Sunday, December 26, 2004
Cleveland/Miami Prediction
Santa Was Good to Me
How 'bout you?
Before I get into the (expected I'm sure) Christmas portion of the entry, I'd like to dedicate this paragraph to my cousin Mat. Mat, I am sorry. I have stolen your blog template. After reviewing all blog templates, I realized that yours was, in fact, the best. I tried another one, but it just didn't compare. I hope you don't see this as an infringement on your creative expression, and I hope I have not brought shame and disgrace to the family. (In this medium anyway)
Of course, I don't really even know whether or not Mat reads this blog. If he does, he now has my apology. If he doesn't, he does NOT have my apology, but that also means that he doesn't know I stole his template, so, he has no room to care.
Okay! Time for Christmas discussion! This is where I brag about the stuff I got for Christmas.
From my grandmother: I received a LEATHER JACKET (WOO!), Steelers sweatshirt and hat, a supernice makeup case, a travel bag, and a couple little stocking stuffer things.
From my sister: (although this happened last weekend as we did early Christmas with the out-of-towners): Fraggle Rock on DVD, the awesomest t-shirt in the world, and... something else, which, for some reason I'm having quite the mental block about.
From my brother in law: More candles from Pier 1 than anyone can handle (except me, of course, because I'm a Pier 1 FREAK) and little candle stands for them, complete with zen-like glass beads for aesthetics, a "Wild Words from Wild Women" page-a-day calendar to pick up where my last one will be leaving off soon, and a stuffed Dory from "Finding Nemo."
From my mommy: A Henna kit, season 4 of Friends on DVD, a football player nutcracker (I collect nutcrackers), an artsy wall clock, touch-up paint for poor Kermie's rust spots, probably some other stuff I can't remember at present, (no pun intended), and... (drumroll) I'M GOING TO CHICAGO TO SEE THE OPRAH SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, so TECHNICALLY I don't HAVE the tickets yet, as my mother has been trying desperately, but the rules for when you can get them are crazy. But she promises me tickets for two to Oprah, and the train fare as well. (She knows I hate flying.) So! All of my overestrogenated friends better be REAAAALY nice to me as I decide who to take.
And finally, (speaking of tickets), from my aunt and uncle: TICKETS TO THE STEELERS/BILLS GAME NEXT WEEKEND!!!! WOOOOO!!!!!
Honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas. Christmas is just awesome any way you slice it.
How was your Christmas? Yes, you! You, reading this journal. You should leave me a comment on this journal... and tell me how your Christmas was. And hey, the rest of the Virtual Paper reading public can experience your Christmas as well.
I'm hungry. Time for food.
Before I get into the (expected I'm sure) Christmas portion of the entry, I'd like to dedicate this paragraph to my cousin Mat. Mat, I am sorry. I have stolen your blog template. After reviewing all blog templates, I realized that yours was, in fact, the best. I tried another one, but it just didn't compare. I hope you don't see this as an infringement on your creative expression, and I hope I have not brought shame and disgrace to the family. (In this medium anyway)
Of course, I don't really even know whether or not Mat reads this blog. If he does, he now has my apology. If he doesn't, he does NOT have my apology, but that also means that he doesn't know I stole his template, so, he has no room to care.
Okay! Time for Christmas discussion! This is where I brag about the stuff I got for Christmas.
From my grandmother: I received a LEATHER JACKET (WOO!), Steelers sweatshirt and hat, a supernice makeup case, a travel bag, and a couple little stocking stuffer things.
From my sister: (although this happened last weekend as we did early Christmas with the out-of-towners): Fraggle Rock on DVD, the awesomest t-shirt in the world, and... something else, which, for some reason I'm having quite the mental block about.
From my brother in law: More candles from Pier 1 than anyone can handle (except me, of course, because I'm a Pier 1 FREAK) and little candle stands for them, complete with zen-like glass beads for aesthetics, a "Wild Words from Wild Women" page-a-day calendar to pick up where my last one will be leaving off soon, and a stuffed Dory from "Finding Nemo."
From my mommy: A Henna kit, season 4 of Friends on DVD, a football player nutcracker (I collect nutcrackers), an artsy wall clock, touch-up paint for poor Kermie's rust spots, probably some other stuff I can't remember at present, (no pun intended), and... (drumroll) I'M GOING TO CHICAGO TO SEE THE OPRAH SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, so TECHNICALLY I don't HAVE the tickets yet, as my mother has been trying desperately, but the rules for when you can get them are crazy. But she promises me tickets for two to Oprah, and the train fare as well. (She knows I hate flying.) So! All of my overestrogenated friends better be REAAAALY nice to me as I decide who to take.
