"Whoa, this is like, the last day of 2005?" -Lerah
"Yeah." - me
"Ugh, this year is almost over. Dang it! I still haven't learned Chinese." - Lerah
Saturday, December 31, 2005
I'm trying to catch up, here...
It was the day before Lori left, so we went picture crazy. Bear with us.
Dad and Lori
I started to blink in like, every picture.
We're so cute.
:0)
Bailey was sad too, so we didn't want him to feel left out.
I think this picture explains everything. "Cam, you're not gonna see Lori for a year. You should tell her goodbye." "Hold on, let me finish this set. I'm on level 59, Calyn." "Cam, we're about to leave." "Okay! Gosh!" He didn't even take the headphones off. I guess that means this is technically a picture of Lori, Micah, Joe, and William.
Micah's worse. He didn't even turn around. Feel the love.
Nope. Will wins.
Why she wanted a picture with that evil thing, I have no idea.
Merry Christmas, Erica!
Chris came over to hang out at about 1:00 a.m. It was really fun.
We're pretty hot. Check out that family resemblance.
Dad and Lori
I started to blink in like, every picture.
We're so cute.
:0)
Bailey was sad too, so we didn't want him to feel left out.
I think this picture explains everything. "Cam, you're not gonna see Lori for a year. You should tell her goodbye." "Hold on, let me finish this set. I'm on level 59, Calyn." "Cam, we're about to leave." "Okay! Gosh!" He didn't even take the headphones off. I guess that means this is technically a picture of Lori, Micah, Joe, and William.
Micah's worse. He didn't even turn around. Feel the love.
Nope. Will wins.
Why she wanted a picture with that evil thing, I have no idea.
Merry Christmas, Erica!
Chris came over to hang out at about 1:00 a.m. It was really fun.
We're pretty hot. Check out that family resemblance.
Christmas 2005
Lori anxiously awaiting her stocking on Christmas morning.
Cam trying on the socks that Dad bought mom. We all agreed they were hideous, so they'll probably re-gifted to some poor unfortunate soul next year...poor thing.
Let's just not talk about that hat.
I went to Lori's house and hung out with her family for a couple hours. This is her cousin Julie.
I feel like a giant in this picture. :0) I'm like, towering over them.
I decorated Lori's house. :0)
Dad took us to see Christmas lights in Hunington Estates. It was really funny because Cameron didn't want to go so he decided it would be more fun to fall asleep in the back seat.
Lori and Mrs. Cheryl
Me and Lori about to leave for midnight mass.
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Morgan Freeman Said It Best
"Those of us who knew him best talk about him often. I swear, the stuff he pulled. It always makes us laugh. Sometimes it makes me sad, though, Andy being gone. I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged, that's all. Their feathers are just too bright... and when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice... but still, the place you live is that much more drab and empty that they're gone. I guess I just miss my friend."
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
What happened to creativity?
You know, I was looking at the list of movies playing recently and with the exception of Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia it seems that our movies as of late have lost a very important component- creativity. When was the last time you saw an original movie at the threatre? Let's see, was it when you saw Pride and Prejudice? Oh, no, that's already been made half a dozen times.
How about Yours, Mine and Ours? Sadly, this is also a remake.
What about War of the Worlds? Sorry, Spielberg’s slacking off too.
Or maybe The Producers, The Longest Yard, All the King's Men, Fun With Dick and Jane, The Fog, Amityville Horror, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Curious George, House of Wax, or The Shaggy Dog? No?
Thankfully, remakes are not usually as bad as sequels, (Can anyone say Cheaper by the Dozen 2? They're on their way. Only 10 to go. And it has been done. Land Before Time XII came out this year. Lori and I counted them.) but I was thinking, what if all of life were like Hollywood and we could just do the same things over and over?
"Professor Adams, I know I turned in this research paper last semester, but look! I've added 27 more words and made it better by including a power-point presentation complete with an original score. Feast your eyes on those extra features!"
"Doctor, the way I see it, I've lost those thirty pounds before. I lose a pound for every two I gain. Plus, if you adjust for inflation, I've actually lost weight this year! Just ask my broker."
"Officer, I've already been arrested for D.U.I.s five times. Why don't you and I just forget this whole thing and I get you the autographs of my entire NFL team?"
"Kids, this is ridiculous. Santa doesn't just rewrap your presents from last year..."
"Look, lady, I know I dropped your chicken sandwich, but I put it in a new wrappa' and I glossed id'over wit some butta. Here's your change. Now scram. "
Romeo and Juliet (now with deleted scenes XXVII and XXXI: Romeo and Mercutio's secret love affair and Friar Lawrence getting voted off Verona.)
by: Calyn Reber
War and Peace (now in the popular "abridged" edition of only 3,572 pages!)
by: Calyn Reber
To Kill a Mockingbird (now with color pictures!)
by: Calyn Reber
The Bible (completely modernized with no mention of sin, animal sacrifice, Jesus, or prophets with poor hygiene.)
by: Calyn Reber
"I know I just took a vacation last week, Mr. Smith, but that one didn't quite live up to my expectations. I'm thinking, oh, 87 million extra dollars will result in a vacation that will be to my satisfaction."
