Even though we are not together today, (Right now, Chris is up in sky, flying to Indianapolis to see his friends and famliy) and I am home sick, I want to celebrate my anniversary by saying that I love my husband more today then I did 6 years ago or even 10 1/2 years ago. I am the luckiest person on the planet and I could not ask for a better man to be my husband.

Anniversary gifts

And since today is our anniversary, I will share the gifts that we got:

from Mom & Dad - a crock pot and a recipe book

from Mandy & Eric - Xbox game - Museum games w/PacMan

from my in-laws - this bath mat in natural and a set of towels in natural w/ our initials monogrammed

Thank you for the nice gifts.

Christmas & presents

Hope Christmas was very merry for everyone.
I have put together a list of my gifts.

from Chris -
Shiatsu Back Massager and these things direct from Japan:
Hello Kitty candy


and Hello Kitty toliet paper!



from Santa (AKA my parents) -
a few coloring books:1, 2, 3, 4, the FRIENDS book, Where The Red Fern Grows dvd, Mary Poppins dvd, a flat iron, philosophy body wash, a limited edition Precious Moment, some clothes: a nightshirt, black hooded zip cardigan, Quacker Factory Embroidered Daisies Twin Set in lime, Bath & Body Works antibactrial soap in different scents, scrapbooking scissor set (like this one, only it's a 24 piece set!),

from Mandy & Eric -
Maroon 5 cd, soundtrack to Annie, a coloring book, this book,
and a Hello Kitty calendar

for both Chris and I from Santa -
a new George Foreman grill, some fancy new hangers, and an iron trivet (to match the smaller one I already have)

from my in-laws -
this blouse (which I plan on returning. color does not look good on me), this shirt, in medium aqua, this cardigan, in Aquaria, another blouse that I can't find a link for, some socks, this cake stand, and some Bath & Body works shower cream, lotion, bubble bath in Warm Vanilla Sugar. There were a couple of other little things, but I can't think of them now.

from Sarah - post-its, stickers and scrapbooking accents
from Linda - a photo album and scrapbooking accents

If I am forgetting anything, please don't be mad. It's taken me a long time to compile this list and I tried to list everything. Doing this list is sorta like the updated version of what we used to do when we (being me and Mandy) were young. We used to display all our Christmas gifts out on our beds so that when people came over, we could show what we got. It's sorta the same thing.

Thank you everyone.

Cold in the Nati

This is the forecast for the next few days in Cincinnati - where I used to live.
OH MY GOD! It is gonna be -10 for the low! That's insane. It's like 48 degrees here and I need a sweater. That's crazy.

Thanks family.

I need to say thank you to my family for all the support during my interview process. I can't tell you all how much it means to me when you all tell me I will be great and to "Knock 'em dead." You all have been so nice to me while I have stressed about this and I hope you know how much it means to me.

Note to self: enough with the niceness...

new Birks!

Bought 'em! Sweet.


Plus, I used my Christmas money and bought these too.

sorry. forgot to post about it.

My second interview was today. It went ok. I am not a good judge of these things. Half way through some of my answers, I lost my train of thought and forgot what the question was. That's probably not a good thing, but whatever. I am just glad it's over. Maybe now the dull headache that I've had for two days will go away. Or maybe not... Mandy is coming to town today. Mandy Claus is coming to town. Mandy Claus is coming to town. Neat. That's funny. I crack myself up. I don't like dressing up at work. I feel like a freak in these shoes. I am so used to wearing Birks that any other shoes feel weird. I think with some of my bonus money, I am gonna buy myself one other pair. I am lacking a pair to wear with khaki pants. I am planning on wearing khaki pants tomorrow and I have nothing to go with them. It depends on what I'm wearing on top as to which shoes I will wear. Such a decision. (Damn, that's a Joan thing!) My father called me Joan yesterday and the funny thing was, I was actually on the phone with Joan when he referred to me as Joan. Whatever. Y'all can bite me. I'm glad today is over. I couldn't even eat my lunch today because my stomach was all knotted up. TMI.

edited to add: I was this close to changing all the Mandy's to Moaned!

scary santa

Chris found this. It's hilarious!

second interview tomorrow @ 1pm

strange that I am not nearly as nervous. or maybe I am internalizing it much better this time. I think that I was more nervous about destroying my bosses impression of me in the first interview, than any thing else. for this interview, I am not nearly as concerned about that.
wish me luck...

12 Days of Christmas

I keep forgetting to post this...
the origin of the The Twelve Days of Christmas
It's very interesting.

some party pics from Saturday

I guess it wasn't a bad thing that I didn't bring my camera to the party. One of Chris's co-workers did and here is the link to see them. In the picture #10, Chris and I were highly intoxicated. But that's a really cute picture!

