The Hat Box

As promised.

You’ll always be the hottest pickle in this town!

If you don’t know my *friend,* Erin, you should get to know her.

*I like to call her my friend b/c we met like once and all and so now we’re tight like that. *

Anyhow, read her story. (Don’t cheat. Start at the beginning!) I promise it’s worth it.

Also, don’t worry if you start to act strange after spending time with Erin.

Common symptoms include:

Not wearing any pants or just wearing your pajamas to social functions

Documenting everything you eat and drink with your digital camera

Nicknaming important people in your life

Taking life advice from adorable children

Laughing hysterically often

Finding that the real world often takes us to exciting new places! Congrats, Erin!

Jumping Justin & Other Christmas Break Happenings

• My mom made her famous spaghetti for Christmas. It was yummy!
• Everyone loved their gifts  — whoot!
• Gertie picked a fight with my Grandma’s weiner dog, Buddy. For a split second, I thought she was going to have a hot dog for lunch.
• Gertie and her BFF, Lily hung out on Christmas, then on Saturday, we went to see Marley & Me with the boyfriend’s family. When we returned, we discovered that Gertie and Lily had torn into some Christmas gifts, reminding us that every dog has a little bit of Marley in her.
• Speaking of the boyfriend’s family, I’ve decided to start a list of things overheard when at their house. My top entry is: the boyfriend’s brother crashing in on their sister, napping on the couch exclaiming, “Spoon me, L!”
• Among my gifts this year was a regift. I totally called it too. My mom has this tradition of giving us an ornament each year. The ornament is supposed to reflect our life in the past year. Mine was a ceramic painting of the Plaza. But upon closer inspection, I recognized it as an ornament my parents have had for years!! I am sure at one point it was a gift from someone too…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Gertie was terrified of half her gifts this year.
• On Sunday, Justin’s van died, so I helped out by jumping him! Always willing to help out where needed.
• Merry Christmas 2008!

Super Secret Reveal Part II

For my mom:

http://www.teresamitchum.com

Super Secret Reveal Part I

I bought the boyfriend a fedora for Christmas, but that wasn’t good enough. It needed a hat box.

But that wasn’t good enough.

The hat box needed some color.

I pasted strips from The Spirit, Dick Tracy and the Green Hornet. 

Nothing like a little mod podge, a hat box and some comic books for Christmas. Picture to come.

It’s a very Super Secret Christmas

And yet another super secret Christmas project is underway. I am so excited about it. I will be sure to share details on Christmas, but it may be the best gift I’ve ever given.

Scrooge be damned!

I found my inner Christmas spirit last night.

But I can’t tell you how (yet.)

It’s a super secret project that will be revealed to the boyfriend on Christmas day.

Things he knows about it:

• It’s created a huge mess that cannot be concealed – in that he’s not allowed to “pop by” my apartment until after Christmas.
• It’s sticky – when he texted me last night asking how my project was going, I had one word: sticky.
• Something has to dry – in that I can’t stick around for “one more beer” with friends because this project needs to get done!

The Ghost of Christmas Past

In this edition of Memory Lane Monday, I’m reminded that it is Christmas. Due to a lack of space in my apartment, there is no tree, there are no ornaments. Quite frankly, it feels a  little bah humbug.

Although, I’ve finished my Christmas shopping and I have to say, I do feel pretty good about my gifts this year.

But at the same time, I’m also reminded of all the different Christmases  since graduating from college in 2000.  From Rocky Mount, NC to London to Kansas City, it’s been an interesting mix.

But if Ebeneezer Scrooge learned anything during his reflections, it was to stay in the present and appreciate what life has given you. In honor of the Christmas spirit, I’m scratching Memory Lane and celebrating Christmas 2008!

So from the Ghost of Christmas Present, I celebrate:

• My wonderful family
• A terrific dog
• A warm, cozy apartment
• A fabulous boyfriend!
• His fun-loving family who accept me into their fold
• A solid job where I am appreciated
• Friends, friends, friends – Thank you to all of you. I couldn’t have made it through this year without you.

To mention a few (in no particular order):

• D, you allowed me to crash at your place several times this spring with my dog. You have seen me through tears and laughter.  (Sorry about your couch. 🙂 )
• Justin, you have been a constant friend and a source of both professional and personal advice. Thanks for keeping me laughing. I have enjoyed all of our adventures and am thankful for our shared world view!
• The work girls – you have more than put up with my mood swings and listened to both my rantings and my celebrations.
• Stephanie, thank you for visiting me for my birthday this fall and for being there for me this year all the way in Virginia. I’m so glad you walked into the Rocky Mount Telegram all those years ago and that we share the most awesome name ever.
• Shannon, it was great to see you this year and thanks for listening to me on the phone. You exemplified your role as “maid of honor” because you were there when I needed you most.
• J, you don’t read this but thank you for your support — even sticking with me when it was really messy and for sharing my love of Mexican food.
• Mollywolly, I’m so glad you have found the love of your life this year and thank you for being there for me over bri, answering heinous phone calls in the middle of the night, sharing your family and finding me wine when I needed some.
• The lunch bunch for all the great laughs and for always making me feel like a princess whenever you see me in real life. Your constant compliments flatter me.
• Facebook friends of old: I’ve so enjoyed reconnecting with so many of my friends from Jr. High -College and North Carolina.
•  And of course, there is a special place in my heart for all of my new friends – Christi, Crystal, Jeremy, Ian and the whole gang.

And finally, blog friends, thanks for reading and helping me find my voice this year.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!!!!

Wardrobe Malfunction

As in THE Wardrobe. The kind that may or may not lead to Narnia.

It fell.

On me.

And literally scared the poop out of Gertie.

Dumpster

A dumpster has been rented and delivered to my old house. I’m going to be hauling out trash. Yes, literally trash. From my married life  today and throwing it away. Fun times.

Too bad I can’t throw a certain person in the dumpster with said trash, but that’s beside the point….

In other news, