Oh, you mean some people have PARTIES on New Year's Eve? Having grown up in Pasadena, CA (home of the truly world famous Rose Parade) the ONLY thing to do was either glue flowers onto plastic float frames or stay up all night along the parade route trying to keep warm (we thought it a challenge, even though it was rarely colder than 40 degrees) and yelling at the cruising drivers through their car exhaust from about 9 pm til 6 am... when traffic actually got shut down.

DH says he'll make flaming crepes and Irish coffee! and I'll probably knit, and we might listen to CDs or watch a movie. Whooooopeeeee.

Kiwi--- It is so unlike you to rant about anything. Perhaps YOU should retrieve some of the lovely bath and body gifts that SIL was clueless about, lock the door and have a few Calgon moments! It is too early for cabin fever?

Cherry-- I just heard today that August Max is CLOSING ALL ITS STORES. I realized last year that their marketing was not to MY liking but it didn't keep me from spending a fair amount of $$$ there... and now... they're closing. fooey. Well, it's my goal to get out of the Fat Lady Sizes anyway. What about going to a men's store and making them tailor an actual tux for you? You could do that here in Dallas... don't know how apalled your town would be!! Please post a photo of what ever you settle on... Nosy readers want to know.

Shatz -- that was THE weirdest list of odd gifts from a single person I've ever read. Sounds like maybe somebody was into re-gifting but on a slow cycle and with poor storage conditions!! My NJ inlaws used to send strange things, too. They've gotten better in the past few years. Unfortunately I don't exchange gifts with them since the divorce... but the kids have been surprised (pleasantly) several times in a row, now.

OK. I'm off to my knitting. No noshing!

where I have been is home with DS and Little Cutie Pie. She is not allowed out of the house tomorrow and is leaving to college the next day. I had to go with him to pick her up or she wasn't allowed out today. In fact, the aunt asked me twice if I'd be with them all the time! LCP is cute but the aunt ... is GORGEOUS BEAUTIFUL.

when I saw LCP last week she said the aunt wanted her to lost 5 lbs. I asked if the aunt was small and she laughed "NO!" Aunt could slide through a four inch crack. NEVER TRUST KIDS.

Anyway, I want to add to the lists here with my old list. When I used to try to please my schizo mom I sent her Christmas gifts:
1. A huge box of cheese thingies was given to the mailman because she and he loooked inside without opening it and saw it was full of rocks. That would be styrophone. It was not returned. I got no refund. He ate it I'm sure.
2. A beautiful expensive imported smocked flannel gown had European sizing in it of 42 or something. She didn't try it on. Called me and yelled, "DO you think I'm a cow???" (she was NOT a cow. Old buzzard is all.)
3. Box of See's Chocolates were melted because the mailman deliberately put them on his radiator.
4. Flowers were full of ants.
5. Stationary was never acknowledged. Too dull.

Finally... I quit sending gifts. Felt much better. Recommend it.

yikes!!! i just watched the Magdalene Sisters---if you like shows where nuns are mean old bags,priests are skanks and young women are made to work like slaves all for the glory of god,this one's for you---it's well done,a true story ----but of course it's not a comedy----i did like it and it had a half decent ending---not sure how old it is----i REALLY enjoyed the Family Stone,and also Narnia!! i would like to see pride and prejudice and my dd loved Memoirs of a Geisha----let's see----the step dd's are arriving tonight so the next week should be lively!!!-----HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE---- oh i forgot----i got the entire series of 'KEEPING UP APPEARANCES"===MY FAVOURITE BRITISH COMEDY for Christmas---has anyone seen it ??? i watch it on Maine PBS----also----your christmas present stories are fabulous----i wish i had a green shoe to send my favourite dark and menopausal woman for the new year===========gotta go receive the guests---they arrived at near midnight and it's storming out=====arse pain weather!