And finally, (speaking of tickets), from my aunt and uncle: TICKETS TO THE STEELERS/BILLS GAME NEXT WEEKEND!!!! WOOOOO!!!!!
Honestly, I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas. Christmas is just awesome any way you slice it.
How was your Christmas? Yes, you! You, reading this journal. You should leave me a comment on this journal... and tell me how your Christmas was. And hey, the rest of the Virtual Paper reading public can experience your Christmas as well.
I'm hungry. Time for food.
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Italian Catholic Guilt
And other such horrors
I realize that I have already written in my bloggie today... but I feel the need to update.
I went out to dinner with a friend today, and got a lot of things off my chest. I had some spinach and artichoke dip and an amaretto sour and I got to really just haul off and vent like nobody's business, and it really made me feel a lot better about everything. After this episode, I went back and read my last entry, and have since concluded that it is, in fact, rather whiney, as I had hoped it wouldn't be when I wrote it. Oh well, you can't win em all, right?
It feels so good to feel better. I should try to feel better more often. Maybe it means I'll have to eat spinach and artichoke dip all the time, every day. Maybe that was the secret feel good ingredient. I doubt it, but hey, at least then I'd be able to eat spinach and artichoke dip all the time and have a really great excuse. "My doctor reccommended it to cure depression."
I'm not sure I spelled reccomended right... recommended? Reccommended? Wreckamehndyd.
Gollum... is pretty freaky.
Other thoughts for today... I don't know. I had a bunch of thoughts today, and I can't recall any of them right now. Do you realize that literally, sometimes I'll be driving in my car, or sitting at work doing mindless activity, and I'll think of something that seems like quite the revelation at the time, and I think to myself, "Damn... I gotta remember to put that in my online journal." Of course... then lots of time passes and I get distracted by shiny things, and by the time I get here and sit at my computer and get it to stop giving me the blue screen of death, I'm just tired and brain dead I can't remember my own birthday let alone what I wanted to write about earlier.
Ah well.
I wonder if they still have to teach typing classes in school... I bet kids don't even need them anymore, as they all live their lives on AIM. Just a question that is floating in my head.
Speaking of floating in my head, ... .... I don't know, I just thought that was funny.
I realize that I have already written in my bloggie today... but I feel the need to update.
I went out to dinner with a friend today, and got a lot of things off my chest. I had some spinach and artichoke dip and an amaretto sour and I got to really just haul off and vent like nobody's business, and it really made me feel a lot better about everything. After this episode, I went back and read my last entry, and have since concluded that it is, in fact, rather whiney, as I had hoped it wouldn't be when I wrote it. Oh well, you can't win em all, right?
It feels so good to feel better. I should try to feel better more often. Maybe it means I'll have to eat spinach and artichoke dip all the time, every day. Maybe that was the secret feel good ingredient. I doubt it, but hey, at least then I'd be able to eat spinach and artichoke dip all the time and have a really great excuse. "My doctor reccommended it to cure depression."
I'm not sure I spelled reccomended right... recommended? Reccommended? Wreckamehndyd.
Gollum... is pretty freaky.
Other thoughts for today... I don't know. I had a bunch of thoughts today, and I can't recall any of them right now. Do you realize that literally, sometimes I'll be driving in my car, or sitting at work doing mindless activity, and I'll think of something that seems like quite the revelation at the time, and I think to myself, "Damn... I gotta remember to put that in my online journal." Of course... then lots of time passes and I get distracted by shiny things, and by the time I get here and sit at my computer and get it to stop giving me the blue screen of death, I'm just tired and brain dead I can't remember my own birthday let alone what I wanted to write about earlier.
Ah well.
I wonder if they still have to teach typing classes in school... I bet kids don't even need them anymore, as they all live their lives on AIM. Just a question that is floating in my head.
Speaking of floating in my head, ... .... I don't know, I just thought that was funny.
Earth Girls are Easy
But this one won't make excuses for anybody.
I haven't written in a while because for the past few days I've either been out of town or out of sorts... or both. I went to my sister's place in Utica NY to celebrate our Christmas and exchange gifts. I got the awesomest shirt. It's too beautiful to describe so I'll just have to start wearing it everywhere to showcase it.