I'll post more tomorrow! Just wanted to share these now.
This was on Santa Monica Pier today.

shoes for the Christmas party

these are the shoes (in black) that I had shipped overnight so that I would have something to wear to the Christmas party in California. Neat.

toilet seats

I think it's grosser (I know that's not a word, but whatever!) when someone leaves a toilet seat cover on the toilet, then when someone doesn't use a cover at all. Now, I don't use toilet seat covers (We're talking about public toilets here.) because I personally don't understand why my butt can't get dirty. I read somewhere that there are more germs on your computer keyboard then on a toilet seat. So, when I walk into a stall and there is a toilet seat cover already on the seat - that's just wrong. What I think is so wrong about it is that I know have to move said cover to sit down. I tried to use my foot, but I ended up having to use my hand to push it in the bowl. Then I had to flush the used cover before I sat down. Maybe it's weird, but I can't stand when that happens!

edited to add: when I ran spell check on this entry, I had spelled toilet wrong every time! Damn.

my boy's Grammy nominations!!!

Song Of The Year - for Daughters
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance - for Daughters

I am sooooo proud. Song of the year? That's freakin awesome.

I survived

it wasn't as bad as I thought...
isn't that always the way?

Step one is over. Now we wait a few days. My boss
said that the next step is the second interview
that will be with the big boss. They will let me
know if I'm moving on (sounds like a game show)
in the next couple days. Joyful.

I have a huge knot in my neck from stress. I'm dying here.

please get me through this...

I am 15 minutes away from my interview. I need to throw up.
I did not sleep but maybe 3 hours last night. My stomach was
killing me too. I am so stressed I can hardly contain myself.
I just want the next two hours to be over.
Dear God, please get me through this...

The OC

I love how bad this show is. It was so bad tonight that it was good.
I just wish they didn't rip off 90210 so much. They now have a club where popular real music groups come and play. Like not tv music groups. Real groups. Like they did at the Peach Pit on 90210. I just love to hate The OC.

movie trailers

The trailer for the new Dave Matthews movie is out: Because of Winn Dixie
This is his 2nd movie. Where the Red Fern Grows is going straight to DVD, but this one is getting a theatrical release. Hooray! So, I found the trailer, but also realized that the page hosting the trailer has tons of other trailers too.
I have been watching movie trailers from this website for over an hour.

Thanksgiving present

Chris wanted me to share the lovely ceramic dish that his mother gave us
as a Thanksgiving present. Isn't it lovely?

Edited to add: WHAT? NO COMMENTS!

Actual reality - Act Up - Fight AIDS


to Sarah Ellersick!

Crista & Gary's Wedding

Mr & Mrs McCarthy.


The girls looking really cute!


The first dance.


Aunt Mary in her wheelchair dancing. So funny.


This one's for the record book. Carolyn looks hysterical. And Gary is nuts!


The Mark family groovin.


Uncle Larry got up and fast danced with Crista. It was really neat.


The cake.


Cutting the cake.

am I cursed?

I woke up with a damn headache again. I am planning on leaving work at 12:45. That way it doesn't count as an occurance with my attendence. It only counts as a tardy. I can have a lot more of those before I am in trouble.
I hate my head.

happiness is...

pumpkin pie
in the form of philosophy shower gel and Jack in the Box milkshakes.
used and had tonight. can't wait for pie now.

boys who paint


edited to add... Chris was a painter. That's why it's relevant.

what a morning...

I woke up with a headache like my head against a board...
I really did. It was terrible. So bad that I was shaking and couldn't stop. I didn't throw up, yet. I got up early because I had to go the EYE doctor to get my new lenses. I almost didn't make it. I didn't want to put any makeup on if I was just gonna throw up. But I decided to give it a shot. I really wanted my new glasses. So, I got ready and left, giving myself plenty of time to walk slow. I made it to the doctor with about 5 minutes to spare. Not that it's a big deal if I was a few minutes late, but I like to be on time. So, I walked over there and it is a gorgeous day to be walking. There was a nice breeze and everything. I got my new lenses AND my sunglasses had just come in this morning. The dude told me that when I came for my lenses he was just about to start cutting my sunglasses. He said that he had to put my sunglasses aside to cut my lenses, not realizing that the sunglasses were mine too. So, after he cut my lenses, I waited for him to cut my sunglasses. I've never had prescription sunglasses before. It's strange. They were expensive, but worth it. Now I can get any glasses I want, not having to worry about getting clip on sunglasses. Here is a picture of the sunglasses. The ones I got are light purple, so just imagine what they look like. I am all Scottsdale now with my designer shades. After the eye doctor, I walked over to Walgreens to get some caffeine to try to fix the headache issue. I love Walgreens. I just walked around the store in a daze for a while. They had all the Christmas stuff out. Then I came home and here I am... not wanting to do anything, but needing to. Gotta plan for Thanksgiving. Gotta decide what kind of pie to make. Apple or berry? Can't decide. Gotta make a shopping list of things we need so Chris can cook. Gotta do laundry. Gotta clean both bathrooms (yuck). That might get pushed back to just cleaning both toilets and letting the rest wait another week. Alright. Going. Gotta try to eat something...

