With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I would like to take a moment to list some of the things for which I'm thankful - from the serious to the silly. In no particular order, I'm thankful for:
1. My family - I truly don't know where I'd be without them. My parents are my heroes; my grandparents are truly an inspiration. My brother and sister are my best friends. My sister in law is a bonus sibling who I love dearly, and don't even get my started on Maggie and Henry.
2. Having a job. I hear so many stories about smart, hard-working people who can't find a job. I'll never take mine for granted. The next time I groan when the alarm clock goes off at 6.30 am (I don't get up til 7:00, but whatever) I'll try to remember to be thankful that I have to get up.
3. Having such a great group of friends - from girls night games of Taboo, to Book Club, to spaghetti and Desperate Housewives with Em and Zach, to weekly 30 minute phone calls with Nicole, I'm so blessed to have such awesome friends.
4. And now on to the not so serious things - first and foremost, my DVR. A mere two years ago, I didn't have a DVR. I've tried to block out that time in my life. DVR may be the best invention ever...certainly in the top five, along with water, the wheel, penicillin, and bubble bath.
5. Hot french fries from McDonalds. Seriously, people, is there anything better than piping hot, crispy fries from McD's? I think not. For some reason, they taste best from the Cicero McDonalds - the road trip makes you feel like you've somehow earned them.
6. My pillow. I don't know how to explain it, other than it's perfect. It always seems to be cool against my face, and it's fluffy and never gives me a neck ache. My pillow has been to Argentina, Canada, and Terre Haute (more times than it probably wishes). It even has a name - Dotty.
7. Project Runway. I love it. Everything about it - when Tim Gunn says "Use the Macy's accessory wall thoughtfully" I convulse into laughter like it's the first time I've heard him say that. Watching the designers craft amazing clothes out of trash from a New Jersey waste department wows me every time. I could watch it for hours on end. And do sometimes, come to think of it.
8. Books - duh. Is there really anything better than finishing a great book and then deciding which book to read next? Stacking them all up, reading the jacket covers, studying the author's picture...
9. Cokes with crushed ice. Are you with me Lambert and Foster women? Nothing taste better than an ice cold coke with finely crushed ice. "Nectar of the Gods" as my mom says.
10. Lochaven Lodge - this has been my family's get away for the last 25 years, and I truly look forward to the first week of August for 51 weeks of the year. No phones, no computers, no tv - just the French River, piles of books, and countless games of euchre to dominate. Paradise.
What about you? What are you thankful for? Me, I'm pretty thankful that Parks and Recreation and the Office are on in a few minutes!! :-)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
I stink at Scary Movies
So, last weekend, I attempted - twice - to see a scary movie. I thought, it's Halloween, time to get in the spirit!
I used to love scary movies - not gory ones, but campy "I Know What you Did Last Summer" and "Urban Legends." I loved that feeling I would get where I felt like I might (simultaneously) cry/scream/giggle/pee my pants. That feeling that someone was, quite possibly, about to sneak up behind you at any minute.
Well, I'm sorry to say, I struck out this year. Last Friday, Krissi, Nate, and Liz and I were going to go to Hanna's Haunted House. It's supposed to be AWESOME. I got all bundled up, hiked on my Tuggs (Target - Uggs) and was ready to rock it. Mother Nature had different plans - there was a monsoon in Greenwood. You can't even imagine how hard it rained. It was not even nice weather for a duck. So, after a yummy hamburger at BJs (I know, the name is bad) we canoed over to the theater to see Paranormal Activity. Now - I had been reluctant to see this movie because I feared that it was going to be all shaky, artsy camera work that would make me dizzy. I have actually thrown up watching home movies, so I literally can't watch movies that use the hand-held, shaky camera work. Turns out - I was right! The camera work was awful. I sat with my scarf wrapped over my eyes, composing a grocery list in my head. To make matters worse, the theater was so crowded I was about 4 rows back from the front. Vomit. I think we lasted for 30 minutes. I was never so happy to see a movie theater lobby.
A few days later, Mom and I met up for a movie. We decided to either see "The Stepfather" or "Couples Retreat." Now, my mom didn't know that I had already seen "Couples Retreat" - she gets very indignant when I see movies more than once. Not sure why. So - since I failed at "Paranormal Activity" we decided to see "The Stepfather". Mom and I have quite a history at seeing scary movies - about 50% of the time we have to leave because I get so scared. This started when I was about 4 and had to flee the Diana where we were catching "Ghostbusters" right up until the present. Well, we made it - literally - through about 15 seconds of the opening scene. They were still flashing the names of the actors on the screen when we looked at each other, grabbed all of our coats, snacks, and cokes and hightailed it to the other side of the theater where we saw "Couples Retreat." As the lights came up, I looked at Mom and said, "I have a confession...I've already seen that movie...". Don't worry, we're still friends.
I think I've learned my lesson - no more scaries for me. Give me a comedy, a chick flick, or a juicy historical drama and I'm all in. Otherwise, I'm going to have to pass. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to watch "Love Actually" for the 724th time.
I used to love scary movies - not gory ones, but campy "I Know What you Did Last Summer" and "Urban Legends." I loved that feeling I would get where I felt like I might (simultaneously) cry/scream/giggle/pee my pants. That feeling that someone was, quite possibly, about to sneak up behind you at any minute.
Well, I'm sorry to say, I struck out this year. Last Friday, Krissi, Nate, and Liz and I were going to go to Hanna's Haunted House. It's supposed to be AWESOME. I got all bundled up, hiked on my Tuggs (Target - Uggs) and was ready to rock it. Mother Nature had different plans - there was a monsoon in Greenwood. You can't even imagine how hard it rained. It was not even nice weather for a duck. So, after a yummy hamburger at BJs (I know, the name is bad) we canoed over to the theater to see Paranormal Activity. Now - I had been reluctant to see this movie because I feared that it was going to be all shaky, artsy camera work that would make me dizzy. I have actually thrown up watching home movies, so I literally can't watch movies that use the hand-held, shaky camera work. Turns out - I was right! The camera work was awful. I sat with my scarf wrapped over my eyes, composing a grocery list in my head. To make matters worse, the theater was so crowded I was about 4 rows back from the front. Vomit. I think we lasted for 30 minutes. I was never so happy to see a movie theater lobby.
A few days later, Mom and I met up for a movie. We decided to either see "The Stepfather" or "Couples Retreat." Now, my mom didn't know that I had already seen "Couples Retreat" - she gets very indignant when I see movies more than once. Not sure why. So - since I failed at "Paranormal Activity" we decided to see "The Stepfather". Mom and I have quite a history at seeing scary movies - about 50% of the time we have to leave because I get so scared. This started when I was about 4 and had to flee the Diana where we were catching "Ghostbusters" right up until the present. Well, we made it - literally - through about 15 seconds of the opening scene. They were still flashing the names of the actors on the screen when we looked at each other, grabbed all of our coats, snacks, and cokes and hightailed it to the other side of the theater where we saw "Couples Retreat." As the lights came up, I looked at Mom and said, "I have a confession...I've already seen that movie...". Don't worry, we're still friends.
I think I've learned my lesson - no more scaries for me. Give me a comedy, a chick flick, or a juicy historical drama and I'm all in. Otherwise, I'm going to have to pass. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to watch "Love Actually" for the 724th time.
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