street was our kitten. Someone had just run her over. This year my daughter told me she was not going outside to look in at the Christmas lights. I told her I wasnt either.

Question #1

What is your favorite Christmas song?

EDITED: A friend sent me these in an email.

Christmas Carols for the Psychiatrically Challenged....
1. Schnizophrenia --- Do you hear what I hear?
2. Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Kings Disoriented Are
3. Amnesia --- I Don't Know if I'll be Home for Christmas
4. Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me.
5. Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and Fire Hydrants and ....
6. Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me
7. Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire
8. Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why
9. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder --- Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells.....
10. Agoraphobic --- I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day But Wouldn't Leave My House
11. Autistic --- Jingle Bell Rock and Rock and Rock and Rock....
12. Senile Dementia --- Walking in a Winter Wonderland Miles From My House in My Slippers and Robe
13. Oppositional Defiant Disorder --- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus So I Burned Down the House
14. Social Anxiety Disorder --- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas While I Sit Here and Hyperventilate

Jesus' Happy Day

Blogger is being a big pain today! I cant seem to make comments on anyone's blog today that has beta. I guess I should just bite the bullet and change mine too. I dont know why I am holding out. Fear of change I guess. One of my downfalls. Was that in my birthchart VI?

Joe had commented on his blog about the people and the lack of their Christmas spirit and how we should all just remember what the holiday is actually about. I couldnt agree with him more! I think that it is the fact that so many people have forgotten the TRUE "Reason for the Season" is why I am not in the mood.

I get so tired of hearing about the gifts and the shopping. I am tired of the commercials and the advertisements on TV. It seems without the idea of spending money, gobs of it, that there is no other reason for the holiday. If you listen to the tv and advertisers, it appears that that gifts dont mean a thing if they dont come with a big price tag.

What happened to gifts from the heart?I want to go back to making goodies (cookies, breads and muffins) for your neighbors and friends, going to visit someone you havent seen in a long time or picking up the phone and calling them or sending them a card.

I am so tired of the debate as to whether or not we can even say "Merry Christmas" with out offending someone.

Do you know what you get if you rearrange SANTA? yep...SATAN
(and please, no hate comments. I 'beleive' in Santa Claus!)

When my daughter was little she called people's birthday's their "happy day". You could ask her, "What is Christmas?" She would say, "It's Jesus' Happy Day!"

Here is the words to one of my favorite non-traditional Christmas songs.

Joseph And Mary's Boy
by Alabama

Out here is the country there's magic in the air.
It's the middle of December there's excitement eveywhere
Everyone's invited, the celebration's planned
The gift is just what's in your heart and not what's in your hand

Chorus:
Who's the one we need to thanks
Who's the party for
Who's the one responsible for all this peace and joy
Who deserves the credit for the blessings we enjoy
Preacher said last Sunday it was Joseph and Mary's boy

There were times we didn't think we'd make it through the year
The bankers tried to take our farms but somehow we're still here
I don't know how the crops survived the drought and then the rain
It must have been a miracle how else could you explain

Chorus

The Christ Child born in Bethlehem
He was Joseph and Mary's boy

Its all about ME!

1. Yourself: shy
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend (spouse): yes
3. Your hair: short
4. Your mother: giving
5. Your father: selfish
6. Your favorite item: computer
7. Your dream last night: my grandfather died (he is dead)
8. Your favorite drink: sweet tea
9. Your dream car: Mustang GT (this changes daily)
10. The room you are in: office
11. Your ex: clingy
12. Your fear: needles (aka shots)
13. What you want to be in 10 years? alive
14. Who you hung out with last night? my daughter
15. What You're Not? high maintenance
16. Muffins: strawberry
17. One of your wish list items: debt free!
18. Time: morning
19. The last thing you did: talked on the phone to my boss
20. What you are wearing: red pants, black shirt
21. Your favorite weather: Sunny
22. Your favorite book: non-fiction
23. The last thing you ate: choc chip cookie
24. Your life: average
25. Your mood: complacent
26. Your best friend: my mom
27. What are you thinking about right now? lunch
28. Your car: Saturn
29. What are you doing at the moment? typing
30. Your summer: too short
31. Your relationship status: married
32. What is on your TV? Fox News
33. What is the weather like? cloudy
34. When is the last time you laughed? yesterday

Mini Birth Chart

I have to say a big THANK YOU to VI for doing this for me. I might be giving too much of the "real" me away! I have had this for two months, thinking that someday I would add my own commentary, but I havent yet. Anyone notice a common thread throughout?!?! I have bolded the items that I see in myself.

