ThanksG

I absolutely LOVE Thanksgiving.  I have so much to be thankful for.  My God, my family, my fiance (I'm torn, is that one e or two?), my friends, my health, my job, my safety, my home, my car, my pets.  I could seriously go on FOREVER.  I am truly, truly thankful.

I wish I would have taken more pictures than I did this year, but I just wasn't in picture-snapping mode, oh well - here's some of what I do have:

 

I forgot to mention that I'm thankful gas prices are going down.

I filled my SUV up for 20 bucks, can't beat that!!

 

I'm also thankful for the water!  It is so true what they say, "There's NO PLACE LIKE HOME."

I feel so "at home" right by the water!

 

My sister's husband, Jimmy, is seriously one of the best cooks around.

Hands down.

This man can bring it!  He did a fabulous job, yet again!

He needs a stand mixer, but I don't think he wants one as bad as I DO!

 

I had a lot of good, quality nephew time.  I really enjoyed playing Legos with Brayden.

He is so cute and sweet and funny, I just can't get enough!

 

This was my creation.  Brayden said it was "decent."

I think it's pretty awesome for someone who hasn't touched Legos in like 20 years, what do you think?

P. S. They are way cooler now than they were when we were kids!

 

We even had fun cleaning up!

My older nephews, JT & Colby, schooled me in Guitar Hero.

I am terrible at it!

Jorden was awesome!

 

It just kills me how grown up they are!

I was talking to them about the economy and politics!  Whoa.

 

Here we have my sister showing off the "Redneck Windchime" my dad made with his new power tool.

Ain't it cute?!

 

I think it's really cute how he's being all crafty.

The thing that I will remember about this Thanksgiving was how my brother wasn't there.  :(

He left a couple of days later for Iraq, so he called us on Thanksgiving to talk to everyone.

He pretty much left a trail of tears.   Please keep Chris in your prayers.  And while you're throwing that one up, please throw up a prayer for my mom, Cindy, too.

Now, bring on CHRISTMAS!!

New Blog Addiction

I don't have much for you today, people.  Sorry.  It's Wednesday, eh em, "Friday," and I'm heading home to the 757(ish) for like 3 Thanksgiving dinners.  (Welcome to MY family!)  I plan on having some pumpkin pie before I leave work today.

I want to pass along the latest blog I've added to my "check daily" tab.  It's the best thing I've discovered since "Brazen Careerist."

Genius!  It's "I Will Teach You to be Rich."  Full of super tips for saving money!  And it's snarky, I like that in a blog.

A lot of it is rather simple, yet ambitious for someone like me who is just horrible with money.  I'm liking it!  And I'm TRYING to pull it together.  This economy is really starting to freak me out - and I have this little "Big Day" event coming up in, oh, I don't know, 10 months or so, that I need to budget for.

Speaking of "Big Day" stuff... I'm pumped because when I go home this weekend, Mom, Granny and I are going to look at possible places!  I'm really hoping to get this thing nailed down!

Since I don't have any pictures or videos to share with you - and because the infamous proposal story is now off the first page (waaa!) here you go, a special treat:

My awesomely gorgeous, incredibly smart and thoughtful, lest I not forget hilarious fiance:

This picture made my night!  Stacia put it up on her Facebook and when I was checking randomly overnight, I saw it.

When your day to day life keeps you about 1,200 miles apart - little things like new pictures - go a long way.

I hope he doesn't mind me putting this funny pic of him up!

Babe - muah!  I hope you know how THANKFUL I am for you!

Purple Tuesday

Guess I never made it back here yesterday, sorry about that.  I got out of work early, which was super.  And I went home and paid bills, which sucked.  :(

Am I the only one who thinks "cereal" every time I hear "credit crunch"?

Today I'm having a 1/2 good  hair day.  Not the kind where your hair looks good half of the day, but the kind in which literally half of my hair looks good.  Left side - good.  Nice part, good volume, all going in the same direction.  Right side - hmmm... maybe it's artsy?  I don't know.

It's okay, though because there are little things to be thankful for today.  For instance:

 

Someone left this magazine at the mailbox area in my apartment building.  Sans address label which means it was totally up for adoption!

So, I grabbed it.  And I loved the article Kenny wrote!  Yes, I said Kenny wrote.  Tracy, this is for you!

 

Another random, little thing I'm happy for today is 100 calorie packs.  I have loved these since the early days in 2005 when I was on Weight Watchers and the jokes of oreos were awesome to me.

These two are my current favorites.  I eat them back to back.  Salty, then sweet.  Yum.

Now, finally... I get to the part of this post that lives up to the title. (I hate titles - too much pressure - but it looks stupid when my blogs are imported into Facebook and they don't have titles, so whatev.)

I am thankful for my purple fuzzy socks.  I love this kind of socks (for socks). 

I started getting them for Christmas a few years ago, and I usually get a couple more pair each year.  They are so cozy and comfortable! 

