Back by Popular Demand --- with a twist!

As many of you will recall, we didn't have Christmas stockings last year. I know it was an unpopular decision, but I felt it was justified, as I was spending a rather substantial sum of cash on stuff that no one really seemed to want, at least not past the first few minutes of thinking "hey, what's this!?" More than once I've found stashes of unopened stocking gifts 6 months or a year or two years later, which was a demotivating factor overall for me.

But this year, someone --- and I really can't remember who --- came up with a great idea. So it is with great pleasure that I announce the return of the Christmas Stocking, with a bit of a twist!

The twist is that, instead of me trying to find and buy stocking stuffers for everyone, each kid will buy a stocking stuffer, one for each stocking of course. You don't have to buy one for yourself if you want to save money, but the idea is to buy something you yourself would want, presumably, and it's not supposed to be expensive. In fact, shopping at the Dollar Store is certainly acceptable.

You can buy the same thing for everyone, or something different for everyone, as long as you spend the same amount for each gift.

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care at this moment. Feel free to put your items in whenever you want --- you don't have to wait till christmas --- but no peeking!

Note to Twila: Since you are out of town and this is short notice, I realize you might not have time to shop for this. Let me know if you see this post, and if you think you'll have time to find something. If you can't, I'll do it for you. If I don't hear from you I'll assume you didn't see the post...

Mike's Wish List

OK. I know this is late, but Kacie requested it, so here goes.

A wall calendar or a desk calendar with a theme that I'd like.

Whole bean coffee. Mild or medium roast. Not flavored.

"Letter to a Christian Nation" by Sam Harris.

Eric Clapton's Crossroads 2007 Chicago 2 DVD set.

Frie Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon or Beringer Knight's Valley Cabernet Sauvignon or Coppola Claret.

Black Leather Gloves.

Grandma's Flowers

This is Twila writing for Grandma so that she can get her flowers posted. They are very pretty! (Even Twila is having a hard time uploading photos, so you're only getting one! ;_;)

Sad Christmas Songs

Saddest Christmas Song Ever!
Which is the saddest Christmas song?

I'll be Home for Christmas 28.6% 2
River 28.6%2
Blue Christmas 14.3% 1
Happy Xmas (War is Over) 14.3% 1
Same Old Lang Syne 14.3% 1
The Christmas Song 0% 0
Other (Post in comments) 0% 0

total votes: 7

When in Rome...

I thought I'd make it official because my passport came in and it looks like the class is going to make, so, here goes:
I am going to Italy next semester!
Probably by now you all know about it, but mum asked if I was going to post, so I am.
It's only for a week, but that makes it affordable, and it will make me feel a bit validated for taking Latin in high school. =)
So it will be off to good food, annoying classmates, and an incredibly scary flight! (Yeah, btw, I'm secretly pretty terrified of flight, and over the ocean seems just a tad intimidating for me.)
But this, to me, is a must:

my music blog

Hey folks.
I had to put together a music blog for my review writing class, and I wanted to share it with you. I was on a team of four, and had to incorperate other class mates reviews, but I did the all the posting and putting together, and I plan on continuing to write on it. Its more like a web page than a blog right now, but oh well. Take a look!!!!
Love,
Kacie


UGrooveMusic

The Boyfriends

The boyfriends in the family had something they wanted to say about Christmas this year. To see their message CLICK HERE

<3

Bambi and Thumper

More here.

My wish list!

I posted a wish list at Amazon too! It's under my gmail account. Or you can probably just search on my name... anyway, there's some $$$ and some not so $ on there, including a few that would be good for Secret Santa....

Twila's Holiday Itinerary

It's pretty awful that I'm finally done with school and yet I still have SO MUCH to do!
But, I wanted to let everyone (esp. Mom, Mike, Grandma, & Grandpa) know what's going on with me this Christmas.
I will be out of town from the 18th to the 24th. I will definitely be home the night of the 24th so that I will be there for Christmas morning. I'm not sure currently how late I will be home, but I will be home. I simply can't make that decision right now because I'm not working with all the facts.
Because Korey already had plane tickets, when I went to go get them, I couldn't get the same departure flight (on the 19th) as he could. (Well, I could, for $230 and that wasn't acceptable to either of us.) His flight was really late and I could only get a really early flight. There was literally like 13 hours between our flights. So I was going to rent a car and go visit Grandma and Grandpa (or take a flight that had a 7 hour lay over in Florida - woohoo! - but Korey didn't like that idea.)
I called and talked to Grandma and instead we decided that I would just go up a day early and spend the night with them. Therefore, here is my flight information:

December 18, 2007, Flight 204 [Non-Stop]
Departing Atlanta, GA (ATL) at 8:00 AM
Arriving Akron/Canton, OH (CAK) at 9:35 AM

December 24, 2007, Flight 202 [Non-Stop]
Departing Akron/Canton, OH (CAK) at 12:20 PM
Arriving Atlanta, GA (ATL) at 2:00 PM

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know what was happening with me and let Grandma and Grandpa know what time my flight came in.
Know I'm off to deal with housing so I can get my grades! (Just so you know, mum, I might have to bring you in as the calvary, this is the same issue I've been dealing with for almost 5 months now.)

