Walking With Nora

* Staycation. I have been lazy. Well, yesterday I worked and dealt with some drama, even though it’s my “vacation.” I have since gotten over it, worked it out and feel much, much better about things. Today? I did three loads of laundry. Watched over four hours of Friends (refreshing myself on Season 9 before I turn my attention to Season 10), took Jack on several walks, wore flip-flops in over 50 degree weather with a sun shining, researched new gyms to join, dyed my hair, cleaned the apartment, worked on a puzzle… worked, and read some more. I’m learning to relax and enjoy the do-nothing days.

* Christmas. This may be one of the best Christmases in years. My parents blessed me with many, many presents ranging from great skin care products to CDs to a coat I’ve been coveting to movies to framed pictures I wanted and much more. My brother, the eternal thoughtful present giver gave me some great jewelry all from a local store that supports free/fair trade and an NYC poster. TDH hit several home runs himself: two books, one vampire, one not, an awesome bracelet and necklace, a flour sifter (long story), four homemade CDs and an NYC poster as well (different than my brothers).  My family and I took it slow, opened presents for several hours, enjoyed casseroles that Darling &  I made, laughed, smiled, napped and just enjoyed. I didn’t see TDH’s family on Christmas day but made up for it by spending most of the weekend with his family.  

* New Years. Plans have finally been nailed down…a  house party with some of my friends from high school, TDH (of course) and a few of TDH’s friends. There will be a Wii (I am addicted), darts, Apples to Apples, food, drink and fun. I’m rather glad I’m skipping the bar scene this year and instead laying low at a house party. I’m really looking forward to it.

* Resolutions. I have several, some short-term, some long-term. Those deserve a post all to themselves.

Expect regular posting after the New Years and my sheer laziness has worn off.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas/Happy Holiday the last few days.
I’ve been full-steam ahead with family, TDH, TDH’s family and Jack and have had little desire to blog about all the fun and merriment, but it will come soon!

I have to work from home a bit here and there this week, so apart from some sleep, shopping (I need a New  Year’s Eve top), relaxation and catching up with friends, I’ll have plenty of time to post and catch everyone up(and of course catch up on your blogs too!)

Hugs and continuing Holiday Spirit,

Nora

Since my family and I moved to StL in 1993, it’s pretty much been just the four of us for Christmas each year. My aunts, uncles and cousins are literally spread out coast to coast, and apart from my Gram and Poppy coming for the holiday, it was just us.

That’s left us plenty of time to develop our own holiday traditions…

* Christmas Lights. No, no, not the ones which decorate my parents house, but others. The ones that parks put up or driving through neighborhoods who are known to have “crazy” decorations. We get my dad’s car all warm and cozy, pile in, listen to the Christmas music and off we go. The last few years its been Christmas Eve that we meander through the Christmas Splendor.

* A Christmas Carol. It’s much harder to do now that I live on my own and my brother lives on campus, but up until probably three years ago, we would start reading the classic by Charles Dickens as a family. Each night, after dinner, we’d gather in the fireplace room and take turns (nightly) reading the book. Our goal was to finish it by Christmas Eve each year. We made it most of the time.

* Advent Calendars. Darling gives them to me and my brother. I display mine in the kitchen, though I admit to occasionally forgetting to open a few days, it’s a happy reminder of the upcoming family time, presents and etc.

* A Christmas Story. My Gram hates this movie, she thinks the kid is really whiny. Maybe he is, but I love the movie. It represents Christmas Eve to me, the hideous leg lamp, the dogs who eat the turkeys, the whole deal. It’s wildly humorous and strangely comforting to me.

* One Present. For as long as I can remember we open one present each before we go to bed on Christmas Eve. It’s not anything big, but always something unexpected, cute and delightful.

* Church. We don’t always go. We’re definitely a family who goes mostly on holidays, and we do our own religious thing in between, whatever that may be. I’ve come to expect the tradition of us debating if we can make it due to weather, schedules, etc. As I type this I feel terrible for saying we don’t always make it due to weather or other problems. If we don’t go to Church, we read the appropriate passages from The Bible.

* Dogs. I grew up with my parents telling us that our family dogs spoke to them (my parents) every midnight. I have no clue how/why this got started as something that happened, but I believed them. And to this day, I’m foolish in thinking maybe this is the year Jack will turn to me and talk. Haha, yeah, right.

* Wrapping Presents. My dad is one of the most ambitious present wrappers I know, though this doesn’t mean he is good at it. I help him out every year for a few hours, coming up with clever “From” Names, and making the presents jazzy. This is our chance to catch up outside of the office. I look forward to it every year. And I enjoy knowing some of the secrets, too!

