Life

Gag Gifts Galore

So we had a good time at Kevin’s family last night.

Kevin’s mom made brisket and we brought (bought) a honey-baked ham. *drool*

There were about twenty people there.

After we ate, we cleared out the tables to make room for the gag gift exchange game.

WARNING: We really get into this game. You might want to turn your speakers down.

Here we are, sitting around and waiting to begin. It’s that period of time when you all sort of sit around and stare at each other.

Awkward.

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The smorgasbord of gag gifts to choose from.

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My sister-in-law and her crazy family – never a dull moment with those peeps around.

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My other sister-in-law has just picked her gift (I can’t remember what it was) and my niece’s husband (the dark-headed guy sitting on the love seat) breaks out into song after someone else asks where the “pooping moose” is this year.

That kid cracks me up.

And the story behind the pooping moose – it was a gag gift that first made it’s rounds in 2005.

TWO THOUSAND AND FIVE!!!!

We got it one year and it spent several years in our garage. Then it resurfaced, and my sister-in-law’s family got it; it spent some time in their garage and then resurfaced.

So this chocolate moose has been passed around for seven years and you can imagine how gross it’s getting. I’m not sure if we’ll continue the tradition next year or what, but I’m pretty sure we’re going to re-gift the gag gift that Jazz received this year – a bobble-head Yoda wearing a Santa hat. haha!

Another popular gag gift this year was the “Forever Lazy.” It’s basically a snuggie with feet and a button-down bottom. One of my nephews was the lucky winner of that one and had to model it for everyone.

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We ended the night with another one of my nephews picking one of our gag gifts – a set of five presidential Pez containers.

It was a really fun night. Kevin’s family is always a lot of fun and I’m blessed to be part of such a great family.

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Day-By-Day

I’m So Over the Holidays

I’m cranky.

I’m starting another four-day weekend and all I want to do is stay home in my PJ’s, watch movies, maybe eat a tub of popcorn (or two), drink some Bailey’s and be a complete waste of humanity.

Instead. I’m dressed up, have on my sparkly jewelry, my false eyelashes and my new boots and am waiting to load our gag gifts into the car and go over to Kevin’s family’s house for Christmas. We’re doing it today because it’s getting harder an harder to get everyone together nowadays – all of the kids are grown and scattered all over the US …

I like Kevin’s family, honestly, I just didn’t feel like dressing up and donning my “social” face. I never choose to be social, but I’m quite good at it when I put my mind to it.

I need to snap out of this mood because it’s not fair to allow my grumpiness to spoil what will likely be a pleasant evening.

Are the holidays over yet?


My boss has asked me to write a blog at work.

*zoink*

I’m not sure how I feel about this … Flattered? Nervous?

Mostly nervous, I think. I’ve already warned him, I’m VERY opinionated. Like, almost obnoxious … well, I don’t have to tell YOU ALL this, you read the nonsense I write.

He wants me to write about the new healthcare fiasco, erhm, law, LAW (I can’t believe it’s a freaking LAW), and tips on how to communicate more effectively with people highlighting Aristole’s The Art of Rhetoric. (You know. The whole ethos, pathos and logos thing).

I can actually get on board with this. I honestly think learning this in college helped me to become a more effective communicator and I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve heard people at work tell a patient something which makes me cringe.

The whole purpose of writing this blog is to get people talking – oh, I’ll get people talking alright, more like people screaming. He wants, and will encourage, people to comment to “start a dialogue.”

He just “sounds” like management, doesn’t he.

He’s already bugging to me to write something, but honestly, I don’t know when he expects me to write anything. I don’t want to do this at home as it will require a little research and it’s for work so I should be paid for it. But it’s virtually impossible for me to get away during clinic hours so … I don’t know, we’ll see what happens with his “idea.”

If this writing “gig” pans out, I have a feeling I’m going to surprise quite a few people as I “appear” pleasant and mild mannered on the outside…

I have a feeling I’m going to surprise, tick off, quite a few people.

Meh. What else is new.


I’m growing my hair out.

And even though it’s driving me nuts because I don’t know what to do with it, people are complimenting me again. Which tells me that it does indeed look better longer.

Kevin is happy. He has finally admitted that he likes it better long – but honestly, what man doesn’t??

My goal is to grow it out and style it like this.

Now. To get there …


Kevin’s new gig starts in a few days. He’s going to be an Intuit support guy for Quickbook questions. He’ll need to be available from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday.

He got his phone yesterday. I’m relieved that he has his own phone for this gig, that way, he’ll know if it rings that it’s someone needing help with Quickbooks. He can keep his regular business, and his Intuit consults, separate.

I’m not sure how he’s going to swing this and take care of his other clients, too. Though he does have Dude working with him now and he swears up and down that he’s been extremely helpful. In fact, he said that Dude is the best employee he’s ever had.

And he’s not just saying that because he’s our son, either.

So. Dude will continue to do data entry things for him leaving him free to concentrate on other things.

Dude is LOVING it. He’s making steady money, paying taxes and is finally on track to adulthood. Now. To get him to pay his own bills. Kevin told him the other day that when he turns 21, he’ll be expected to pay his monthly cell phone bill, and his car insurance.

I just want him to save money so he can move out. I don’t really WANT him to move out, but I don’t want him living with us when he’s 30, either.


It’s about time to start planning for our next vacation. We, (and by “we” I mean “me”), have been talking about taking a cruise to Alaska. I’d like to fly into Vancouver a few days early, explore Vancouver, then catch the boat to Alaska. Kevin is not terribly thrilled about the idea. He thinks you can only see so many moose/mountains before it gets old.

But too bad. It’s someplace we’ve never been and I’m a mission to see the world, one tiny part at a time, before I die.


It’s time to get serious about writing again.

And reading.

I don’t think I’ve cracked a book since I started this job, over a year ago.

I really must do something about that.

Soon.

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Life

Stocking Hunt

So my mom did something fun this year – instead of giving the boys an envelope with money, she put the money in a plastic stocking ornament thingie and hung it on their tree. The boys then had to hunt for their stocking.

(I’m asking mom how old I am in this picture):

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Also. The boys are wearing the skull caps that mom made them.

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Mom also made me some fingerless gloves – the girls at work are going to be jealous. Our hands get really cold!

Fingerless Gloves