Anyway... my mind is all but gone these days. I remember being stressed out in college, and it sucked. I remember having so many projects to do, and tests to take, and things to worry about. Fortunately, those things all had deadlines, which, can add stress rather than take it away, but on the same token, you always have the feeling that at some point, that deadline will be over. You may get it done by then, you may not, but you do know that there will come a time when whatever is stressing you out will stop. Unfortunately, I don't have that luxury right now.
You know, sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I had my dad back. I wonder if I would get along with him nowadays or how he'd feel about everything that's currently going on in my life and the lives of my family members. I really don't know whether his being around would make things better or worse. I guess there's really no way to know.
It's been a sort of downer of a Christmas season so far. I'm not an overly emotional person, but I really feel like my emotional resources are pretty much drained. I'm trying so hard to not be bitter about life, and most of the time I succeed, but for the first time in a long time, I'm catching myself doing things I hate, like feeling sorry for myself and wishing things were different. It always bothers me when people pull out the "Oh woe is me, I have such a hard life" shit because everybody feels that way sometimes, and people can't seem to acknowledge that. Oh well. I just don't know.
I used to see a therapist, and I'm really not sure whether or not it did any good. Maybe it did a little bit of good, as I went in there under the assumption that she would tell me I was crazy and medicate me, event hough I as a person didn't feel crazy at all. (Although real crazy people rarely do.) Fortunately, she told me that no, I was not crazy, and that I was actually doing quite well in life, and as long as I kept an objective point of view, and continued to look at life as I had been, I would be fine. Trouble starts when you draw false surroundings and build yourself little worlds that aren't exactly what they really are... whether it's to make you feel better or to make you feel worse. (Some people actually do that you know - imagine things to make themselves feel worse.)
Anyway, I'm considering seeing a different therapist. If only so that he/she can tell me, "Nope, Claire, you're still not crazy." Then I'd feel good and go home with a smile on my face.
The end.
I haven't written in a while because for the past few days I've either been out of town or out of sorts... or both. I went to my sister's place in Utica NY to celebrate our Christmas and exchange gifts. I got the awesomest shirt. It's too beautiful to describe so I'll just have to start wearing it everywhere to showcase it.
Anyway... my mind is all but gone these days. I remember being stressed out in college, and it sucked. I remember having so many projects to do, and tests to take, and things to worry about. Fortunately, those things all had deadlines, which, can add stress rather than take it away, but on the same token, you always have the feeling that at some point, that deadline will be over. You may get it done by then, you may not, but you do know that there will come a time when whatever is stressing you out will stop. Unfortunately, I don't have that luxury right now.
You know, sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I had my dad back. I wonder if I would get along with him nowadays or how he'd feel about everything that's currently going on in my life and the lives of my family members. I really don't know whether his being around would make things better or worse. I guess there's really no way to know.
It's been a sort of downer of a Christmas season so far. I'm not an overly emotional person, but I really feel like my emotional resources are pretty much drained. I'm trying so hard to not be bitter about life, and most of the time I succeed, but for the first time in a long time, I'm catching myself doing things I hate, like feeling sorry for myself and wishing things were different. It always bothers me when people pull out the "Oh woe is me, I have such a hard life" shit because everybody feels that way sometimes, and people can't seem to acknowledge that. Oh well. I just don't know.
I used to see a therapist, and I'm really not sure whether or not it did any good. Maybe it did a little bit of good, as I went in there under the assumption that she would tell me I was crazy and medicate me, event hough I as a person didn't feel crazy at all. (Although real crazy people rarely do.) Fortunately, she told me that no, I was not crazy, and that I was actually doing quite well in life, and as long as I kept an objective point of view, and continued to look at life as I had been, I would be fine. Trouble starts when you draw false surroundings and build yourself little worlds that aren't exactly what they really are... whether it's to make you feel better or to make you feel worse. (Some people actually do that you know - imagine things to make themselves feel worse.)
Anyway, I'm considering seeing a different therapist. If only so that he/she can tell me, "Nope, Claire, you're still not crazy." Then I'd feel good and go home with a smile on my face.
The end.
Friday, December 17, 2004
Sometimes it's Okay
... to drink Jell-O with a straw.
Does everyone know that you can leave comments on here? Yes, even you! Everyone can leave comments on this blog o'mine. That's one of the things that makes this one better than Xanga. You don't have to be a member or a client or a slave or anything of this website to leave me comments. I welcome all comments, so go ahead. Leave one to make me giggle or blush or both.
