Bedtime Stories is really cute. It's a funny, wholesome movie, and I loved the part where the main character refuses to read "Rainbow the Alligator Saves the Wetlands." :-) I don't think I've seen a movie in theaters since Hancock. I think I saw Wall-e before that. Oh, Pixar is coming out with another movie. It looks a bit like Danny Deckchair (though I've never seen Danny Deckchair). This old curmugeon airlifts his house with a ton of balloons and a little boyscout is trapped on his porch. I'll probably see it because it's Pixar and I really like Pixar's movies. Oh, they are also coming out with a sequel to Night at the Museum. I am excited about that. I love all the history. Especially the little miniature cowboys and Romans.

I have a very relaxed morning and afternoon today, and it is wonderful. I'm heading to a friend's house to celebrate the New Year, which I'm looking forward to.

I'm going to make wassail tonight. Wassail is a family tradition for Christmas and New Years. It has cranberry and apple juice, a clove studded orange, and cinnamon sticks. You heat it in a crock pot and serve it hot. So good.

Moderation

Last spring, I received a comment on my blog, and after following the links to see who commented, I was taken to a site that tried to scan my computer, saying I had a virus or spyware. Scared that I really did have those things, I took my computer to ITS, and they checked it out and my computer was clean. This incident, however, caused me to enable comment moderation, as I'm sure you know if you've tried to comment. :-) I'm still relatively new at this and a bit wary, so if I am unsure of who someone is, I am more likely to screen the comments. Comments are most certainly welcome though, as it is dull without feedback.

I'm going to see Bedtime Stories tonight. I realized that I kind of like some of Adam Sandler's movies, and this one looks very cute. "It started raining gumballs." :-)

I love two day weeks. Hooray for holidays!

Resolutions

I have truly entered grown up land. I am considering New Year's resolutions, and one of them includes exercising at the "gym" more. Sigh. I also came across an interesting resolution as I was reading Boundless today. One poster decided to read more books this year, and I think that I would like to adopt that resolution as well. I have been slacking when it comes to reading, and I would like to get in the groove again. However, it would be more fun if I had people to share this resolution with. I found a website called goodreads.com, and it is kind of like facebook for book lovers. You choose books you have read, are reading, and want to read, and you can write reviews and see what your friends are reading or recommend and join discussion groups. Does anyone know anything about it? It looks really interesting.

Lots and Lots

I had a very good Christmas, but it was too short. I miss the month off that I've been used to for the past 4 years. Actually, this is the first time in my life where I haven't had at least 2 weeks off for the holidays. It's ok though, because I only work two days this week.

Travel to and from my grandparents' house was crazy, though getting there was better than coming back. On the way back, I drove through the thickest fog. I had never driven with such reduced visibility. I decided to take the longer way back, as I was not going to do Chicago if I couldn't see the road signs. It's funny, but driving in fog has a lot of spiritual applications. I couldn't see very far ahead of me, and even when we know where we are going, or plan to go, in life, we don't know what's going to materialize out of the fog. Life is that way. I can lay plans, but I can't see very far ahead. I don't know what the Lord is going to provide or how He's going to curve the road ahead of me. All I can do is keep driving and keep trusting Him. Some days are foggier than others. Some days I can see clearly, and others I can't, but I really want to. I guess that's why it's hard to trust. I want to know what's going to happen, but I just have to believe that wherever the road leads and whatever happens, God has my interests and the interests of His glory and kingdom in mind.

It was so good to be with family and friends again. I was able to go out for lunch with Kara and her sister, which was fun, though I did add some extra tins to her luggage. Sorry. :-)

I so enjoy getting together with my family. We all can just laugh together. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. They crack me up, and we can just be ourselves.

My dad picked out some good CDs for me, including Brave Combo's "Polkatharsis" and the best of Allan Sherman. Allan Sherman is an older version of Weird Al. His most famous song is the Camp Granada song, "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah." So funny.

There was a wicked wind last night. It woke me up, and I was worried about a tornado, especially as where I am living is a very bad place for tornados.

Happy New Year.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to all. I will not be able to post for awhile, as I am going into the no wireless zone. :-) I am a bit nervous about driving tomorrow, as it is a busy travel day and the weather is iffy. I liked snow a lot better when I didn't have to drive in it so much. I'm very excited to see family and friends again. I realized that this is the first holiday that I have not spent preparing for with my family. I also realized that it will be the first time that I will not be there for my brother's birthday in January. :-(

I still have a lot left to do, so I'm going to catch some Zs and get up early to finish it all. I can't wait for break and to relax. :-)

P.S. I am going to miss the Christmas carols at work. I enjoyed all the different CDs and songs. Especially the Muppets Christmas. :-)

Today I...

