Have You Seen My Holiday Spirit???

I have tried and tried to find my holiday spirit these last few days. It has gone AWOL.

Because this is my kitten's first Christmas, I've decided not to get a tree. Plus, the thought of getting the tree in the stand all by myself - well, let's just say there would be a whole lot of expletives flying. I did put up a tree last year, my first in my new house. See?
It smelled lovely! My gold and bronze ornaments glowed with my white twinkly lights. Charley thought the tree water was some special treat. But I just know Chaplin would get into the tree and knock it down. I cannot imagine what will happen once I start shopping and wrapping presents. I have no doubt he will be tearing open presents. Maybe I'll use bags this year.

I do have a small tree made entirely of red ornaments and lights that I'll probably put out. But, that will be it. I think. I noticed my poinsettia from last year died. I'm waiting for my Christmas cactus to bloom (hopefully the somewhat cooler weather will make that happen).

I tried to bring out the holiday spirit by adding holiday music to the rotation on my iPod (Josh, my carpool partner, will probably not be happy with that). I even watched three of my favorite holiday movies this weekend, Elf on Friday, Christmas Vacation on Saturday and Love Actually on Friday. While I enjoyed them for what seems like the millionth time, I'm just not excited about Christmas. And that stinks! It's my favorite holiday! What has happened to me?

If you've seen my holiday spirit, will you kindly send it my way? Maybe it'll take those holiday cards filling my mailbox that will do the trick. Maybe some fudge (hint hint). Maybe I'll just wake up one day and not be annoyed by the phrase "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas." Go ahead and sing it. It's just making me roll my eyes.

I'm hoping my spirit finds me soon. I don't like feeling all Grinch-like.

Why I'm Thankful

I know this post is being written a few days after Thanksgiving, but it's never too late to be thankful. Here goes.

I'm thankful for my family, even if we don't see each other as often as we should. From my parents who keep going off and gambling away my inheritance, to my brother who prefers to tell me why he hates things - and doesn't really give a reason other than "I just don't like it." There are also my crazy grandparents who think they have a solution to everything - whether it's grandpa's advice to grandma's gifts she's dug out of one of the off-limits rooms in her house. I have lots of aunts, uncles and cousins I don't get to see very often. Some are perfectly normal and fun, others are weird, whiny and clingy. Still, they're family - gotta love 'em.

I'm thankful for my little furkids. They greet me when I come home from work every night. They let me know when they need food or a snack. They let me know when they want to play or go for a walk. They also keep me from getting 8 hours of consecutive sleep (though I do go back to sleep once Charley has gone outside to take care of business).

I'm thankful for my friends. I only wish I could see everyone more! Schedules tend to keep us apart, though we do keep in touch either on the phone or online. I love that even if we don't see each other every day, our conversations pick right up like it hasn't been weeks or even (gasp) months.

I'm thankful for work. Yes, it gets in the way of a whole lot of fun, but in these times, I'm glad to have a job. Is it my dream job? No. But if I had that, what would I work toward? Oh, and it'll likely take me winning the lottery to get that dream job.

But each Thanksgiving, I'm a little more, well, thankful that history does not repeat itself. Forgive this part of the post if you've heard the story.

Years ago, I was headed to work on Thanksgiving Day. I was taking my exit when I saw this guy standing in the middle of the ramp lane. I started to break even more, then I honked at him. I swerved to the right, he jumped that way. I swerved to the left, he jumped that way. Then, I closed my eyes and came to a complete stop. He had rolled onto my hood and smashed into my windshield. I was doing about 20-25 mph when I hit him. I parked the car, then jumped out saying, "Ohmygodohmygodohmygod! Sir, are you OK?" My pulse was racing, my hands were shaking as I reached out to him. He stood up and said, "Yeah, I'm OK. You got any money." Something changed in my head. Suddenly, I was ANGRY. "No, I don't have any money!" Homeless guy responds, "Can I get a ride?" Even angrier, I say, "NO! I'M NOT TAKING YOU ANYWHERE!" Within a few minutes, what felt like the entire police department showed up to handle my little crash. I looked at my car - where the guy hit the windshield it was clear, but everything else around it spider webbed out. The hood was dented with the guy's imprint. And then, my station shows up to shoot the accident, not knowing I was involved. Turns out, the homeless guy was one of a group who was running a little scam. They get hit by cars, people usually pay them off, and they go about their bumming. The bum was taken to the hospital just to make sure he didn't have a concussion. He was also given a ticket for illegally crossing the highway (which he didn't pay which meant there was a warrant for his arrest, which then meant he got three hots and a cot and the jail - he wins). I manage to drive to work. I walk into the newsroom. The boss is there. He says, "OOOH! You're late!" I explain what happened. He says, "Well, you need to get out the door. You've got to get to the shelters to cover the dinners." "Are you serious?" I ask. He assures me that he is. I get in the car with my photographer. We show up at one shelter. A homeless guy starts walking at us shouting, "You guys only show up for stuff like this. You don't care about us any other day of the year." Like a possessed woman, I respond with, "If you know what's good for you, you won't take another step towards us." After that, we went and got video and interviews of the homeless and needy getting their free meals. We even sat down and ate with some of them. At the end of the day, the last thing I wanted to do was drive home. But I did. I was a little more grateful for what I had. And each year that I don't bump a bum, I am a little happier. Not just because I haven't had it happen again, but because I know how good I have it.