This will probably be a very short entry. I'm very tired after a day of work, partying at work, shopping after work, and wrapping after shopping. I realize that for a friday, the night is rather young, but I keep thinking about how I have to leave the house at FIVE AM tomorrow to go hang with my sister in Utica, NY. Thank goodness my mother's driving. I will be sleeping for most of that trip, I'm sure. That is... unless the Steeler game comes on while we're still on the road.
I encountered a sales lady today who was so very nice that I just wanted to take her home and keep her like any other nice thing. She was pleasant and bent over backwards go make sure that the product I was buying was top-notch and was very patient with my indecisiveness. (I can't disclose the location of this sales lady, as it was a Christmas gift that I was purchasing and I don't want any hints to leak.) Anyway, she was very nice, and that's always pleasant because the sales people at this time of year are usully wandering around in circles, twitching and muttering, "Saffron... sa-sa-saaafron potatoes... sneaky sneaky." But this lady seemed as if she wasn't phased in the slightest by the crowds and angry shoppers who waited til the last minute and now can't find anything they want. It's refreshing to meet friendly sales people. She was awesome.
I came up with the awesomest idea for my mom's present today. I already bought her main present, but I encountered a really great supplemental present while I was at the mall. I love it when that happens.
Everyone's away message is like, "My significant other rocks!" Sometimes that bothers me.
I wish I had some food. But it seems silly to eat this late at night, when I know that I'm just going to be going to bed soon. After all, the main reason we eat is for energy fuely stuff... I'm not going to need energy fuely stuff while I'm in dreamland, so what's the point?
My toolbar is telling me I have a new email message. I'm gonna go check that.
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
How to Play Guitar
In 102 easy lessons
Claire (the vice president at work - I'm not going crazy and talking in the first person) bought the whole company lunch today. Lots of hoagies and pizza and salad and garlic bread. I thought that was awfully nice of her. The food was pretty good too.
I never thought I'd see the day that I'd get excited to watch "Totally Football." I think the overdeveloped intuition I seem to be carrying around lately must have kicked in at the beginning of the season, when, out of nowhere I decided that football was fascinating, when, despite living in Pittsburgh for nearly 23 years, I always was a Steelers fan by default, but never really understood football to the full extent. (Of course, I don't clame to understand it to the full extent now anyway.) But regardless, for some unforeseen reason I decided to launch myself full-on into Steelers mania... back when Maddox was the QB and only doing so-so work and nobody dreamed we'd be this good. I guess what I'm saying is, I sure picked a good season to become a football fanatic.
Everyone's Christmasy at work. It makes me feel good. Back at the kickoff of the Christmas season, I didn't feel Christmasy and I felt kinda bummed that I wasn't at school for all of it, but I've found Christmasyness at work and nothing feels Christmasier than being with family and experiencing good vibes.
Question: What is with the Bing Crosby/David Bowie "Little Drummer Boy?" I know this is a song that's been around for quite some time, and I should have just accepted its existance long ago, but I just don't get it. Doesn't anyone else out there think that Bing Crosby and David Bowie is just... a really bizarre matchup? Like, whose idea was that? Bing's or David's? Or was it some publicist somewhere who was trying to appeal to two completely different music-listening worlds? Don't get me wrong - I am in no way harshing on the song... I like it. I really do. I just don't understand it. It boggles the mind.
I wish I had a thumbprint cookie.
Claire (the vice president at work - I'm not going crazy and talking in the first person) bought the whole company lunch today. Lots of hoagies and pizza and salad and garlic bread. I thought that was awfully nice of her. The food was pretty good too.
I never thought I'd see the day that I'd get excited to watch "Totally Football." I think the overdeveloped intuition I seem to be carrying around lately must have kicked in at the beginning of the season, when, out of nowhere I decided that football was fascinating, when, despite living in Pittsburgh for nearly 23 years, I always was a Steelers fan by default, but never really understood football to the full extent. (Of course, I don't clame to understand it to the full extent now anyway.) But regardless, for some unforeseen reason I decided to launch myself full-on into Steelers mania... back when Maddox was the QB and only doing so-so work and nobody dreamed we'd be this good. I guess what I'm saying is, I sure picked a good season to become a football fanatic.
Everyone's Christmasy at work. It makes me feel good. Back at the kickoff of the Christmas season, I didn't feel Christmasy and I felt kinda bummed that I wasn't at school for all of it, but I've found Christmasyness at work and nothing feels Christmasier than being with family and experiencing good vibes.