* Christmas Eve Dinner. My parents have seafood and pasta; I normally get some type of filet and pasta and this year my brother will eat just the pasta I suppose. The house always smells wonderful and it’s a kick-off to our Christmas en famille.

* Stockings. Santa. Christmas Morning. Before my brother and I can go downstairs to the Christmas Tree room, we must open our stockings. My brother traditionally wakes me up, we sit on my bed slightly bleary-eyed going through the stocking finding things such as chocolate gold coins, oranges, magazines and other odds/ends. Then we wake up my parents, who even though my brother and I are older, still do not wrap most of the presents until 4am on Christmas morning and then take them down to the tree (which I think is the more fun way to do it), so are inevitably sleepy. My parents make coffee, turn on the Christmas music, and my brother and I wait, 25 and 20 respectively, at the top of the stairs acting like the 12-year olds we feel like inside. Then we can go downstairs. If we go downstairs a moment earlier, the “presents disappear.” (That’s what we were taught.) My mother takes our pictures as we see the Christmas Tree room. One by one, we open the presents. We take turns. It’s more fun that way.

All of this sums up our traditions, our values and what I’ll be up to the next few days. I can’t wait!

What are a few of your holiday traditions? Big travels and family plans for the next few days?

1. Wrapping paper or bags?    I prefer wrapping paper with sparkles, silver, glitter, Christmas trees, presents on them and etc.

2. Real tree or Artificial?    Artificial for the last eight years at least. We had several real ones growing up but they weren’t without their problems (leakage and falling over randomly, though they are good for holiday memories!)

3. When do you put up tree??  The Sunday after Thanksgiving because I’m crazy and love Christmas. It’s my own tradition at my apartment/house and with my parents at theirs if we can all get together for it.

4. When do you take the tree down? After the Twelve Days of Christmas, so around January 6th

6. Favorite gift received as a child?  Geez, I don’t know. I would have to say in the last few years it’s been my laptop and digital camera. When I was younger my American Girl Doll for sure. Oh and the year I got a parakeet! Those just stand out, but my parents get me great presents every year, no matter what.

7. Hardest person to buy for?   My dad. He has everything he wants it seems.

8. Easiest person to buy for?   Mom, hands down. And TDH. I could buy him 100s of presents.

 9. Do you have a nativity scene?  Yes, a very special one. Poppy made me the manger and he gave me a Precious Moments set to go with it. It’s on my window sill this year.

10. Mail or E-mail Christmas cards?  USPS. I love to send Christmas cards.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?  I’ve gotten some ugly sweaters from people who aren’t my immediate family. Or those random little calendars that you never actually use.  Those gifts come from people who don’t really know you.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?  I have to choose ONE? ELF. Love Actually. The Holiday. A Christmas Story. Muppet Christmas.

 13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?  Around Thanksgiving.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don’t think so, no.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?  Cheesy potato casserole on Christmas morning. And our Christmas Eve dinner.

16. Lights on the tree?  Multi-Color lights.

17. Favorite Christmas song?”  “This Christmas,” “O Holy Night,” “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays,” and… I think that’s all.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?   We stay here. Just the four of us, plus Gram, and occasionally my Aunt and Uncle will come up to surprise us, and maybe the signifant others in my life/my brother’s life. It’s small, intimate and I love it.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?   Ummm… no. Dasher, Dancer. Blitzen, Cupid, Rudolph.  I know I’m forgetting some of them!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?  Star at my house. Star on one tree at Darlings and an angel on the other. (My mom has two trees. They are glorious. Check out her blog to see pictures!)

21.. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?  One on Christmas Eve before bed. Then the rest on Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?   This year it’s way too freakin’ cold! Other than that, I wish I had an endless supply of money so I could buy everyone I care about tons of presents.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Traditional ornaments; red, green, orange, purple, blue, some with glitter, some without.

 24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?  Dad’s Christmas Eve dinner and Darling’s Christmas Day Dinner.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?  Honestly? I have no particular requests other than happy family and good times. Any presents I get are really going to be a surprise since I didn’t “ask” for much.

And a random slideshow of some fun pictures for you… more to come as  receive them. 

[slideshow id=3026418949595042802&w=426&h=320]

I’m too excited/happy/smiley/joyous/in love to write a proper post today, so can I do Tidbit Tuesday twice in one week, once today and then again tomorrow?

