So this is Christmas

I know that I am in the minority of many, but I.do.not.like.Christmas.  The social pressures and expectations annoy me. The materialist aspect of it annoys me. Eight year olds don't need Ipods or cell phones.  The cheerfulness and optimism that you are expected to show is annoying and nothing but forced for me. I HATE when people say they have to 'buy Christmas' for their 'babies.' (Your eight year old is not a baby.)
  I have seasonal affective disorder. It's not something I chose. I wish I could be all kinds of excited to buy people crap that they will have forgotten about by February. I wish that I was excited to eat a giant meal of turkey and potatoes with my family who hates to get together, but I'm just not.
Why does the holiday season make you feel as though you have to just keep quiet and pretend. It feels very 'shame on you for not submitting to the norms of society.'
It's especially annoying in the South because people are obsessive over the holiday season.
Here are some gems:
 'Jesus is the reason for the season' usually said by people who are spending hundreds of dollars on gifts that they don't need and can't afford.
'Keep the Christ in CHRISTmas'. This one is said to oppose the Xmas thing. BTW: X was the Greek symbol for Christ. Look it up, they aren't being hateful, just lazy.

Tonight I am going to the in-law family Christmas for the 10th time.
They will ask me two questions: have you lost weight and when are you going to have a baby.
They may also throw in comments about 'my' president and how dare I be liberal.

I've outlasted a wife and a fiance' from my brother in law, but I'm still just a girlfriend who doesn't belong in their family after 9 years. Sigh. Maybe once I give them a baby to play with my 3+ years of marriage will count for something.
At least the little girl likes me. I can hide out in her Princess room all night and read to her. It's my favorite thing about Christmas, if I had to pick one.

I also like sausage balls and no bake cookies, just so that you don't think I'm completely bitter.
And wine, I always like wine.
Next year I probably won't even be able to enjoy the wine. Yikes.

I'm going coco-nuts

So this is probably a generalized and sweepingly broad statement, but I have come to the conclusion that coconut is the most epic superfood there ever was.
The milk can be used to cook with or as a hair treatment.
A handful in your oatmeal makes it taste like an exotic dish.
A cup of it added to chocolate chip cookies make them absolutely amazing.

Quite a random post, but there it is.

Pinterest is my heroin

It's true. I've got an obsession and it's name is:

See, it even floats above my words because it knows how much I love it. Seriously, my husband has considered child protecting the computer from it. If you haven't checked it out yet and you are even a little bit interested in: food, clothes, shoes, diy, children's gift ideas, lesson plans, funny sayings, drink recipes, breathtaking images, travel or countless other things (and I know you are) then you should be checking it out.
My friend, Miss Katie and I are so obsessed that we are having a Pinteresting day (har har) to create Christmas gifts and crafts after Thanksgiving. Get jealous, I'm crafting.

Thanksgiving fun

I would like to give a shout out to my friend, Jane. She is a reporter to the core and can find anything. Today she shared Springfield City library's list of thanksgiving movies. I had no idea about some of them and you may know, I love thanksgiving:

Howard the turkey.

The list below is from their website:
http://www.springfieldlibrary.org/reading/thanksgivingmovies.html

Alice's Restaurant (1969)

Cinematic adaptation of Arlo Guthrie's classic song story, "The Alice's Restaurant massacree." Starring Arlo Guthrie, Pat Quinn, and James Broderick; directed by Arthur Penn. Rated PG.

Avalon (1990)

The story of several generations of a family, from the arrival of immigrant Sam Krichinsky in the suburb of Baltimore called Avalon, down through his children and grandchildren. The holiday of Thanksgiving plays a crucial role throughout the film. Starring Armin Mueller-Stahl, Elizabeth Perkins, and Joan Plowright; directed by Barry Levinson. Rated PG.

Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower (2006)

From their self-imposed exile in Holland to their perilous crossing of the Atlantic, to their first year in the new world, Desperate Crossing is the definitive story of how the Pilgrims came to live and prosper in an unfamiliar land. Starring Paul Drinan, Erin Raftery, Sam Redford, Chris K. Layman; directed by Lisa Wolfinger. Not rated. A documentary special from A&E.

Dutch (1991)

Dutch Dooley picks up his girlfriend's son from boarding school in Atlanta, and sets out to drive to Chicago for Thanksgiving. He thinks it's a good chance for them to get acquainted, but Doyle turns out to be an upper class brat. Their cross-country battles land them in big trouble and make it doubtful whether they'll ever make it home. Starring Ed O'Neill, Ethan Randall and JoBeth Williams; directed by Peter Faiman. Rated PG-13.