And I wonder if that same dude is running his scam in Corpus Christi or some place else?

I See Weird People

Everywhere I go, I bump into strangers.

Not just people I don't know. I'm talking STRANGERS. Weirdos. Freaks.

I was going through a pile of stuff while elfing me and my furkids (see post below) and I came across a Target receipt from this weekend. It reminded me of something I wanted to post but didn't get to. So here's the story:

I'm am a product junkie. Even if I don't need any product of any kind, I will still cruise the aisles, just in case there's something out there I need (new face wash? nail polish? lip gloss? lotion?). So I'm pushing my basket down the aisle and there's a pole in the middle of the lane. I try pushing my basket around the right because there's a person on the left with a basket. My basket gets stuck. I have to pull it back, and just when I'm about to say "Excuse me" so I can pass, I pause.

It's no ordinary shopper looking at press on nails. IT'S A DUDE!

I stop. Turn to pretend to browse at whatever's on my right (makeup for people MUCH darker than yours truly). Then, I slowly turn around to get another peek: DUDE!

I watch, this time with everything but my eyes aimed at the nail polish. I watch him pick up package after package of fake nails and hold them next to his hand. For a second, I think about grabbing my phone and snapping a picture, but decide with my luck he'd catch me, so I leave my phone in my bag. Finally, he notices me behind him. He apologizes, slides his cart out of the way for me and then says, "Can I ask you a question?"

To myself, I say, "If anyone should be asking questions..." Out loud, I say, "Sure."

"Do they sell those stickers so you can do french tips on your manicure?" I look at him, glance down at his nails and say, "Um, I think you have to buy a kit." Then, I look at the products in front of him. I reach for a manicure pen and say, "This might work."

He takes it from me, turns it over, glances at the instructions and says, "I'll probably need help with this." I say, "I know I would."

He thanks me, then pushes his cart down another aisle. I shake my head and go back to looking at the nail polish (note to Target: PLEASE stock the current OPI colors!). Then, a woman who was on the same aisle comes up to me. "Was that guy buying nail products for himself?" I tell her, "Mmmhhhmmm. He needed white tips for his french manicure." She says, "Oh."

Oh.

I was tempted to follow him around the store to see if he tried squeezing his feet into lady pumps or grabbed bras to try on. Then, I realized I needed to finish my shopping and get home. After seeing "Twilight" at the first showing, I decided I had enough strangeness in my life for the day.

And it wasn't even 3:00!

Happy Holidays!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

New "Office" Webisodes!!

It's another round of webisodes for one of my favorite shows (why don't more of them do this?). Here's the first one! Can't wait to find out what has fired up Oscar!!!

Christmas Wishes

I LOVE the Nieman Marcus holiday catalog! It's filled with things I'll likely never own. But it's fun to see the high dollar items. So, if you're feeling extra kind and have plenty of cash to throw away, here's what you can get me:

Patent Faridah Hobo

Price: $448.00

I love, love, LOVE bags! I do not have a Marc Jacobs in my collection. While the one shown is green, I would like the cherry colored one. Sure I could buy this one for myself, but what fun would that be?

NM Limited-Edition 2009 BMW® Individual 7 Series Sedan
Price $160,000.00

I've never thought of myself as a BMW gal, but here are a few reasons why I like this one: it's one of 31 being made; it has 20-way heated and ventilated front seats (perfect for hot or cold weather); and it goes fast!

But if you buy me this, I'll take you with me to pick it up in Munich and visit the French Riviera (part of the deal).

Authentic Guinness® Home Pub
Price $250,000.00

I would TOTALLY give up my study for this. Besides having craftsmen come to my home and build me my own pub, I'd get a trip to Ireland and a year full of Guinness! If you buy it for me, you can tag along, too!

My Time Is Valuable, Too!