Somehow I think you'll agree with me that life doesn't work quite that way. So how is it that Hollywood directors can take someone else's idea and movie and stick some actors with big names and bigger paychecks in the title, and special effects that cost more than the entire GDP of a small European country and whip up something that they get the entire credit for? Is it really worth 7 of my hard earned dollars to see a giant monkey destroy New York again? Let's face it, if it wasn't good the first 6 times... I mean, New York gets destroyed in every other movie that comes out, whether it's by Godzilla, aliens, newlyweds, natural disasters, or dinosaurs. I guess that's where that saying "once burned-shame on you, twice burned-shame on me" comes from. 'Cause if it wasn't good the first time, chances are, it won't be good the next time. Or the third, or fourth, or fifth... (And if it was good the first time, why are we remaking it?)
----------------------------------------------
But, speaking of movies, me, Lori, my mom and my Dad went to dinner tonight for "Lori's last meal," as mom said. I replied to that, "Mom, you make it sound like she's being executed tomorrow..."
Thankfully Lori is not being executed tomorrow. But she is returning to our beloved Ukraine. So after being disappointed because Po' Boys was closed, we headed to Applebee's because Lori wanted something with lettuce because they don't really eat lettuce in Ukraine and she said a wrap sounded good.
So, you know how at Applebees they have all the pictures of old famous actors and actresses like Ingrid Bergman and Audrey Hepburn and stuff? Well, my mom knows everything about everything (she could definitely win Trivial Pursuit) and she was asking us all these questions about "Who did this person marry?", "What movie did this person play in?", "Who sung this song?" and the like and most of the time me and Lori didn't know the answers. So we were already on the topic of movies, and I said, "Gee, Mom, for someone who knows so much about movies, you don't like movies very much." My Mom never watches movies. I could (at the time) only think of, like, 2 movies that she actually liked. So, I said, "I don't think you could even think of 10 movies that you like."
So we spent the entire meal trying to come up with 10 movies that my mom actually enjoyed watching. It was tough, let me tell you. Right off she said that "The Emperor's New Groove" was her favorite movie. She loves Izma. (I'm thinking, okay, I can definitely see how this is your masterpiece of American cinema...) Then she said "Beauty and the Beast." Dad said at that point that she had to think of some movies with real people in them. So after about 5 minutes we came up with "Lord of the Rings." But only the first and third because she said she got bored with "Helm's Deep" in the second one. Okay. So we had four. I suggested "Forrest Gump." She didn't like it. "Shawshank Redemption." Nope. "Sound of Music." HeT. Then I remembered
"Hey, we watched 'Don't Say a Word' with Michael Douglas. You liked that one, right?"
She said, "Calyn, I only like movies if they're believable. That one just wasn't believable."
Okay, you tell me if our final list contained any movies that were believable.
1. The Emperor’s New Groove- Peruvian King gets turned into a llama by an evil visor who, along with her faithful oversized servant who enjoys conversing with wildlife, have the combined brainpower of an alpaca sweater.
2. Galaxy Quest- Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver are actors on a wanna-be Star Trek T.V. show who get begged by aliens to come save their planet because the extra-terrestrials believe that their almost-famous space lovers are real astronauts. After defeating the scariest dictator in the universe, Tim and Siggy fall madly in love and are guided back to earth by nerdy teenage trekkies.
3. Beauty and the Beast- an intelligent, kind French person (that's not the unbelievable part...just kidding) falls in love with a selfish, raving prince who's been turned into a shaggy monster. After getting some help from some enchanted furniture, Belle breaks the spell that had something to do with a floating flower.
4 and 5. Lord of the Rings- furry-footed midgets save the world by battling evil and destroying an all-powerful warlord and his magical ring.
6. A Knight's Tale- a poor peasant with the help of a ragtag bunch of friends (and Jeffrey Chaucer) disguises himself as a noble, the Sir Oreck von Lichtenstein, and in a span of a couple months and with no formal training becomes the best jouster in all of Europe and becomes buddies with the Prince of Wales.
7. Monsters Inc.- Do I even need to discuss this one?
8. Hamlet- deranged King of Denmark gets visited by the ghost of his father who was murdered because someone poured poison in his ear. He is kidnapped by pirates and pretty much everybody dies.
9. Count of Monte Cristo- a naive French sailor accidentally passes on military plans from the exiled Napoleon Bonaparte and is subsequently betrayed by people he trusts and thrown into the Château D'if prison for 7 years. After he and a priest spend years burrowing under the prison, he drowns the prison warden, escapes, finds buried treasure and joins a pirate crew, afterwards exacting his revenge upon all those who betrayed him and still getting the girl who has managed for all these years to keep a piece of string tied around her finger.