They look kind of pink in this picture, but trust me, they're really purple.  And yes, I'm walking around in my socks at work.  That's just how I roll.

I only wear shoes long enough to get to my desk, then I take them off - and don't put them back on until it's time for the "dayside" people to arrive.  It'll be our little secret, mmkay?

Now - more purple:

I used my purple pen to trace over the coffee cups on this cup.  I'm quite proud of my little work of art!

These cups always make me remember back when I was working at WSLS in Roanoke and I would stop by Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea on my way to work, and they had these cups.

I would drink my latte - then spend the back half of the morning meeting coloring in the coffee cups!  (and listening and pitching awesome story ideas, too, of course!)

Also - since I never got around to it yesterday, a big THANK YOU from Brokaw to Ben & Cris - for sending him two little rawhide bones.  He loves these!  And so do the books on my bottom bookshelves. Shout out for such a nice surprise!

I got him to do a couple of tricks to say THANK YOU:

And then, we had a little more fun: 

Monday, Monday

Bah dah dah dah dah dah.  The best thing about this Monday is that it's kind of Wednesday because I'm off Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving.  All hail to the chief holiday!  I did not bow down to the commercial man this weekend and cave into the Christmas decorating.  Wahoo! 

I slept A LOT over the weekend.  Mmmm.  I love sleep!  I'm all caught up on The Office and Grey's Anatomy.  I am loving The Office, but I'm growing more and more annoyed by Grey's and thinking it's kind of becoming a waste of my time.  I think Grey's glory days may be over.

More later.  I must work now.

Rebel?

I broke my blog streak yesterday, sorry folks.

After work, Malika and I went to check out the newly re-opened National Museum of American History and it was FAB.  Highly recommend it.  A must-see in DC!  It has always been one of my favorites.  I like American history the best!  How patriotic, yet horribly self-centered of me, yes?

I slept for about 14 hours (the lovely Friday usual catch-up from the week) and it was great.  This morning, I'm catching up on The Office and snuggling with my doggie.  Good times.

IT SNOWED YESTERDAY, what in the world???  This is totally throwing me off!  I have a confession to make.  I am on the verge of rebelling.  I am from the "old school" when it comes to holidays.  I really, really LOVE Thanksgiving - I mean how can you argue with a holiday that is about eating?  And I have always had a policy of putting off all things "Christmas" until after Thanksgiving.  I never put up any deocrations until after Thanksgiving or listen to "Christmas" music until after Thanksgiving...

But just now, I signed on to itunes to look for songs to make a new work-out mix (I need some motivation!) and I see Harry Connick Jr.'s new album is only $7.99!!!!! What???? Awesome price.  Then I see that Enya has a holiday album out this year too?

Oh!  I'm tempted to break my own rules!  What to do???

I'm Alive and Well

PERSPECTIVE.

It changes everything, right?  I struggle with perspective.  Because just when I think I get it, I say or do something that clearly indicates that I don't get it at all. 

I have this song on repeat and I love it so much.  First of all, it's Kenny (hello!).  And Dave Matthews doesn't hurt.  But I really like the lyrics and the message here:

So damn easy to say that life’s so hard
Everybody’s got their share of battle scars
As for me I’d like to think my lucky stars that
I’m alive, and well

It’d be easy to add up all the pain
And all the dreams you set and watch go up in flames
Dwell on the wreckage as it smolders in the rain
But not me, I’m alive

And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathing in and out is a blessing can’t you see
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
And I’m alive, and well
I’m alive, and well

Stars are dancin’ on the water here tonight
It’s good for the soul, and there’s not a sole in sight
But this motors caught it wind and brought me back to life
Now I’m alive, and well

And today you know that’s good enough for me
Breathing in and out is a blessing can’t you see
Today is the first day of the rest of my life
Now I’m alive, and well
Yeah I’m alive, and well
=======

In other news... I received a notice from my apartment building management that I am apparently not allowed to sublet my apartment out for Barack Obama's inauguration.  Darn it!  Actually, I wasn't planning on doing that anyway.  Although, I don't see how I'm going to be able to get home from work that day.  They're expecting 4 million people to be in DC.  I'm thinking that may be a challenging commute...

One more thing I'd like to mention - Hugh Jackman - Sexiest Man Alive?  Now, I must admit, he's awesomely sexy, but I repeat - again - there is no reason Matthew  McConaughey should ever be de-throned from that title.  I think they should make a couple of things like Supreme Court Justice Terms. You know - until death.  Kenny Chesney should always be Entertainer of the Year.  Matthew McConaughey should always be Sexiest Man Alive.  That's all I'm sayin'.

I'm kind of enjoying this

I have a break between live shots this morning, so I'm going to bang out another random blog!  Thanks for your comments! :)

Let me begin by saying I overslept last night.  This NEVER happens because my sweet fiance calls me each night at 11pm to wake me up.  I missed his call.  My phone was on silent.  I put it on silent at work and I guess I never turned it back up.  Weird.  I don't usually do things out of habit.  So YEAH - apparently I do wake up "naturally" ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER.  Brokaw was in my face.  Wouldn't go away.  He had to pee so bad!!  I took him outside and he literally peed on the side of the apartment building, haha!!

