Give Said The Christmas Tree....

Give oh give, give oh give.... forgive me. It's a catchy tune and I couldn't help myself. Ok, so I have been in the Christmas spirit for a while. I've been looking forward to the season so much I almost can't believe myself. I had no idea I was such a relisher of the holiday season. Apparently I am.

What do I love about it?

1) I absolutely love gift giving. I've been looking forward to it for months, actually, just waiting for the time I could finally get that perfect gift for so-and-so. I find fewer things as satisfying as lavishing someone with something they really treasure or some luxury they wouldn't normally afford themselves, whether that be pedicures, basketball tickets, a framed drawing or whatever. It's the most fun! Expensive... perhaps. I totally can't gift-give on a budget. Not that I give trips to Greece or new cars, of course. But it just doesn't seem to compute in my head to give on a budget. I've noticed, however, nobody I've given a gift to has complained about that. Go figure. And it makes me so darn happy, it just might be worth every overspent penny.

2) The music. The songs are so great it's a pity we only sing them during the season. Especially the hymns and Gloria Hallelujah type songs. They're gorgeous! (Sorry, Santa Baby. I love you, but you're second in my heart to Angels We Have Heard on High... and a few others) And despite having been one of those people to exhibit disdain when hearing Christmas music out of season, I confess to having started listening to my cd's almost an entire month before Thanksgiving. I just couldn't help myself.

3) treats at the office. My coworker and I have been doing the chocolate dance all month, hoping the businesses we work with would grace us with chocolate from See's, Harry & David food stuffs and other treats in the spirit of holiday giving. We finally cashed in this week. Previously, when said dancing appeared fruitless, we resorted to providing our own chocolate for the season. My new motto: should nobody bring chocolate, buy your own. One of the few easy fixes in the world I've found.

4) Parties!!! I love parties. I happen to be the coordinator of a holiday party this year, and I am SO excited. There is gonna be yummy food, friends, music and I get to dress up a little. What's not to love?

5) Days off work. 'Nuf said.

6) Random acts of kindness: Our office mailman left us a card in our mailbox thanking us for being such good customers and wishing us happy holidays. I don't know that he had a choice in serving us or that we had a choice in whether or not he was our mailman. And I was unaware that picking up mail was grounds for being a good customer. And we've never met the mailman. But I totally dig the cute homemade card and the thought. Nutty. But totally heartwarming. There's some holiday spirit for you. Go Mr. (or Ms.) Mailman!

7) Christmas bonus. No better way for the boss to say Merry Christmas than with a very festive, and most heart-warming, green-colored gift.

8) This holiday season, I just learned how to joke with my boss. There's a fun Christmas gift I didn't expect to find. Seriously, it's been a challenge and there are few things more awkward than a blank stare from your boss after a joke. But I actually made him laugh today. Really. How refreshing.

9) A season when family and relationships are given more emphasis than all the other cares in the world. That's nothin' but good. And I lesson I could do better at remembering the rest of the year.

10) Christmas cards! I love all the cards my parents get from family and friend that fill me in on the lives of all those fabulous people I grew up knowing and continue to love. Someday I'll do that. Either when I have someone more than myself to report on, or perhaps when I turn 35. For some reason, 35 seems to me like a good year for growing up and doing adult things. Maybe like writing christmas cards.

A few things I DON'T Like about the holidays:

1) I totally dread the Salvation Army people parked in front of the supermarket. I know, I know. That's awful.

2) The traffic. You can't drive anywhere these days without it taking 3 x's as long with all those Christmas shoppers in transit!

3) The fact that everybody else at my work is taking vacation over the holiday season and I will be the lone person in the office every day between Christmas and New Year's. You feel sorry for me. I know. I feel very sorry for me. But honestly, couldn't we have just closed?

4) Trying to figure out what to say to people when they ask you, " So what do you want for Christmas?" Does anyone know what to say to that after they leave elementary school? And sadly enough, if it was affordable, I probably would have bought it myself already. Anybody want to buy me a lap top? Or a 3 month trip to South America? Or tickets to London for a couple weeks? Or maybe a six-figure salary? I think they sell them at Costco or WalMart. I hear they have everything in those big box stores. Just kidding. I'm really not that expensive. Ok, I am. But I am easily pleased as well. Maybe I should just suggest people get me cookware. That's what my parent's normally do and I love it --- it may be a gift given in hopes of a life of domestic bliss for their child, in hopes that I might set foot in my kitchen, or in hopes of both. But I know there's love there.


