Arlington, not Dallas

I'm going to The Big D, and do mean Dallas. Well, Arlington, really. I am meeting the fam there for Corinne's baptism. It'll only be until Sunday, but it's always nice to go on a quick road trip every once in a while.

Plus, the cedar down here is doing a real number on me. (I think it's the cedar, anyhow. Can't be completely positive that's the culprit, but I imagine it is since the counts have been "off the charts" the past few weeks.) Either way, this lump in my throat (yeah, like you're holding back some massive waves of tears, only not about to cry) has got to go away! I'm going nuts.

My intention yesterday was to post a big update about school, work, life, love, plans (of the tentative nature, of course), and so on ... but I didn't get to it. I went shopping for Corinne, instead. (I think that is grounds for a pass!)

So, I will just have to update next week when I am back in town. But I will have to do to it early in the week, as I am heading to Lubbock from either Wednesday or Thursday to either Sunday or Monday. Kay is having surgery (which we are all hoping doesn't turn out to be too, too serious), and I am going to join the ranks of the take-care team.

I know I just left somewhat of a cliffhanger for those of you who are either curious, concerned, or both, but that's all I have time for this morning. I have some major jobs to do before my departure around noon today. Must be on time to fetch Kay from the airport in Dallas!

So, until next week, I hope everyone has a delightful weekend, one that is allergy-free, lump-absent, and full of family fun! Oh wait, that's what I hope for myself. Well ... I hope the same, or something mighty similar for all of you. Take care of each other. Talk to you soon ...

Who doesn't love a cookie?

I baked cookies all day today for a fundraiser at the school where I work. Mainly chocolate chip, but I threw in some sugar and "cowboy" (with oatmeal, chocolate, nuts, and the like) for good measure.

I have been MONDO stressed out lately, but there is something about baking that relaxes the heck out of me. Yes, as corny as it sounds, the measuring and mixing and timing and yummy smells somehow help me harness my chi. I can't explain it.

Maybe it has something to do with me always having a knack for baking. Cooking, I'll admit, I have had to seriously work on to become what can legitimately be considered "good." With baking, though, I have been a winner from day one. That's a good feeling.

I am sure it is very strange for some of you probably reading this to envision me cooking almost every night, and baking for functions where the stuff will actually be sold. All I can say is ... I'm still getting used to it myself. I have had great success with a lot of my recipes lately. Maybe I'll share some of them on here one day.

In the meantime, I am going to watch some Man V. Food on The Travel Channel before bed. (Oh, how I love The Travel Channel these days!) Andrew Zimmern (sp?) is my favorite! He eats some crazy-nasty stuff, but it's interesting to me to see about cultures across the globe by way of food. And the Man V. Food guy ... I realize he gets paid to torture himself via food, but ... WOW, that guy takes on some insane eating challenges. Yowzers!

(In closing, I'm going to write a more "update-ish" type post tomorrow. Lots going on, most of which I still don't know much about. The rest, however, I will fill everyone else in on.)

Giselle?!

So ... there is something I feel I must address/question. Let me preface by asserting that I am not, in any way, bothered by it. I'm just supremely curious.

Over the last year or so, I have had MANY people approach me, telling me I look like Amy Adams. (The actress in the photo above and others below.) I didn't put much weight on the issue until my drive home for Christmas, when a little girl (about 5 or 6, I'd guess) literally dragged her mother over to me, pointing and yelling, "Mommy, it's Giselle! MOMMMMMMMMY! Giselle, look, IT'S HER!" (Giselle is Amy's character in the movie Enchanted, for those who don't keep up with Disney.)



Now, I can deal with some adults coming up to me at random, saying it at Target, the grocery store, work, and so on ... but when a child actually BELIEVES that I am the character played by the girl in a movie ... made me wonder.

The first person to tell me I look like her was actually Alex. Him and his old roommate were watching Saturday Night Live with her hosting before I even moved to Austin (I think that's when it was), and he called me immediately to tell me to turn on the TV. I was, of course, away from any place where television viewing was possible at the time, but ... still ... my own boyfriend.



Then there were the adults ... new acquaintances I would meet here and there, staring at me for a few minutes, then timidly saying ... "You know who you look like ...?" The first time I heard it, I said, "Oh yeah, 'Spiderman's Girlfriend' ... I've heard it many times before." To which was the reply, "Oh no, she's all cracked out now, and your mouth is totally different. You are a RINGER for Amy Adams, though!"

And then came my kids at school. At first, it was comments about old-school Kirsten Dunst (the aforementioned "Spiderman's Girlfriend reference) ... which sparked a HUGE debate ... then it was, "No, no, no! She looks like that Amy Adams lady." The kids stared, had me turn many different angles, look her up on the Internet ... then they all agreed with amazement ... "Yeah, you do look like her!"



I didn't really see Kirsten Dunst back then, and I don't really see Amy Adams now. I mean, my hair is definitely naturally a distinctive shade of light reddish brown these days (and more red the older I get) a lot like hers, but ... still.

As I said, I am CERTAINLY NOT AT ALL bothered by the compliments! I've always thought she was a lovely girl (well before the comments began), and I am actually flattered that so many others think I resemble her so closely. I just can't, myself, see it so distinctively.



Anyway, isn't that odd?! I very much think so ...

Show & Tell

Finally ... Holiday Pictures! I intended to put together a swanky slideshow, but
computer troubles have kept that possibility at bay. I'll settle for more of a "Show & Tell" experience.

Christmas 2008 ... and awaaaaay we go!!!!!


