These times they are a-changin'.

When I was about Daughter's age - 13 or 14, I guess - I read Judy Blume's book Forever. It was very scandalous - pretty explicit sex, if I remember correctly - and I and all my other friends hid it in other books so our parents wouldn't know we were reading such stuff. It felt kinda naughty.

Tonight I was in Barnes & Noble and saw this book in the Teen section - featured on an end-cap with other romance novels for teens! I was shocked! Shocked, I say! Times sure are different now, aren't they? I just don't think I'm ready for Daughter to be reading that kind of stuff yet. I know she's not completely naive, but still. Thankfully she prefers historical fiction and fantasy right now. But nothing is forever.

Wordless Wednesday - Christmas Piggy

The Gift of Love and Friendship

Last night we celebrated Christmas with D's family - we had a fabulous dinner at our favorite restaurant (complete with apple pie, of course!) and came back here to exchange presents. D really oudid herself. The first gift I opened wasn't exactly from her - it was from Coastie Bro, and it's a spoon from the place he was stationed so long! THANK YOU, Coastie Bro! You know I've been wanting one! Next I opened the cutest. mug. ever. D knows I drink hot tea every morning, and now I can drink it from my awesome Elvis Christmas mug - on the back it says "Merry Christmas, Baby!" I love it. But the last gift - well, it brought me to tears. D made a CD for me - the cover of it has our picture on it, and it is titled "Of Best Friends, Queen Sloths, & Apple Pie Splurges". And it has 20 songs of love and friendship on the CD - 20 songs she chose and downloaded just for me.



I am so blessed to have D in my life - to be my friend, my rock, my confidant. I love you, D. Merry Christmas.

And Merry Christmas to all you bloggers out there - and God bless us, every one.

Wordless Wednesday - My Home for the Holidays

Ten New Year's Resolutions

It's hard to believe a new year is nearly upon us - I'm not much for resolutions, but here's my offering for this week's Ten on Tuesday - Ten New Year's Resolutions:

1. get our finances in order and stay on budget (hmm...this seems to be on my list EVERY YEAR)
2. read more - I used to read a lot, but now I seem to spend more time on the computer and less time with a good book
3. in relation to #2, read my Bible more; I need to spend more time in God's word
4. worry less, which should be easy if I do #3
5. get more exercise - ever since I stopped teaching dance I have become rather, um, sedentary; I need to get back into some kind of physical exercise, be it dancing again, walking, whatever
6. travel someplace that I've never been
7. take more pictures of our everyday lives and not just holidays and vacations

Only 2 weeks left in 2007! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!

Sole Survivor

Finally the person I was rooting for won Survivor! Congratulations, Todd! You outwitted, outplayed, and outlasted - in my opinion, you played a helluva game. You deserve the $1 million.

Next stop for Survivor - Micronesia. The fans vs. the favorites. Should be interesting!

Island Christmas

One of the things I love about living where I do is that I'm half-way between the big city of Houston and the historic Gulf Coast city of Galveston - granted, Galveston beaches are not the most beautiful beaches, but I still love living this close to the coast. I love the water, the boats, the fresh seafood, the sound of the seagulls and ocean waves. My house is even decorated in a beach/nautical theme. It's part of who I am.

Today our family - my parents, Hubby, kids and I - spent the day at The Strand on Galveston Island. We shopped the quaint shops and had a delicous meal at Willie G.'s - we started off with raw oysters served on the half-shell - delicious!

Then Hubby and I split the Shrimp Platter, a feast that would make Forrest Gump proud: shrimp gumbo, stuffed shrimp, fried shrimp, blackened shrimp, shrimp creole and shrimp au gratin. It was fabulous!
Of course everything was decorated for Christmas, and I even bought a few ornaments for my tree.

We topped off the evening with chocolates from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. Even tho it was windy and cold, we had a great day. No stress - just a day with the family enjoying the Christmas season.

Merry Christmas, everyone. Now let the comments about how gross you think raw oysters are begin!

Friday's Feast #25

Happy Friday - Happy Feasting!

Appetizer

Make up a word and give us its definition.

Wonky - not sure if it's a real word or one I made up, but it means screwy or messed up

Soup

What is currently your favorite song?

Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Christmas Eve Sarajevo

Salad

What’s at the top of your Christmas wish list this year?

a new digital camera

Main Course

Name a scent that reminds you of someone special in your life.

Pond's cold cream will always remind me of my grandmother

Dessert

Who is someone on television that you feel probably shouldn’t be, and why?

Howard Stern, because he's a lewd jackass

Wordless Wednesday - Christmas Light Spectacle

Here's what's going on at my house.....

Except we're not British...

Ten Things I Want for Christmas

Another tough Ten on Tuesday for me this week - I really don't want much for Christmas, and some of the stuff I do want is expensive and I don't expect to get it. But since I didn't play last week, I'll take a stab at it this week.....

