The Chocolate and The Cheese

I've been trying to figure out which way I want this post to go. Is a reflective look on all that 2009 has been? A look back over the last ten years of this new millennium? Or is it all about the new year coming, 2010. The hopes, dreams and promises that we aim to keep for the next ten years? I guess I could write a post about a little bit of both. A quick dip into the past, and a little peek into what I think the future shall hold. I'll finish it up with a short bit about what I'll be doing tonight, the last night of 2009. A little 'New Years Carol', reminiscent of Charles Dicken's, "A Christmas Carol." I desperately hope that there are no ghosts though, they really don't know how to party. Past: Memorable New Years' Eves (No particular order) 2000: I was holed up in a skanky motel in my little hometown with some of my peeps. We were drinking cheap champagne and playing some game that involved wrapping up in toilet paper. I had to ...

I've never really been the type to make a (or a list of) New Years Resolutions. Oh, I might have made up something if someone asked me directly, but in reality I kind of thought that they were hokey. A way for gyms to sell you a membership that you are never going to use. Even for a list maker like me, I just could never get into it. This year I feel like it will be different though. Mostly because I'm choosing to re-think the Resolutions list. In years past I always thought about them in terms of unattainable goals. Oh, I really love to lose thirty pounds, but I have no desire to go to the gym. Well, I would love to read a book a week, but I'm not willing to cut into my internet time to do it. Those type of things. This year however, I'm going to make a list of attainable goals. Things that I know I can accomplish, and not necessarily ones that have to last the whole year. I'm also going to add in a few things that I'll actually want to do. Like vi...

As promised yesterday, here is a list of my favorite Tunes to Move Your Body To. Use them wisely. They may incite dancing in the street, in your living room or even some innocent car dancing. Add some to your playlist for the gym, it will help make those resolutions stick for more than the week they did last year. Now, get up and dance! In Between Days- Ben Folds Five version Ready for the Floor- Hot Chip Wonderboy- Tenacious D You're Fit But Don't You Know It- The Streets Superstitious- Stevie Wonder Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard- Paul Simon I Just Want to Play Piano- Mark Mallman Take Me Out- Franz Ferdinand What songs make you want to get up and dance?

"What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?" -Rob Gordon, High Fidelity This is not going to be as depressing as the above quote sounds. I was just doing some thinking this morning while I was at the gym about the influence that music has on us. There I was, iPod stuck in my ears and I was running. Now, that may not sound so profound to most of you, but the thing is, I don't run. Not ever. Like, when the Army recruiter called me in High School I told him my personal motto was, "Don't run unless you have to." Strangely enough, he never called me again. So what does this have to do with Rob...

Holidays are stressful. Little sleep, over-stimulated, too much sugar, too many commitments. I give myself a lot of leeway this time of year. If you could take a look at my waistline you'd agree. I give myself some space; to be flexible, fluid, to try and let events transpire as they will. It's not easy, in fact I don't do a very good job at letting things go sometimes. The Mr. and I have a fight, I get stressed out and I hope that it doesn't ruin everyone's day/night/holiday. This year seems to be going a bit better than years past. I feel even more tired than ever before, but I think I'm finally learning to pick and choose my battles. Which fights I can win, which are important to me, which will only turn into a fight. That's not to say that I don't still get stressed out, but at least now I feel like I can see them coming. And then plan accordingly. So this Holiday Season I can only wish that you choose your battles wisely. For the sake of you...

So we've had an eventful past twenty four hours over here at my house. A huge-chunk-o-somethin' flew off of a truck and struck my car. It proceeded to puncture holes in my oil pan which in turn drained the car of oil. Greee-ate. So the Mr. took the day off of work and we've been dealing with stuff. Insurance companies are no fun to deal with, let me tell you! I always feel like I'm going in incriminate myself, although I didn't do anything wrong. Humph. Well, I hope this all ends well. Whether that means a new car or cheaply being able to fix the one we have. Either way I can't wait to be done with it all. Is there something wrong when your rental car is nicer than the car you're trying to fix? On a side note, I also cut LN's hair. It looks great! A little crooked, but I'm ok with that today. It's really the least of my worries. :) How's your day going?

"Let's go driving in an automobile...let's take a ride in the car..." One of my favorite things to do is drive. I think it might be because I grew up in the country and I found a lot of relaxation from driving back roads around the country. There is nothing more peaceful than a summer night driving around with your windows down, listening to the frogs chirping, and the breeze blowing. Once LN was born the one sure-fire way to get her asleep was to put her in the car. We did a lot of driving those first few months; I'd randomly drive around or I'd head to a park so I could read in the car and then take her for a walk afterwards. Even now she loves to go in the car and will often ask to go for a ride. When the Mr. and I travel I am the primary driver for the rental, partly because I'm a bit obsessive compulsive, but mostly because if I'm just riding I get so bored. I can't read in the car and that sucks, if I could I might let him drive once i...

So how is everyone today? It's mid-December and the Holiday season is in full swing. We finally got our tree this weekend and LN and I decorated it yesterday. When I say decorated I mean, I asked her where she wanted the ornaments to go, she pointed to the same spot every time and after she turned her back I moved it. I really didn't want all the ornaments in one small clump in the corner. Last night the lovely ladies and I had a Cookie Exchange/White Elephant Gift Exchange party. It was as awesome as it was last year! I got a great sign that reads: "Put On Your Big Girl Panties and Deal With It" It's teal with black letters and I hung it up in the 'Man Room'. The 'Man Room' you say? Well when we moved into our house two years ago yesterday the Mr. was getting all pouty because I was calling all of the decorating 'shots'. We have a small room at the foot of the stairs that was claimed to be a bedroom, but really is more of a study....