In the last two days, I've been to two different doctors' offices. I say offices because at only one of these appointments have I actually SEEN the doctor. Yesterday, I had an 8:45 appointment. I got there right on time and within five minutes was shuttled to the little room, where I waited another five minutes to see my doctor. I was home with plenty of time to take a nap (YAY!). I'll discuss my diagnosis shortly.

Today, I get up early (again) to go see my allergy doctor. I was seven minutes early for my 10AM appointment. I saw people who came in after me get out of the busy waiting room faster. I watched a three year old girl throw a fit repeatedly. I helped an older lady in a wheelchair get out of the room. I watched pharmaceutical reps come and go. But at 11:20, I had enough. I went to the window and asked how much longer I would have to wait. I was told 20 minutes. That's when I snapped.

Keeping my voice down, I said, "If I wasn't going to be seen until 11:40, you should have called to tell me that. If I was this late for the appointment, you would have charged me for it and then made me reschedule. I understand doctors get busy. But the schedulers should budget more time for patients, instead of cramming us all in here like sardines. I may not be healing people, but my time is just as valuable as any one else's. I'm giving you two choices: get me out of this room and into one with the doctor in the next five minutes, or give me one of the earliest appointments so I don't have to wait like this again." She rescheduled me. Then I said, "Please make sure the doctor knows why I did not stick around. If I have to wait like this again - without any explanation - I will find another doctor." She looked at me for a few seconds, then asked, "Would you like the doctor to call you." I said, "Yes." And he did call. I said the same thing. He apologized and promised I would not have to wait at my next appointment. I said explained that no one should have to wait like that. It's beyond rude - it's disrespectful.

Now, back to the other doctor... I have been diagnosed with polycsystic ovary syndrome. For the next six months, I'm taking medication to try to ease it. If that doesn't work, it's surgery time. I am optimistic that now that I have been diagnosed I can get better.

At least my chesty cough is mostly gone...

Bored. BORED. B-O-R-E-D.

I stole this from Jayme because I don't have much to say right now and thought this would be nice filler for the weekend. Copy, paste and answer in the comments section ... if you dare.

[ONE] Who was your last text?
Me to Mendez: I'm gonna hit you.

[​​TWO]​​ Where​ was your defau​lt pic taken​?​​
my house

[​​THREE​]​​ Your relat​ionsh​ip statu​s?​​
s-i-n-g-l-e

[​​FOUR]​​ Have you ever lost a close​ frien​d?​​
To death? No. Over time? Yes.

[​​FIVE]​​ What is your curre​nt mood
Glad it's Friday!

[​​SIX]​​ What'​​s your broth​er'​​s name?​​
Billy. Pumpkin Head. Hater. Gay Uncle Billy. (He's not gay, but that's what Charley calls him)

[​​SEVEN​ ] What'​​s your favor​ite color​s?​​
I like most colors - except yellow.

[​​EIGHT​]​​ Where​ do you wish you were right​ now?
Counting my lotto millions.

[​​NINE]​​ Have you ever been in troub​le with the cops?
Ask my Dad. He IS the cops!

[​​TEN]​​ Ever had a near death​ exper​ience​?​​
I'm sure I have, I just can't think of one to share.

[​​ELEVE​N]​​ Somet​hing you do a lot?
Um, blog? Chase my furkids around. Read magazines - which could be a full time job.

[​​TWELV​E]​​ Angry​ at anyon​e?​​
RACISTS - especially those who have taken to making not-so-nice comments about the President-Elect and deny it's racist (they like to call it "a joke")!

[​​THIRT​EEN]​​ What'​​s stopp​ing you from going​ for the perso​n you like?​​
Restraining order. I WON'T HURT YOU, CLOONEY!

[​​FOURT​EEN]​​ When was the last time you cried​?​​
Last Wednesday (I think - it was some time last week)

[​​FIFTE​EN]​​ Is there​ anyon​e you would​ do anyth​ing for?
Like Jayme, I, too, need a definition of "anything." If you mean would I pick up a dead hooker and dump her body for you, I'm gonna say "No" everytime. I don't like dead people. Other things I don't do: bugs, odor, poop, dirty water (lakes/rivers included), tattoos, piercings. Everything else is up for debate.

[​​SIXTE​EN]​​ What do you think​ about​ when you are falli​ng aslee​p?​​
"I hope Charley & Chaplin don't wake me up early."

[​​SEVEN​TEEN]​​ Who was the last perso​n you talke​d to on the phone​?​​
My Mom. (HaHa! I beat you to it, Trevor!)

[​​EIGHT​EEN]​​ What is your favor​ite song?
Just one? Well, I'll go with the one I keep playing over and over right now: "Sunday Bloody Sunday" by U2 - LIVE, BABY!