1. a new digital camera
2. new comforter for my bed
3. chair or loveseat for my den
4. bubble bath
5. pajamas
6. clothes - mainly cute tops to wear with jeans
7. silk plants for the plant ledge in my bedroom
8. money to pay off bills

That's really all I can think of! I'll be happy with whatever I receive - we all know it's not about the gifts anyway. Happy Tuesday!

Do they know it's Christmas?

This was 23 years ago. How much has changed?

On the 13th day of Christmas my true love gave to me....the overlimit credit card bill.

Wow. According to this article, the true cost of the 12 Days of Christmas is $19,507! That's a lot of money, yo. Here's the breakdown:

I wonder how much all of those items will be selling for on eBay after Christmas?

No Winter Wonderland here...

Houston Metro Forecast
WARM WEATHER ALL WEEKEND!

With moisture and warmth moving into the area over the last 24 hours, we've seen high temperatures around 80 degrees. Expect this warm pattern to continue on into the weekend. However, with moisture building, we have a slight chance of showers on Saturday, and a better chance on Sunday. Each night we'll have sea fog at the coast and patchy fog inland, so be careful! It won't be until Wednesday that we see a big cool down with a cold front rolling through.

Friday's Feast #24

Time for another Friday's Feast!

Appetizer

What was the last game you purchased?

I purchased a game as a Christmas present just today! Can't say what it is tho....shhh!

Soup

Name something in which you don’t believe.

Aliens

Salad

If you could choose a celebrity to be your boss, who would you pick?
Matthew McConaughy - he seems pretty laid back and oh-so-nice to look at!

Main Course

What was a lesson you had to learn the hard way?
Getting married too young (not to current hubby).

Dessert

Describe your idea of the perfect relaxation room.

Dim lights, soft music, a hot bubble bath, candles....aaaahhhhhh!

Elfin' Hilarious!

Sometimes I watch this just to make myself laugh.

Yep, that's the Bubba's Sis Family.

Merry Christmas!

Wordless Wednesday - Happy Birthday, Walt

The Reason for the Season

This is on D's blog, and it's so precious I had to put it on mine, too....

"Logan is a 13 year-old boy who lives on a ranch in a very small town in Nebraska. Logan listens to Christian Radio station 89.3FM KSBJ which broadcasts from Houston, TX. Logan called the radio station distraught because he had to take down a calf . His words have wisdom beyond his years. Since airing the audio of the phone call and now the making of the video clip, it has taken on a life of its own. People are forwarding it all over the world. We encourage you to share the love of Christ with anyone you can.

(**Sky Angel is a family safe broadcasting service that is offered on satellite. KSBJ is a local Houston Christian music radio station. Video clip produced with love by Frank Lozano. Hear the entire message at ValenicaHills.com)"

O Christmas Meme, O Christmas Meme...

Found this one over at The Middling Monettes and it just seems more cheery than this week's Ten on Tuesday list (Your Ten Favorite Things to Complain About):

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Both! All my wrapping paper and gift bags match, of course - this year it will all be Disney wrapping!

2. Real tree or Artificial?

I love a real tree, but because of the cost we have an artificial one. I must admit, it is nice that it just unfolds and is pre-lit! But I miss the smell of a real tree.

3. When do you put up the tree?

Usually the first week of December - we don't have ours up yet this year, but hopefully this weekend we will.

4. When do you take the tree down?

Before New Year's - by then I'm over it.

5. Do you like egg nog?

Yes! But not with bourbon in it. Just plain, please.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

A Madame Alexander baby doll

7. Do you have a nativity scene?

I have three!

8. Hardest person to buy for?

Hubby

9. Easiest person to buy for?

Darling Daughter

10. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards?

Definitely real mail. I love sending Christmas cards!

11 .Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

I've gotten some pretty ugly jewelry - no, not from Hubby!

12. Favorite Christmas movie?

Hands down, Christmas Vacation.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

Usually in November - but I've only bought one gift so far this year!!!! (It's D's!)

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Kinda - when I was a dance teacher I got a lot of "teacher gifts" from the kids - I have taken one or two of those things to gift exchanges at parties. Does that count?

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

chocolate covered cherries

16. Clear or colored Christmas lights?

clear

17. Favorite Christmas song?

"O Holy Night" or "Mary, Did You Know?"

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

There's no place like home for Christmas!

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder and Blitzen. And Rudolph!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

We've had both - right now we have a star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

The kids get to open ONE present Christmas Eve - and it always turns out to be pajamas! The rest must wait until Christmas Morning.

22 . Most annoying thing about this time of year?

The CROWDS!

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?

All the ornaments on my tree match the theme of my house - nautical/beach.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?

Honeybaked Ham

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?

I would love a new digital camera. One like D's - she let me use it on our vacation and I didn't want to give it back! Hey, D - you should give me your camera for Christmas!

MAY YOU ALL HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS SEASON!