Question: What is with the Bing Crosby/David Bowie "Little Drummer Boy?" I know this is a song that's been around for quite some time, and I should have just accepted its existance long ago, but I just don't get it. Doesn't anyone else out there think that Bing Crosby and David Bowie is just... a really bizarre matchup? Like, whose idea was that? Bing's or David's? Or was it some publicist somewhere who was trying to appeal to two completely different music-listening worlds? Don't get me wrong - I am in no way harshing on the song... I like it. I really do. I just don't understand it. It boggles the mind.
I wish I had a thumbprint cookie.
Monday, December 13, 2004
Blimps, Icons, and Good News
... and the passage of time.
Wow. What a difference just a few days makes. I'm so peaceful right now. The past few days (until today) have been rediculous. I've had ups and downs like crazy... and as of today, everything seems to be resolved. Thank God.
I know all of this may sound ambiguous... and I'm not trying to be all top secret or anything, it's just that I've been very very concerned about some really important people in my life, and word gets around, and those people don't deserve to have their personal lives broadcast to the world. That's the only reason I'm not going into specifics here.
Anyway, I feel good today. Much better than I have in a long time. And not only that, but nothing bothers me today. All of the petty things I was so worried about - getting my shopping done on time, my car repairs, grad school, etc. are so... unimportant. I mean, okay, they are important, but there's nothing in there that can't be fixed if it's broken.
I would also just like to say that I have the most amazing family in the world. I always knew that, but it's a rare occasion that they have to pull out the big guns and show just how amazing they can be. I love them all so much. I'm so glad they're all here. Every last one.
As per my online journal philosophy, I won't really go into all the deep philosophical stuff that's going on in the world here. I try not to do that, because that kind of thing is all stuff that I'd prefer to keep untouched in my own head. I don't need anyone arguing with me about it, or even telling me how they feel about it. It's mine. I own it, and I choose to continue to do so.
In light of that, I would just like to say that I feel good today, and we'll leave it at that.
And! Guess what! My mother went to Panera today... and she was sitting there enjoying her broccoli cheddar soup, and suddenly, in walked none other than BIG BEN ROETHLISBERGER!!!!!! I was so psyched when she told me that... I freaked. Now, of course, she didn't want to bother him for an autograph... never mind the fact that I chased Sam Waterston (of "Law and Order" - my mom's favorite show) through the Pittsburgh International Airport for an autograph that she could enjoy. I'm a little miffed that I didn't get an autograph out of this deal, but I understand her wanting to leave him alone to enjoy his own Panera-y goodness. But still... *sigh*... so close... yet so far.
... I wonder if he ordered broccoli cheddar soup too.
Speaking of the Steelers, (who are GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS BABY!) whoever is my Secret Santa at work bought me a little stuffed Steelers blimp. It's so cute and I can't wait to see what I get tomorrow! Wheeeee!
Also in the Steeler vein, my Grandmother bought me a Ben Roethlisberger t-shirt just... because. Just because she is awesome. This of course, also ties in to my amazing family. I wonder if I would even be sane or alive if I was born into another family. It just doesn't get any better than the Callands. (Calland is my mother's maiden name.) I have often thought of taking my mom's maiden name, now that my dad isn't around to kick my ass for it. Calland is so much prettier and classier than Whaley, don't you think? Plus, it goes better with "Claire" and I'd get to be further up in the ranks of life. Alphabetical order has always done me in, so imagine what a last name like "Calland" could do. Oh the possibilities.
My back hurts today. I think it's because I've been under a lot of stress and have been really stiff without even noticing. Then I got a HUGE chunk of good news today, and suddenly my back is all painful I think because it's finally untensing. (Yes, I know that's not a word.) It's almost like my muscles didn't realize until now that they were taking abuse... and now they're trying to get everything straight.
I don't even care what happens from now on. Or, as the song goes, "Smile happy now, for tomorrow may never come... tomorrow no one knows, but today is gone."
Sooo glad I can smile happy now.
Wow. What a difference just a few days makes. I'm so peaceful right now. The past few days (until today) have been rediculous. I've had ups and downs like crazy... and as of today, everything seems to be resolved. Thank God.
I know all of this may sound ambiguous... and I'm not trying to be all top secret or anything, it's just that I've been very very concerned about some really important people in my life, and word gets around, and those people don't deserve to have their personal lives broadcast to the world. That's the only reason I'm not going into specifics here.
