Christmas Decor

So these aren't the best pictures, but they will have to do for now...they don't show everything that is up, but it should give you a good idea of what we're working with.

The decorations are up and the presents are wrapped...

As many of you know, I'm basically a five year old trapped in a 28 year old's body...I love being a kid at heart and with that comes a terrific love of Christmas. Even though we grew up poor, I have some extremely wonderful memories of Christmas. There's the Christmas that my dad stole a Cabbage Patch Doll out of another lady's cart because it was the "IT" gift of the year, or the first Christmas we spent in our house after apartment living. Then there are the memories of the Christmas program at church and the progression of my roles in it going from being an angel to a donkey with one line to being Mary.

Now that I am older, I love to share my joy of Christmas with everyone I know. I like to have the house decorated and to invite all of my loved ones (friends and family) to Christmas dinner, even if it isn't being held at my own house. I love to be surrounded by relatives and in-laws, even if they drive me crazy sometimes. And I love to see a lit up Christmas Tree in the corner of our living room surrounded by piles of presents for the people I love.

This past weekend Dave and I started off the Christmas Decorating Extravaganza by tromping out into the forest to find the perfect tree. There is a program here where you pay $10 for a permit and you can go out into selected portions of national forest and cut one down...so that's what we did. I stocked the car with water, hot tea, pb&j sandwiches and fresh apples. Mina was excited to go on a ride and off we went.

The woods were crowded with tree cutters of all ages. We tried to find a spot where we could actually park and go hiking...after driving on a washboard dirt road, we finally found that spot, pulled over and prepared for our walk. I didn't think that we would be traipsing for so long or so far from our car because I forgot to bring not only the camera with me, but also water and one of our cell phones in case we got lost.

At every turn it seemed like we had found the perfect tree, but it was not meant to be. The good ones were actually two trees growing together or one side of the tree was completely missing. We found evidence of people topping trees, which was against the rules and after an hour of searching, I understood why people threw caution to the wind and did that...because it was impossible to find a descent tree.

Finally after two hours of losing one another, calling out, getting dirty and bruised while climbing rock out cropings and high grade hills, I spotted it. I wasn't sure at first, I thought that it was another of the forest's tricks, but there was the tree! Of course, it was 10 feet tall and after we cut it down I wasn't so sure about it, but we carried it over a mile back to the car, which Dave somehow found after I started using my Bear Grylls skills.

We drove the hour back home with the tree on the top of the car and let it fall overnight while we celebrated a birthday with one of our dear friends.

Sunday was spent hanging lights on the outside of the house and then decorating the inside. Once the lights were on the tree, it looked slightly Charlie Brown-esque, but I wouldn't have it any other way. And shockingly, we ran out of ornaments, which never happens...so I guess it was the right tree after all.

Sunday evening was spent with me wrapping all the presents I have purchased over the past two months while Dave worked with a long time friend on some man stuff.  When the friend left, there was the beautiful tree, surrounded by piles of presents for friends and family.

I couldn't stop smiling...and still can't.

Maybe someday I'll get a picture of the tree up, but for now just know that it is Christmas time and it makes me happy.

Christmas is coming!!!

From one of my favorite movies of all time.

Enjoy.

Decorating Time!!

Tomorrow we will be driving up to the mountains in search of the perfect tree! Not to worry, we have a permit to cut down that precious Christmas decoration.

In honor of tomorrow, I would like to show you what decorating at our house sometimes looks like:



Enjoy!

Happy World AIDS Day!

While the virus is terrible and has caused so much heartache, I have to say that it is a happy day. We are one step closer to a vaccine and even to a cure. Those with access to care are staying healthier for longer and are able to enjoy life that much more.

I pray that scientists are able to come up with a viable cure in the next 10 years...because there are so many people around who need their help.

So Thankful!

As tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I would like to show my thanks for many things in my life. I have come up with the following list, which is by no means exhaustive, of things that I am so grateful for.

