Things you don't know about me:

My family is decorating the tree without me at this very moment.

When I was in first grade, the teacher asked me to read a story in front of the class, apparently because I could actually read (trained monkey). I was terrified and peed all over the floor in front of the class.

Your assignment: relate these 2 factoids. Hint: I'm drinking coffee right now. And I just cleaned up dog puddles in the kitchen.

Kiwi

I CAN'T DO FACTOIDS!!!--- i think you drink caffeine because alcohol tastes bad this early---------something you don't know about me-----WAIT---i think i have revealed all---except i once ate a whole steak RAW and i used to eat raw hamburger before i knew that i probably have Creutzfeldt-Jacobs Disease.---other than that---i JUST finished decorating the front steps -=--the tree is up with just the lights on and i am having the dining room painted a colour called CANDY CANE RED-----I HOPE YOU ALL WILL LIKE IT---IT USED TO BE DARK SAGE--------STAY TUNED-----------------

1. Second grade, picture day at at school. I threw up while I was standing in line waiting for my turn. After they cleaned me up they made me have my picture taken anyway.

2. I once went topless on a beach in Greece. No one noticed.

3. At a science fair at elementary school, I looked into a cardboard box and a duck bit me on the nose.

4. I like to eat Cheez Whiz and strawberry jam together.

In other news, today is special because

1) Elton John got married

2) The Pope wore a Santa hat

3) I am going to bed before 1 a.m. (which is technically tomorrow, right?)

Sugarrrrr, you did funny stuff!!

What temperature do you Yankees & others keep your houses at? I'm cold.

That's so mean. I threw up before a play I was suppose to be in when I was 9 and they let someone else do my part. I was glad, and mad IYKWIM

68° during the day, ~ 62° at night. Although our bedroom faces the lake and wind whips off the lake turning the room into an ice factory, so it's really about 55° sometimes when it's windy. This morning it was 20 DEGREES BELOW ZERO OUTSIDE AT 7 AM!!!!!

Well, that's true, I suppose. Unless it happens to be a mimosa or a bloody mary . Here's the real connection: my life is all about pee. If it's not about pee, I'm not required. Dog pees on the tree, I'll be the first person on the scene. As a matter of fact, one of the cats leaned into the water bucket holding the this evening and when I looked over I realized the tree skirt was soaking wet, so I got to franticly pull wrapped gifts out from under there, rescued the tree skirt, threw it in the dryer and directed DH to bring me some wood planks to keep the skirt out of the water. So, not exactly pee, but very similar in that I was once again on the floor cleaning up wet messes.

No wonder I'm pi**ed off most of the time.

Yes I AMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM sending cards......

Kiwi

You are so mean, you know I can't just pass over a suggestion such as go convert this temperature, I have to actually go do it. I do and I do and I do for you. -12C = 10F And -20F = -29C

When are you going to Calais? I suspect mine will get here pretty quick. The dog sled team has to go practically right by our house to get to the real world from Calais...

Can't you just tell them you're sending bones? I suppose they don't allow those either. How about "Hard shelled cylindrical holiday fun tubes"? "In assorted colors" I'd buy that if I worked for the post office.

Did I tell you about the concert last night? Unbelievable, incredible. My little angel did herself proud. And ~brag brag brag~ she had the biggest solo.... It was one of those deals where she sang a verse, then the chorus joined in, then she sang another verse, etc. etc. She got huge applause. I got it all on video of course. Her grandmother and 2 aunts joined us for the concert. Everyone was blown away. After her piece, the chorus director told the audience who did the solo and added that she had the perfect voice for this song from Appalachia. It did resemble some of the Celtic songs she does, like Loreena McKennit's. The teacher from the dance studio asked her afterwards if she would do a reprise at the dance recital with her friend Jess dancing a solo.

I know I'm being Miss Braggypants, but I am just so happy that she has the confidence to get out there and do these things and develop her talents. As you can probably tell from my various childhood anecdotes, I was too shy and a-skeered to even do the stuff I knew I could do. Performing made me a nervous wreck. When I was a h.s. senior I was taking piano lessons and I was the oldest student of this teacher, so she made me go last in the recital and I had 4 pieces ranging from tricky to difficult to monstrously difficult. I remember the first one was one I had memorized so I could just shoot it off quick without thinking about it -- and good thing too because my hands and fingers were completely numb throughout the entire piece. Fortunately I got the feeling back before I tackled the tougher ones.

Kiwi

Yay for Kiwiette. I know what you mean Braggypants. There are ways that I couldn't cope as a kid that DS is doing well in and I'm sooo relieved. I actually feel VERY PROUD of the parenting I've done with him. I think we're the best parents. Saw Oprah yesterday about these people who work all day, then come home and make dinner, clean the house, etc. while their kids behave very badly. The expert said the kids wanted their attention and doing what they had to do to get it. DS rarely acted that way because the h*ll with the house, I was playing with, reading to, talking to, walking around with him. And the rewards, so far, are so wonderful.

