A few things

I got the first hints of pressure from my family to procreate this year at Christmas. I think that shacking up with a pretty awful guy early on kept those types of thoughts at bay for quite a while. Unfortunately, everyone seems to believe that I've finally gotten my life in order, so now they can start the pressure. It started with the generational photos we do every time we get together with my great-grandfather. I realize how fortunate I have been to grow up knowing him, and he has been one of the best influences in my life. I would love for my children to know him, even briefly. However, that does not mean that I'm going to rush to have children so that we can take photos with five generations.

Also: Movie theater marathons are awesome! Lauren and I went to see three movies in a row today, and just kept getting refills on popcorn and soda, and it was glorious! I hope I never stop taking the time to enjoy friendship, junk food and the big screen.

Ah, family

I'm planning to head home to NC tomorrow. My dad called me up yesterday and asked me to pick up a bottle of wine for him, because the closest place it was available was past where am I am now. In fact, it was 3 hours away from me! So, rather than actually get any cleaning, packing or baking done, I spent the day driving up to NoVa to pick up a bottle of wine.

I'd feel much worse about the whole ordeal if my dad had ever asked me for anything else. This was honestly the first time he'd ever asked a favor of me, so I felt that it was the least I could do. So, now it's almost ten, and I'm about to run to the grocery store to get the last ingredients for Christmas baking, so that I can make some gingerbread muffins tonight, before I head out in the morning.

Done with exams

This morning I awakened early to get to school for my last exam of the semester, and what to my wondering eyes did appear? Snow! Again! Tons of giant snowflakes that were ticking to everything. It was beautiful. It kept up until sometime after I sat down to take my final, and had finished before I turned it in. In fact, by noon there was no sign that it had ever been here, other than the muddy footprints on uncarpeted floors where I sold back my books.

When I got home, there was an extra surprise. Apparently, the UPS man thought I needed an extra reward and let someone else's package at my door. The intended recipient had the same first name and the same street number (although not the same street) as I do, so I can understand how the mix-up happened. I didn't even notice that it wasn't addressed to me until I opened it and looked at the packing list - it was all spices.

The only phone number I could find on it was the one for the company it was order from, so I gave them a call and they said they'd arrange to have it picked up after Christmas and they'd just send her a new one today. Of course, my roommate spent the time I was on phone pawing through the contents to see if there was anything good inside. He found Jamaican Oregano. I know that it was a real spice, but I just can't help but think that was a great slang term for pot. Neither of us do drugs, but that was where our minds went instantly.

Yes, I am delirious. I need sleep.

I notice a theme...

The cool thing to write articles about these days seems to be children that aren't your own.

Today, I saw a story about returning an adopted child.

Yesterday, it was an article about the surrogacy cottage industry.

Sure, I find it fascinating, but I also find it more than a little disturbing.

Procrastination

I am studying (inefficiently) for my nonprofit exam. I don't want to. It's not fun. I'll be glad when it's over. Until then, I leave you with my Christmas tree and direction for making s'mores in the microwave (for those of us who have no fireplace and/or are too lazy to build a fire outside.

Microwave S'Mores

You will Need:
1 graham cracker split in half
1 large marshmallow
4 squares chocolate bar


Step One - Assemble the S'More in this order: one graham cracker half, chocolate bar, marshmallow, and then top with the second graham cracker half.

Step Two - Place into a microwavable dish. Microwave for 15 seconds. (This may vary according to your own microwave.) Enjoy!

Christmas Baskets / Day Off!

Lexington has a great program - the Rockbridge Area Christmas Basket Program. They put together boxes of food staples for 2,500 families in the area this year. They'll deliver these boxes of food to families in need before Christmas, with a gift for each child. For some of these children, it will be the only gift the recieve, because their families can't afford any toys.

I took the day off Saturday, and spent the morning helping put the boses of food together. It's a great assembly line they get going for one morning a year. A ton of people come out to one of the horse center arenas. There are people stationed at each food item and each toy type, and the rest of us line up, grab boxes, and take them to each food station, until it's full and ready to go. Then, the strong high school boys carry each box, with it's destination label, to an spot designated for each destination area. It's a very cool process, with everyone working wonderfully together.

And now... Hershey!

mmmm... Christmas

It's Christmas-time! I (in a spirit of procrastination) decided that I should decorate our house in Lexington for Christmas. This was also partially inspired by the fact that our classes run late into the year this time, so our exams aren't over until December 20th!. I couldn't do without Christmas until the few days before Christmas!

Then, as an extra gift for me, it snowed! Of course, it was only for a day, and gone the next, but it was enough of an exam-time treat to greatly improve my mood! So, of course, I took pictures!!

While I dislike all the exam stuff, and all the mandatory traveling and money-spending (OK, I do enjoy spending money, just not the lack of it afterward), I absolutely love Christmas-time. I love the decorations, and the time with family, the music... and all the fatterning food - and I also love the constant reminder of the joy of Christ's birth. There is an extra peace that comes with the hubbub this timeof year.
Since decorating the house only took about a day, I had to also throw a Christmas Dinner for my friends up here. I was feeling hostess-y and really wanted to do some holiday dinner cooking. I made two giant hams, two vats of butternut squash soup, a ton of corn on the cob, fried okra, mashed sweet potatoes, pecan butter, and a funfetti cake shaped like a tree. I gave in and just bought the pies and bread. It was a huge spread! I even had eggnog, hot cider, and hot chocolate.

I decorated the main table by wrapping it like a present and served the food in gift tins. I lit the house in Christmas lights and candles. All in all, I think I got the Martha Stewart out f my system, and I think it may have even been a good party!

Tax=Death

I just finished my first of two finals of the semester. They are both with the same prof, and they are both tax-related. This one was fed. tax - a four-hour marathon exam that I barely finished in time. Next, it's Wednesday's 2-hour sprint in taxation of non-profit orgs. I'm exhausted. In all of my (all-to-many) years as a student, I have never studied as hard or as long as I did for fed tax, and I have never relied on my notes as much as I did on this exam. AND, this is practically the first time that I've been so close on time that I've been unable to even look over the exam answers before turning it in. So... now all I have to look forward to is another exam of the same ilk. Great.

The puppers.

This is Hershey. It's the most amazing dog on the face of the planet. He loves to cuddle up with me and he sleeps under the covers. If I could just keep him from trying to lick people, barking at the neighbor walking her dogs, and trying to devour his own foot, he'd really be perfect. I still think he's pretty darn close.