Adios

Twitter Tuesday

So long to the following things today: church newsletter (to be mailed Thursday when the Post Office is open), Christmas decorations, 2013.

Dear worst cold I've ever had

Dear snotty nose,
How can so much snot keep coming out of one nose?? Will you please finish it up so I can have control over my nose again?

Dear stuffy nose,
How can a nose that seems to be so full of junk be so full of nothing when I blow? Why must you tease me so?!

Dear annoying cough,
Your presence is not requested. Please pack your bags and GET THE HECK OUT OF HERE.

Dear senses of taste and smell,
I missed you for almost a week. So glad you decided to come back today!

Dear Neti pot,
You've been very helpful these past several days. Keep up the good work.

'Twas the day after Christmas

3 Thoughts Thursday

1. There are new toys everywhere.
I love watching Emma play with and enjoy her new things.

2. Norbert has an upset tummy.
Santa brought him some treats yesterday - plus he got to go to Mamaw and Papaw's house (where treats abound) - and he overdid it. So we have a little puny puppy today. It's pretty much the saddest thing you've ever seen.

3. I'm siiiiiiiiiick.
It's either a sinus infection or a cold - or maybe a combination of both. Regardless of what it is, I've got stuff to do. Neti Pot, do your thing. And if you see me, keep your distance. I don't want to infect you.

Merry Christmas 2013

Christmas Eve sickness

Twitter Tuesday

Yeah, so I think I'm coming down with something. I don't want to be sick on Christmas!! #toughingitout

Dear Christmas impatience

Dear Santa tracker,
Emma is LOVING counting down until Santa officially leaves the North Pole. But how do we keep her from giving us constant, down-to-the-millisecond updates on Santa's estimated time of departure?

Dear gift wrapping,
How do I finish you when there is a certain someone on Christmas vacation who is always at the house and always aware of every single thing going on?

Dear gift concealment,
Mamaw's house was a great hiding place until someone had the brilliant idea to go ahead and head over there on Saturday and do some secret wrapping. Now the problem is finding a place that the aforementioned "certain someone" won't happen upon during the next few days. Can't count on any location; because as soon as one is chosen that she NEVER goes to, that will be the one place in which she just has to go rooting around for some random reason or another. Thank goodness for the handy-dandy short person divider in my car's trunk. In a completely unrelated note, please do not open my trunk and put down the divider in the presence of my child. Thankyouverymuch.

Dear en route packages,
I hope you all come today so I can finish wrapping the gifts for which I don't have to be a ninja. I just want to be mostly done.

Dear time,
I know better than to wish you away; but can you just hurry up a little bit so Christmas can just BE HERE already?! I am NOT good waiting to give people the gifts I've picked especially for them.

Weather stuff

3 Thoughts Thursday

1. "Don't like the weather in Indiana? Just wait a few minutes, and it will change."

Seriously. This week it's already snowed, sleeted, and rained. Plus it's been in the teens, 20s, and 30s. Supposedly it'll be almost 50 by Friday.

2. I enjoy fall weather the most.

I love being able to go outside in a sweater/fleece and jeans and be comfortable.

3. I love a nice scarf.

They go with pretty much anything and are super fun. My fave is a black infinity scarf with small white polka dots. It's fab, and I love it. Plus it goes with pretty much everything.

Apostrophes

Wordy Wednesday

I am appalled at the use of apostrophes these days. People just add them, willy nilly, to everything, it seems.

You see this crime committed ALL THE TIME on Christmas cards.

What am I talking about, you ask? Allow me to demonstrate.

INCORRECT:
Merry Christmas from the Heacock's

CORRECT:
Merry Christmas from the Heacocks

Why is the first one incorrect? "Heacock's" is in the possessive form, and it isn't even complete.

The card is from all of us (i.e. plural = more than one Heacock), which is why there should be no apostrophe.

The best way to avoid having to deal with this would be to say "Merry Christmas from the Heacock family." It's so simple.

Just say no to extra apostrophes.

Fleece is not enough

Twitter Tuesday

Today was not a good day to only wear a fleece as a coat. What was I thinking? #notthinking #iamfrozen

Dear Christmas party

Dear house preparation,
Having this party at our house was a great motivator: we got three rooms painted (finally), we got to rearrange some furniture, and I'm pretty sure our house has never been this clean.

Dear host gifts,
I now have a fridge full of half-full bottles of wine; and there are five unopened bottles of wine on our never-before-utilized wine rack. Merry Christmas to me!

Dear surprise Santa visit,
The looks on those little kids' faces when Santa came in and had gifts for each of them... well, it was just priceless. And the faces on the teenagers when they had to got to sit on Santa's lap... well, those were equally priceless.