Anyway, I feel good today. Much better than I have in a long time. And not only that, but nothing bothers me today. All of the petty things I was so worried about - getting my shopping done on time, my car repairs, grad school, etc. are so... unimportant. I mean, okay, they are important, but there's nothing in there that can't be fixed if it's broken.
I would also just like to say that I have the most amazing family in the world. I always knew that, but it's a rare occasion that they have to pull out the big guns and show just how amazing they can be. I love them all so much. I'm so glad they're all here. Every last one.
As per my online journal philosophy, I won't really go into all the deep philosophical stuff that's going on in the world here. I try not to do that, because that kind of thing is all stuff that I'd prefer to keep untouched in my own head. I don't need anyone arguing with me about it, or even telling me how they feel about it. It's mine. I own it, and I choose to continue to do so.
In light of that, I would just like to say that I feel good today, and we'll leave it at that.
And! Guess what! My mother went to Panera today... and she was sitting there enjoying her broccoli cheddar soup, and suddenly, in walked none other than BIG BEN ROETHLISBERGER!!!!!! I was so psyched when she told me that... I freaked. Now, of course, she didn't want to bother him for an autograph... never mind the fact that I chased Sam Waterston (of "Law and Order" - my mom's favorite show) through the Pittsburgh International Airport for an autograph that she could enjoy. I'm a little miffed that I didn't get an autograph out of this deal, but I understand her wanting to leave him alone to enjoy his own Panera-y goodness. But still... *sigh*... so close... yet so far.
... I wonder if he ordered broccoli cheddar soup too.
Speaking of the Steelers, (who are GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS BABY!) whoever is my Secret Santa at work bought me a little stuffed Steelers blimp. It's so cute and I can't wait to see what I get tomorrow! Wheeeee!
Also in the Steeler vein, my Grandmother bought me a Ben Roethlisberger t-shirt just... because. Just because she is awesome. This of course, also ties in to my amazing family. I wonder if I would even be sane or alive if I was born into another family. It just doesn't get any better than the Callands. (Calland is my mother's maiden name.) I have often thought of taking my mom's maiden name, now that my dad isn't around to kick my ass for it. Calland is so much prettier and classier than Whaley, don't you think? Plus, it goes better with "Claire" and I'd get to be further up in the ranks of life. Alphabetical order has always done me in, so imagine what a last name like "Calland" could do. Oh the possibilities.
My back hurts today. I think it's because I've been under a lot of stress and have been really stiff without even noticing. Then I got a HUGE chunk of good news today, and suddenly my back is all painful I think because it's finally untensing. (Yes, I know that's not a word.) It's almost like my muscles didn't realize until now that they were taking abuse... and now they're trying to get everything straight.
I don't even care what happens from now on. Or, as the song goes, "Smile happy now, for tomorrow may never come... tomorrow no one knows, but today is gone."
Sooo glad I can smile happy now.
Friday, December 10, 2004
USP&A Pens
I have a lot on my mind tonight. It seems that everyone does. Nobody seems to be in good spirits these days. It's really a shame. This time of year should be enjoyable. Although I'm not in the best of moods, I am still appreciative of Christmastime. I hope everyone else who's not having fun is also appreciative of the festivities. I think they are.
I wrapped my first Christmas present of the year today. That made me feel good. I have "the gene." I got it from my mother's side. My father's side of the family was terrible at giftwrapping. They all cheated and used gift bags or they'd go bowless or something. It was cute. However, my mother's side of the family is crazy when it comes to giftwrap. My grandmother's entire basement is practically dedicated to nothing but rolls upon rolls upon rolls of wrapping paper. Religious wrapping paper, secular wrapping paper, metallic wrapping paper, winter scene wrapping paper, Christmas-specific wrapping paper, wrapping paper with words, wrapping paper with pictures, patterned wrapping paper, plain wrapping paper, blue, gold, silver, striped, polka-dotted, you name it. She's got it all. I fear that I will end up that way when I am 79. My mother is well on her way. I didn't think she had a wrapping paper addiction until I went to get a roll out to begin my own wrapping and discovered a glowing treasure trove of red and green sensory overload in the closet. Oh well, at least I had a nice selection from which to pick.
It's nice to be all into wrapping paper, but my mother's side of the family also carries the "ribbon and bow" gene. Nobody in this bloodline would be caught dead wrapping a present and then just sticking a pre-stickied bow on top. Nono. First of all, we can make our own bows out of any thickness of ribbon, any material. Secondly, there's so much more to it than just bows. You gotta wrap the ribbon around the present in creative ways too. And you can mix and match colors and textures... shiny and matte, cloth and ... whatever the normal kind is.