* Work. My office is awesome: short schedule today and tomorrow. Off the 24th-Jan 5th. I will have to do some light duty work from home here and there due to a huge win we just acquired that requires much of my attention, but I don’t mind it so much.

* Weekend. I had a wonderful weekend. Friday with TDH & his family. Sleeping, shopping and PJ party Saturday night.  Sunday was more sleeping, shopping and then my family dinner. Darling made some amazing meatballs, TDH survived meeting my Gram, and my brother told me he really likes TDH. (Which I already knew but it’s always great to hear again.)

* Christmas PJ party. It turns out they didn’t have to be Christmas PJs, but I bought some anyway, thanks to Old Navy’s awesome sales. Thankfully TDH’s sisters came so I knew more people and wound up having a blast. The party hosts set-up a “photobooth” with an awesome SLR camera of some sort, so once I get the link to the pictures, I’ll be sure to post some here. I really think people should wear PJs to parties more often. Talk about comfortable!

* Kisses. TDH’s mom even attended the aforementioned party (a closeknit group of friends he’s in, parents included) and before she left she gave me a kiss on the head. I do believe, dear friends, I’m officially “part” of the family.

* 6 months. I’ve been dating TDH for six months tomorrow. We aren’t really celebrating as it’s kind of cheesy to do so, but we are likely going to grab some food and chill out. I can’t believe it’s been that long. Although it doesn’t seem like 6 months, probably because we’ve not had any big fights or arguments and everything has been sunshine-happy-is this really happening-kind of relationship.

* Jack. I bought him a really adorable penguin toy yesterday, it’s probably half his size, and he’s insisting on carrying it around with him everywhere he goes. I have some pics & videos of him to upload, so I’ll hopefully do that soon.

* Christmas. I am pumped for this holiday season. I got some killer presents for my family and TDH. I’m filled with joy, spirit, laughter, smiles. To all of my blogger friends, most especially those who comment and email me, with whom I’ve become “virtual,” friends, thank you for being here. For allowing me to vent. For encouraging me. For pointing out things I may not notice. I’m thrilled that we are all connected through blogs/twitter/facebook/email/internet and I wish you all wonderful holidays, cheer, and love.

While I’m a bundle of joy, secret-keeper and present-purchaser-galore during the holiday season there are moments of overwhelming emotion, like these:

* Several of our local news channels have soldiers overseas film messages for their families in the States. Each time they come on I get goosebumps, immediate tears in my eyes, and wish for their speedy return to their loved ones. I think what gets me the most is the men are obviously working to keep themselves together and show little signs of emotions.

* Poppy. The only grandfather I ever knew passed away over 11 years ago, but each Christmas I miss him more than the one before. He had a way of making my Gram laugh and sparkle in a way she seldom does anymore. All of our family dogs gravitated towards him instinctively. He was soft-spoken, incredibly intelligent, funny, an amazing hugger, a lover of all mankind and furry animals, and though he was often a silent observer (he didn’t talk a lot) you could tell he was happy and having fun. Little smiles. Winks. He called me half-pint up until the day he passed away. He and Gram used to come each year; there have been years where I smell his cologne, I see him sitting on the sofa with my childhood dog and I know that he’s still with us. Each year.

* O Holy Night. No matter who sings it, what the rendition or how many times I hear it, I cry. I could be at work, in the car, in the shower, it doesn’t matter… I always cry.

I broke down.
I joined Twitter.
My Username: Nora_L. Find me! Follow me (you know, because I’m so exciting). And then I’ll follow you. And now I have a new site to be addicted to.

Questions for my friends who use Twitter: is their a mobile application so I can upload on the go? And how do I get a “Follow me on twitter” image for my blog?

I think yesterday was the first time in over 45 days I didn’t blog. Terrible, I know.

I had a “shitastic” day at work and I didn’t want to be a Scrooge/Debbie Downer, especially at this time of year. I’m also very well aware that my bad days aren’t nearly as bad as other people’s bad days.

Last night, in an attempt to fix my Bad Day Blues, TDH came over with Jimmy John’s (my favorite sub sandwiches, hands down. It’s the bread, I swear!), National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and Sierra Mist complete with kisses and snuggles. I wasn’t really my normal self though I tried to be, between going over work crap in my head and making lists, trying to walk Jack on snowy sidewalks, and wishing I were fast asleep in bed (I have bags under my eyes this week!), it was tough.

Later on, talking about his upcoming family Christmas Card that will be shot this weekend (they do photo cards) since his oldest sister will be arriving from Australia tonight, he asked if I wanted to come. I told him no, it’s too much of a production, I don’t belong there. Besides, it’s his family’s Christmas card. I won’t be in them.

