We are safely in Illinois. After a 13 hour trek across four states, we have safely driven to my hometown in Illinois. Truth be told, we made much better time than I anticipated, and this included the time spent this afternoon when I had to pull over at a random exit in Paducah, Kentucky because Scott suddenly got the runs. Can someone please explain to me how you suddenly get the runs? Apparently, it's not a gradual build up. One second he's reading the paper while I'm driving. The next he's begging me to pull over so he can use the closest bathroom. Boys are gross.
What's amazing to me is that, while we traversed almost 900 miles in 13 hours, in the same amount of time, I could have flown to China. Literally. It's just mind boggling to see how fast planes can go.
I've also noticed that my family tends to drink when we're all in town together. For thirty years, my parents harbored fifths upon fifths of unopened alcohol in their cabinets. But yet in the time span that we'll be in town - about five days - we would have drained their reserve. I don't know if it's because my parents equate us being in town as a celebratory event or if it's a way to cope. For Scott and I, it's the latter. Did I mention that my grandmother and midget great-aunt are also staying with us this holiday season?
I'll drink to that. And to our own small 13 hour version of the westward expansion.
Friday, December 22, 2006
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Prima Donna
I've made a big decision. It's not quite official, but my mind is made up, so it's almost official - I'm going to be a ballerina.
That's right. Starting in January, I'll be taking ballet lessons. Lest you be surprised, remember that I used to be a ballerina when I was four, five and six, so I have some experience and background in the art. This will probably mean lots of ballet recitals, so for those friends who live in the area, be prepared to get invitations to my ballerina re-debut. And for those friends who don't live in the area, feel free to send roses. I like the pink ones. They'll match my new tutu.
These lessons are for adults in teens, so forget those images of me taking lessons with a bunch of four, five and six-year-olds. I'll be in the good company of other experienced ballerinas like myself.
So let the pirouettes, arabesques, and promenades begin! I'll be a ballerina, yet!
That's right. Starting in January, I'll be taking ballet lessons. Lest you be surprised, remember that I used to be a ballerina when I was four, five and six, so I have some experience and background in the art. This will probably mean lots of ballet recitals, so for those friends who live in the area, be prepared to get invitations to my ballerina re-debut. And for those friends who don't live in the area, feel free to send roses. I like the pink ones. They'll match my new tutu.
These lessons are for adults in teens, so forget those images of me taking lessons with a bunch of four, five and six-year-olds. I'll be in the good company of other experienced ballerinas like myself.
So let the pirouettes, arabesques, and promenades begin! I'll be a ballerina, yet!
Friday, December 15, 2006
A "Get Out of Shopping, Free" Card
As I was searching through Scott's pant pockets, making sure there wasn't loose change in them before I threw them into the laundry, I found a crumpled, yellow business card. I smoothed it open and on it was written "Get Out of Shopping, Free."
When I questioned Scott about this card, he says it was bestowed upon him on the day we got married. Unbeknownst to me, most guys get one when they get married. While the card is particularly relevant during the Christmas season, it's valid all year round, for any holiday in which gift-buying is necessary.
I've done a little research on the "Get Out of Shopping, Free" card. Apparently, it plays upon the myth that men become helpless after marriage and entitles him to never buy another gift for his mother, father, cousins, in-laws, aunts, uncles, or grandparents ever again. However, it does not relieve him of purchasing gifts for his wife.
Whoever is behind this "Get Out of Shopping, Free" conspiracy should be found and sentenced to year of forced gift-buying for everyone on his family's list for all holidays, birthdays, Mother's Days, Father's Days, and any other Days. Where is my "Get Out of Shopping, Free" card? Or better yet, where is my "Get Out of Cleaning the Apartment, Free" card?
Oh wait, I do have one of those...
When I questioned Scott about this card, he says it was bestowed upon him on the day we got married. Unbeknownst to me, most guys get one when they get married. While the card is particularly relevant during the Christmas season, it's valid all year round, for any holiday in which gift-buying is necessary.
I've done a little research on the "Get Out of Shopping, Free" card. Apparently, it plays upon the myth that men become helpless after marriage and entitles him to never buy another gift for his mother, father, cousins, in-laws, aunts, uncles, or grandparents ever again. However, it does not relieve him of purchasing gifts for his wife.
Whoever is behind this "Get Out of Shopping, Free" conspiracy should be found and sentenced to year of forced gift-buying for everyone on his family's list for all holidays, birthdays, Mother's Days, Father's Days, and any other Days. Where is my "Get Out of Shopping, Free" card? Or better yet, where is my "Get Out of Cleaning the Apartment, Free" card?
Oh wait, I do have one of those...
Thursday, December 14, 2006
What ever happened to Christmas?
I can say that I've done a fair bit of Christmas shopping this season. And I'm disappointed. Throughout the stores, on the storefronts, in the store windows, there just isn't much Christmas cheer. Sure, there are some glittery sparkles and greetings of "Happy Holidays" every now and again, but overall, just not much Christmas spirit is decking the halls of the retail stores.
It's not just me. In a recent report by Brandweek, consumers are noting the lack of Christmas decorations and are actually electing to take their business elsewhere, to those stores that do decorate for Christmas. The report didn't say why stores were decorating less this year, but I would guess it has to do with costs and politics. Funny thing is, when stores try to cut costs and try to become politically neutral, it may actually spell disaster.
It's Christmas. This is the season when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. This is a big deal in the Christian religion, commercial or not. It's one of the biggest holidays of the Christian year. This time of year is also Hannakah, but Hannakah isn't a gift-giving season. It's not even a big Jewish holiday - it was just made that way because of the commercialization of Christmas. Even my Jewish friends get offended about the greeting "Happy Holidays". They feel that it's condescending because they recognize this as Christian feast, and that's fine with them. They don't need someone to pat them on the shoulder and make them feel included.