10. The Four Feathers- an embarrassed rugby-playing army deserter goes on an African safari to rescue his 4 friends from Muslim extremists in British-occupied Sudan. Not only does he rescue his friends and remain unrecognized despite the fact that he is the only white guy in a 500 mile radius, he also manages to learn how to speak Arabic and ride a camel in one day.
As you can see, my mom really only likes the realistic, believable movies. It was pretty funny.
Anyway, I’m off to Atlanta tomorrow to send my best friend 6,000 miles away once again. But I’m pretending like this isn’t happening, so I won’t talk about it anymore. Arrivederci!
How about Yours, Mine and Ours? Sadly, this is also a remake.
What about War of the Worlds? Sorry, Spielberg’s slacking off too.
Or maybe The Producers, The Longest Yard, All the King's Men, Fun With Dick and Jane, The Fog, Amityville Horror, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Curious George, House of Wax, or The Shaggy Dog? No?
Thankfully, remakes are not usually as bad as sequels, (Can anyone say Cheaper by the Dozen 2? They're on their way. Only 10 to go. And it has been done. Land Before Time XII came out this year. Lori and I counted them.) but I was thinking, what if all of life were like Hollywood and we could just do the same things over and over?
"Professor Adams, I know I turned in this research paper last semester, but look! I've added 27 more words and made it better by including a power-point presentation complete with an original score. Feast your eyes on those extra features!"
"Doctor, the way I see it, I've lost those thirty pounds before. I lose a pound for every two I gain. Plus, if you adjust for inflation, I've actually lost weight this year! Just ask my broker."
"Officer, I've already been arrested for D.U.I.s five times. Why don't you and I just forget this whole thing and I get you the autographs of my entire NFL team?"
"Kids, this is ridiculous. Santa doesn't just rewrap your presents from last year..."
"Look, lady, I know I dropped your chicken sandwich, but I put it in a new wrappa' and I glossed id'over wit some butta. Here's your change. Now scram. "
Romeo and Juliet (now with deleted scenes XXVII and XXXI: Romeo and Mercutio's secret love affair and Friar Lawrence getting voted off Verona.)
by: Calyn Reber
War and Peace (now in the popular "abridged" edition of only 3,572 pages!)
by: Calyn Reber
To Kill a Mockingbird (now with color pictures!)
by: Calyn Reber
The Bible (completely modernized with no mention of sin, animal sacrifice, Jesus, or prophets with poor hygiene.)
by: Calyn Reber
"I know I just took a vacation last week, Mr. Smith, but that one didn't quite live up to my expectations. I'm thinking, oh, 87 million extra dollars will result in a vacation that will be to my satisfaction."
Somehow I think you'll agree with me that life doesn't work quite that way. So how is it that Hollywood directors can take someone else's idea and movie and stick some actors with big names and bigger paychecks in the title, and special effects that cost more than the entire GDP of a small European country and whip up something that they get the entire credit for? Is it really worth 7 of my hard earned dollars to see a giant monkey destroy New York again? Let's face it, if it wasn't good the first 6 times... I mean, New York gets destroyed in every other movie that comes out, whether it's by Godzilla, aliens, newlyweds, natural disasters, or dinosaurs. I guess that's where that saying "once burned-shame on you, twice burned-shame on me" comes from. 'Cause if it wasn't good the first time, chances are, it won't be good the next time. Or the third, or fourth, or fifth... (And if it was good the first time, why are we remaking it?)
----------------------------------------------
But, speaking of movies, me, Lori, my mom and my Dad went to dinner tonight for "Lori's last meal," as mom said. I replied to that, "Mom, you make it sound like she's being executed tomorrow..."
Thankfully Lori is not being executed tomorrow. But she is returning to our beloved Ukraine. So after being disappointed because Po' Boys was closed, we headed to Applebee's because Lori wanted something with lettuce because they don't really eat lettuce in Ukraine and she said a wrap sounded good.
So, you know how at Applebees they have all the pictures of old famous actors and actresses like Ingrid Bergman and Audrey Hepburn and stuff? Well, my mom knows everything about everything (she could definitely win Trivial Pursuit) and she was asking us all these questions about "Who did this person marry?", "What movie did this person play in?", "Who sung this song?" and the like and most of the time me and Lori didn't know the answers. So we were already on the topic of movies, and I said, "Gee, Mom, for someone who knows so much about movies, you don't like movies very much." My Mom never watches movies. I could (at the time) only think of, like, 2 movies that she actually liked. So, I said, "I don't think you could even think of 10 movies that you like."
So we spent the entire meal trying to come up with 10 movies that my mom actually enjoyed watching. It was tough, let me tell you. Right off she said that "The Emperor's New Groove" was her favorite movie. She loves Izma. (I'm thinking, okay, I can definitely see how this is your masterpiece of American cinema...) Then she said "Beauty and the Beast." Dad said at that point that she had to think of some movies with real people in them. So after about 5 minutes we came up with "Lord of the Rings." But only the first and third because she said she got bored with "Helm's Deep" in the second one. Okay. So we had four. I suggested "Forrest Gump." She didn't like it. "Shawshank Redemption." Nope. "Sound of Music." HeT. Then I remembered
"Hey, we watched 'Don't Say a Word' with Michael Douglas. You liked that one, right?"