"Your sun sign is Libra."

Basic personality: Procrastination comes naturally to you, because you have the ability to see every point of view, and dislike taking sides in an argument. Although you have considerable physical energy, you are sometimes accused of laziness. This is often because you are choosing to relax, and making time to listen to the problems of your friends and family.

Relationships: You are a great romantic and vulnerable when in a partnership. Your indecision is swept aside, and when marrying in haste you may repent at leisure. You are a very loving and caring parent but sometimes spoil your child for the sake of peace and quiet.

Careers: You enjoy the high life and need to earn good money. You thrive in positions that need diplomacy and tact; fashion and the beauty and cosmetic industries suit you well.

Leisure: You do not enjoy physical exertion, but need to exercise to avoid becoming overweight. You need to control your love of rich food.

Moon in Aries: (personality)
You react immediately and very passionately to situation in which you are emotionally involved, and sometimes the response can be rather too hasty. An instinctive need for action sometimes results in rash decision-making. Where everyday life is concerned, you should learn to be patient with those slower than you. A quick emotional reaction is not always advisable, and you should cultivate control and resist temptation towards aggression or confrontation. A positive aspect is you are decisive when others are confused, and have a broad grasp of most situations. You need independence and are quick to encourage others to be independent too. Easily bored, you need innovation in all areas of your life. Your tendency toward selfishness is certainly not lacking, and in personal matters you tend to put yourself first but you are quick to acknowledge when you have been selfish.

Mercury in Libra: (the mind)
You prefer to achieve without effort. You will go to any lengths to avoid controversy, and will be helped in this aim by your natural charm. Indecision will be a way of life for you, as may mental laziness. Nagging will not help! Gentle encouragement to recognize your own achievements is needed. Procrastination will be a problem.

Venus in Virgo: (relations and money)
Sexual inhibition will need to be overcome if a partnership is to work; when it is conquered, you are an enormously attractive person with natural grace and modesty. Difficulty in expressing love may conflict with need of a fulfilling partnership. Finance is practically handled.

Mars in Sagittarius: (energy levels)
Restlessness, in one form or another is the characteristic most clearly marked in your birth chart. You have high level of physical energy that needs to be exerted through physical activity otherwise restlessness is likely to ensue. You should find a way of balancing your physical and mental energy, using each equally. You should ideally seek a career that is intellectually or physically demanding. You devour challenges with enthusiasm and appetite, and faced with what others find an intractable problem, will set out your solution with enviable zeal - a solution that will probably be unconventional, ingenious, and surprising, stemming from your considerable breadth of vision. There is a risk that in the middle of bringing your plans to fruition, restlessness will take a hand. After all your dedication and enthusiasm have been focused on one thing, you will suddenly become bored and start another project. This is because you have a tendency to believe that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. You should be aware of this element within your personality, and endeavor to keep your energy focused on one thing at a time and to complete all tasks that you undertake.

Jupiter in Libra: (knowledge)
You are easy-going, casual, sympathetic, kindly, and completely charming person who loves comfort. Sometimes you can become lazy, although still utterly charming, and capable of using that charm in order to contrive a luxurious lifestyle that will be supported by the hard work of others. However, you have a good mind under normal circumstances, and are capable of using it. You may be driven to uncharacteristic hard work by your need to make money in order to enjoy the comfortable, even luxurious, lifestyle that you require if you are to be happy. The comfort and luxury you attain will be shared generously, even extravagantly, with friends. You have a well deserved reputation as a genial host. The love of entertainment felt by you stems partially from your hatred of loneliness, and you will cultivate both business and emotional partnerships. You give a great deal of love and affection to your partner, but you are independent, and often rely heavily on others. You need encouragement to develop your own potential and to stand alone. You often dislike exercise but should endeavor to be active, not only for your health and well-being, but because you enjoy rich food and need to work off the excess calories!

Saturn in Taurus (limitations)
You tend to be long-suffering, hard-working, and follow a prudent and rather rigid routine throughout your life. Your admirable patience and discretion sometimes seem to sap you of enthusiasm and originality. Your ambition will spur you on to the top of your profession, but there can sometimes be a conflict between the love of luxury and the need to be 'careful' with money. You usually have an inner voice that accuses you of spending too lavishly, or living too well. You will have to learn to ignore this voice sometimes if you wish to indulge your instincts. Although kindly to others, you are inhibited when expressing your emotions in a personal relationship. Your caution and patience tends to become hesitancy and indecision.

