Celestial Show Set for New Year's Eve

This was to neat not to share...I hope some of you have a chance to catch it.

Celestial Show Set for New Year's Eve

Robert Roy Britt
Editorial Director
SPACE.com
Tue Dec 30, 11:47 am ET

A delightful display of planets and the moon will occur on New Year's Eve for anyone wishing to step outside and look up just after sunset.

Venus, brighter than all other planets and stars, will dangle just below the thin crescent moon in the southwestern sky. It'll be visible -- impossible to miss, in fact -- just as the sun goes down, assuming skies are cloud-free.

Soon thereafter, Mercury and Jupiter will show up hugging the south-southwestern horizon (just above where the sun went down) and extremely close to each other. Jupiter is very bright and easy to spot; Mercury is faint and harder to see, but it'll be apparent by its location just to the left of Jupiter.

Jupiter and Mercury will set less than an hour after the sun, so timing your viewing just after sunset is crucial. You'll also need a location with a clear view of the western horizon, unobstructed by buildings, trees or mountains.

All the planets, along with the moon and sun, traverse an arc across our sky called the ecliptic, which corresponds to the plane in space that they all roughly share. For this reason, you could draw an imaginary line from the general location of Venus and the moon, down through the other two planets, and the line would point to where the sun went down. This line could also initially help you find Jupiter and Mercury.

Weather permitting, you can get a preview of the sky show on Tuesday, Dec. 30. On this evening, the planets will be in nearly the same place they'll be on Dec. 31, but the moon will be midway between Venus and the Mercury-Jupiter pairing.

One last trick:

Venus is so bright you can see it during daylight if you know where to look. Given Venus' proximity to the moon on New Year's Eve, this would be an excellent moment -- just before sunset -- to use the moon to help you find Venus and gain bragging rights for being one of the few people to be able to claim seeing more than one planet during the daytime (Earth being the other one).

Gallery: Moon Images
Skywatcher's Guide to the Moon
Top 5 Amazing Astronomy Discoveries in 2008

Original Story: Celestial Show Set for New Year's Eve
SPACE.com offers rich and compelling content about space science, travel and exploration as well as astronomy, technology, business news and more. The site boasts a variety of popular features including our space image of the day and other space pictures,space videos, Top 10s, Trivia, podcasts and Amazing Images submitted by our users.

Copyright © 2008 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved.

Wednesday Weirdness

1.) Have you ever stolen anything from a relatives house?

No, and I can't even imagine doing something like that...why would someone do that?? Okay, there are strange individuals out there and I guess that is the only explanation, but thankfully that is not one of the strange things about me.

2.) If you had to changed lives with a friend from your real life for a day, which would you choose and why?

Mmmm, I have a pretty good life so this is a hard one for me. I am a very fortunate person in so many ways. I guess I would change with a friend of mine who teaches children. We have known each other from high school and she seems to be very happy in the life she has built and I would like to experience that happiness with the added bonus of teaching children and how they react to the teacher.

3.) Name at least one place where you would never have sex.

OMG, I have been caught in public having sex twice before we got married, so I don't know that there is any limits...LOL I guess I would say a church, it is the only place I would think that we would not, though before we were married we did it in a car parked at a church..lol.


4.) If you could change one personality trait in you significant other, what would you change and why?

This is difficult, if you know my husband you know why. I have the greatest husband. And I am not exagerating. Personality wise he is awesome and everyone loves him. I am not saying there are not little things I would change, like leaving one swallow in something and putting it back in the refrig or something, but personality wise he is just great. I guess if I had to really dig and find one thing I would say it is his shyness to be able to perform in front of other people. I tried to get him to sing karoke at his birthday, it was a song he knows inside and out, and he just would not. If I could change that I would, but nothing else. I like him just the way he is...fortunately.

5.) How important is the mood and setting to you when it comes to sex? (Do you need certain things to set the mood to really enjoy it, etc)

OMG, what is it with the sex questions. My bffl will be having a hay day seeing me answer these things because I just don't talk about my sex life a whole lot. It is not important at all...mood, setting, what the hell is that? Now, I prefer to have sex at night because it makes me tired and hubby likes to in the morning...I think because he has rested and is energized. But in the morning I want to get up and going...see what time I am posting this...so I don't want to...so we do have a difference there and I won't tell you who usually wins, you'll just have to guess.