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

During a Thanksgiving party, and the year following, we take a look at three sisters and the relationship they have with one another, and with the men in their lives. Starring Woody Allen, Michael Caine, and Mia Farrow; written and directed by Woody Allen. Rated PG-13.

Holiday Reunion (2004)

Against the wishes of his wife and kids, Mitch Snider is determined to have a traditional Thanksgiving holiday with all the relatives. And it looks like that's what he will have once he receives an invitation from his long-lost cousin Woodrow in Idaho. However, cousin Woodrow and his family turn out to be nuttier than a holiday fruitcake. Starring Bryan Cranston, Judge Reinhold, Hallie Todd. Rated PG-13.

Home for the Holidays (1995)

Claudia Larson is a divorced single mom who just lost her job and now has to fly home for the traditional family Thanksgiving in Baltimore. From the plane, she calls for reinforcements -- and her brother Tommy makes it down from Boston with a little surprise: a handsome friend named Leo. Between dropping the turkey in their sister's lap and a few fist fights on the front lawn, Claudia and Tommy recapture their childhood -- and Claudia and Leo explore the sweet possibility of romance. Starring Holly Hunter, Robert Downey, Jr., and Anne Bancroft; directed by Jody Foster. Rated PG-13.

The House of Yes (1997)

Marty takes his fiancee home to meet the family at Thanksgiving and the family's shockingly hilarious secrets are out! Starring Parker Posey, Tori Spelling, Freddie Prinze, Jr.; directed by Mark Waters. Rated R.

The Ice Storm (1997)

The weekend after Thanksgiving, 1973, the Hoods are skidding out of control. Then an ice storm hits, the worst in a century. Starring Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, and Sigourney Weaver; directed by Ang Lee. Rated R.

Pieces of April (2003)

A wayward daughter invites her dying mother and the rest of her estranged family to her tiny apartment for Thanksgiving dinner. Starring Katie Holmes, Patricia Clarkson, and Derek Luke; directed by Peter Hedges. Rated PG-13.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)

A man must struggle to travel home for Thanksgiving, with an obnoxious slob of a shower ring salesman his only companion. Starring Steve Martin and John Candy; written, produced and directed by John Hughes. Rated R.

Scent of a Woman (1992)

Hoping to earn extra money over the Thanksgiving break, an innocent and reserved scholarship student at an exclusive prep school agrees to look after a blind, retired Lieutenant Colonel, who takes him off for a wild weekend in New York City. Starring Al Pacino and Chris O'Donnell; directed by Martin Brest. Rated R.

Son-in-law (1993)

L.A.'s funkiest college student, Crawl, is hilariously out of his element when he spends Thanksgiving at the family farm of a straitlaced fellow student. Starring Pauly Shore, Carla Gugino, and Lane Smith; directed by Steve Rash. Rated PG-13.

Squanto: A Warrior's Tale (1994)

Squanto, a young Indian warrior, who is abducted and enslaved in England and Spain, is returned to New England and befriends the Pilgrims when they settle in Plymouth. Starring Adam Beach and Michael Gambon; directed by Xavier Koller. Rated PG.

Tadpole (2002)

Most 15-year-old boys are obsessed with the opposite sex; Oscar is no exception. He is an honor student at an exclusive prep school, he is confident, intelligent, speaks fluent French, and is well versed in literary works. His parents are divorced and his father has recently remarried. Sensing that his stepmother isn't happy in the marriage, Oscar begins waging a low-key but ardent campaign to seduce her. His efforts to bed Eve attract the attention of one of her close friends, Diane, a smart and sexy chiropractor who also becomes the not-entirely-unwelcome focus of Oscar's romantic attentions. Starring Sigourney Weaver, John Ritter, Bebe Neuwirth; directed by Gary Winick. Rated PG-13.

The Waltons, the Thanksgiving Story (1973)

As Thanksgiving approaches, John Boy Walton (Richard Thomas) is looking forward to taking his college entrance exam and to the visit of Jenny Pendleton. But when John Boy has a seemingly minor head injury, the family must face a dangerou operation that will either cure or permanently disable their eldest son.

The War at Home (1996)

Jeremy Collier is a Vietnam veteran who has returned home and is struggling to cope with the war experiences that haunt him. He is also at odds with his family, who cannot begin to understand what he has been through. Jeremy's battles with his family finally spiral out of control on Thanksgiving Day, when a bitter secret is revealed. Starring Kathy Bates, Martin Sheen, Kimberly Williams, Emilio Estevez; directed by Emilio Estevez. Rated R.