Don't get me wrong - we do use the stick-on bows. I'll admit that. However, they simply must be used in conjunction with other creative ribbonic stylings. It's cheating if you don't mix genres.
So anyway, I love giftwrapping. I would be happy as a clam as a professional giftwrapper. I love making them pretty and unique... and putting my own special Claire touch on it. Ewww, THAT special Claire touch... you're sick.
I had to start my wrapping tonight because I will be visiting with Josh this weekend to celebrate our Christmaversary, and you certainly can't have a Christmaversary with a naked present.
Typing about Christmas has helped me to feel better. I shall invent a new concept and make a bazillion dollars. It will be called "Blog therapy." Even though any schmuck can start a blog, I will require that people who are sad pay me a lot of money. Then I will tell them, "Hey, you won't be sad if you blog." And they will say, "Blog?!? That's brilliant!" And then they will cheerfully drink sunscreen, give me a lot of money, go home and type some random crap onto a website, and become happy while I become rich. Everyone wins!
Gotta go pack.
Peace out.
I wrapped my first Christmas present of the year today. That made me feel good. I have "the gene." I got it from my mother's side. My father's side of the family was terrible at giftwrapping. They all cheated and used gift bags or they'd go bowless or something. It was cute. However, my mother's side of the family is crazy when it comes to giftwrap. My grandmother's entire basement is practically dedicated to nothing but rolls upon rolls upon rolls of wrapping paper. Religious wrapping paper, secular wrapping paper, metallic wrapping paper, winter scene wrapping paper, Christmas-specific wrapping paper, wrapping paper with words, wrapping paper with pictures, patterned wrapping paper, plain wrapping paper, blue, gold, silver, striped, polka-dotted, you name it. She's got it all. I fear that I will end up that way when I am 79. My mother is well on her way. I didn't think she had a wrapping paper addiction until I went to get a roll out to begin my own wrapping and discovered a glowing treasure trove of red and green sensory overload in the closet. Oh well, at least I had a nice selection from which to pick.
It's nice to be all into wrapping paper, but my mother's side of the family also carries the "ribbon and bow" gene. Nobody in this bloodline would be caught dead wrapping a present and then just sticking a pre-stickied bow on top. Nono. First of all, we can make our own bows out of any thickness of ribbon, any material. Secondly, there's so much more to it than just bows. You gotta wrap the ribbon around the present in creative ways too. And you can mix and match colors and textures... shiny and matte, cloth and ... whatever the normal kind is.
Don't get me wrong - we do use the stick-on bows. I'll admit that. However, they simply must be used in conjunction with other creative ribbonic stylings. It's cheating if you don't mix genres.
So anyway, I love giftwrapping. I would be happy as a clam as a professional giftwrapper. I love making them pretty and unique... and putting my own special Claire touch on it. Ewww, THAT special Claire touch... you're sick.
I had to start my wrapping tonight because I will be visiting with Josh this weekend to celebrate our Christmaversary, and you certainly can't have a Christmaversary with a naked present.
Typing about Christmas has helped me to feel better. I shall invent a new concept and make a bazillion dollars. It will be called "Blog therapy." Even though any schmuck can start a blog, I will require that people who are sad pay me a lot of money. Then I will tell them, "Hey, you won't be sad if you blog." And they will say, "Blog?!? That's brilliant!" And then they will cheerfully drink sunscreen, give me a lot of money, go home and type some random crap onto a website, and become happy while I become rich. Everyone wins!
Gotta go pack.
Peace out.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
A Better Blog
"Claire, why did you switch blogs when you had a perfectly good one at Xanga?"
"Why, because, this one is better and I needed a change of scenery. That's why. Does that answer your question?"
"Why yes, yes it does. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Now that we've got that covered, welcome to my new and improved (Hey look! I can use italics on this blog!) blog.
I stole this blog from my dear cousin Mat. (No, that's not a typo, Mat spells his name with one "t.") Naturally, I didn't steal the entire contents of this blog from Mat, merely the site that runs my blog. (Am I using the right blogological terminology? I don't know the technicalities.) Anyway, the contents of this blog are clearly different from anyone else's... after all, I wrote it myself.