It's decent to be politically correct and we need to respect all peoples and all religions. But that doesn't mean that, to do so, we gloss over the important feasts of other religions. It's not just me - it's also consumers that are saying this now. Keep Christmas away, and the shoppers will stay away, too. So let's celebrate - commercialization and all - what this season is truly about.
It's not just me. In a recent report by Brandweek, consumers are noting the lack of Christmas decorations and are actually electing to take their business elsewhere, to those stores that do decorate for Christmas. The report didn't say why stores were decorating less this year, but I would guess it has to do with costs and politics. Funny thing is, when stores try to cut costs and try to become politically neutral, it may actually spell disaster.
It's Christmas. This is the season when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. This is a big deal in the Christian religion, commercial or not. It's one of the biggest holidays of the Christian year. This time of year is also Hannakah, but Hannakah isn't a gift-giving season. It's not even a big Jewish holiday - it was just made that way because of the commercialization of Christmas. Even my Jewish friends get offended about the greeting "Happy Holidays". They feel that it's condescending because they recognize this as Christian feast, and that's fine with them. They don't need someone to pat them on the shoulder and make them feel included.
It's decent to be politically correct and we need to respect all peoples and all religions. But that doesn't mean that, to do so, we gloss over the important feasts of other religions. It's not just me - it's also consumers that are saying this now. Keep Christmas away, and the shoppers will stay away, too. So let's celebrate - commercialization and all - what this season is truly about.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Famous Celebrity Couples
Because I am officially done with my second term of school and I have nothing to do (except find a job, write Christmas cards, wrap presents, write an essay, clean the house...ok, I'm procrastinating), I have been having a little celebrity fun. Thanks to Jessica, I have found this website that matches celebrities that look like me. These don't even include the Asian actress and Beyonce.
And to have a little more fun, I did Scott, too. Admittingly, not the best picture of Scott, but basically, I'm married to either Bill Paxton or a vampire. I haven't decided which. When he was younger, Scott was told he looked like the lead singer from Smashing Pumpkins. I guess he's grown out of that phase.
And to have a little more fun, I did Scott, too. Admittingly, not the best picture of Scott, but basically, I'm married to either Bill Paxton or a vampire. I haven't decided which. When he was younger, Scott was told he looked like the lead singer from Smashing Pumpkins. I guess he's grown out of that phase.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
A Bite of the Apple
Scott, me, Alison and James took a little trip to NYC this past weekend. Not only were Scott and I feeming for a little city-action to get us in the Christmas spirit, but we also wanted to show some of the sites to Alison, who had never been to the city before. She is now officially city-fied! A few highlights from our trip:
Thursday: Flew in (P.S. jetBlue may possibly be my new fave airline), had a few slices of pizza at 11:30 at night, and took a carriage ride through Central Park. Our "tour guide" was fantastic, pointing out certain attractions like the Trump Tower which is "owned by Donald Trump. He owns other buildings in the city." Looks like $50 in NYC just doesn't get you as far as it does down South.
Friday: Found a cute place for breakfast, hit Fifth Avenue, oggled at Tiffany's (where my classy husband yells out "Oh my God! This necklace costs $715,000!), ate dinner at Thalia's and then saw Martin Short's Fame Become Me, which was hilarious. I never knew Martin Short was such a talented person. He had a guest star show up - Goldie Hawn, who looks fabulous. I guess that's what a little surgery can do. Met some friends out at a bar after the show.
Saturday: Despite the line that literally wrapped around the Empire State Building,
James' friend, who works in the building, was able to get us past the lines and right to the top! Talk about celebrity status! The view was amazing. Ate lunch in the West Village at Chat 'n Chew and then hit Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree and skaters. Very charming. For dinner, met up with Elizabeth, Chris, Carson, and Christine at Tao (alas, no celebrity sitings), had a few too many mojitos and grapefruit martinis and hit a little of the NYC scene.
Thursday: Flew in (P.S. jetBlue may possibly be my new fave airline), had a few slices of pizza at 11:30 at night, and took a carriage ride through Central Park. Our "tour guide" was fantastic, pointing out certain attractions like the Trump Tower which is "owned by Donald Trump. He owns other buildings in the city." Looks like $50 in NYC just doesn't get you as far as it does down South.
Friday: Found a cute place for breakfast, hit Fifth Avenue, oggled at Tiffany's (where my classy husband yells out "Oh my God! This necklace costs $715,000!), ate dinner at Thalia's and then saw Martin Short's Fame Become Me, which was hilarious. I never knew Martin Short was such a talented person. He had a guest star show up - Goldie Hawn, who looks fabulous. I guess that's what a little surgery can do. Met some friends out at a bar after the show.
Saturday: Despite the line that literally wrapped around the Empire State Building,
James' friend, who works in the building, was able to get us past the lines and right to the top! Talk about celebrity status! The view was amazing. Ate lunch in the West Village at Chat 'n Chew and then hit Rockefeller Center to see the Christmas tree and skaters. Very charming. For dinner, met up with Elizabeth, Chris, Carson, and Christine at Tao (alas, no celebrity sitings), had a few too many mojitos and grapefruit martinis and hit a little of the NYC scene.
Sunday: Brunched in SoHo and did a little shopping. Got a cool necklace at one of the sidewalk vendors. Took a harrowing cab ride to JFK and said our goodbyes.
It was a great trip (when is a trip to NYC not?). Now I'm trying to convince Scott to buy a small little apartment in the city - our "city" escape, if you will. Still working on that...
It was a great trip (when is a trip to NYC not?). Now I'm trying to convince Scott to buy a small little apartment in the city - our "city" escape, if you will. Still working on that...
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