What's Cooking? (2000)

What happens when families come together for Thanksgiving? Almost anything! A charming tale of four very different families, as they cook up some tasty holiday surprises: love, betrayal and even a few outrageous secrets -- and ultimately discover the astonishing power love has to reconnect us all. Starring Joan Chen, Julianna Margulies, and Alfre Woodard; directed by Gurinder Chadha. Rated PG-13.

 

FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Caillou: Caillou's Holidays (2002)

Caillou loves the holidays -- and Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are his favorites! From the popular PBS series. Not rated.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973)

When Peppermint Patty and a group of hungry pals show up at Charlie Brown's house expecting food, Charlie Brown is too wishy-washy to refuse. With the help of Linus, Snoopy and Woodstock a very unusual feast is prepared. Not rated.

Halloween and Thanksgiving (2000)

Halloween and Thanksgiving with the bear in the big blue house.

Hoboken Chicken Emergency (1984)

When Mr. and Mrs. Bobowicz send their son Arthur to buy a turkey for Thanksgiving, they aren't expecting him to bring home a 266 pound live chicken named Henrietta. Starring Peter Billingsley, Dick Van Patten, and Arlene Golonka; directed by Peter Baldwin. Not rated.

Molly's Pilgrim (1985)

A Russian Jewish immigrant girl, teased by her American classmates for her ethnic mannerisms, is given a class assignment to create a doll based on a Thanksgiving character. She creates a Russian immigrant doll, because, to her mother, Russian Jews are Pilgrims too, having come to America for religious freedom. Based on the book Molly's Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen. Not rated.

Mouse on the Mayflower (1969)

An animated fantasy that tells the story of a brave little mouse who helped the Pilgrims survive both the dangerous sea voyage and the cold New England winter, while staying on peaceful terms with their Indian neighbors. Not rated.

A Rugrats Thanksgiving (1997)

Determined to protect Mr. Turkey from the serving platter, the Rugrats uncover the real meaning of the first American holiday. Not rated.

Seasons of Giving (1999)

Animated Winnie the Pooh movie. The adventure begins once upon a cold and blustery day in the Hundred Acre Wood when Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Rabbit set out on a quest for winter -- a favorite season they seem to have missed. And that leads to a wild search for the perfect ingredients for a festive Thanksgiving feast, and finally to Christmas, and a surprise visit from a special friend. Based on the Winnie the Pooh works by A.A. Milne and E.H. Shepard. Rated G.

Thanksgiving (1994)

Thanksgiving is a time to remember how much we depend on and are thankful for the earth's bounty. This video explores the story of the Pilgrims in Plimouth Plantation and depicts Nanticoke tribe dancers, and concludes with a craft project using walnut shells to make miniature Mayflower boats. Grades K-4.

William Bradford: the first Thanksgiving (1992)

Animated biography of William Bradford, the leader of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, and the founder of Thanksgiving. Not rated.

 again: the above is NOT my list and NOT my creation. I am sharing the fabulous work of some unnamed soul at the Springfield City library who is probably underpaid, overworked and under appreciated.

Chile delayed

I'm thinking the big travel plans to Chile will be delayed...airfare is crazy expensive. We're bummed of course but on to new plans. Since we wanted to go for the wine region I think this would be a good alternative.
Oh yeah, Washington wines. They just aren't as stuffy and snotty as Napa Valley. Not to mention, they actually taste good. With airfare to the West coast at about 25% as much as airfare to South America, it looks like a much better option. The only problem...convincing people I'm not going to visit Forks. Because even I'm not that nerdy.

Anyone been? Are you laden with tips about the North West that you wanna share? Let me know!

I'd be lionin' if I said it wasn't a little funny...

And that is my clever play on words. I know, I know.
Rufus has been spending the past month in short haired bliss. After paying more for a haircut for the cat then I pay for myself (but then, I don't fight the hairdresser, so I guess it's fair) Rufus is rocking a lion cut.
For those of you who remain unaware, this is when a long haired cat is shaved except for a 'mane', boots on their feet and a puff on the tail.
My sister and a couple of friends claim he is embarrassed by this new do but I think he looks nothing but dapper.

What's your vote?

Lawd, when did I move to Louisiana?

I thought that the Queen city (Charlotte to those of you not in the know) was supposed to be more temperate. I've lived here my whole life and I don't think its ever been this miserable.
I'm guessing its going to be a hide in the house with the cats day. This means perhaps i will get some stuff done.
Here's some possibilities for my hit list: (with example pics from motivated people)
No sew curtain hemming: that's right, hem tape and an iron

Screw my mason jars in to my office shelf

And maybe I will start planning some of this:

That would be a map of Washington D.C. where we spent our first wedding anniversary weekend.