New Poll

The new poll is "Which is the saddest Christmas Song?"

I'm not sure if everyone would know all of them. So I posted links to the lyrics. If you still don't remember them, try to listen to each at least once before voting! If you have another song you want to nominate, post it in the comments.

"Blue Christmas" sung by by Elvis Presley (lyrics)--- How could Christmas be anything but blue, without you?

"The Christmas Song" sung by Nat King Cole (lyrics) --- I'm not exactly sure why I think this song is sad. The lyrics aren't all that sad. But I'm not the only one. I read that it was recorded during WWII, thus the inherent sadness, as the boys were all far away... (Some tofu and some mistletoe? take a good look at those lyrics...)

"Happy Xmas (War is Over)" by John Lennon/Yoko Ono (lyrics)--- okay, it would be better if Yoko weren't singing, but it's still pretty sad. "The world is all wrong."

"Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan Fogelberg (lyrics) --- pretty schlocky if you just read the lyrics, but his delivery is still touching. You have to hear him sing it.

"I'll Be Home for Christmas" (lyrics) sung by Bing Crosby
Classic, and sad. Probably gets my vote. "If only in my dreams"...

"River" by Joni Mitchell (lyrics) --- Poor dysfunctional Joni. She really messed up --- again. If you haven't heard this recently, you MUST listen again...

So, don't be too cheery. Even though it's Christmas, it's not all lights and candy!!!! ;-)

UPDATE: I realized that the Nat King Cole song that I think is sad is NOT "The Christmas Song", but rather "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (lyrics). Not sure how I could have mixed them up, but probably when I searched on Nat King Cole christmas songs "The Christmas Song" came up first....

Modern Day Poll

I was a little surprised; I thought more of you would say "cell phone"...

Modern Living Which would be hardest to live without?
Internet Access	71.4%	5
Television	14.3%	1
Your Cell Phone	14.3%	1
total votes: 7

Food Photos

I don't know if anyone else is as stressed out about finals as I am right now, but I stumbled upon something funny that I thought I would share. You know, laughter is a very good way to de-stress. Unless you are in the "no talking" section of the library (like I am). You will just have to think "LOL" to yourself.

Here is the link to more pictures (entirely made of food) like the one below ---> CLICK ME!

DADDY

Hey Dad,

Just to let you know, I have not been ignoring your efforts to contact me. Its just that I, unfortuantely, have the memory of a fish. Therefore, I forget to respond to your calls and text messages at convenient times.
No worries though: here I am. :]



As for my secret santa ordeal type thing.
You are completely S.O.L.
"Why?" you may ask.
Because I haven't the slightest idea of what I could possibly ask for.

And for anyone else who was planning on being a pally and contributing to the Christmas Spirit and my happiness as well; all I ask for is money.
Yes, money.
We're going for a two-fer...
"Why?" you may ask.
No, it is not because I'm greedy or a Scrooge.
It is because I am poor and need the money in order the embark on the chorus trips occurring next semester.
It costs just short of one G.
After my car crash, it seems I'm short of cash.
Fortunately, I can rhyme.
So as you can see, I need the money.
So be a honey, and make my Christmas filled with glee.
I just might dance around the Christmas tree.

You get the picture.


P.S. I'll try to remember to not forget to check back soon to read your oh-so-special responses.

PS2 Emulators??

I guess I am making a stretch here but...

Does anyone know how to install a PS2 Emulator on a computer?
I have a game that I want to play and Ethan and I couldn't get the Emulator we found to work (and Ethan has installed PS1 emulators before). I've read that to get a PS2 emulator to work you have to know how to program.

Twi, I thought maybe Korey would know, since he is a programmer. If so, do you think he would help me do it?

Thanks!
Em

Mom: New Poll Please!!! you should make it something about funniest christmas memory or something...

Second Bi-Annual Christmas Eve Eve Dinner

Hello all. DaddyMike here, phoning it in from beautiful downtown Ottawa, CA. I love it here. It is a clean, peaceful city. There is snow on the ground, and it is pretty cold out there. I went for a short walk after I got settled in the room, just to get my bearings and see what restaurants and shops were within walking distance. The cold weather was a nice change, but my face started to get frost-bitten. Luckily I stumbled upon a Starbucks and bought a Decaf Americano. That did the trick.

Anyway.

Sunday, Dec. 23rd is going to be our second bi-annual Christmas Eve Eve Buffet Dinner. Bf's and Sid and Julie are all invited. I'm hopeful that this is enough notice for everyone to get off of work and juggle their busy holiday schedules so we can all be together at least once for the holidays.

Maybe Uncle Sid will bring his new guitar...

(To whom it may concern: We know that picture was not taken at our house. The nutcracker is definitely not invited.)