[​​NINET​EEN]​​ What are you doing​ right​ now
Listening to the news.

[​​TWENT​Y]​​ Who do you trust​ right​ now?
Little Known Fact: I don't trust most of you.

[​​TWENT​Y-​​ONE]​​ Where​ did you get the shirt​ you are weari​ng?​​
Old Navy

[​​TWENT​Y-​​TWO]​​ Who did you hold hands​ with last?​​
No idea. But I hope he/she washed his/her hands first!

[​​TWENT​Y-​​THREE​]​​ What is your lucky​ numbe​r?​​
OOOH! 23 (weird, right?)

[​​TWENT​Y-​​ FOUR]​​ Who is your frien​d that is close​st to you?
I have a close inner circle.. You know who you are!

[​​TWENT​Y-​​ FIVE]​​ Descr​ibe your life in one word?​​
crazy

[​​TWENT​Y-​​ SIX] Have you ever kisse​d in the rain?​​
Why would you do this? Get out of the rain - it messes up your hair!

[​​TWENT​Y-​​SEVEN​]​​ Who are you think​ing of right​ now?
Denise. I haven't talked to her in a few days and I'm wondering if she's gotten a spring put on her foot to make up for the second surgery. NISE - I TOLD YOU THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA! YOU COULD JUMP LIKE TIGGER AND RUN LIKE THE FREAKING WIND!

[​​TWENT​Y-​​EIGHT​]​​ What shoul​d you be doing​ right​ now?
Dishes? Getting ready for work?

[​​TWENT​Y-​​NINE]​​ What did you do yeste​rday?
I worked. BOO!

[​​THIRT​Y]​​ What are you liste​ning to?
the news

[​​THIRT​Y-​​ ONE] Who was the last perso​n you hugge​d?​​
My Mom (OOOH! In your face, Trevor!)

[​​THIRT​Y-​​ TWO] Who do you hate at this momen​t?​​
RACISTS

[​​THIRT​Y-​​ THREE​]​​ Do you act diffe​rentl​y aroun​d the perso​n you like?​​
Nope. I am who I am. If you don't like it, I don't like you.

[​​THIRT​Y-​​ FOUR]​​ What is your natur​al hair color​?​​
I don't remember.

[THIRT-FIVE] Who was the last person to make you laugh?
I laugh a lot. I don't keep tabs on who makes that happen.

Weird Cough Syrup

I'm on the tail end of my cold and the worst part is this lingering cough.

I drove to the nearest Walgreen's to get some more cough drops and decided to also grab some cough syrup while I was there. I wanted something just for coughs, as I have no other symptoms (snotty nose aside). I spot a whole line of Vicks 44 Custom Care and find two cough syrups. One is for the dry cough, which is not what I have. So I choose the other:
Chesty Cough.

I do have a chest cough. But seriously, "Chesty Cough?" That's like a name for a porn star or a stripper. I can hear it now, "Taking the stage now, put your hands together for Chesty Cough!"

I'm taking it. It's working. But still. I can't get over the label.

Because Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

My Thoughts On The Election

WOW.

I have worked every Presidential election since Bill Clinton's second term. Never, have I seen what has unfolded this past week. I knew whatever happened Tuesday would make history. Either Barack Obama would be the first African American President or Sarah Palin would be the first female Vice President. Both invoked strong feelings from Americans. I refused to accept the polls could be correct. Could a black man be elected to lead the United States of America? Even as I glanced at the electoral votes, seeing the growing difference between Obama and John McCain, I could not wrap my brain around what was happening. Then, just before 10pm our time, it was made official. If I hadn't been so busy with our local election stuff, I might have had more of a reaction. Instead, I reflected on it, then went back to work. I did pause to watch John McCain's sincere concession speech. It was moving - not just because it was the last time McCain will run for this great office, but because I think he meant it when he said:

Senator Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain. These are difficult times for our country, and I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.

I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together, to find the necessary compromises, to bridge our differences, and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.

Now, back to Obama. I have watched plenty of politicians speak, either in small groups or at large rallies. I'm used to seeing people who have that look of, "That's our candidate. He/She will get the job done." I have never seen people who have hope in their eyes as they do when Obama speaks. I had the privilege of seeing him speak before the primary election. I say it was a privilege because even though it was the same stump speech, mixed in with Q&A from those in attendance, I didn't hear anyone walking away after the rally saying, "Well, what does he really think?" People don't just like Obama. They believe in him. That's HUGE!

Ever since I first heard him speak at the DNC in 2004, I was moved by what he said and how he said it.