to Jessica Scott!

TRL

if you're home, watch TRL today!

zits

I hate zits. I have a lot of them. I have one today that is right on the bridge of my nose between my eyes. If I push my glasses up, you can't really see it. But my glasses tend to slide down and it's really obvious. I thought that zits were supposed to stop as you get older. I really need to do something about it. I think I am gonna get Proactive with my Christmas money. I don't have a lot of faith in infomercial things, but I need to do something. AUGH!

was it a dream?

Last night I had a dream about a bus falling off a bridge. Then, I read this article. The bus in the article did not fall off the bridge, but it's really freaking me out that I dreamed that. I thought nothing of my dream until I read that article. Weird.

the merger

How crazy is it that Kmart bought Sears? That's nuts.

Why am I twitching?

my right eye is twitching.
the veins in my right arm are twitching too.
why is that?
This is so weird. I have had a twitch in that eye for a few weeks. But nothing like this. It's underneath my eye ball. It normally is above my eye. maybe I'm just too stressed.
I met with my boss today to go over the homework that she gave me to get
ready for the interview. The interview will be the week of December 5th.
She really stresses me out. She said she could tell I was overloaded. She is just so darn intimidating. She gave me more homework. But I have over a week to work on it. I know she's trying to help. But if it's causing my strange twitch, it might not be worth it.

I love this picture

The little version I took as a screen capture. I hate that the big version has the words over it, but since I am not a newspaper, I can't do anything about it. Those eyes. Those lips. ok, I'm done. As they say on local-83, I needed a "teenie" moment.

Chris said a funny thing to me last night. He said, "You know if you meet him, you'll have to give it up." My response, "Your point?"

The American Music Awards were last night. That's what that picture is from. The show was pretty lame. The only good parts were John, Gwen Stefani and Snoop and Pharrell (I love that song! drop it like it's hot). Most of the show was really boring. And besides, nobody wants to see Uncle Kracker. So, I was talking to Mandy when John came on and I screamed. She said she would let me go so I could watch it. But the screaming didn't end there. He's microphone didn't work for the first 16 seconds of him singing (how do I know how long? I downloaded it and timed it. Me? Obsessed? Nah.) and I was yelling at the tv. Chris came in the room to find out what was wrong. That's funny.

Something else I want to mention. I bought these candles from QVC and they came today. I was looking forward to getting them. But I opened the box and realized that something was wrong when the styrofoam was all broken apart. One of the candle jars was broken. It's about an inch chunk of glass broken. The glass lid is broken too. Plus, with the styrofoam all broken apart, it got everywhere. There is even some in between the candle and jar on the non-broken ones. They brilliantly shipped the jars with the lids not on the them. So, I sent off an nasty email to QVC about it. We shall see what they say. I was just really annoyed. Especially since the one that is broken is the one that I was for sure going to give as a gift. Bastards.

this is funny... on the blogger spell checker, it wants to replace Mandy with moaning. neat.

movie reviews

I have forgotten to post my reviews of the most recent movies I've watched, so here goes:
The Stepford Wives - just alright. Mandy says that the original was a horror movie. I need to rent it. the best part of this version: "She gives singles." That was hilarious.
Raising Helen - Kate Hudson is cute. If it starred anyone else, it would have been really dumb. Watch it if you have nothing else to do.
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen - ohmygod. Dare I say the worst movie I've ever seen? Yes. It's worse than Gigli. And yes, I've actually seen Gigli. My poor eyes.

news of the boys - part two

nothing new on Dave today.
but did find out that JCM has a tv show coming up on VH1, appropriately titled
John Mayer Has A TV Show. Debutes December 2nd. I am just a little excited about it?
Just a little.

Thanks Dad

news of the boys...