6.) Which is worse, bad sex or no sex? Why?

Ugh, now we are just getting way to personal...LOL I would say bad sex. Because it leaves a memory of something that was bad that should have been wonderful. No sex leaves no memory because nothing at all happened to remember. If it didn't happen then you can just remember the good times and there would not be any bad ones to remember.

7.) On a scale of 0 to 10, how much of a compulsive spender would you say you are?

I myself am about a 2 I would say, but hubby is a 10. And when I am with him I get sucked in. Personally I can talk myself out of spending money so easy, but when I am with him I just can't say no. This gets us in to trouble. So, I try to avoid going "shopping", but sometimes I have to give in to him and follow along. I am not a shopper, I am a buyer. I know what I need and I go buy it...My hubby, he is a shopper and can walk around for hours shopping. Ugh. Is that a personality trait? Hmm, if so that is what I should have listed as the thing I would change in him. LOL

8.) Have you ever left a restaurant without paying the bill? Why?

No, and I cannot imagine why some one would do this, it is just so dishonest. Even if you don't like the food you should at least discuss it with the manager and make it all right, not just leave without paying the bill.

Lights of the South

My parents brought us to see the Lights of the South display while I was visiting in GA. It was Christmas Eve and it was a warm evening, so it did not feel like Christmas, but it was a great temperature to take a hay ride with the family and see the lights. I did not get a ton of pics, but here are the ones that came out well.

10 Best Moments of the Year

1. Moving within a 7 hour drive to my parents house.
2. Really reconnecting with my bffl and believing that we have made it over the humps of our past.
3. Every moment I spent with my husband just enjoying life, such as the trip to Memphis or the ride to Vicksburg to go around the Military park, but most special is the time we spend at home doing nothing extraordinary.
4. Husband getting a job...
5. Having a class tell me it was the best class they had been to of the particular subject.
6. Mom and hubby's "100" year birthday party.
7. Getting in touch with a long lost friend.
8. Having more frequent conversations and heartfelt conversations with my brother.
9. Seeing the first African American elected President of the United States.
10. Spending time with my family in my home...it is nice to have people come visit me instead of me always having to go visit them.

Sunday's Sunrise Sunset

This sunset was taken in May of 2006 on board of a Norwegian Cruise Line in Alaska. It is probably the best sunset I was able to catch on that wonderful trip.

Merry Christmas

I hope all of my blogger buddies out there had a very Merry Christmas, Happy Yule celebration, Happy Hanukkah, and I think that about covers it for most people I know.

I am in Georgia visiting my family. Yesterday was a nice peaceful day with my biggest highlight going to visit my brother and his family late in the day. He had to work yesterday so we did not get to see him until about 730pm and left at around 10pm or so, but it was great to see them none the less. The three boys range from 8 to 13 and are so full of energy it is just great to be around them. This is one of the reasons I am trying so hard to get back to Georgia so that I can spend more time with them. On both sides of our family we have missed seeing neices and nephews grow. We got to spend some time with my husbands nephews when they were younger and those slumber parties at our house are some of my greatest memories and I will cherrish them forever.

Today we have a little running around to do, but then we are going to spend the day with family. We hope to be able to see my hubby's brother and his family, but still need to get in touch with them to see how and when. Other than that we are just relaxing and taking it easy. I hope the rest of you are able to do the same.

Sleeping with Bread

I have not done a Sleeping with Bread in awhile and I felt I was long overdue. Especially since this is really one of my favorite memes.

Lately I have decided to accept that I live here in Brandon and that is okay. I really don't want to be here, I want to be in GA, but that obviously is not in the cards right now.

I had been kind of in a limbo state, just waiting to get a job in GA so that we can move and not joining the YMCA or anything, because, why? I am going to be moving...

Well, I have decided to accept that the next and final move will come when it will come. For now I will enjoy life here and make the most of it. At least being here cut the distance from family in half of what it was when we lived outside of Dallas.

Along with that I get bored in my current position, it is not as hectic as my last one, which is a good thing, but I find I am bored because of it. I am not challenged in a way that I have grown accustomed. So, I am working on trying to find ways to challenge myself in this position and to be thankful that I am in a good position instead of being unhappy about being unchallenged and bored.