She said, "Calyn, I only like movies if they're believable. That one just wasn't believable."
Okay, you tell me if our final list contained any movies that were believable.
1. The Emperor’s New Groove- Peruvian King gets turned into a llama by an evil visor who, along with her faithful oversized servant who enjoys conversing with wildlife, have the combined brainpower of an alpaca sweater.
2. Galaxy Quest- Tim Allen and Sigourney Weaver are actors on a wanna-be Star Trek T.V. show who get begged by aliens to come save their planet because the extra-terrestrials believe that their almost-famous space lovers are real astronauts. After defeating the scariest dictator in the universe, Tim and Siggy fall madly in love and are guided back to earth by nerdy teenage trekkies.
3. Beauty and the Beast- an intelligent, kind French person (that's not the unbelievable part...just kidding) falls in love with a selfish, raving prince who's been turned into a shaggy monster. After getting some help from some enchanted furniture, Belle breaks the spell that had something to do with a floating flower.
4 and 5. Lord of the Rings- furry-footed midgets save the world by battling evil and destroying an all-powerful warlord and his magical ring.
6. A Knight's Tale- a poor peasant with the help of a ragtag bunch of friends (and Jeffrey Chaucer) disguises himself as a noble, the Sir Oreck von Lichtenstein, and in a span of a couple months and with no formal training becomes the best jouster in all of Europe and becomes buddies with the Prince of Wales.
7. Monsters Inc.- Do I even need to discuss this one?
8. Hamlet- deranged King of Denmark gets visited by the ghost of his father who was murdered because someone poured poison in his ear. He is kidnapped by pirates and pretty much everybody dies.
9. Count of Monte Cristo- a naive French sailor accidentally passes on military plans from the exiled Napoleon Bonaparte and is subsequently betrayed by people he trusts and thrown into the Château D'if prison for 7 years. After he and a priest spend years burrowing under the prison, he drowns the prison warden, escapes, finds buried treasure and joins a pirate crew, afterwards exacting his revenge upon all those who betrayed him and still getting the girl who has managed for all these years to keep a piece of string tied around her finger.
10. The Four Feathers- an embarrassed rugby-playing army deserter goes on an African safari to rescue his 4 friends from Muslim extremists in British-occupied Sudan. Not only does he rescue his friends and remain unrecognized despite the fact that he is the only white guy in a 500 mile radius, he also manages to learn how to speak Arabic and ride a camel in one day.
As you can see, my mom really only likes the realistic, believable movies. It was pretty funny.
Anyway, I’m off to Atlanta tomorrow to send my best friend 6,000 miles away once again. But I’m pretending like this isn’t happening, so I won’t talk about it anymore. Arrivederci!
Monday, December 26, 2005
Quotes o'the Christmas
"I love the smell of new books." -me
"I hate books..." -Cameron
"Uh! Gross. He was sitting on me and he ate a treat and then he spit his crumbs all over me and just walked away!" -Chris
"Who, Cameron?" -me
"No...the cat." -Chris
"Every time a bell rings, I get a new order of wings!"
"Don't fret, Calyn. We can reinstall W.O.W. (World of Warcraft) on your computer." -Chris
"Yeah, don't cry, Calyn." -Cam
"Look, Calyn. William gave you his computer!" -Cameron
"That is unnatural." -Lerah Ashburn
"P. F. Chang!" - me (as formerly stated by Sarah Wirgau)
"Man, Chinese people must think we're really wierd." -Cam
"Why is that?" -me
"Well, I mean, we celebrate this fat guy in a red suit and give each other presents."
"Cam, we celebrate Jesus' birth, and what do you mean, Chinese people?"
"Well, it's like, what if in China they celebrated with a skinny guy in a green suit? That would be just weird."
I just wanna say that I think the best gift I got this year was when I opened up my stocking and inside was a bag of just yellow and green gummy worms. Because Mom read my blog and found out that I like the yellow and green ones best. (That is faithful reading.) She went to the candy store and picked out just the yellow and green ones. That was the best.
Merry Christmas everyone! Oh, and uh, Happy Boxing Day if you're Canadian, eh?
Arrivederci!
"I hate books..." -Cameron
"Uh! Gross. He was sitting on me and he ate a treat and then he spit his crumbs all over me and just walked away!" -Chris
"Who, Cameron?" -me
"No...the cat." -Chris
"Every time a bell rings, I get a new order of wings!"
"Don't fret, Calyn. We can reinstall W.O.W. (World of Warcraft) on your computer." -Chris
"Yeah, don't cry, Calyn." -Cam
"Look, Calyn. William gave you his computer!" -Cameron
"That is unnatural." -Lerah Ashburn
"P. F. Chang!" - me (as formerly stated by Sarah Wirgau)
"Man, Chinese people must think we're really wierd." -Cam
"Why is that?" -me
"Well, I mean, we celebrate this fat guy in a red suit and give each other presents."