Joan said she heard on the news about a new city art project. I found this article that tells all about it. Big guitars. That's cool. However, Joan heard that famous guitarists were designing some of them and she heard that JCM is doing one. So far I cannot find any confirmation of that. like Drudge: Developing...

This I is did confirm today: Where The Red Fern Grows is finally being released on DVD. Click here to watch the trailer. Why does this matter at all? Dave is in it. It was filmed in 1999 and has been on the back burner since then. I just like that he gets top billing on the cover. That's awesome. I am so excited. I added it to my Christmas list. Hooray!

flower on toes

When I went to get my pedicure, I got a flower on both my big toes because it was my birthday. Mind you, I paid extra (nothing free from them), but it looked cute.
I took a picture of one, because I knew it wouldn't last long. I have already taken
the polish off and repainted. I took my own polish for my toes, so that was one of
the reasons I did the flower. I knew I'd be able to take it off and still have my
feet look good. But there's more to the story. When I went home from my pedicure and haircut, I looked down at my feet as I was getting out of the car. One of the flowers was all messed up. So, I looked in my purse for my own polish because I decided that I would just take it off that one toe. But I had left my polish at the nail place. So, I decided to go back and get the polish and have her fix my toe. So, that's the whole story.

I keep forgetting...

I left all those teasers on my birthday and never explained them all...
Since I am at work, I can't really show the flower on toes. But I'll try to remember to post that tonight.

But as far as sick boy... Chris is sick. He's been sick since my birthday. I brought him home from work on my birthday. He went to work the next two days, but today, he stayed home. He was all dressed and ready for work when we woke me up to tell me he wasn't going. I asked him why he still had his shoes on. He said that they keep his feet warm. I left him sleeping on the couch covered with a blanket. What a cute boy. He has the congestion that I had. He doesn't give in to sickness very often, so I know that when he says he's sick, he really feels bad.

bent glasses... when he was washing my hair at my haircut, I had taken off my glasses and put them on my lap. Then, I stood up and across the floor they slid and my foot went down on top of them. They are not ruined, but a little off. Chris tried to fix them for me, but they are still not right. I am going to the ear doctor on Friday. I needed new frames anyway.

Alright. Other subjects now:
Six Feet Under ending. I am sad about that. I love that show.
Rain. It rained all day off and on yesterday and it was rainy this morning. Neat.
And

to Kearsten LaBrozzi!

Daughters

if your computer runs QuickTime... click here to see the new John Mayer video.

this is what I'm wondering too...

From London's Daily Mirror

thanks for my presents...

This is what I got...

From Chris:
this ring and he made an appointment and paid ahead for me to get my hair cut and styled today, therefore explaining the hair cut portion of the teaser from earlier.

From my parents:
this book, this beanie, this movie, these jeans, these pajama pants, this pajama top, (qvc item # A27484) a Christmas fleece jacket, a black v-neck shirt, a blue boat neck shirt, a Hello Kitty activity book, a Hello Kitty coloring book, flowers from my dad, my yummy cake, and dinner at Streets of New York.

From my sister and brother-in-law:
this book and these note cards.

From my in-laws:
this sweater, this sweater (in pink), this scarf, and a birth stone necklace and earring set. cuz it's cold here?

From my sister-in-law:
this lotion.

From my grandparents-in-law:
cash money

I also got lots of cards, in the mail and virtual ones.

Thanks again for all my gifts.

birthday pictures

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

What a morning? I really don't have time to write about it now. I'll write all about it later. But I'll leave a teaser... hair cut, flower on toes, bent glasses, sick boy.

I VOTED

I didn't get a sticker either, so I found one online.
We left work early today so we could go. We had NO line.
Ok, there was one person in front of my signing her name when we walked in. So, I guess I had to wait about 30 seconds. NEAT!
I am not looking forward to TV tonight. I don't know how late I'm gonna stay up.
But since tomorrow is you know what, I probably will go to bed at a reasonable time.

In case you needed another reason not to vote for him

To our current president...

Halloween and frost

It's Halloween and I am at work. Special. Not that I would really be doing anything if I were not at work. I am wearing my new Halloween shirt that says Feeling Witchy and I painted my nails with OPI Black Satin. It's more a really dark gray then black. I was gonna wear my Halloween socks with my black Birks, but I forgot. Neat.

This morning was the first morning that there was frost (at least that I saw) on the window of the car! Sweet.

Last night, we went to a pseudo Halloween party at Mike's house. I saw pseudo because it was not really my kind of party. Plus, we could only stay for a few hours because I had to go to work today.

Mayer

So, to Prescott we went and this time, I made Chris pull over on the shoulder
so that I could take these pictures. I love it! I want to move there.