I used to be full of energy and so optimistic and I don't know when that changed. I do believe for the most part I am viewed as an optimistic person to most that I come in contact with, but in my heart lately I have not felt it like I used to show it. And the truth is I have every reason to be optimistic about work and life. Something else to work on...

So, in the new year I am joining the YMCA and will do a water walk every morning. In the afternoon on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I will go back to do toning. My husband is gung ho about this, which does not happen often so I am hopeful that we will stick with this and that the energy created by the exercise will flow over into my brain and help with these other areas.

Saturday Special

~The Holidays ~ Do You Prefer?~

1. Holiday Shopping in Stores or Online?

I do as much of my holiday shopping online as possible. I been doing this for about 5 years now. I hate the stores and can't stand going to the mall.

2. Holiday Parades or Football?

I prefer football. I get energized and really into any game I watch. Since I play fantasy football I have other reasons to watch also...I need to see how my guys are doing...

3. Holidays at Home or Visiting Others?

Well, I prefer to stay home, but it seems like we are always required to travel since we are the ones without children. When we do have to stay home due to not being able to get off from work we are made to feel guilty by the family we were unable to go visit.

4. Holiday Parties or Family Gatherings?

I prefer a family gathering to a holiday party. I just rather be with my loved when then just people I know. The only thing is family can be a bit boring and not willing to do new things...where parties can be more fun/exciting.

Four For Friday

Q1 - Names: Here in the U.S., the parents of a three-year-old boy have branded a supermarket "intolerant" after it refused to decorate their son's birthday cake with his name: Adolf Hitler Campbell. The couple, from New Jersey, asked ShopRite staff to decorate little Adolf's cake with his name, which he shares with the deceased Nazi dictator, and were outraged after staff refused to on the grounds that it was inappropriate. Do you think the supermarket's bakery staff made the right decision or does every little boy deserve to have his name on their birthday cake regardless of what their name is?

Though the idea of naming a child after such a dictator is totally beyond me I do believe those parents have a right to get a cake with their child's name on it. The store has no right to refuse as these are paying consumers and it was not something that was illegal. The child did not pick the name...when he gets older he may choose not to keep it, or he may choose to do something great that will give the name a new meaning...

Q2 - Grumble: What are your top five beefs?

Well, let me see...Okay, I can't stand when women put their makeup on in the car. Come on people get up early enough or put it on at work, but not in the freaking car while you are driving...please. I also can't deal with people holding the darn phone to their ear in the car...we have so many tools at our disposal today to talk hands free...and they are not expensive. Get on already so the rest of us on the road don't have to worry about you hitting us. Okay, another is a freaking adult talking baby talk all the time. What is up with that? I mean, is there any real reason they should speak this way? I also don't like it when someone blows their own horn...it just annoys me to no end. Let someone give you praise and be modest about it. I believe our self assessment that we give our supervisor and when applying for a job are the only legitimate times to blow our own horns. My last one is people that drive around during dusk, dawn or in the rain without their lights on...what, are they conserving energy? At my expense? Who gave these idiots drivers licenses?

Q3 - Layaway: As everyone knows, it's shopping season once again, but we all know times are a little tough this year. A new ABC News poll this week found that many Americans are feeling the financial strain, resulting in a lot of us spending a lot less on holiday gifts. So perhaps it's not a big surprise that we would see the resurgence of a more conservative way to shop... the layaway. If you could put one item on layaway for up to five years that you absolutely intended to incrementally pay for in full, what would you choose to put on layaway?

It would have to be a service if you could put a service on layaway. It would be laser eye surgery so I don't have to wear my glasses anymore. Yeah, that would work. I could pay about 800.00 or so a year and in five years have the surgery done and not have to wear these things or spend money year after year on new glasses...

Q4 - Memories: How will you remember 2008?

Well, 2008 would be the year that I moved to Mississippi, no longer a supervisor...a good thing, half the distance to my parents...a good thing, but left all of the convinences of a metropolitian area behind...a bad thing. I will remember that in January we lost a cousin that was only 27 and still had so much to give this world in both music and in the medical community as I was sure he was not done figuring out what he wanted to be...he had been a social worker and had just graduated with his nursing degree. This will also be the year that my bffl and I grew closer once again. We have really been through it over the years, pulling apart and coming back together. I am not sure what has caused the change this year, but it has been nice to have her in my life again on a more regular basis.