I stopped what I was doing, sat down on my sofa and thought to myself, "I don't know who that guy is with the funny sounding name, but he's going to be President some day!" I thought it would be some day when I was old and gray (I've got a few gray hairs and am not quite old now).

When I compared the two nominees this year, I couldn't help but spot the obvious differences (black/white, young/old). But in all my research, I knew Obama was my candidate.

Like Obama, I am bi-racial. Like Obama, I have a birth father who abandoned me. Like Obama, I have had to tell myself that no one can tell me I can't do something. Why? Because I am American. I have never related to a candidate on this level before. I have no desire to be President - especially with politics being such a nasty business. There were times when I heard some really awful (and untrue) comments about Obama and I wondered why he would run for this office. I think the answer is simple: he wants to break down those barriers for his daughters, for the children whose parents think there are limits to how high those kids can go.

I have heard people who voted for JFK say they had hope in that Irish Catholic guy with the funny accent. I have heard people who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., talk about the hope they had then. Friends and anonymous readers, I have hope now. My hope is that no child will ever grow up and think they cannot achieve greatness just because their parents can't afford to send them to college. My hope now is that people will stop making their racist remarks (you know what they are - I'm not repeating them here) and accept that 52% of America voted for Obama. Unlike the last two elections, this outcome was very clear: The People want change.

I am excited about our future. Now, all these days after history was made, I have been watching some of the coverage I recorded. I'm not gonna lie, I have shed some tears. Not just because the candidate I chose won, but because of all the people who died before Obama was elected - his grandmother and mother among them. I know they're looking down at him, cheering him on.

Go ahead and make your predictions of doom. Armchair quarterback the decision made to make Palin the VP, the decision to continue to make statements that were untrue while refusing to address the real issues - or anything else that may have cost McCain the chance to be President. But the way this economy has fallen, we know it will get better - history tells us this. I just ask that you give Obama the chance to prove himself. If he doesn't, you can vote him out in four years.

I Love This Frog!

I prefer not to get this close to a frog OR a snake, but this photo is amazing!
Sadly, the photographer got tired of watching the frog fight off the snake, so he doesn't know who won this battle.

I say the frog wins!

My Medical Update

Before I headed in to work Tuesday, my doctor called. She had good news and bad news. I asked for the bad news first. She says none of my test results explain my fatigue (I strongly believe I had a case of electionitis). The good news: I don't have cancer and I don't have a thyroid problem.

I still have more testing (including one incredibly uncomfortable one today). I go back to see the doctor in a week and a half. We'll see what's going on. I just hope whatever it is can be treated quickly so I can go back to feeling like myself soon!

What The???

Another Month, ANOTHER Survey

Thank Heidi for this one...

1. What is your occupation right now? Super Producer

2. What color are your socks right now? no socks

3. What are you listening to right now?Jon Stewart

4. What was the last thing that you ate? chocolate chip cookie

5. Can you drive a stick shift? Yes

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Ivette

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes!

8. How old are you today? The calendar says I'm 33. Mentally, I'm 104.

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? hmmm... Wii Tennis?

10. What is your favorite drink? sweet tea

11. Have you ever dyed your hair? I can't remember NOT coloring my hair

12. Favorite food? lately I can't stop craving chicken pad thai

13. What is the last movie you watched? The Great Debaters

14. Favorite day of the year? Christmas Day

15. How do you vent anger? not well - obscenities, shouting, making threats (even to inanimate objects)

16. What was your favorite toy as a child? it's not that I didn't have toys, I just don't remember one being my favorite. Does that mean I was spoiled?

17. What is your favorite season? Winter. I LOVE the cold. However, I don't want to live some place where it snows and is icy - that's too much!

18. Cherries or Blueberries? both, please

19. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back?Friends can respond in the comments section - if they dare!

20. Who is the most likely to respond? surprise me!

21. Who is least likely to respond?

22. Living arrangements? me and my furkids

23. When was the last time you cried? Thursday

24. What is on the floor of your closet? shoes, bed linens, handbags (and it's NOT a neat pile)

25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to? no one

26. What did you do last night? I worked, came home, fed the kids, blogged DWTS for the work blog, took some NyQuil and called it a night - at 12:30

27. What are you most afraid of? close-minded people

28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? make it spicy, cheesey - and hold the onions!

29. Favorite dog breed? well, I love my little wienerdog, but I would LOVE to have a Great Dane or a Goldendoodle!

30. Favorite day of the week? Saturday

31. How many states have you lived in? Two - Texas & New Mexico

32. Diamonds or pearls? Diamonds

33. What is your favorite flower? peonies and tulips

Happy Monday!

While I threaten this cold to get the heck out of my head, I'll share this happy moment with you:



Enjoy!