• Love -- I have been blessed with a wonderful husband and a large extended family that sometimes drive me crazy, but always show that they love me in the most unexpected ways. I am eternally grateful that Dave and I found each other almost 8 years ago via what I like to call fate. I'm not sure how the world works to bring two people so completely suitable, compatible and loveable together, but I am sure glad that it did because I cannot imagine my life without him.
• Friends -- Like many of you, my friends are also my family. I have many acquaintances, but those that I call friend are like family to me. We laugh, we cry, we tell one another our deepest, darkest secrets and share our joys and triumphs. Life would not be the same without these wonderful people. I wish that I was able to see all of them more, especially those that do not life in the same time zone, but true friendships aren't bound by distance, they are bound by love.
• Family -- As I mentioned above, I have a crazy inherited family. I never truly understood how important family was until I moved away from my own and entered this one. We may make one another mad at times, but to know that the person is trying to do what they think is best, because they love you, gives you such a different perspective on life and on people in general. We surprise one another constantly with our different ways of showing love and I wouldn't have it any other way. I miss my family that lives far away, but as I speak with them regularly the distance doesn't seem so great.
• The Mammals -- Mister, Brutus and Mina are very special animals and entertain me and love me to no bounds.
• Security -- Its no secret that Dave and I have literally pulled ourselves up by the bootstraps, if you will, over the past 8 years. We have both worked extremely hard to be where we are today and can only see ourselves getting better, gaining more security in not only our home, but our financial situation. We have been able to go from living like broke college students to owning a home, sharing it with friends and filling it with love and laughter. I can only see this trend continuing on as we grow together and share our lives together. No matter where we are, if we are together, we feel strong.
• The United States of America -- I remember being very little when I literally woke up one day being extremely thankful that I live in a country where I am free to be who I am. I have rights here, I am not persecuted here and I feel protected here. Even though I grew up poor, I always knew that we would be taken care of should any other dire financial situation hit our little family. I was grateful that I did not life in a war torn country, that I live in a country that fights for what is just (even though this has been skewed a bit), and that I life in a country where I do not have to see blood shed on a daily, weekly, or even annual basis.
• The US Military -- I am eternally grateful to Service Members, who have defended our country in times of peace and in times of war. Being part of a military family and having many friends in the Service, I know and understand what a sacrafice it is. For many young people entering the Service, it is about job security, but as they grow and mature, it becomes more than that.
• My Education -- I am so grateful that my parents instilled in me at an early age that I would be going to college. It was never even a thought to me that I would stop my education once I finished high school. With that being said, I am currently the only one in my immediate family with a college degree. The day I was handed my diploma, well, I can't even tell you how happy I was. I plan on going back and getting my masters and I am so grateful that I even have that as an option.

The list could go on and on for days. I am so grateful for all of the blessings that I have had and even for all of the tribulations that I have faced and continue to face.

Thanks to all of you who read this as well. I don't know how many people read this and that is ok...it is just me letting you into my life, and I hope that out of all the dribble and nonsense, you are able to find something to help you in your own life.  Not sure what that would be, but one can hope, right?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I wear purple...

...to help bring even the tinest bit of awareness to those poor young kids who are killing themselves rather than deal with the trauma it is to be a human being who might just be a bit different from the main stream.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20020164-504083.html

NEW YORK (CBS) Wednesday Oct. 20 is Spirit Day, the day that the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation is asking people to "Go Purple" to call attention to the deaths of six teenagers who committed suicide after reportedly being taunted because they were gay.
The story of Tyler Clementi grabbed national headlines last month. Tyler was a freshman at Rutgers University whose roommate, Dharun Ravi, allegedly live-streamed Tyler having sex with another man online.
Tyler's belongings were found on the George Washington Bridge in New York the next day after he reportedly posted a goodbye note on his Facebook page.
Less than a week later Tyler's body was found floating in a nearby river.
Unfortunately, Tyler's story is not unique.
GLAAD says they hope the "Go Purple" event will show other lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered youth who face the same pressures and bullying that there is a vast community of people who support them, as well as give a chance to remember those who, like Tyler, have fallen victim to bullying and felt that suicide was their only way out.
One of those being remembered is Justin Aaberg, of Fridley, Minn., a Twin Cities suburb, who was 15 when he hung himself in his room July 9. His last Facebook post said, "If you really knew me, no one would like me," his mother, Tammy, told USA Today.
"We are losing too many kids. This has been kept silent for too long," says Aaberg, 36, who said that when she wears her purple T-shirt that says "End the Hate" on Wednesday, she'll be thinking of her son Justin, according to the paper.

GLAAD's website features a "Wear Purple" page allowing people to turn their profile pictures purple on Facebook or Twitter.
The color was selected because purple symbolizes "spirit" on the rainbow flag, a symbol for LGBT pride that was created by Gilbert Baker in 1978.

love letter in a bottle -- LOVE THIS!

I found this idea on another blog and totally fell in love with it. What a great party favor =)

To see more of Jen Pearson's designs, click here!

Items for the next house...

These are definitely going to be part of the new house...in one way or another, I will have these.

(They are made by Smarin Design.)

To buy in the US, we will have to contact these stores (Millie, you may have to go on an adventure for me soon):

U.S.A - BERKELEY - Lola Home - 2950 College Avenue

U.S.A - JOHNS CREEK, GA - OLOZOO Kids Home Store - 11035 Bell Road Suite 30

U.S.A - SAN DIEGO - Mixture - 2210 Kettner Blvd.