Booking Through Thursday

Do you give books as gifts?
To everyone? Or only to select people?
How do you feel about receiving books as gifts?

Yes, I give books as gift. Mostly to people that I know read and I give them books by authors that they read regularly or that are next in a series that I know they are reading.

I also like to buy books for the young people in my life. If I can encourage younger people to read I do.

I have had times when I read a book that I just had to share with people in my life and bought them all the book whether they wanted it or not.

I love to receive books as gifts, infact I have a pretty extensive wish list on Amazon.com. I have a button on my MySpace and Plaxo page in order to share it with others.

Wednesday Weirdness

1. What is the one sexual act you would never do?

I would never lick someone's ass...that is just gross...I don't care if they just took a shower, it is gross.

2. Is there anyone you know, that if they turned out to be a serial killer you would not be surprised?

Hmm, maybe a good friend of mine's son. I still am waiting to see how that life turns out.

3. What is the most annoying thing about the holiday season for you?

I think the repeats of Christmas shows. There is no reason for so many repeats. There is enough to have new ones every night.

4. If you saw a video of your celebrity crush picking their nose, would that change your opinion of their hotness?

Probably not...

5. What is the one non-sexual thing you would be embarrassed to be caught doing?

Picking my nose...

6. A favorite blogger friend wrote a column about the one word that really turns her on. Do you have a word or phrase that does the same for you? What is it?

No, I can't say there is...Now I'll have to pay more attention and if it does happen I'll make sure to blog about it. :)

7. As someone who ran a virtual cookie exchange, I have to ask what your favorite cookie is?

My favorite cookie would be Ginger Snaps. My mom has the best recipe for these that came off of a Brer Rabbit molasses bottle years ago. Not sure if Brer Rabbit is correct, but it is some molasses with a rabbit on it. They are the best cookies ever.

Christmas Poem

Poem: The Soldier's Christmas

Summary of eRumor:
A poem said to have been written by a soldier stationed in Okinawa, Japan. It describes a visit by Santa to a simple home occupied by a solider.


The Truth:
This poem has been popular on the Internet for several years and occasionally makes a fresh appearance when there is a fresh attitude of support for the armed forces.

There are several versions and several different names listed with them as author.

The name most often associated with the poem is is that of Air Force Lt. Col Bruce W. Lovely. He says that he wrote it in 1993 while stationed In Korea.

An article on SpecialOperations.com says the poem was actually written by Corporal James M. Schmidt, described as a former U.S. Marine Scout-sniper and that is was published in LEATHERNECK MAGAZINE in December of 1991, two years before Lt. Col Lovely claimes to have written it.

Last updated 11/29/03


A real example of the story as it has been circulated:

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,
HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF
PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY
WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO
IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,
A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,
NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,
JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES
OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,
AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT
CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,
IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,
ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,
SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR
IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,
THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED
A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO
OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,
THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES
THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,
THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE
A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM
EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,
LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER
HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE
IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT
BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES
AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED
AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY,
THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,
I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD,
MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER
AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,
I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,
SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED
FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE
ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR
SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,
AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.
"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,
AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

Tuesday Ten

Well, I am to list 10 noteworthy (to me at least) things that have happened in the last 24 hours. My life is so mundane there are not 10. At least I don't believe so....Let's see.

1. Hubby was able to get the 23rd off so that we can head to GA that day.
2. I found two job announcements that are open that I had previously applied for and not qualified....we'll try again, they obviously did not find anyone.
3. A young lady that I have watched grow up since she was 6 months old made her way to Afghanistan. Please keep all of our service members all over the world in your prayers.
4. The Eagles won their game this week keeping them in the running for the playoffs. This makes me very happy!
5. I got the okay to go to a symposium on retirement in D.C. in January.
6. My mom got all of the days off that we will be in GA!!
7. Found out that since the President made the 26th a holiday for us our pay date will be the 24th of Dec next week. Yeah!!
8. Well, I gave it a good try...but I have run out...so I have seven things...and they are pretty weak....