Today President Bush is going to dedicate the National Museum of American History.  It's re-opening after being closed for 2 years for rennovations.  I am so excited about this!  The American History Museum is my ultimate favorite museum in Washington and I can't wait to go!  Maybe I'll check it out this weekend if it's not 10 degrees outside.  We'll see.

Oh, interesting article in today's USA Today.  It seems we were overpraised as children and now we expect too much.  I certainly did not feel "over" praised as a child, but I can relate to that sense of "I won't fail at anything."  Your thoughts?

Can I vent for a second?  I'm really REALLY over the term "grill" when it comes to talking about Congressional hearings.  Okay?  Seriously.  Grilled.  Grilled chicken, yes.  Grilled salmon, sure.  Grilled just about anything else, yes, sign me up.  But grilled auto CEOs?  No thanks.  This is the executive producer in me.  I get really, really over words in "news speak" when they are overused and especially when they're just stupid.  While I'm at it:  Just as much as I need news writers to stop using "grilled" for whoever is in the "hot seat" (I also hate that one) at said Congressional hearing, I need Senators to stop using medical metaphors.

I don't know how many times during yesterday's Senate Banking hearing I heard terms like "hemorraging", "life support," "stop the bleeding," etc. etc. etc.  STOP.

I'm watching Morning Joe right now and I want to jump through the screen and take their Venti Starbucks cups and drink whatever is in them because I'm certain, it's yummy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, COLBY!!!

Today my middle nephew, Colby, is 16 years old!

He will be driving a truck soon.

That's crazy!  I remember when he was born.  I was in middle school.  I went to see him when he was a wee little baby.  The first time I saw him, he was in a swing.  I couldn't believe he had BROWN HAIR!

He is such a handsome fella now.  And courteous and athletic, too!

 

Happy Birhtday, Colbster.  I love you.

 

 

Thanks to all of you who read and commented on Steel Magnolias.  How fun!  And you youngsters who haven't seen it - rent it.  Now.  It's fab.

I'm trying to get into the whole blog every day thing... I don't know... the problem is, when I do that, you get this randomness.  You like?  I feel like I like that when I read other people's blogs - but I feel like my own randomness is... weird.

For example, here is my musing for today:

Real Simple.  I LOVE this magazine.  I have tried stopping my subscription several times, but like highlighting my hair - I always go back.  I just got my new one.  Can't wait to dive in.  I see lots of Red and Baby Blue, which I think are the perfect Christmas colors.  I'm starting to think about being open to the idea of the Holidays approaching.  That whole "summer is over" denial thing is starting to wear off.  I wore an actual coat to work today!  And I saw a local news reporter doing a "they're getting ready for snow!" live shot.  Goodness.

The first thing I have to do is tear out all of the annoying stuff from the magazine.  You know, the 47 cards trying to get you to subscribe (um, hello? already do.  thanks.) or trying to get you to send someone else a subscription.  Those get thrown out.  And anything else that is made of that cardstock.  I hate that stuff.  Keeps me from flipping happily through my magazine,  ya know?

So, I'm looking forward to gutting it, reading it, and most of all - trying new recipes!  Confession:  I keep my Real Simple magazines.  How very not "Real Simple" of me!

 

 

 

Steel Magnolias

I just finished some cheesy grits.  Instant.  Mmm.   Needed a slice of butter, though.  Speaking of all things southern...

This weekend, Becky came over for a viewing of one of the best movies of all time, Steel Magnolias.  There are only a handful of movies I can quote and this is one of them.  We watched it with subtitles, altough accidental, that ended up being fun!

Let's review some of the best lines from Steel Magnolias:

"Nobody move!!"

"Shelby, drink your juice."

"In a good shoe, I wear a size six, but a seven feels so good, I buy a size eight."

"Sammy Wayne Desoto, what is this in my Frigidaire?"

"Miss Truvy, I promise that my personal tragedy will not interfere with my ability to do good hair."

Oh, there are too many to post here!  What are yours?

Busy, Busy Friday

I just realized I didn't blog this morning!  We had a very busy morning - with the Bush financial summit about to get underway and Obama apparently thinking of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State...  But... I feel obligated to throw something out here after my awesome week of faithful blogging!

Let's see... what have I got for you...

Um - I feel COMPLETELY overwhelmed by thoughts about this wedding.  I have spent way too many hours googling things this week! 

My brain cache needs to be CLEARED.  Too many images.  Gowns.  Invitations.  Flowers.  Favors.  Bridesmaid dresses.  Cakes.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  There are TOO MANY CHOICES.  There is NOT ENOUGH MONEY.

I am having to constantly remind myself that the really important parts of that day... are going to be the parts that don't actually COST a thing.