Uranus in Libra: (expressions)
You are loving and romantic, possess a strong independent streak that will battle constantly against your longing for a solid and lasting personal relationship. Your partner will sometimes feel that he is being treated cooly, and that you are too independent to make a proper commitment. You are a faithful friend, completely dependable, and always ready to give as much consideration and time to your friends as they need. Sympathy and kindness are also attributes. If you are accused of being distant to relatives or loved ones, you should try to cultivate the same degree of affection you show your friends.

Neptune in Scorpio: (Same as Sleepless and I)
You may have had to fight hard for a decent lifestyle. Sometimes, when you feel defeated you may easily turn to drugs or alcohol or other forms of escapism (intense, self destructive escapism). On the other hand, if life goes well, you can be ostentatiously successful! Scorpio rules business and good living for this generation to enjoy!

Pluto in Virgo (Once again you, me and sleepless - all born in the same decade) 'You are in a powerful position to make dynamic change. You possess the power to blast the world to fragments or to rid it of much this is unjust!'

This sucks!

I feel so disconnected now, like I am not a part of the 'group'. I miss keeping up with all of you on the weekends. I miss being able to sit down and post when a thought pops in to my lonely little brain! lol Now I have to write down my ideas and wait to type them later. By then it seems that the moment is lost though.

Hopefully we are going to purchase a new computer as a 'family' Christmas gift. Hopefully this week. I just dont know what to do with the two old computers that are now taking up the floor space in our 'office' at home. Actually they are sitting on the treadmill at this time. Darn the luck, that means I cant get on it and walk! lol shoot!

I had a pretty quiet weekend at home. I still dont have any Christmas decorations up. I told my daughter that we werent going to put a tree up this year. I vote that we just skip Christmas this year. I am not in the mood, nor does it seem like many other people are either.

Little Girls Are So Smart

A firefighter was working on the engine outside the station when he noticed a little girl nearby in a little red wagon with little ladders hung off the sides and a garden hose tightly coiled in the middle.

The girl was wearing a firefighter's helmet.
The wagon was being pulled by her dog and her cat.

The fire fighter walked over to take a closer look.

"That sure is a nice fire truck," the firefighter said with admiration.

"Thanks," the girl replied.

The firefighter looked a little closer and noticed the girl had tied the wagon to her dog's collar and to the cat's testicles.

"Little Partner," the firefighter said. "I don't want to tell you how to run your rig, but if you were to tie that rope around the cat's collar, I think you could go faster."

The little girl replied thoughtfully,

"You're probably right, but then I wouldn't have a siren.

Testament

The funeral was two hours today. It was sad, but it was also a wonderful testament to a man that took great pride in his job and his life. I was proud that my daughter had the chance to know him, even if only for a few months. It was the first funeral I had been to where it was basically an open mic. Anyone that wanted to could get up and say something about him, tell a story or read a poem. His own parents and sister even spoke.

Isnt it a shame that a person has to die in order to see the people who's lives we have affected? So next time someone touches your heart or you feel like you are better person for knowing them, dont hesitate to tell them. Tell them now. Tell them before you might not have a chance to.

Scrooge

Can you believe that I dont have one Christmas decoration hung or out at my house? The only piece of evidence that Christmas is even near is the one Christmas card that I got on Saturday. It was from a lady that I used to work with. The only gift I have even bought is a $5 CD from Walmart to put in my hubby's stocking. I have a lot of gifts that I want to buy, but my checkbook is just not cooperating! I cant seem to get in the Christmas spirit this year. I am feeling a lot like Scrooge.

My daughter came home from school last week telling me that her PE coach was diagnosed with leukemia. He is also an assistant basketball coach. My daughter had to cheer this weekend at a game. We had to leave the house at 7:00am Saturday. During halftime of the game, there was a commotion in the crowd. Apparently the coach wasnt feeling good and they had taken him the hospital. He had a stroke and suffered an aneurysm. He died Sunday morning. He was 33 years old.

EDITED: Its not fair that we as parents should have to watch our chidren suffer through these lessons in life. It is killing me watch my daughter struggle with this. I was a sophomore in high school before I had to deal with the devastation of losing a classmate. I know this teacher was not a classmate, but he was so young. That is the point that she keeps making over and over. I think knowing that he is younger than I am and he died, keeps reminding her that something could happen to me or her dad that fast. He just found out he had leukemia on the 21st of November.

And to let you all know, I did go out at lunch and make my first real Christmas purchases! The Hallmark store had some beautiful, heavy platters to put cookies on. They were an excellent price, so I bought a few. I also bought my daughter a 2007 calendar. It is Napoleon Dynamite. She loves that movie.