U.S.A - SAN FRANCISCO - Rose and Radish - 460 Gough Street

Favorite Sites...you probably know all about them though

Here are some of my favorite sites to visit when I am not in the mood to work.  You probably have been to all of them, but who cares, I'm going to share them anyway:

www.peopleofwalmart.com

www.passiveaggressivenotes.com

www.cakewrecks.com

And that is all.

Flora & fauna of the past weekend

Here are some pictures from the past weekend...enjoy =)

(If you would like to see the pictures in a larger format, just click on them)

The fields surrounding the house were FULL of wild flowers...

This is the river the flowed by the house...and the house in the distant background

The Ranch we stayed at

Mina having the time of her life

The house

Dave doing his sexy fisherman pose

Mina is guarding the bridge you must cross to get to the house

51 Places to see/things to do before I die...

This is a short list of some of the places I want to visit and some of the things I want to do before I die.  Some of these places I have been to before and most of them I haven't. Those places that I have been before, I want to go back and experience again now that I'm older and married. These are in mostly alphabetical order...

1. Alaska (preferably on a cruise with a bunch of our friends)

2. Amsterdam

3. Berlin

4. Boston

5. Branson, MO

6. Brazil, particularly Belo Horizonte to see Cici and Rio (I'll most likely go there for work, but to Sao Paulo)

7. Build our dream house in the Oregon forests
8. Catalina Island, CA

9. Check out the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame
10. Chicago (when I'm not working and in the spring/summer)

11. Costa Rica
12. Disney World
13. Dollywood

14. Drive on Route 66 for more than 50 miles
15. England
16. Fiji
17. Flordia Keys (Dave and I have been there together, but it was only an afternoon trip, so I would like to stay there for more time than just a few hours)
18. Get one of those crazy cakes that you see on those cake decorator shows for my birthday

19. Go on a hot air balloon ride over the Rockies

20. Go on the 40th birthday white trash road trip with Chole & Jerome

21. Graceland
22. Guam
23. Hawaii (the big island to see Vicki)
24. Help raise my friends and family's children to be good, honest, responsible and respectable
25. India
26. Ireland
27. Italian Riveira

28. Jamaica or somewhere in the Bahamas
29. Las Vegas -- with a big group of friends
30. Mt. Rushmore31. New Orleans (and stay in the French Quarter)

32. New York City

33. Norway (preferably to take mom so we can trace our family history)
34. Paris
35. Potenza, Italy (where Dave's family is from)
36. Puerto Rico
37. Rent a cabin on Mt. Hood
38. Rome
39. Russia (Moscow and St. Petersburg in particular)
40. San Francisco & The Golden Gate Park
41. Scotland
42. Show/teach our future children how to be good, honest, responsible and respectable
43. Sing karaoke in Nashville
45. Spain
46. The Stinking Rose in San Francisco


44. Skydive

47. Tokyo
48. Vancouver, BC
49. Venice
50. Washington DC
51. Help change the world in thinking that one religion is better than another, that we can all live in harmony and that good and evil do exist in the world, but it is all about balance...we need to help balance the world out, but I can't do it alone.

so interesting...

I can't even begin to tell you how engrossing this show is:

http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/stephen-hawking/

I could sit and watch this for hours, trying to process even an eighth of the information provided in this Stephen Hawking show.  He is able to "dumb" the concepts down and explain them in a way that is so mind blowing that right from the beginning, we were totally sucked in.

I would try to focus on what was being presented to us, but my mind was all over the place with different personal theories I have about the universe, the world and the people in it.  I would share those theories with you, but as of right now they are so undeveloped that to even type them down would do them injustice. 

Not that I think I am a genius, but learning about the universe, how it was created, how we were created really made me focus on thoughts that have been in my mind for some time, but haven't had any coherent form to them.  Even now, if I wrote them out for you, I'm positive I would sound like a crazy person and I'm just not ready for that.

But please, check out his specials if you can.  The website listed above will give you snippets of his show.  It was truly amazing.

Dancin Dave Videos

I could seriously watch these videos over and over again...because I have =)

This is what Dave does when I'm feeling down...he'll put on some tunes and do a performance for me. Now, if that isn't true love, I don't know what else is!

Have fun watching the insanity...I have to say that Canned Heat is my favorite by far

Dancin Dave -- I could watch this video all day long

Dave is the drummer for the band in the background...

Dave Bustin Out "Carribean Queen"

Hello.

I have officially deleted the blog I created on MySpace where I rambled almost incoherently for exactly five years.

Those who read regularly have long since asked why I have not created a new blog, so this is for you.