"Cam, we celebrate Jesus' birth, and what do you mean, Chinese people?"
"Well, it's like, what if in China they celebrated with a skinny guy in a green suit? That would be just weird."
I just wanna say that I think the best gift I got this year was when I opened up my stocking and inside was a bag of just yellow and green gummy worms. Because Mom read my blog and found out that I like the yellow and green ones best. (That is faithful reading.) She went to the candy store and picked out just the yellow and green ones. That was the best.
Merry Christmas everyone! Oh, and uh, Happy Boxing Day if you're Canadian, eh?
Arrivederci!
Sunday, December 25, 2005
You gotta love it
Well, it's Christmas, so my Dad went this morning to pick up the paper. Why we ever buy the paper I don't know. I don't like the Tallahassee Democrat at all, but I guess the men in my household like the sports section. Now, for those of you who have forgotten, because, believe me, it wouldn't be very difficult to do, today is Christmas. Sometimes Christmas is confused with the more publicized "Happy Holiday" or "Chrismahanakwanza," but today is the day that 85% of the American population celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world. I know, I know, how does that stack up against all the other great holidays that are shoved down our throats every year? I mean, I know 99% of the people in Target yesterday were buying Christmas presents, but thank goodness (and certainly not God because I wouldn't want to offend anyone) that none of their store clerks were allowed to wish me a Merry Christmas yesterday because I just might have had to call my ACLU representative.
Anyway, back to the paper. I'd venture a guess that most of you would expect a nice "Happy Holidays" on the front page of the Tallahassee Democrat. Maybe even a tasteful "Merry Christmas" in small print (with a nice disclaimer on the bottom). You want to know what the front page story of the Tallahassee Democrat said today?
Suit: State worker info outsourced: Ex-employees say data went overseas
By Bill Cotterell DEMOCRAT POLITICAL EDITOR
Yes, happy Christmas to you all. That just put a little jingle in my step today. My Christmas is all the more complete now that I've seen that article. Last night, me, Chris, Cam, Dad and Lori went in Hunington Estates to look at Christmas lights and Chris was flipping back and forth between 99.9 and 107.1 because both were playing, uh-um, holiday music. We were in the car for an hour and I never heard one song on either station that mentioned Jesus at all. It was "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Home for the Holidays" and "It's the lil' St. Nick" over and over and over. I mean, I was thinking when I heard "Happy X-mas the War is Over" for the 57th time the other day, if John Lennon and can sing about Christmas, the one who tried to imagine the world with no religion at all, I think it's okay to play a couple stanzas of "O Come all ye Faithful" on a Christmas station. Oh well. Maybe they're leaving it up to the 85% to sing the song that we should probably all be singing today.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday, dear Jesus.
Happy birthday to you.
Anyway, back to the paper. I'd venture a guess that most of you would expect a nice "Happy Holidays" on the front page of the Tallahassee Democrat. Maybe even a tasteful "Merry Christmas" in small print (with a nice disclaimer on the bottom). You want to know what the front page story of the Tallahassee Democrat said today?
Suit: State worker info outsourced: Ex-employees say data went overseas
By Bill Cotterell DEMOCRAT POLITICAL EDITOR
Yes, happy Christmas to you all. That just put a little jingle in my step today. My Christmas is all the more complete now that I've seen that article. Last night, me, Chris, Cam, Dad and Lori went in Hunington Estates to look at Christmas lights and Chris was flipping back and forth between 99.9 and 107.1 because both were playing, uh-um, holiday music. We were in the car for an hour and I never heard one song on either station that mentioned Jesus at all. It was "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Home for the Holidays" and "It's the lil' St. Nick" over and over and over. I mean, I was thinking when I heard "Happy X-mas the War is Over" for the 57th time the other day, if John Lennon and can sing about Christmas, the one who tried to imagine the world with no religion at all, I think it's okay to play a couple stanzas of "O Come all ye Faithful" on a Christmas station. Oh well. Maybe they're leaving it up to the 85% to sing the song that we should probably all be singing today.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday to you.
Happy birthday, dear Jesus.
Happy birthday to you.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Happy Christmas, everyone!
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, in true Ukrainian fashion, Lori and I were sitting here burning our Christmas CD's for her to take back to Ukraine. In our defense, I think the family rule applies to the two of us. But I'm sure I'm going to be getting comments from Paul about this... Chris and Cam were nestled all snug in their beds (until after lunch...) while visions of X-box 360 spun through their heads. And mom in her robe and Dad in his really old, need-to-thrown-away burgundy sweatpants had just settled down to watch re-runs of the Christmas episodes of various sitcoms on TBS.
I never thought I'd see the day when I was one of "those shoppers" who are in Walmart at 5:52 p.m. on Christmas Eve checking out. It was absolute choas. Definitely not something that I asked to be doing this evening, but it's done now. And I had 8 minutes to spare.