As I was writing this blog and expounding on things I don't like about the holidays, I realized with negatives number 5-7 that I actually forgot to write negatives and instead wrote things I DO like about the holidays by mistake! Ha ha. What can I say? I love a little more than I don't like. Thus, my lopsided list will remain lopsided. Happy Holidays!!!

Home for a Holiday

I went home for Thanksgiving this year. And somehow I managed to persuade Male to come with me. We had a great time. We spent Thanksgiving with my oldest brother and his family in South Jersey. And we traveled back down again to his house the next day, to make as much use of my Settlers of Catan game as we could. We also visited a lovely little place called Ringing Rock Park. It's got a nice hike and a waterfall. But most amazing is the field of huge rocks and boulders. When you tap on the rocks and boulders, they ring like bells. Cool, huh? I thought so.

Anyhow, I brought my camera along for the trip. Unfortunately, I have yet to be used to having a camera handy for family affairs. So, I have no cute pictures of my nieces and nephews. Or Thanksgiving. Or the day after. But I did remember to bring the camera with Male and I when we went to see the Statue of Liberty.

We also got a few shots of the early birds one lovely morning. With nothing to show for ourselves but sour faces, it is clear we are good abiding mormons who don't use coffee and sugar in the morning. Otherwise, we might look friendlier. And the winner is --- the man who had the muster to smile. Impressive, Male. Very impressive.

Here's a few pictures of our Statue of Liberty escapade. We ended up taking the longest ferry route possible that day during our visit. We traveled from the Jersey shore to Ellis Island 1st. Unfortunately, we didn't get off. Instead we decided to go to the Statue of Liberty 1st. No bid deal, right? That's what we thought too. So naive. After the Statue, we traveled back to Ellis Island. This we expected. But then we had to travel back to the Statue of Liberty in order to get back to the Jersey shore. And FYI - the ferrys don't run all the time. You must wait for them. In the cold. For a long time. If ever you should travel that way, take my advice. Just get off wherever the ferry leads you. You might say the ferry is "inspired". Go with the ferry.

Anyhow, it was really good to be home. I need to click my ruby red heels that direction more often.

Grinch Names

101 on how to amuse yourself at work on a snowy, quiet, wintry, nobody-else-is-at-their-office-and-is-probably-home-snuggling-ina-a-blanket-with-hot-chocolate kind of Friday. You can find yours too if you click on the "Grinch Names" blog title just above.

My grinch name has a lovely ring to it. Don't you think? :)

Crabbygrinch Fussynoggin

Diversify, Diversify, Diversify

What to do, what to do.... Currently, I find myself going in a million different directions. As usual. Good to know I am, if nothing else, consistent.

Working and having an education in the nonprofit field and being involved in revenue development, I have a keen understanding in the need for diversified funding sources, which is a very sensible adherence to the belief that you should not "put all your eggs in one basket." Nonprofits are better positioned and more stable when they have at least 12 to 15 different sources of income. That way, if one should pull out on you, it won't sink your organization.

Well, apparently I take this advice to heart. As I see it, I am, on a smaller scale, my own little nonprofit. Heaven knows most of my personal pursuits are of the kind that suck money rather than generate income, which is as nonprofit as it comes. And indeed, I have found that my approach towards income, as well as marketability and experience, is to diversify, diversify, diversify. I can't help it.

Take NOW for an example:

1) I work at a nonprofit organization. I'm also currently (please don't tell my boss), looking for a job at another nonprofit organization.

2) I also work part-time at a clothing store.I like it there. A fun little fact about our store: we were just featured in a NY Times article last week. I almost felt famous because I work there.

3) I like to sell things on Ebay when I come to possess things I don't have a use for or no longer want. I like doing that. It amuses me.

4) I have a studio in Park City that doesn't really generate revenue, but it does generate tax breaks and equity.

