This one is for James . . .

My friend James, who lives in Texas, is a faithful reader of my blog, so when she tagged me with these meme’s, I decided that I owed it to her to play along. After all, I’ve pretty much talked about all of this stuff in my entries any way. And besides, she was with me during the madness of my Dillard’s days, which, if you’ve ever worked retail during the holiday season, you know forms a lifelong bond. So this is for you James (and I miss the Home Store at Christmas, too!). I suppose that makes us both weird, but at least we understand each other!  Merry Christmas!

10 YEARS AGO I… 

1. was just getting used to being a single parent with three children
2. was thinner and stronger
3. my house was a lot cleaner
4. my daughter had a bad case of mono that kept her home for two months
5. was recovering from teaching six grade at a public school

5 THINGS ON TODAY’S TO-DO LIST

1. do James’s blog
2. do a regular blog 
3. try to get some Twizzlers 
4. make an appointment with the doctor (which one?)
5. watch all of my MSNBC shows

5 THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE A MILLIONAIRE

1. immediately put one third of it in the bank for the kids before it got frittered away
2. share the wealth with all of my extended family
3. travel
4. get a new house, new furniture, and a cleaning person
5. get a working car that Eamonn would be forbidden to drive

5 PLACES I HAVE LIVED

1. Norfolk, VA
2. Alexandria, VA
3. Blacksburg, VA
4. London, England
5. Quezon City, Phillipines

5 JOBS I’VE HAD

1. English Instructor at ODU
2. Publications Manager at Chryslter Museum of Art 
3. Senior Education Specialist at George Washington University
4. Marketing Director at realty firm
5. Sales Manager at Dillard’s

Big 8’s

8 TV Shows I Love To Watch:

1. Law & Order (original), CI and SVU 
2. 24
3. Without a Trace
4. Countdown with Keith Olbermann
5. The Rachel Maddow Show 
6. Hardball with Chris Matthews
7. Project Runway
8. The Daily Show/The Colbert Report

8 Favorite Restaurants: (we don’t eat out much, and we tend to go to the same places) 

1. P. F. Chang’s
2. Sakura 
3. Chili’s
4. El Azteca

8 Things That Happened Today:

1. Washed my face
2. Started writing
3. Told my son to put away clean dishes in dishwasher
4. Talked to my mom on phone
5. Talked to my mom on phone again
6. Tried to connive Corey into making coffee because his is better than mine
7. Talked to someone on the phone while I was asleep and made a doctor’s appointment that I don’t remember
8. It’s still early for me, give me some time.

8 Things I am looking Forward To:

1. being able to take a vacation next year
2. my oldest son making it through his senior year and growing up enough to realize that the world actually does not revolve around him
3. Corey and Alexis finding jobs
4. decorating the house for the holidays 
5. Obama’s inauguration
6. W. finally leaving the White House
7. finishing the renovation on the house one day 
8. getting a new used car one day that my oldest son will not be allowed to drive

8 Things On My Wish List: 

1. A back and body that doesn’t hurt
2. My youngest son finding his way through the forest
3. For this house to be finished, or better yet finish this house and find a new one. I’ve grown to hate it.
4. A laptop for Corey and a computer for Brett
5. A laptop for me for those days when I cannot get out of bed
6. To be able to get my nails done again
7. To be able to go back to yoga classes so that I could tone up my sausage body
8. A new, utterly useless piece of jewelry, just because, but obviously, I can live without it 

Finally, a seasonal update

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both. I try to be creative, which ends up killing my back

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. Corey hates it, but two of us are allergic. (He doesn’t believe that people can be allergic to real trees)

3. When do you put up the tree? Usually around second week of December

4. When do you take the tree down? Usually weekend after New Years

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, especially with some Southern Comfort added

6. Favorite gift received as a child? a jewelry box shaped like a piano

7. Hardest person to buy for? my mother, she never really likes what I get

8. Easiest person to buy for? Corey

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. I’ve had it for years, and it means a lot to me.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail, usually late, but try to do it every year.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? No present is bad if it comes from someone who loves you. But office presents in pollyana’s can really suck.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Scrooge with Albert Finney, hands down.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? When the Christmas Fairy brings the money

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not recycled, but donated a few from work

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? ham, deviled eggs, cranberry relish, and pecan pie

16. Lights on the tree? colored, but clear outside

17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I prefer to stay at home if at all possible

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? But of course, can’t everyone?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star with angel right below

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Believe it or not, it used to be the exhaustion of long hours working retail, but I do kind of miss the hustle and bustle of long hours working retail. i know. it makes no sense. So it makes perfect sense to me, James.

23. Favorite ornament? all of the ones that the kids made, and the ones that Corey and I picked out from special places we’ve been . . . too many to pick one

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Ham, sweet potatoes

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? a quiet, non-stressful Christmas