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Travel :: I love to travel. I don't like flying, but I like the going to a place and enjoying it, learning about it and seeing and experiencing new things.
   


2. Expensive :: I love expensive hotels. Who doesn't? They have the best sheets and tons of pillows, down comforters, and fluffy beds.
   


3. Backspace :: Other than a key on the keyboard this word just does nothing for me. I knew where it is without thinking...use it often when I am blogging...
   


4. Traffic noise :: Traffic noise gets on my last nerve. I hate it...I don't know how big city residents live with this all the time.
   


5. Now see here :: This sounds like something someone would say when their upset or trying to make a point. Kind of old fashioned, huh?
   


6. Vegetables :: I love vegetables. All kinds and fixed all different ways, but my favorite way is grilled.
   


7. Chat :: I used to go into AOL Chat rooms back in the day when AOL was all the rage. Gosh, that seems like a life time ago and boy that is something I would never do now.
   


8. Your calling :: I am 19 years into my career and I still don't know. The last year I believe I have a calling to teach.
   


9. Weekly :: Blank...just totally blank on this one. I guess I can say I miss my weekly visit with my parents on Sundays when I lived near them. I really, really miss that. I would so prefer to see them once a week then once ever few months for a week.
   


10. Oh! :: Oh! nothing...I got nothin'
    

Friday Question

Do you save your favorite thing on your plate for last or eat it first? In essence, do you “save the best for last”?

For the most part yes....I will take little nibbles of my favorite thing while I am working on finishing up the least favorite items. But I save the bulk of the favorite item until last. I like to have a little of everything as I go, that is why I nibble. But since it is my favorite thing I want to really, really enjoy it so I leave most of it until last.

The blog that was posted with this question stated that..."People who ate the favorite dish last were likely the oldest or an only child." I am the oldest, but I don't think this applies because there were just two of us and there was always plenty of food so I know it was not that I felt there would be plenty left for me to enjoy it later. I just wanted that to be the last thing to touch my taste buds.

More Snow Pics

Snow in Central Mississippi

Okay, it is snowing this morning...when they said rain mixed with snow I was not very concerned...but we have real snow here people. It has not snowed in December in this area since 2004. They rarely get snow here. And it will be gone tomorrow...so, a little of what we have here..It is still going so this is not the whole effect...I'll put more on later...

"I Want...." Wednesday

This weeks question is:

What gift do you want to give the whole world?

It is so cliche, but I want the world to have peace. I guess for individuals, more peace of mind. I think we all just want to live our lives happily with our families. To be able to make a living without worry, feed our families, and enjoy life with travel and other fun activities. We should be able to practice the religion we want regardless of what our governments believe is the "right" religion. I can go on and on, but I think you can get the gist of what I mean.

That's My Answer - Falling Gas Prices

With gas prices falling to record lows, are you concerned at all? Is it a good sign? Or a bad sign?

I guess I just don't know enough about the economy to know if I should be concerned with falling gas prices. I am happy about it because I will be able to go home for Christmas and it will only cost me 20.00 a tank instead of 50.00 a tank that I was paying the last time I went home.

With everything else going up Americans needed something to go down and with winter setting in those that use oil to heat their homes will be better off with the lower oil prices.

But to answer if this is good or bad, for the economy as a whole, well, I just don't know enough to answer that...but since I realize I don't know I believe I have something new I need to research now. I just hate not knowing stuff... :)

Situation Sunday

Every state has decided to allow one person to decide on Proposition # 8. By the use of the computer and drivers licence....one person is picked. You number has come up......How do you decide to handle Proposition # 8.

This is so easy to answer...Proposition 8 needs to be null and void. Human beings whether same sex or opposite sex have the right to marry and share their lives together. Who on this earth has the right to say who may and may not marry? So, fundamentalist Christians say, "well the Bible says...". Well, I say bull shit. The Bible cannot be used as a source to set laws on such a thing when it was written so long ago in a different time. We are more open and accepting of people than they were during the time the Bible was written. So much of the Bible is fiction, used to teach people of a certain era. The documents used to create the Bible were never meant to be some law that we are all to live by forever and ever amen.

So, yes, I would make Prop 8 null and void and allow gay marriage in all states if I had the power.

Back in Business...

