A Welcome Break

Got to enjoy a little unexpected fun the other day, being gifted with two tickets to the St. Louis Rams-Green Bay Packers game in St. Louis. We happen to live in that area, but being a longtime Packers fan, I was all about the visiting team . . .

Now, trekking to the city for a football game just 10 days before Christmas was not exactly in my plans -- I had cards to write, cookies to make, a house to clean, and presents to wrap. Even considering taking hours out to sit in a football stadium seemed ridiculous. But so did turning down free club seats, so we went.

And am I glad we did. Been so busy with work, kids, holiday stuff, getting ready to go south for Christmas, it's been the typical hectic holiday season. What a great thing, then, to just run away for a little while, catch a great game, see Favre break the all-time NFL passing record, and relive a little childhood magic of my own -- as I think I've mentioned before, football was it in my house, and I loved it. Still do.

A Horrible Blogger

That title up there? That's me this month -- it's been 10 days since my last post, and I've been too ridiculously busy to even check in. Which is a good thing in some ways, but I do love my blog, even with all it's imperfections, and my handful of kind readers who mosey my way every now and again.

I guess I need to just officially say that I will be spotty -- extremely spotty -- with my posts until Jan. 1, especially with a Florida vacation looming for the holidays (yay!). After Jan. 1, I will be the perfect blogger. After Jan. 2, however, it's anybody's guess. No, really, I'll be back -- just need to take care of my Ps and Qs -- also known as the stuff that helps keep food on the table.

In the meantime, visit me at The Budget Fashionista, where I continue to write up a frenzy with my wonderfully fashion forward boss Kathryn Finney.

Also, here's an article I liked, in case you need something else to do now: http://www.azcentral.com/offbeat/articles/1212wacky-warnings1212-ON.html

7 Little Known Facts About Me

Kimberly at Creating Ms. Perfect tagged me for this meme, and I thank her sincerely, because it's one of my favorites to read. I'll let you know how I feel after writing it, but here goes:

1. As a kid, I had huge gaps between my teeth -- so much so that I could easily stick a toothpick between them (and I do mean the widest part). Thank you, Mom and Dad, for the braces.

2. Growing up I wanted to be an archaeologist, and even though I was a psychology major, I took as many anthropology courses in college as I could (love that evolution stuff!).

3. As a teenager, I was a huge Metallica fan. Now, I am nursing an irrational, adolescent, and on-going obsession with the Red Hot Chili Peppers (that's them up there -- hi guys!).

4. I got my first stitches (in my finger) horsing around on New Year's Eve (1988, I think) and got my finger stuck in the mouth of a beer can -- I pulled one way, he pulled the other -- those cans are sharp. I told my parents it was a Coke can, because of course I was underage. (Sorry guys -- but it wasn't mine anyway. Really.)

5. I got my second set of stitches (in the forehead) after misjudging the distance between myself and the edge of the open car door. No beer was involved -- just clumsiness.

6. I took Spanish all through high school, and completed second year Spanish classes at Michigan State. I can read and understand a bit, but speaking it is something I haven't even come close to mastering.

7. I took guitar lessons as a kid, and still play sometimes. Not well, but I play.

Hey, that was kind of fun. Do I have to stop at 7? I've lived in seven different states . . . oh, alright . . . so I'm tagging these bloggers:

Beck at Frog and Toad Are Still Friends

A Brain Like Mine: Diary of a Feminist Housewife

Kelly O. at O for Obsessive (forgive me if you've done this one already!)

Suzanne of Adventures in Daily Living

And my loyal reader Christine at MariaChristina (who will probably stop reading altogether if I tag her for one more meme, so just say the word!)

Holiday Wishes

Well, my holiday spirit seems to be seriously lacking this year. Not sure if it's being a different location than last year at this time, working from home vs. being out in the holiday-laden world everyday, or the fact that my kids are past the Santa Claus years now.

Still, I'm trying, trying, trying to get in the mood. Someone asked the other night what we'd wish for the holidays -- but it can only be something that doesn't have to do with money.

My daughter's answer? World Peace. We're thinking a run for Miss Universe might be in her future.

My son? That dogs could live as long as humans. Hmmm. Sounds like some unresolved death issues that have been conveniently swept under the rug. We'll leave them there until after the holidays at least.

My answers? Well, up until this moment I didn't give it much thought. But I have to write something, so here goes:

~ That my childhood football hero OJ Simpson (yes, I'm a girl but in my house if you didn't love football you didn't survive the fall) would finally just fess up to everything, already. And then just go away.

~ That someone would round up all the Crocs in the world and launch them into space for some higher intelligence to deal with (I'd say burn them, but we've screwed up the environment enough).

~ Speaking of the environment, we should do something about that. I can't take another story about polar bears drowning. There's my bid for Miss Universe ( but I'm not holding my breath).

~ And speaking of arctic climates, somebody should free the penguins from the horror that is their life cycle. I was under the mistaken impression that "March of the Penguins" was a good movie to watch. I've been traumatized ever since.

~ I would go ahead and put in a bid for world peace, the arrival of an inspiring and viable presidential candidate, and a Super Bowl win for Favre and the Packers, but I'm a hopeless cynic, so I won't even bother.

Well, this doesn't seem to be helping my holiday mood at all, but at least I got some stuff off my chest. And that's good for the spirit in the long run, right?

photo by sbethell at Flicker.com