My peanut

A co-worker sent me the below quiz...though I like my newspaper comics, I don't really care for Peanuts because the characters always seem to be unhappy...but here is my character

Your Score: Schroeder

Wishy-Washy: 56%, Mental: 46%, Physical: 40%

A prodigy from his very first appearance, Schroeder idolises Beethoven and spends most of his free time at the keyboard of his piano. He plays backstop for Charlie Brown's baseball team, but his heart belongs to classical music. The best way to get rid of annoying distractions is to yank the piano out from under them.

Link: The Peanuts Character Test written by timberlineridge on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

I'm dreaming of a stress-free holiday

As I noted last week, that time of year is upon us. I'm starting to get excited because I am thankfully FINISHED with my shopping (thanks to my trusty Excel workbook that I use every year!). I'm so relieved that I don't have to go out to another store again before Christmas.

This week I am going to wrap our gifts, because I always wait until the last minute to do that and end up staying up late the night before whatever event we are attending the next day where gift-giving is on the agenda. Once the gifts are wrapped, I will embark on a baking EXTRAVAGANZA! I have a number of foodie gifts on my list this year, so I need to prep those but I couldn't do it too early because I want the gifts to be fresh. I also have some food items to prep for our various events next week. This is always the time of year that I remember I need those anti-fatigue mats for the kitchen, as I end up spending hours on end on my feet. If you want to start shopping for next year's Christmas gift for me, go ahead.

I can't believe this past Sunday was the third Sunday of Advent already. That is my favorite Sunday because it is more than a time of preparation - it is a time of celebration and rejoicing for the birth of Christ. The priest wears pink vestments and we light the pink candle, different than all the purples you see during the rest of Advent. This is known as Gaudete (gaw-day-tay)Sunday, which refers to the Latin imperitive for "to rejoice." I hope you too are starting to rejoice in the season and enjoy the miracle of Jesus' birth, rather than getting wrapped up in the holiday hysteria that is easy to submit to.

Over 4,000 hits!

Just want to recognize that there are over 4,000 hits on my blog! This makes me feel very popular and loved. Here is a snapshot of the stats my counter gathers about visits:Looks like a lot of you like to burn the Friday workday looking at the site - I will try to remember that for updating purposes!

Bah humbug

So last night on my way home from another bout at the grocery store (where they did not have star anise or peppermint ice cream - if you see them I need them!), a lady screamed that I was a "bitch."

Happy holidays to you too!

I'd been to the loony bin (AKA the KoP mall) to go to Crate and Barrel to find a gift that apparently no longer exists. I'd been to Blockbuster to get gift cards. I'd been to Acme for a grocery run, featuring all the crazy items I needed to do my holiday baking. Where do they get cardamom from, anyway? Do they mine it from the inner core of the earth? That crap is expensive. So after these excursions and enduring the pleasant help of the cashier at Acme (SARCASM!) I was finally on my way home.

Two streets away from our house, there was a bit of a traffic jam. I'll draw a picture because that will be faster. Please excuse the crudity of this model; this drawing is not to scale. So anyway, I'm sitting there behind TRIPLE-PARKED cars and a minivan who is just sitting there. Nothing is moving. Traffic on this usually quiet street is oddly backing up behind me! So I beep. Not an obnoxious beep, just a short beep. The triple-parked car eases up in front of the double-parked one, and the rest of us proceed up the street. The minivan turned left at the next intersection as did I. She slowed down and double parked on the wrong side of the road. I passed her, at which time she yelled her nice little expletive out the window.

I think it was clear to all involved that I was not beeping at her, but the cars causing the roadblock. It's just that time of year where everyone is in a GREAT mood. Upon unloading my groceries, I also discovered one of my bags had split open. The rest of my evening was pretty much the same.

Hope yours was better!

Absence of interest

In the absence of anything really exciting to talk about, here are a few of these doodads:

You Are a Practical Gift Giver

Your gifts are useful, appropriate, and custom tailored to each person. In your opinion, the best gifts are gifts that someone will actually use. Your gifts may not be the most glamourous, but they are always appreciated.

What Kind of Gift Giver Are You?

What The Holidays Mean to You

For you, the holidays are about emotional connections and bonds. You are happiest being around those you love. You celebrate the holidays in a minimalist style. You are likely to only give one great present and decorate your house with a few special items. During the holidays, you feel magical. You love all of the decorations and how happy people are. You like to sit back and take it all in. You think the holidays should be nostalgic and sweet. The holidays bring out your inner child. Your favorite holiday memories strongly evoke your senses. You are vividly aware of all the tastes, smells, and sounds of the holidays.

What Do the Holidays Mean to You?

You Are Prancer

You are the perfect reindeer, with perfect hooves and perfect flying form. Why You're Naughty: Because you're Santa's pet, and you won't let anyone show you up. Why You're Nice: You have the softest fur and the sweetest carrot breath.

Which of Santa's Reindeer Are You?

Your Holiday Stress Level Is Low

You take it easy over the holidays, and you only take on what you can handle. You know the holidays are about celebrating and fun - not standing in line at the mall!

What's Your Holiday Stress Level?