5) In addition, I am applying for a slightly higher-paying part-time job at a restaurant. I, of course, have no intention of quitting the first part-time job at the clothing store, as I like the store, they are nice to me and they need help. I will simply take on this and then pop in and work at the clothing store "whenever I have time."

6) New and incredibly fun, I am starting to design dresses and my sibling and I have in the works plans for launching a women's line of formal dresses: beautiful, well-made, dare I say "sexy" and classy dresses for women who prefer not to walk around half-naked in order to catch someone's eye.

7) And then, there is the LSAT and contemplation of undertaking three years of law school and taking the bar to become a lawyer.

That's not 12-15 sources, and they don't all generate revenue yet, but it's more than a handful of options. How do I not feel all over the place? The answer to that: I do. But I'm used to it. I've had my hand in too many honey pots since I was a freshman in high school. The only difference is when I was in high school all my honey pots were non-revenue producing clubs and activities (I've grown slightly more lucrative in my old age). With these 7 or so pursuits, one might think that my basket "overfloweth". And, to be honest, I really wonder how one person can do all of this. I don't know that it's possible. I think I need five lives to be able to do all the things I have an inclination to think are interesting and want to pursue.

Who knows if all of it will happen. Does it really matter if it doesn't? I don't think so. And it won't happen if I say it won't and don't try, right? So, try is what I do every day. I get done what I can get done, take life as it comes, and make plans. Some plans don't happen. Some do. Some succeed. Some fail. I've been on the job search for a better and better-paying job for about 3 or 4 months now and what I have uncovered? Most recent: 2 "no, but thank you for interviewing's" this week. OUCH. And yet I have hope.

I got down about it once and told my boyfriend, Male, I felt unemployable. He laughed and reminded me that I currently have three jobs. It's easy to get down about interviewing and about opportunities you want that don't seem to come easily. But I think, when I am thinking rationally, even though my present situation doesn't reflect it right now, that I will have the income, ability and time to take all the risks I need to pursue whatever I want. Maybe even everything on my list. I'm young yet, and throughout my life I imagine I'll be in many different phases and places. One thing I like about being born in this age as opposed to 30 years ago is that careers now-a-days change so much and people pursuing new things is commonplace. So, I'll keep talking crazy and making lots of plans. Diversify, diversify, diversify.

The Pictures

Here are pictures of my master piece, as promised. Even a shot of the sconces. Ahhh, how nice.

Here is the picture that "completed" the bathroom. Now, doesn't that look better? :)

They Left Me

It's official. My parents left me. Off to the MTC in Provo they went on Monday. Next week, they'll leave for London for a year and a half. And what has become of me? I have become an empty nester at such the young and tender age of 28. You may think I jest, but it's true. I'm the one with the empty house, and it is THEY who have left for greener pastures (not hard to do if you're leaving Utah -- everything is greener, except maybe Vegas). Here's a couple treasured pic's from their open house the night before they left. I spent my first evening without them at home cleaning up from the party. It was SOOOO quiet. I could barely stand it. It's a really good thing I have a roommate moving in. If I didn't, I'd probably go mad.

My Favorite Room

Hurrah! Hurrah! Last night, I hung sconces on the wall! It may not be the final touch in renovating my bathroom, but it is ONE of the final touches. And pardon my french, but they look !@*& good on that wall. Right next to the picture I bought that accents the room perfectly. The room would totally be incomplete without that picture. Good thing I found it.

You heard me right. Yes, indeed. I have actually taken some interest in my dwelling place and have renovated the bathroom. Of course, I'm on a limited budget. So sadly enough, renovating did not include replacing that unsightly white & green linoleum on the floor. But I repainted and redecorated. That was a financial undertaking in itself. Apparently, metallic paint is expensive. So if you ignore the floor, being in my bathroom is a totally relishable experience.

Oh, and I must give credit where credit is due. My sister was kind enough to offer her services in repainting the room with me for my birthday present. She spent from about 9am to almost 5pm on a Saturday helping me prep and paint. It made it go by a lot faster having four hands and someone to chat with throughout the process. She's a wonder. That's what she was doing for her "day off" from her five children. And then, of course, Male helped me. I ran into some trouble putting in the screws for the sconces and in figuring out how to work the caulking. Did I mention I'm not very handy? Fortunately, he proved to be most helpful on both those fronts. So, thank you, thank you, thank you.