I'm really excited. The Great Fall is doing very well, considering we've only been a band for a matter of weeks or months or so. Got a show lined up already on THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2005 AT MR. SMALL'S THEATER. Eight bucks a ticket, you can't go wrong! Please... pretty please, anyone who's reading this please come and see my show.
Okay, cheap plug is now done.
One thing I like about this new blog thingy is that ya'll can leave comments, even if you're not a member of this blogger.com community. (At least, that's what I understand. I'm not entirely sure about everything yet, I'm still sorta wandering around in virual circles, knocking on virtual doors and shouting virtual, "hello?"s while trying to familiarize myself with these new blogtastic surroundings.)
I was in a very deep mood earlier... I was thinking about all the things that have been going on in my life as of late, and how much people learn on a daily basis, just from existing and all that wonderful stuff. I had planned to write all about it, but all of a sudden I'm feeling much more lighthearted, and I kinda just feel like running around wearing a funny hat instead.
There will be plenty of times in the future in which I can be deep.
Perhaps the reason for my lack of depth tonight stems from the fact that I just put on my oh-so-hot and oh-so-clashing pajamas. The bottoms are pink and white large print gingham with little black cats all over them, and words that read, "The cat's pajama's." Unfortunately, they should read "The cat's pajamas" (with no apostrophe between the "a" and "s" in pajamas, but clearly these pajama pants were made in Xang lao [Yes, I think I did invent that place] by eight-year-old non-English speaking waifs.) Anywho, my pajamatical outfit is made complete by my neon orange t-shirt with green alien heads on it.
Brilliant!
(Imbibe sunscreen here)
I have a bruise on my back. This is from leaping through bushes with Sarah and Jason on Saturday night (4:00 am to be more precise) on our way to purchase emergency pizza. Good times.
I don't have to go to work tomorrow! Unfortunately, I do still have to get up early to drop off my car to be inspected and to chauffer my mother around at various appointments. Long story.
I think that's about it.
Scram!
Just kiddin'.
"Why, because, this one is better and I needed a change of scenery. That's why. Does that answer your question?"
"Why yes, yes it does. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Now that we've got that covered, welcome to my new and improved (Hey look! I can use italics on this blog!) blog.
I stole this blog from my dear cousin Mat. (No, that's not a typo, Mat spells his name with one "t.") Naturally, I didn't steal the entire contents of this blog from Mat, merely the site that runs my blog. (Am I using the right blogological terminology? I don't know the technicalities.) Anyway, the contents of this blog are clearly different from anyone else's... after all, I wrote it myself.
I'm really excited. The Great Fall is doing very well, considering we've only been a band for a matter of weeks or months or so. Got a show lined up already on THURSDAY, JANUARY 13, 2005 AT MR. SMALL'S THEATER. Eight bucks a ticket, you can't go wrong! Please... pretty please, anyone who's reading this please come and see my show.
Okay, cheap plug is now done.
One thing I like about this new blog thingy is that ya'll can leave comments, even if you're not a member of this blogger.com community. (At least, that's what I understand. I'm not entirely sure about everything yet, I'm still sorta wandering around in virual circles, knocking on virtual doors and shouting virtual, "hello?"s while trying to familiarize myself with these new blogtastic surroundings.)
I was in a very deep mood earlier... I was thinking about all the things that have been going on in my life as of late, and how much people learn on a daily basis, just from existing and all that wonderful stuff. I had planned to write all about it, but all of a sudden I'm feeling much more lighthearted, and I kinda just feel like running around wearing a funny hat instead.
There will be plenty of times in the future in which I can be deep.
Perhaps the reason for my lack of depth tonight stems from the fact that I just put on my oh-so-hot and oh-so-clashing pajamas. The bottoms are pink and white large print gingham with little black cats all over them, and words that read, "The cat's pajama's." Unfortunately, they should read "The cat's pajamas" (with no apostrophe between the "a" and "s" in pajamas, but clearly these pajama pants were made in Xang lao [Yes, I think I did invent that place] by eight-year-old non-English speaking waifs.) Anywho, my pajamatical outfit is made complete by my neon orange t-shirt with green alien heads on it.
Brilliant!
(Imbibe sunscreen here)
I have a bruise on my back. This is from leaping through bushes with Sarah and Jason on Saturday night (4:00 am to be more precise) on our way to purchase emergency pizza. Good times.
I don't have to go to work tomorrow! Unfortunately, I do still have to get up early to drop off my car to be inspected and to chauffer my mother around at various appointments. Long story.
I think that's about it.
Scram!
Just kiddin'.