TDH:”Oh, yes. You will be in them.”
Nora:”Really? I thought that required a ring on the finger of the outsiders.”
TDH: “It does.”
Nora:”Well, then I won’t be in them.”
TDH:”Not this year you won’t.” <Insert sneaky smile.>
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The other night, after TDH finished reading his Anita Blake Vampire novel, snuggling up to me: “I love you so much.”
Nora (sleep-groggy and teasing): “Oh really? What are ya gonna do about it?”
TDH (whsiper in my ear): “Marry You.”

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I mentioned briefly the other day that TDH and I are seriosly considering adopting a dog together. We’re on a list for the Rat Terrier and will find out on Tuesday if we get him. Wednesday night while shopping with Darling & Gram (A whole post in itself), we texted via Blackberry Messenger:

Nora:”Finally at grocery store. What are you doing?”
TDH:”Watching a docu on fighter pilots. Missing you. Wish you were here.”
Nora: “Agreed! Miss you too, babe.”
TDH:”I’ve been thinking about buying houses and dogs with you all day.”
Nora: ” ”

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I got a lot of trouble from many readers for my lack of sweater/ugliness, I tracked down a picture of several of the group members.

A few things to note about this year’s Ugly Sweater Party:
* Very few people actually had “Christmas” sweaters.
* After the competition was over, everyone started disrobing. I failed to bring a change of clothing so I looked like a fool the whole time, contributing to the ugliness of the party
* The rules are loosening so it’s now about the Ugly Christmas outfit

Hideous Fabrics

Interesting note about the photo above… the guy in pink is my old roommate (ManMate). And the guy all the way on the right is one of TDH’s friends who won the entire bracket earning him a mini keg of beer. One of the girls at the party actually liked his sweater so he gave it to her.

And for those of you asking about beer pong, here is what one end of the table looks like:

Beer Pong Set-up

(Note: I was listening to a guy, obviously not pictured, tell me about the day he and his wife found out they were pregnant! That explains the look on my face, I think. Oh, and I did take off my hideousness for beer pong. It was too hot!)

It’s another snowy, blustery, so-freakin-cold-your-face-hurts kind of day.
The office is quiet. I can’t tell if it’s because of the holidays, the economy or a winter daze that we are all in.
So, just because I feel like it, a random list:

*I have never been fishing. Ever.

* The one time I went camping it was at Fort Wilderness, which is owned & operated by Disney in Orlando, FL. (Ever seen Troop Beverly Hills? We weren’t that stuck up, but our camping was not even close to real.) The closest we came to wildlife was an armadillo scurrying past our tent.

* It really annoys when able-bodied people in my office, co-workers and colleagues alike, take the eleveator down to the first floor. We are on the second floor. I have counted a total of 16 steps to get from there to here.

* I have a habit of calling people who are “older,” than me “sir,” and “ma’am.” I hope it doesn’t offend anyone.

* I rarely go a day without chocolate. If I do I’m always surprised the next that I survived without it, which proves that I don’t really need it.

* I’m 25 and I have a ton of white hairs on my head. Not gray. WHITE. And not only are they white but they choose to defy me and stick striaght out of my head in all kinds of crazy, curly directions.

* I have vivid dreams every night. Lately they have been scary and terrifying. Last night: I was held hostage at a gas station by a gang of men who had pistols and were taking over all the gas stations in town.

* I occasionally will not wear an article of clothing if I associate it with something negative.

* I think I have really chubby cheeks. They annoy me.

* My parents have made a list as long as their arms of nicknames for me. Beeps is the one that is used most frequently as of late. Most of them do not even relate to my name, so I have no idea what their origin is.

* On nights when I’m having me-time, I rarely eat a proper dinner. I usually go for a bowl of cereal and then later on a piece of cheese.

* Ironing and laundry are two of my most favorite household chores. I know it’s crazy, but I like them.

* I have had three surgeries: appendicitis, sinus surgery and removal of my very annoying tonsils.

* I often think that I would love to start and own a bakery. I have contemplated going to cooking classes for fun.

* Deja Blue is my favorite brand of bottled water. I do recycle.

* I can’t go into PetCo or PetSmart on puppy adoption days. I will start crying. I would love to have lots of land so I could have at least five dogs.

* I don’t think I’ve ever felt so at ease, safe, and passionate about a man before as I do with and for TDH. 

* I really want to find a way to go to the 20SB conference/event in June 2009…