I've said this before I think but I know SEVERAL boys who are really smart and who were at the top of their class, etc., who now do nothing. I know one who doesn't even drive and we don't have public transporation. He doesn't work. Doesn't go to school. Well, I know a bunch of them but most drive. I'm just so glad DS is becoming independent.

In 1st grade (Germany) we had to stand and do this rthym (no idea how that's spelled as it has no vowels) band thing about everyday and I hated the rhythm sticks but had this one morning and wet my pants. Puddle on floor. They sent me to the kitchen where these kindly German ladies took my panties and lay them over the door of the oven to dry. They talked to me all the time to reassure but I was mortified anyhow. Kiwi wasn't there to help.

Kiwi! How marvelous about DD!!! You Brag away dahlink!!!!!!

1. I hate oatmeal and use to wrap it up in a bunch of paper towels and stick it in my stock to throw it out on my walk to school. This worked only 2x until the oatmeal seeped through and I spent the day walking around with squichy oatmeal down my leg and foot.

2. I peed in my chair in 2nd grade, told Mrs.Potter that I must have sat in a puddle of water. She didn't believe me. I spent the day with a wet hiney.

3. The decimal system still confounds me.

I can't wait fer these hard shelled colorful tubular items.

our house is set fer 68-70 day and 65 at night. When I want DH to build a fire I lower the temp to 60.

I have a relative like that -- brilliant and now in his late 20s, completely homebound. In his case I'm sure it is the result of untreated depression or something similar.
I always wanted to play the drum or triangle or tambourine, but I always got stuck with the stupid rhythm sticks too. In fact, this is very close to what DH and I were talking about after the concert the other night -- a kid's success seems to require self-confidence on their part, but also they have to have teachers that ask them to put themselves out there and perform. Her chorus teacher has only been here for 2-3 years and if it hadn't been for him, I don't know if DD would have ever sung a solo in a school production, because he has asked all the kids at different times to try solo parts, not just the obvious kids. Her elementary/middle school chorus teacher seemed to consider her a nuisance with nothing to offer, and I've been loving the fact that she sees what DD is doing now and seems a bit dumbfounded by it.
Lovely! I put an ice cream sandwich in my purse one time when I was about 13 or so. And I actually went on to graduate from high school -- amazing, huh?

Must rescue the pupster from the freezing cold (I set a timer to make she wasn't out there more than 10 minutes or so)

Kiwi

Kiwi-- yay for DD! I love choral concerts, even though none of us can sing.

I sit here with wet hair, putting off getting ready for the work Christmas party.

I never threw up or peed at school, but at daycare I had another kind of accident. I was in second grade and it was very humiliating, but I was sick and there was only one bathroom for kids to use and they didn't believe I needed it and someone else was in there....

I think you guys know all the other cool, fascinating things about me. Like, I was an extra in a Johnny Yun movie that never got made.

Must go do hair and makeup and find gift bags for presents for coworkers.

Wow. You cows had a lot of issues w/ peeing and barfing when you were kids. Just wait. When you get as old as me the peeing becomes an issue again----don't sneeeze!!!!

Whooooooo-hooooooo chicken bones are on the way!!!!! You're so sweet Bagzie! I still haven't gotten my cards sent out.

Kiwi, darlin', you can brag and brag and you still can't be bragging too much about that girl. She's got such talent. I bet you were just bustin' your buttons.

Our house is set for 70 degrees all them time, but in the family room we set the gas fireplace/stove at 74 degrees, but just when we're in there. I'm always cold.

things about me:
1. I was called Joy-the-toy-boy when I was a kid. Don't know why.

2. As a child, I was proud of the fact that my feet were so tough from going barefoot that I could run on gravel.

3. I hate Butterfinger candy bars because I once ate so many that I barfed. (my Aunt gave us her leftover Halloween candy) I can't even stand the smell of them now. Same thing goes for gin - bad barfing experience.

While out and about yesterday I stopped by my parents new house that they were just moving into. Within 10 minutes of talking to my dad I was pissed and had to leave. I do not know how my mother can live with that man. My sister told me the only thing she wants from me for Christmas is for me to be there Christmas Eve. Sure. Easy for her to say. She's dad's current favorite. grrrrr.

In high school I had a job in a dime store that sold candy, nuts, and ice cream. I was supposed to put these ice cream things between cookies and get them ready. I dropped on behind the counter, picked it up all covered with DIRT and ... being afraid to tell the boss ... put the other cookie on and popped it in the cooler.

Somebody inspire me to get ready for the girl. DS had the "procrastinator's creed" on the screen this morning. Was it meant for me???

Wabby .... what is chicken bones are like Butterfingers????? Want to tell Bagz to send them on to me in case?