Dear leftover veggies,
How many different meals can you make out of leftover chopped celery, cauliflower, broccoli, and baby carrots? Well, we're going to see.

Dear leftover chicken salad and ham salad sandwiches,
I've had you twice already since Saturday. It's delicious, but I'm not sure how much more I can take.

Christmas movies

3 THOUGHTS THURSDAY

My top 3 Christmas movies
1. A Charlie Brown Christmas
2. Elf
3. Christmas Vacation

Emma's top 3 5 Christmas movies
1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (cartoon)
2. Mickey's Christmas Carol
3. A Christmas Carol (the 2009 one with Jim Carrey)
4. Elf
5. Barbie in A Christmas Carol

Big Daddy's top 3 Christmas movies
1. A Christmas Story
2. Christmas Vacation
3. A Christmas Carol (with Jim Carrey)

*Pause*

WORDY WEDNESDAY has been put on hold for this week because 1) Emma and I are going to downtown Indy tonight to see the Yuletide Celebration at Hilbert Circle Theatre, and 2) I didn't get any requests for a topic about which people wanted to learn.

Seriously, let me know if you have something you'd like me to cover on Wordy Wednesday: be it a grammar lesson, a word or phrase you like, etc. Please give me something so I can flex my wordy nerdiness!

Have a great night!

Stay warm, my friends.

Two-hour delays

TWITTER TUESDAY

I'm over all these 2-hour delays. I like my "normal" routine, and the delays throw me right off. Do I sound old, or what? #crotchetyoldlady

Dear Decorating

Dear mantel,
I went a different direction this year with you, opting for a cleaner, simpler, classier look. You are my new favorite.

Dear snow family,
When I saw you at TJ Maxx, I knew you were meant for me. You are just like our family (except in our family, mom is definitely not taller than dad... LOL!). You are perfect for us.

Dear red and gold ball ornament,
You are my absolute favorite. You always have been. My grandparents used to have a lot of you on their Christmas tree at the farm. Many of your brethren were faded and worn, after many years of faithful service. They gave me you, and I have taken very good care of you ever since. I always wrap you in a paper towel and place you gently in the ornament bin. You are very precious to me, which means you are always placed in a prominent, front-of-tree location.

Dear Santa Homer,
You are one of Big Daddy's favorites. You make me smile.

Dear Emma's first Santa photo ornament,
This photo was taken the first time Emma met Santa. It was taken at the Greenwood Park Mall when Emma 11 months old. I love the way Emma and Santa are sizing each other up.

Dear Santa cross stitch ornament,
My mom was one of my Brownie troop leaders a long, long time ago; and one year they decided all the girls were going to make cross stitch Christmas ornaments. I already knew how to cross stitch, so making my ornament went smoothly. The same could not be said for the other Brownies. But I love the way you turned out and the way you bring a smile to my face every time I see you on my tree.

Dear Mike and Sully,
We had Mike already. Sully is new this year. It was Emma's brilliant idea to put you right next to each other on the tree, which is how you will henceforth be placed every year.

Dear wooden Santas,
My grandpa used to carve a new version of you every year. These are the Santas that I have. They are such a precious group. I keep three separate from the rest: 1) because they are my favorites, and 2) because they don't fit on top of the microwave.

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure

3 THOUGHTS THURSDAY

1. "Tell 'em Large Marge sent ya."

2. "Shh! I'm listening to reason."

3. "I know you are, but what am I?"

Text speak

WORDY WEDNESDAY

I can't even force myself to shorten or abbreviate words in a text message. I can hardly read a text when it is written in text speak. It may will make me sound old, but I don't get it. Nor do I want to have to decipher a text message or a Facebook post that uses it.

Drives me banana sandwich.

If you ever get a text from me, most likely it will be written in full sentences with proper grammar. Because that's how I roll.

My back hurts.

TWITTER TUESDAY

Not sure why or how. Tried to hold the phone between my ear and shoulder at work yesterday and about died. So. Much. Pain. #curseyouback

Dear Thanksgiving

Dear turkey,
I love your delicious light side. Of course I ate too much of you. And have way too much of you leftover in my fridge.

Dear stuffing,
I prefer you to your fraternal twin, which is known as dressing. I'm not exactly sure what is the difference between you, but I just know you're my favorite. The closer you are to Stove Top, the better.

Dear mashed potatoes and corn,
I normally don't like my food to touch on my plate, but I enjoy mixing you two together. You make a great pair!

Dear sweet potatoes,
I used to dislike you greatly, but I gave you another shot this year. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed you! (Thanks for preparing them so well, Mom! I loved them!)

Dear yeast rolls,
I could eat a hundred of you. I think I came close the other day. I know I had 5 or 6 of you as leftovers for breakfast the day after Thanksgiving. I'm not ashamed. They were delish.