I finished my three days of playing Christmas music at Chick-Fil-A. That was fun. And Christmas money is a plus. I've discovered I definitely cannot talk and play at the same time. I'm just not coordinated. But, I can tap my head and rub my stomach at the same time...hmmm, maybe it just comes with practice.
We watched Elf today. Let me just say that that is a great movie. I think we all want to act like we're 7 and eat maple syrup on our spaghetti every once in a while. "SANTA!? I KNOW him!!! I KNOW him!!!"
Me and Lori are going to midnight mass at her mom's church tonight. I'm hoping to salvage a bit of the true meaning of Christmas for myself. After all, it is our King's birthday.
Happy Christmas, everyone! Arrivederci!
I never thought I'd see the day when I was one of "those shoppers" who are in Walmart at 5:52 p.m. on Christmas Eve checking out. It was absolute choas. Definitely not something that I asked to be doing this evening, but it's done now. And I had 8 minutes to spare.
I finished my three days of playing Christmas music at Chick-Fil-A. That was fun. And Christmas money is a plus. I've discovered I definitely cannot talk and play at the same time. I'm just not coordinated. But, I can tap my head and rub my stomach at the same time...hmmm, maybe it just comes with practice.
We watched Elf today. Let me just say that that is a great movie. I think we all want to act like we're 7 and eat maple syrup on our spaghetti every once in a while. "SANTA!? I KNOW him!!! I KNOW him!!!"
Me and Lori are going to midnight mass at her mom's church tonight. I'm hoping to salvage a bit of the true meaning of Christmas for myself. After all, it is our King's birthday.
Happy Christmas, everyone! Arrivederci!
Quote o'the day:
"Well done, moral fiber." - Fred and George Weasley
Me, Lori, Diane and Lerah went and saw Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire tonight. I think it's my favorite one. That line was the best.
Fred and George Weasley are just like Christian and Brandon. It's amazing.
Me, Lori, Diane and Lerah went and saw Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire tonight. I think it's my favorite one. That line was the best.
Fred and George Weasley are just like Christian and Brandon. It's amazing.
Friday, December 23, 2005
And Now It's Time for...The Rest of the Story
Quote o'the day:
"I mean, I love Jesus, but I don't want to get fat loving Jesus." -me
Okay, I need to post the rest of the pictures from Carlitchka's visit. Because they're pretty awesome.
Good things happened today.
1. I got to talk to Shandra. She is definitely my favorite person in West Virginia.
2. I made money doing something I actually like doing, playing Christmas music. At Chick Fil A. How cool is that? Playing Christmas music + money = happy.
3. I went to Paul's house and went on a hayride with some very cool people.
4. I looked at stars with Christian, Brandon, Erica, Lerah and Alicia.
5. Erica let me borrow pajama pants because I was wearing a skirt and my legs were cold because it was like, 32 degrees outside. And I made a fashion statement.
6. I got to see Lerah.
7. I went to Target and found fun gloves and laptop cases with Lori.
8. I went to Wal-mart and Lori bought Seinfeld on DVD. Yeeeessssss. More fun things to watch in Ukraine. 9.
9. I found the most awesome Christmas present for Double Trouble.
10. I danced in the car with Tamara and Lori to the ghetto-fabulous version of the Halleluia chorus.
Okay, now for the rest of the story.
Me, Lori, Carli, Tamara and Jenna after doing the camp dance in my front yard. I think my neighbors are traumatized.
Dad taking a lunch break with the Santa on our frontporch. He wanted Santa to be in the picture with us, but we said no.
So, my Dad decided to take Santa in the mailtruck with him.
Coming to a mailbox near you...
Me and Bailey
Jenshka and Carli
Lori and Carlitchka
Me and Dad
Me and Carli with me in my awesome new Army shirt because the theme for camp is the ARMY!!!! Yeeeesssssss. Getting ready.
Okay, that's about it. I'm going to bed now. Arrivederci!
"I mean, I love Jesus, but I don't want to get fat loving Jesus." -me
Okay, I need to post the rest of the pictures from Carlitchka's visit. Because they're pretty awesome.
Good things happened today.
1. I got to talk to Shandra. She is definitely my favorite person in West Virginia.
2. I made money doing something I actually like doing, playing Christmas music. At Chick Fil A. How cool is that? Playing Christmas music + money = happy.
3. I went to Paul's house and went on a hayride with some very cool people.
4. I looked at stars with Christian, Brandon, Erica, Lerah and Alicia.
5. Erica let me borrow pajama pants because I was wearing a skirt and my legs were cold because it was like, 32 degrees outside. And I made a fashion statement.
6. I got to see Lerah.
7. I went to Target and found fun gloves and laptop cases with Lori.
8. I went to Wal-mart and Lori bought Seinfeld on DVD. Yeeeessssss. More fun things to watch in Ukraine. 9.
9. I found the most awesome Christmas present for Double Trouble.
10. I danced in the car with Tamara and Lori to the ghetto-fabulous version of the Halleluia chorus.
Okay, now for the rest of the story.
Me, Lori, Carli, Tamara and Jenna after doing the camp dance in my front yard. I think my neighbors are traumatized.