Well, I have been a bit under the weather the past few days and have not gotten on the PC at night...It has been early to bed for me. The first couple nights I took NyQuil to make sure I got a good nights sleep and my symptoms would not bother me, but last night after having talked to a nurse with the place I get my mail order prescriptions for my asthma I decided not to take the NyQuil because it has an antihistamine in it...well, I ended up not sleeping well. The nurse had suggested that I not take the antihistamine because it appears from what is going on with me that I have a sinus infection, which was some how brought on I believe by freezing in my office a couple days this week...I have a heater now...that won't happen again. So, I told my mom about this this morning and she suggest that taking the antihistamine at night should not be that bad a thing as long as I am not taking it the rest of the day...this way hopefully my sinuses will not get dried out and have a dry cavity or whatever they call it. So, I just took my NyQuil so I won't be up very long. I just wanted everyone to know I had not abandoned my blog.

I also am missing reading your blogs so hopefully while I watch some football tomorrow, while I rap gifts, I will hopefully have a chance to read the blogs I follow.

Hugs to everyone....

Christmas Interrogation

Okay, my bffl sent me this and kind of indicated that she expected me to post it here...I don't usually do these things... But I don't want to be a Scrooge as that is not who I am...so, here we go....

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Wrapping paper of course...with pretty ribbons, bows, tags, and pretties.

2. Real tree or Artificial?

I prefer real, but lately it has been a 4 ft artificial

3. When do you put up the tree?

If it is real a couple weeks before Christmas. If it is fake usually the weekend after Thanksgiving, but it is not up yet this year.

4. When do you take the tree down?

Usually New Years day.

5. Do you like eggnog?

Uh, No!!!!!!!

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

My 3 speed bike when I was in my freshman year in highschool.

7. Hardest person to buy for?

My grandma.

8. Easiest person to buy for?

My husband...he wants everything...

9. Do you have a nativity scene?

Yes...but I had one I made and gave it away to my mom...now to make myself a new one.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

Mail, and I make them.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

That frickin' can of popcorn.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

Bells of St. Mary's of course.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

October or earlier if I find something.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

No...I just can't do that.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

Cookies, cookies, and more cookies.

16. Lights on the tree?

Colored of course.

17. Favorite Christmas songs:

I like them all, but Ding, Dong, Merrily on High is my favorite.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

Ugh, we seem to travel every year lately...I want a Christmas at home for once.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?

I probably could...but you'll just have to keep guessing.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

An Angel of course, anyone that knows me knows that...

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

Santa doesn't come until you go to bed on Christmas Eve so how can you open them before that?

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

The fact that they started the ads, music, and displays before Thanksgiving.

23. Favorite ornament theme or color?

I just love Snowmen!!

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner?

Gotta have a ham...the rest is negotiable.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year?

For my family and friends to be healthy and happy...really...if you know me...I really am not a good receiver of material gifts.

...in other words...

Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps, for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things are and what they ought to be.

-- William Hazlitt

I really like this one...I am an emo person...my bffl, also known as sister friend, can attest to that. I cry at the drop of a hat and laugh until I pee myself, although she is the winner in that area.

I have to say though that I don't know that we are the only ones that know the difference between what things are and what they ought to be. I really think my doggie does sometimes...otherwise why are they sad when a litter mate in the house dies? I think Mr. Hazlitt may have been a little off here. We may have a deeper sense of what things are and what they ought to be, but I don't believe we are the only animals with this ability.

Memphis

My wonderful husband and I went to Memphis on Friday. We started out a little late so we did not get to Graceland on Friday like we planned, but we did make it there on Saturday. So, on Friday we checked into the hotel room and then went down to Beale St. We ate at Alfred's on Beale. The food was really good. We did not stay late enough for the live music as we were pretty tired, but we did hear some good jazz as we walked down Beale St.

We had a great time...we went through the parts of the Mansion that Elvis would have allowed guests in when he was alive, his trophy room, Vernon's office, the auto museum, Sincerely Elvis, and the air plan named Lisa Marie. It took us 3 hours and I was pooped when we were done. I took over 200 pictures. I'll share just a few here.

The Mansion at Night

Elvis' living room.



The Jungle Room




One of the many outfits on display.

If you want you can see more you can check out my flickr pictures. I did not put them all up, one reason is the free account has limits. But there is a good sampling.