For whatever reason, I truly believe this is one of the best pictures ever taken in our family's history. There is no better way to say it, it just warms my heart. The mantel, the stockings ... makes me feel like a little girl for some reason. I had to blow it up and frame it in my bedroom. I just couldn't help myself. The stockings are, in order: Aunt Kay, Crystal, Melanie, Corinne, Scott, Me, Mark, Ami, Norbert, Mom, and Aunt Charlotte. More will be added as our family "officially" continues to grow and expand.

This brings me to be what I am certain has to be the CUTEST darn picture EVER taken, in anyone's history! The term for what The Tiny One is in is called a "bunting." (I think that is proper spelling.) My mom and Aunt Kay bought it for her, and I have to say ... money well spent! I could look at that little precious munchkin star all day long.

While the holiday did pretty much center around the new arrival, we did manage to pull ourselves together enough to do the rest of our traditional holiday events ... food, games, food, talking, food, laughing, food, drinking, and more food. ;) This one is my sis (whom I miss SO MUCH) and I about to sit down to a rather large Christmas Day Dinner.

We also exchanged (way too many) gifts. The two below are of my mom getting some beautiful BLING from Norbert (she looks totally excited), and the three of us (Norbs, me, and mom) surrounded by our respective piles of presents on Christmas Eve.





We played some card games, too! The pictures below are from the Rec Room table. The first is of Mark and his significant other, Chrissy. The second is again of Norb, Moms, and myself.





Then we stared at the baby some more ... pay close attention to the writing on her top. Hilarious! Crystal bought this for her, but I think it could be used to encompass BOTH of Corinne's aunts. (*wink, wink*)

Then we stared a little more ... Corinne as Princess Leia in the top, and even her melting Norbert's heart on the bottom:





The chicanery was far from over, however. Mark pulled a lovely stunt and showed up as Norbert, complete with his own knickers! (HA! I LOVE IT!) A little background: every holiday (or special family event) Norbert shows up in his "traditional" garb from Germany. We all get a big kick out of it, Mark especially. One trip to Savers, and behold! Greatness.

Since it was our first Christmas in very, very many to have three generations of our family present, we decided to mark it with some family photos. I believe these were taken on Christmas night. The first is of all the ladies, the second is just of the girl cousins, the third is of all of my cousins.







I took this one because it is literally staggering to me how much my mom and Aunt Charlotte look alike each and every year. They all, mom, Charlotte, and Kay look so much like my grandma: it's so amazing how that happens. Truly beautiful women.

This one is of my dad and his girlfriend, Karen, making a fruit salad on Christmas morning. It was the first year Karen was with us, but I get the feeling it won't be the last. (She's from New Orleans and a lot of fun!) My dad's happy, and that makes me happy.

The ENTIRE fam ... minus one, extremely important part. ;) They took this one on the Saturday evening after I left. Uncle David and Cousin Ami couldn't make it until that morning, and I had to get out of town after breakfast that morning to make it back to Austin before the deer on the sideroads became hazardous that evening. I love the picture! My mom has devised a plan to Photoshop me in as if I am sitting on the floor under Norbert. I think it's a brilliant idea!

And, finally, the last two! The first of the last is of Corinne and I, spending some very important and bonding nap time together. (Well, she was napping, I was talking with Crystal, my mom, Kay, and Char.) She positively melts into you when you hold her, and I was happy as could be. The second is of me, apparently taken by me, because I am a progressively huge nerd. (No new news there!)






There you have it, my holiday in a nutshell! (Believe it or not, I have about 50 or so more pictures I could show ... I'll spare everyone.)

I wish that EVERY week could be like that Christmas week. I will admit, I have been experiencing rather severe symptoms of Holiday/Family Withdrawal since leaving. I'm sure it will pass, but I so very much do wish that we could all be together a lot more often. Who knows ... maybe one day we will all be able to do just that! In the meantime, I'll just get my fixes whenever I can.

Lunar Event Tonight

Check out this article, and go outside at sunset tonight.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28581233/?GT1=43001

Biggest and brightest full moon of the year!

Rich stalkers, read up!

Okay, it's officially official ... I miss my laptop!!! It’s a little like cutting off a limb. I carted that thing EVERYWHERE!

If I have any wealthy admirers out there reading this, now would be the optimum time to do something truly creepy like send me an anonymous gift in the form of a MacBook. I’d only be wigged out for a few seconds, then I’d just squeal … a lot. ;)

Happy Hump Day!

(Applications are so very near finished. Can't complain about that.)

Bananas

Well, my laptop has a virus. A big, nasty, blocking-out-Norton-entirely-and-making-my-life-hell VIRUS! Ugh. I'm annoyed.

Thank goodness for the desktop Mac that was donated to me a few months ago (the one I am currently using), or I could be screeeeewed.

Applications for Master's programs are very near complete. I am a bit too OCD about my personal letters, papers, and presentation of supplementary materials, or the things would have been sent long ago.

Still, there's something to be said for taking pride in your work. Let's all just hope it assists in getting me where I want (and, really, need) to be this coming Fall.

There's lots more I could talk about, but right now, I think I should go check the laundry. Work starts up again tomorrow, and there is much to be done. My to-do list is insanity.

Oh, but it is 2009!! Holy moly, I can barely believe it. I still need to solidify my resolutions. (Yeah, yeah, yeah ...) Add it to the list!!!

Of course, of course ... Happy New Year to you all! Hope it's "better than the last," even if the last wasn't all that bad. :)