Dad taking a lunch break with the Santa on our frontporch. He wanted Santa to be in the picture with us, but we said no.
So, my Dad decided to take Santa in the mailtruck with him.
Coming to a mailbox near you...
Me and Bailey
Jenshka and Carli
Lori and Carlitchka
Me and Dad
Me and Carli with me in my awesome new Army shirt because the theme for camp is the ARMY!!!! Yeeeesssssss. Getting ready.
Okay, that's about it. I'm going to bed now. Arrivederci!
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
I love my brothers...
Okay, so as usual, Cam has been playing World of Warcraft for the past, oh, 4...DAYS (you thought I was gonna say hours, didn't you?) and Chris has been playing Tony Hawk. Because the weather's not beautiful or anything, perfect for doing things outside...
Yeah, so I walk into the living room and Chris is busy speed-smashing buttons on his controller and I say, "Gwi, this game is so stupid. All you do is press buttons."
Chris says to me, "No! It involves so much skill!"
Cam walks out of the kitchen at this point (we hadn't seen him in a while. I think maybe he needed to go to the bathroom or something. Otherwise he doesn't leave the computer.) and says, "What? Yeah it is. Can you do that in real life????"
So Chris turns around and says, "What!? Can you beat up...FAIRIES in real life????"
I think the answer to both of their questions is a resounding "no." No, Chris, you cannot and will not ever be able to do three backflips in a row and land on your skateboard, and no, Cameron, you will never enter a mythical fairyland and battle ogres and unicorns.
There. I win.
But, me and Cam did buy Risk today at Walmart and we played that. I've decided that Cameron should never take over the world. He is far too power-hungry. It was clear that he had won when he was using white pieces because every single one of his green pieces were on the board, and I said in a whiney voice, "Caaaaaaam, can we just end this now? You win." He said to me, "NO! I want to win! I want to know what this victory feels like! Victory is mine!" I was pretty much done after he took Ukraine and Ireland from me because, well, I didn't really care so much about the rest of it anyway but he refused to let me hand him over my territories. He wanted to crush me for everything I had. It was this "take no prisoners" mentality. I'm not sure I like that so much...
But that reminds me of one of my favorite episodes of Seinfeld:
Kramer and Newman are on a subway car and a Risk board sits on their laps.
Newman: Are you sure you know where the impound yard is?
Kramer: Oh, stop stalling. Come on.
Newman: I can't think, there's all this noise.
Kramer: Or is it because I've built a stronghold around Greenland? I've driven you out of Western Europe and I've left you teetering on the brink of complete annihilation.
Newman: I'm not beaten yet. I still have armies in the Ukraine!
This comment perks up the ears of what appears to be a Russian immigrant.
Kramer: Ha ha, the Ukraine. Do you know what the Ukraine is? It's a sittingduck. A road apple, Newman. The Ukraine is weak. It's feeble. I think it'stime to put the hurt on the Ukraine!
Ukrainian on the metro: I come from Ukraine. You not say Ukraine weak!
Kramer: Yeah, well we're playing a game here, pal.
Ukrainian: Ukraine is game to you?! Howbout I take your little board and smash it!!
The Ukrainian pounds the game board, destroying it and sending the army pieces flying. I'm pretty sure it's because Newman and Kramer said "the Ukraine" instead of just Ukraine.
Oh, that's a classic.
Okay, I'm gonna go find Lori.
Arrivederci!
Yeah, so I walk into the living room and Chris is busy speed-smashing buttons on his controller and I say, "Gwi, this game is so stupid. All you do is press buttons."
Chris says to me, "No! It involves so much skill!"
Cam walks out of the kitchen at this point (we hadn't seen him in a while. I think maybe he needed to go to the bathroom or something. Otherwise he doesn't leave the computer.) and says, "What? Yeah it is. Can you do that in real life????"
So Chris turns around and says, "What!? Can you beat up...FAIRIES in real life????"
I think the answer to both of their questions is a resounding "no." No, Chris, you cannot and will not ever be able to do three backflips in a row and land on your skateboard, and no, Cameron, you will never enter a mythical fairyland and battle ogres and unicorns.
There. I win.
But, me and Cam did buy Risk today at Walmart and we played that. I've decided that Cameron should never take over the world. He is far too power-hungry. It was clear that he had won when he was using white pieces because every single one of his green pieces were on the board, and I said in a whiney voice, "Caaaaaaam, can we just end this now? You win." He said to me, "NO! I want to win! I want to know what this victory feels like! Victory is mine!" I was pretty much done after he took Ukraine and Ireland from me because, well, I didn't really care so much about the rest of it anyway but he refused to let me hand him over my territories. He wanted to crush me for everything I had. It was this "take no prisoners" mentality. I'm not sure I like that so much...
But that reminds me of one of my favorite episodes of Seinfeld:
Kramer and Newman are on a subway car and a Risk board sits on their laps.
Newman: Are you sure you know where the impound yard is?