Darling Bagz .. sugar and I will tell you that THOUGHTS ARE THINGS and goddess with roids should not say things like ARSE PAIN WEATHER. You should say ... Sugar, what should she say? How about, RICH TOURIST WEATHER. Make that happen!

Yeah! Rich tourist weather, flaming crepes and four inch cracks!! Please visualize.

I am thinking that the LCP will be fairly glad to get away from gorgeous skinny controlling relatives.

I need to go make some ginger/garlic/green onion soup for the fonduuuuuuuuueee. We used to use lard, but then decided broth did the trick nicely. Sort of like a Chinese hot pot or something.

Kids are outside making snowmen. Carrot noses keep falling out. Ds and ds9 are about to go on a shopping mission to find smaller carrots. And of course see if there are still any fireworks to buy, because it's all about the fireworks here tonight. Must go look for my earplugs.

I just tried to sign up for the class I'm supposed to take and the puter thing said it was FULL. Effin' rich tourists!!

Bagz..I love Hyacinth BoooooKay.!!! Have a wonderful visit with your DDs...

Cowie: I'm sure LCP will be relieved to get away from gorgeous skinny control aunt.

Painty: Wackadoo Aunt is from Malibu in La La LAnd. not joisey dahlink.

Have a wonderful time ringing in the new year leetle cowsies!! Here's a to happy, healthy, thin fit and prosperous new year Dahlinks!

HeeHee You all make me laugh and smile and forget all the silly crap I complain about! It's 2:30 in the morning on the very first day of 2006, and we have successfully applied for federal financial aid already so we will be right at the front of the handout line. And in a related matter, the kid got her first college acceptance letter today, to U of Southern Maine. Of course she'll have to wait a few months for the rest of the replies, but that was cool.

I love the foil packet present -- surely she was trying to share her herbs with you -- what a nutty aunt. We used to have to pre-open the presents from my grandmother on my father's side when I was visiting my dad's family for any holiday (I was in college at the time) because it was always something appallingly religious considering it was for a bunch of children (you know, like a copy of Guideposts or a book of bible stories). See, if we didn't open them the night before the event (after the grandmother had gone to bed), there is little doubt that the presents would have brought rather inappropriate responses when opened in front of her. You know, like howls of laughter or screams of disgust. We were a badly behaved lot. I always thought it strange that she gave all the kids this type of present, because I never thought of her as particularly religious, and when I was growing up she always sent really nice, entirely secular, presents. She used to install a cultured pearl on a necklace every year for me for my birthday, and give me swell cozy slippers for Christmas. I guess she just liked me best.

Happy New Year!

Kiwi

tell me about federal financial aid. quick!!!

and happy new year.

and I love you .

HAPPY MOO YEAR!

Dh took some pictures of me and the kids last night and I swear I will not go out in public again until I lose 20 lbs. Whatever illusionary glow I had left is GONE. Ghastly.

HOWEVER, I got over myself today and went for a 30 minute brisk(=broke a sweat) walk to start off the new year. It was cold and dank and dark, but at least it was a walk.

I just meant the FAFSA application -- it's the main one you fill out for financial aid. Some schools use it to determine how much aid a student gets (mostly state U's) and they also use it for Pell grants and student and parent loans. http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

That's why I wield the camera.
I get to see my charming face much less often...

Need more

Kiwi

so kiwi it matters how early you apply for this? I did it myself for these classes I'm to take, which are full, but didn't about for ds. Should I today?

Supposedly, the earlier the application is filed, the "closer to the front of the line" the student stands when the bucks get handed out. I don't know if it makes any difference at all, but people who advise on financial aid (we went to a seminar a month or so ago) say it does.

I hope this isn't your church, Peachie....

Tips for filing FAFSA. And Here's a pretty good discussion about it. Don't get bogged down in the discussion about hiding or not hiding student's assets. But do file as soon as possible.

I'm here, but I've run out of things to say.
Must get organized and it's wearing me out.
Maybe a walk and then a nap.. or vice versa.
Best to all.
I appreciate your good vibes and kind words.
TTFN.