Decided that my favorite time to go to Wal Mart is 9 PM on a Friday or Saturday night.

Got lost in Jackson. Jackson is like Decatur. I was not comfortable there, and ended up going home without finding the mall. Oh well.

Saw a car get pulled over while I was stopped at a red light. The police car was marked, but did not have a light bar on top. Tricky! It had lights on the sides and inside that went on. I don't like that. I like police cars with the big light bar on top. That's how I identify them. :-) I've seen some with a thin, flatter light bar, and those are tricky too, as they almost look like a sunroof.

Discovered Faerie Tale Theater. They are new at the library, and though the acting and special effects aren't that good, I really like them. They are funny and stay pretty true to the real fairy tales, not the Disney versions. I watched Beauty and the Beast, Snow White, The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers, and The Twelve Princesses, which was actually the Six Princesses. Ha. They actually had some big name actors and actresses in them. Susan Sarandon was Beauty and Angelica Huston was her sister, Vanessa Redgrave was the wicked queen in Snow White, and Vincent Price was the magic mirror. The mirror was great! :-) Robin Williams and Christopher Reeves are also in some of the others, but I'm not sure which ones. I think Robin Williams is the frog prince. I think I'm hooked. :-)

Bought Legally Blonde. I really like that movie for some reason, and I now have the full version. I'm tired of the TV versions.

Discovered that as the holiday season has progressed, I've become less cheery about it. It really can wear on you, which is so sad.

Tried to be a better housekeeper. A slow work in progress, but I'm trying.

Sunday, Here Comes the Week

For those of you who were wondering, no, I am not confused on this issue. :-) I do, however, find it ridiculous when even the application is liberal/politically correct. It's an application, it should be neutral. Sigh. Oh well.

The holidays are still crazy. I have a Christmas lunch tomorrow with the library and a Christmas dinner with the college on Wednesday, both of which I'm looking forward to attending.

We did Bethlehem Marketplace with church this weekend. They are going to switch it to every other year, but I'm glad that I got to do it this year. We recreate the town of Bethlehem. I was the "spice girl," that is, I sold spices. I was right next to the governor's "palace" and close to the slave trader and the jail. It was fun talking to the passing centurions, who were skeptical about the Messiah. People bought things from the vendors to give to the baby at the end. It was rather fun. I also got to burn incense, though I ran out and couldn't burn any today. I think the sellers on the other side missed it, as the donkeys were a bit strong smelling. :-) Sadly, the goat did not give birth this year. That was so cool last year to see the new little kids. Goats are so cute.

Church and Sunday school were good today, that is, convicting. There is so much that I don't understand about God and His love, but I'm so glad that God loves me and hasn't given up on me.

Merry Christmas

Umm

I just filled out an application that had three options under the word gender: male, female, and uncertain.

We Interupt This Program

Yesterday morning, Rod Blagoyevich, governor of Illinois, was arrested for attempting to sell Barack Obama's open senate seat. Hurray! He had been under investigation. He knew he was being investigated, but he did it anyway. Get him out of there. Wow.

Things are really busy. I have lots of cookies to make, applications to fill out, essays to write, Christmas letters to send, and other activities to fill my time. Whew. The holidays really are busy.

I had a wonderful weekend. Three friends came down and we went to the Messiah on Sunday. The Messiah is so beautiful! It is the full embodiment of art. That is what art is supposed to be: beautiful, excellent artistry, and glorifying to God. It lifts you up and causes you to contemplate "the higher things." It was so good to be able to see it with friends and hang out. It's not the same without them.

Food and Baking

I had to share this. I just bought Cornish game hens! I'm going to attempt to cook them for New Years. They were on sale, so I bought them. I don't have any idea how to cook them, but I'm sure I can find a recipe off of Food Network. It will be interesting.

I also bought fake garland with lights in it. Hurrah for festivities. I have a lot to do, but I love the Christmas season.

I just finished a personal statement essay for grad school. Whew.

I have two governors. Blagoyevich is depriving his citizens of their historical and cultural heritage, but Granholm might possibly deprive her citizens of their lives. She has decided to cut spending for...plowing and salting. Now, Michigan is a northern state. We get a lot of snow. Less plowing and salting = bad = dangerous. The local city government has cut funding as well, so it might get a bit interesting around here.

I thought I had more to say. I guess not. I ate good Nigerian food over break. And watched a lot of The Closer.

Oh, I also bought a down comforter! I got spoiled in the nice hotels I stayed at and started to desire a down comforter. So, we braved Black Friday and I found a real down comforter, as well as a cool pair of argyle tights and a cute tunic shirt that reminds me of an afghan from the 70s. :-)

Love and Joy