So, I will put pictures up on the blog so all of you can see. I remembered to take BEFORE pictures right after I tore down the wallpaper, which was a little too late. So, sorry for not being able to promise you those. You may not completely understand the degree to which this bathroom has experienced a remarkable transformation. Those who have been to my house may remember the somewhat unremarkable or luckily forgettable experience of visiting my restroom.

I can describe briefly the ugliness that was my bathroom: On the bottom half of the wall below the railing there was a nasty, safari green paint. On the top of the wall and all over the vanity/sink area there was this tan/khaki, linen-textured wallpaper that had big brown faded palm leaves all over. And there was nothing worthy of calling decor to be seen in there.

And now? Oh, it's lovely. I should be an interior designer. It is SOOO much better. I still have to redo some caulking, but I think that will be the finishing touch. I can't help revelling in it during the ending phases of the renovation process. Over the last few days, I've taken every opportunity to just sit in there because it's so nice.

It might be recommendable that I renovate a room that would be more appropriate to hang out in, like my bedroom or the kitchen or living room. The kitchen....ooh.... that would be a smart way to get me to hang out in there. Ah, well, I'll have to save up for it, so it won't be happening at least within the next month. After all, the holidays are coming. But when I DO get around to the next room, I promise to remember to provide BEFORE and AFTER pictures.

Anti-Bucket

My recent musings come from a late night experience I had last week. I was home playing a game of spider solitaire on the computer and having my near-daily dose of ice cream. Now, I'll be honest. Spider solitaire has become an obsession. I finally had to delete it off my work computer because it was SO distracting. And I don't admit to people how often I've been playing it because I think it's ridiculous. It's one of the few things that will draw me to the computer when I'm not at work -- that and selling things on Ebay. And I'm not sure why I play it because it actually frustrates the crap out of me. Is the difficult level really winnable every time? Because I can only seem to win every 20 times or so. It could just be that I suck. But I prefer to think that winning would be impossible. It makes me feel smarter. :)

Anyhow, before I sat down to my love/hate computer game, I got a bowl of ice cream. As I mentioned previously, I've been in the habit of eating ice cream almost every day lately. So, on I went about my daily business. As I was scooping, I noticed I was starting to reach the bottom of my stockpile. Normally, when this happens, the only thing I'm thinking is, "Oh no! Must buy more ice cream!" This time, however, I was disconcerted for an entirely different reason.

This particular container of ice cream was a large bucket -- the kind that when you get to the bottom you risk getting your whole arm sticky trying to dig down to its plunging, vat-like depths. Those buckets are GINORMOUS. They would feed entire villages for weeks in third world countries if they could afford the expensive temperature-controlled shipping costs to get them there.

By the way, I don't normally buy ice cream by the bucket. We happened to have this bucket left over from some event my mother had been a part of. And I'm all about left overs and free food. It was about half-full when I started (that comforts me slightly.). But the facts were, and still are, unsettling. My parents hadn't been eating any of this. So, I had only me, myself and I to hold accountable. I had, all by myself, eaten all the way down to the bottom of the bucket. And there I was. I'd hit rock bottom. Or bucket bottom. Whatever. If there were an ice cream rehab, at that moment I would have been motivated enough to admit myself.

All at once, I was keenly aware of the genius of those bite-sized Ben & Jerry cartons that look big enough to satiate an ant, and the liberation in Haagen Daz and other fine ice creams who only deal in smaller portions. The naked truth is you will never, EVER get to the bottom of the bucket with these ice creams. You may, indeed, consume just as many calories with all those wholesome, high-quality, full cream, more fat than exists in an entire cow ingredients, but it will be pint-sized calories. So, at least mentally, you'll feel much better.

Okay, so I was only somewhat traumatized, considering I ate my bowl of ice cream that night, regardless. And there is still a good serving or two left in the depths of the bucket. But it's been over a week and I can't stomach going back and finishing the bucket. It's a BUCKET for pete's sake! I may secretly over-indulge in spider solitaire, and maybe even shopping. But an ice cream bucket is where I draw the line.