So yesterday I was talking about how the All Holiday, All the Time station on the radio was helping me get into the Holiday spirit. For as many Holiday songs as there are out there, I sure do hear a lot of them over and over again. There are only a few that I don't mind hearing. So without further ado, here is my Top Seven Favorite Holiday song list. Top Seven Favorite Holiday Songs (In no particular order) I'm Dreaming of A White Christmas : Not only is this one of my favorite Holiday songs, it is also one of my most favoritist movies. I love the story, the songs, the dancing and I really love the little ballerinas that perform while they sing this song in the movie. Makes my little heart all warm and fuzzy. Alvin and the Chimpmunk's Don't Be Late : Who doesn't love this song? Scrooge maybe. LN thinks it is hilarious. Especially when I over exaggerate the hoooola hoooop part. There's just something about those little chipmunks that mean Christmas t...

So I'll admit that I was a little Scroogey after we got back from Arizona. The Holidays kind of snuck up on me and flying back the day before December started did nothing for my inner Elf. So here it is December 10th and I'm still struggling a bit to get into that 'Holiday Spirit'. Driving along in the snow, ice and cold, blowing wind has not really helped either. Do you know what has helped (besides the glass or two of wine before bed every night...) is listening to the all Holiday, all the Time station in the car. Not that I really have a choice. You see along with the one broken side mirror and the other mirror that no longer has a mirror my car's stereo hasn't worked since last winter. The six CD player still works, but that gets old and this mama likes to listen to her NPR in the car. (Ha, that rhymed) So one day last week, for a lark, I decided to turn the radio on. Lo and behold it worked! Well, 107.9, the Oldies station worked. The other stat...

So it snowed last night. Ha! That even makes me laugh. Why? Well, because it finally snowed the kind of snow that is going to stick around for awhile. Like, until May. (Not really, well, maybe) I'm trying to hunker down and get used to the idea that it's going to be freezing cold for the next three to four months. Yay! In order to really be able to enjoy this stuff I decided to make a list of all the things that are GOOD about snow, cold and most important of all...the Snow Day. This list will become even more important in February when all I can think about is sipping a cocktail with a little umbrella while sitting under an umbrella on the beach. These winters man, they are rough! So although complaining about the cold and the snow is what binds us crazy Mid-Westeners together, here is my list of why I think Snow Days are nice. Shoveling : Is she crazy you ask? No, I just see shoveling as an hour of peace and quiet. I can even turn on the iPod and make things go e...

Do you bake? Do you ever use honey, molasses or some other sticky substance that is a pain in the a*s to get out of a measuring cup? Well next time simply spray a little cooking spray into the cup first and it will all come sliding out. Well, not ALL of it, but it will be much, much easier than before. You're welcome.

I need to finish Christmas shopping. I need to finish making my nephew's presents. I need to find a recipe for gingerbread. I want to make gingerbread with LN. I need to get myself off of email lists. I need to finish my Holiday Cards. I need to make the snacks for tomorrow's gathering. I need to buy one of these calendars . I need to start reading this book , book club is less than one month away. I need to clean the house. I need to drink some cocoa, preferably with some Bailey's in it. I need to figure out what to make for dinner. I need to buy some new pants. What do you need today?

Warning: This post may be a bit discombobulated. Kind of like my brain at the moment. So here's the skinny. It's the Holiday season. I'm tired. I'm busy. And sometimes I forget to update my blog. Ok, it only happened twice (!) this week, but I'm pretty sure that it's going to happen a few more times this month. It's just the way the Christmas cookie crumbles. It's snowing outside! (My house, doesn't look like this.) The stuff for my Holiday cards are all ready. Photos, check. Envelopes, check. Cool pen that makes addressing a hundred cards fun, check. Stamps, check. Now all I need is my lovely ladies to come over for a little Card Writing Party! Yep, to avoid the hours of bad TV I usually watch while addressing cards, this year I'm having some of my lovely ladies over for some noshing and chatting. Hopefully it will make the time (and the cards) fly by! (Aren't these cute?!) I haven't even started Christmas shopping. I think...

We took a trip to Arizona. We went to the Grand Canyon. It's pretty awesome. It's cold there this time of year, did you know that? Also, it's one big hole in the ground. The Mr. was convinced that we were all going to fall off the edge and die. But we didn't. We also went to Sedona. It's warmer there. And they have these really pretty rocks that come out of the ground. They are especially pretty at sunset. MP really likes to use her Macro setting. She got good and friendly with a few cactuses while out on a walk. Our family. Now, if only we were really that tall in real life. Thanksgiving 2009? A success.

So, was yesterday Monday? I'm not really sure, you see I've been gone and I'm still not sure what way is up. This week going by fast is not a good thing. We have an action packed weekend coming up and I think I'll be doing laundry well into next year (which, incidentally is only thirty-one days away. Eh.) I'll have a post about our trip as soon as I can get the pictures off of the camera. And delete some. I think I took a thousand pictures over the course of five days...no lie. Now I need to go finish my book for book club, tomorrow night. Who knew that camping with a toddler doesn't lead to much reading time? Did everyone have a nice Thanksgiving? The Mr. and I ate deli turkey sandwiches and Mac n' Cheese made over the fire. LN had a banana. The people camping next to us? Yeah, they had turkey, stuffing, potatoes, beans, some cranberry thing and pie. We kinda wanted to kill them. Or just wished they would have offered to share. Wasn't th...