Sorry So Late!

Well I typed this all out on Friday and never got to post it before I left work. This crap sucks! I am at the public library now, people all around me and more burning holes in the back of my head waiting in line to use the computer, including my daughter who is waiting for me to take her Target! Oh to be a teenager again and not have a care in the world other than shopping. Traffic really sucks with all the Christmas shopping and I dont have the patience to deal with it. Then again, when do I really have the patience?!? lol Never!
This has been such a busy, crazy, unexpected week. I am sorry for not being to catch up with all of you. I miss all of you too!!!


1.WHAT CURSE WORD DO YOU USE THE MOST? Damn it!
2. DO YOU OWN AN IPOD?No, but I my daughter has an Ipod Nano.
3. WHAT PERSON ON YOUR FLIST DO YOU TALK TO THE MOST? Flist? What is that?
4. WHAT TIME IS Y0UR ALARM CLOCK SET TO?5:30am.
5. DO YOU STILL REMEMBER THE FIRST PERSON YOU KISSED?Yes
6. DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE YOU WERE ON SEPTEMBER 11th 2001?
The very first news report, I was driving to work.
7. WOULD YOU RATHER TAKE THE PICTURE OR BE IN THE PICTURE?
I love taking pictures and always HATE how I look in pictures, so I will take it.
8. WHAT WAS THE LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? The Departed
9. DO ANY OF YOUR FRIENDS HAVE CHILDREN?Of course.
10. HAS ANYONE EVER CALLED YOU LAZY?Yes, my husband.
11. DO YOU EVER TAKE MEDICATION TO HELP YOU FALL ASLEEP?Yes
12. WHAT CD IS CURRENTLY IN YOUR CD PLAYER?A cd that CK burned for me with a lot of different songs on it.
13. DO YOU PREFER REGULAR OR CHOCOLATE MILK?Regular.
14. HAS ANYONE TOLD YOU A SECRET THIS WEEK?YES!!!
15. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HAD STARBUCKS?Cant remember. I tend to agree with MS, "Over priced crap!!"
16. CAN YOU WHISTLE?I can, but not loud.
17. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX?Smile.
18. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO?A new computer.
19. DID YOU WATCH CARTOONS AS A CHILD?Yes, Scooby Doo, Tom and Jerry
20. DO YOU OWN ANY BAND T-SHIRTS?Yes, one. Just bought it August 31, 2006.
21. WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING IN ONE HOUR?eating lunch I hope.
22. IS ANYONE IN LOVE WITH YOU?I believe so...
23. WHAT WAS THE LAST SONG YOU HEARD?"How To Save a Life" by The Fray.
24. LAST TIME YOU CRIED?Tuesday morning.
25. DESKTOP COMPUTER OR A LAPTOP?I wish I had both, hell I would just like one that works right now, but I have a desktop.
26. ARE YOU CURRENTLY WANTING ANY PIERCINGS OR TATTOOS?I have thought about getting the top of my ear done and maybe getting a little tatoo somewhere, my first.
27. WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE?Sunshining and COLD!
28. WOULD YOU EVER DATE A GIRL/GUY COVERED IN TATTOOS?I think.
29. WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE THIS?sent a text message
30. WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU SLEPT ON THE FLOOR?A few Christmases ago at my mother-in-law's...that was hell.
31. HOW MANY HOURS OF SLEEP DO YOU NEED TO FUNCTION?Around 8.
32. DO YOU EAT BREAKFAST DAILY?Yes, a little something.
33. ARE YOUR DAYS FAST-PACED?They can be. Depends on the work-load.
34. WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT?Watched Survivor, Grey's Anatomy, did a Suduko puzzle and went to bed.
35. DO YOU USE SARCASM?Who Me? Of course not!
36. HOW OLD WILL YOU BE TURNING ON YOUR NEXT BIRTHDAY?38
37. ARE YOU PICKY ABOUT SPELLING AND GRAMMAR?YES!
38. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO SIX FLAGS?Yes.
39. DO YOU GET ALONG BETTER WITH THE SAME SEX OR THE OPPOSITE SEX?The opposite
40. DO YOU LIKE MUSTARD?Yes.
41. DO YOU SLEEP ON YOUR SIDE?Yes
42. DO YOU WATCH THE NEWS?Yes.
43. HOW DID YOU GET ONE OF YOUR SCARS? chicken pox, I was 5 months pregnant when I got the chicken pox. Never had them as a child.
44. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU MAD?My husband.