Kramer: Oh, stop stalling. Come on.
Newman: I can't think, there's all this noise.
Kramer: Or is it because I've built a stronghold around Greenland? I've driven you out of Western Europe and I've left you teetering on the brink of complete annihilation.
Newman: I'm not beaten yet. I still have armies in the Ukraine!
This comment perks up the ears of what appears to be a Russian immigrant.
Kramer: Ha ha, the Ukraine. Do you know what the Ukraine is? It's a sittingduck. A road apple, Newman. The Ukraine is weak. It's feeble. I think it'stime to put the hurt on the Ukraine!
Ukrainian on the metro: I come from Ukraine. You not say Ukraine weak!
Kramer: Yeah, well we're playing a game here, pal.
Ukrainian: Ukraine is game to you?! Howbout I take your little board and smash it!!
The Ukrainian pounds the game board, destroying it and sending the army pieces flying. I'm pretty sure it's because Newman and Kramer said "the Ukraine" instead of just Ukraine.
Oh, that's a classic.
Okay, I'm gonna go find Lori.
Arrivederci!
Things I've learned from Lerah:
That to pull off good eye makeup is all about the attitude.
That you can tell a lot about a person by what kind of earrings they wear.
That computers are not really the enemy...sometimes.
That if your clothes aren't fun, don't wear them.
That cameras are the greatest invention known to man.
That 100 pictures...okay, like 130 pictures in one night is not too many.
That it is also not a waste of time.
That even I can eat Arby's if I really try.
That starcrunches are a great forgotten pastime.
That you're never too old for a sack lunch.
That some people really do return things when they borrow them.
That second grade smiles are not just for second graders.
That taking French is not a good idea.
That sleep is not really necessary during the week.
But that weekends are made for sleep.
That creative people come from Creative Preschool.
That backbones can be made out of popsicle sticks.
That being from Wakulla does not make you Wakullian.
That it's okay to boo people...sometimes...
That when things annoy you you can completely deny its existence and ignore it completely.
That your hair does not control you. You control your hair and make it bow to your will.
That you can never quote Zoolander too many times.
That Kaaawaaaaanza is a fun holiday...as long as you have story time with Lerah.
That you can never be too awesome.
That you can never tell yourself that you are too awesome too many times.
That God is always working in people and making them more and more awesome every day.
I love Lerah!!!
OH my gosh. So I just looked at all of our pictures that we took...they're going on the blog. There's tons of them. It's amazing. I'm so going to print some of these out tomorrow. These were taken at the Festival of Lights Parade. Me, Lerah, Diane, Shannon, Lori, Mrs. Rachel and Katie Greenwell were there. So fun.
Me and Loritchka
Mrs. Rachel, Shannon, Diane, Lori and me
The infamous Nims Middle School banner. Notice how they spell the word "whatever." I don't even want to go into that...
We found Katie!
We decided to line dance while this girl was singing. Yeah, it was amazing.
This snowman was a little scary.
She is so gorgeous.
We're gonna rob the Arby's.
Bleen, they have a surveillance camera...
"I am a beautiful butterfly..."
Arrivederci!
That you can tell a lot about a person by what kind of earrings they wear.
That computers are not really the enemy...sometimes.
That if your clothes aren't fun, don't wear them.
That cameras are the greatest invention known to man.
That 100 pictures...okay, like 130 pictures in one night is not too many.
That it is also not a waste of time.
That even I can eat Arby's if I really try.
That starcrunches are a great forgotten pastime.
That you're never too old for a sack lunch.
That some people really do return things when they borrow them.
That second grade smiles are not just for second graders.
That taking French is not a good idea.
That sleep is not really necessary during the week.
But that weekends are made for sleep.
That creative people come from Creative Preschool.
That backbones can be made out of popsicle sticks.
That being from Wakulla does not make you Wakullian.
That it's okay to boo people...sometimes...
That when things annoy you you can completely deny its existence and ignore it completely.
That your hair does not control you. You control your hair and make it bow to your will.
That you can never quote Zoolander too many times.
That Kaaawaaaaanza is a fun holiday...as long as you have story time with Lerah.
That you can never be too awesome.
That you can never tell yourself that you are too awesome too many times.
That God is always working in people and making them more and more awesome every day.
I love Lerah!!!
OH my gosh. So I just looked at all of our pictures that we took...they're going on the blog. There's tons of them. It's amazing. I'm so going to print some of these out tomorrow. These were taken at the Festival of Lights Parade. Me, Lerah, Diane, Shannon, Lori, Mrs. Rachel and Katie Greenwell were there. So fun.
Me and Loritchka
Mrs. Rachel, Shannon, Diane, Lori and me
The infamous Nims Middle School banner. Notice how they spell the word "whatever." I don't even want to go into that...
We found Katie!
We decided to line dance while this girl was singing. Yeah, it was amazing.
This snowman was a little scary.
She is so gorgeous.
We're gonna rob the Arby's.
Bleen, they have a surveillance camera...
"I am a beautiful butterfly..."
Arrivederci!
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