What do you think? I'm hoping that this keeps me from doing nothing but watching endless episodes of Weeds on netflix and being a completely lazy bum today. 

Book list for my little sis

This is a list of books (in no particular order) that I have read, loved, and have been waiting to foist upon the next person who asked me for something to read:
All titles are links to review of the book, and those that have been adapted into movies (that I know about) have links to the movie trailers.

The cider house rules  Movie
Speak                        Movie
The curious incident of the dog in the night time 
Maniac McGee
Memoirs of a geisha   Movie
A thousand splendid suns
The westing game
Mrs. Frisby and the rats of Nihm
Hotel on the corner of bitter and sweet
Kira Kira
The kite runner
The help   Movie
Pride and Prejudice  Movie
Jane Eyre  Movie
Dracula
The glass castle
American Wife
The heretic's daughter
Bless your heart, tramp
One mississippi
The secret life of bees
Love in a war torn land
Snow flower and the secret fan 
Me talk pretty one day
Interpreter of Maladies
Deadline
The poisonwood bible
The outsiders  Movie
The hunger games series
The uglies series (minus book #4, unnecessary)
The luxe series (ditto, book #4)
The boy in the striped pajamas Movie
The memory keeper's daughter
Coming of age in Mississippi
The heretic queen
Starring Sally J. Freeman as herself
Bet me
Sarah's key
Room
Standing in the light
Blood done sign my name  Movie
Thirteen Reasons why

New web obsessions

So I've been doing a lot more playing on the interwebs lately. I blame the student spring break and my boss's unwillingness to let me take leave. Here are two of my new favs:

Pinterest.com (a collaborative site where you can 'pin' your favorite things)
Skinnytaste.com (delicious new 'skinny' recipes AND she tells you how many points plus their are, nice)

Conference curiosity

So I attended day two of a three day conference today. Because its just down the street from my library I've been working some and attending some. Today though, I learned some very cool things on collaborative software. If that sounds nerdy, I understand, but it is actually cool stuff, most of which I hadn't ever heard of.

Here's some of my favs:
Twiddla.com -Free web meeting space. You can share websites, files and audio or type chat. You can draw on files and make corrections.
Glogster.com- "Poster yourself' The site creates interactive posters. You can print them and set them aside. The icons can become links.
Wiffiti.com-Can work like clickers. People can text in answers.
Prezi.com-Like flash powerpoints but less linear and more fun.

Play around with some of these and see how you like them :)

Graphic Novels interesting info....

Graphic novels are books that are a lot like comic books. Because of this format, many parents, teachers etc. consider it 'not really reading'. This is in my opinion, untrue. This format my be a different kind of literacy, but it is literacy nonetheless. Hollywood in their infinite wisdom (insert eyeroll here) has actually been ahead of the curve in seeing (pun intended) the potential in this medium. These are a great choice for a reluctant reader in your life and often become their primary choice in literature. Below is a list of graphic novels that began their life as novels and became popular movies.

Graphic novel films

Some films based on graphic novels, including some that might surprise you

Men in Black (1997)

Ghost World (2001)

From Hell (2001)

Road To Perdition (2002)

Constantine (2005)

A History of Violence (2005)

V for Vendetta (2006)

30 Days of Night (2007)

300 (2007)

Persepolis (2008)

Whiteout (2009)

Watchmen (2009)

SOURCE: www.rottentomatoes.com 

If you are looking for graphic novels that are great reads and not necessarily movies, I recommend: Maus I & II and American Born Chinese. Also for old school gamers (or your kids!) Sonic the Hedgehog even has his own graphic novels, and surprisingly, they don't suck. This medium often has 'hero' type books, see Rapunzel's Revenge that appeal to many across age groups.

-Check one out, pick one up for your favorite 'reluctant reader'-

Superbowl Sunday?!?

Let's just talk about how much I do not care about football. I don't. At all. I don't miss waiting tables at a sports bar while NFL fans tried to play 'grab the waitress' (here's lookin' at you Eagles fans).
So...with my apathy fully confirmed (although I do know who is playing, so that's a step up from last year), why the heck am I having people over for what I assume will be 3+ hours of sports talk? Because I can't say NO. I keep telling myself that after this, the husband will have no football to watch and I can skip happily back to the Netflix queue. That's what's keeping me going until tomorrow, well, that and the fact that I just made a really tasty dip for the boys.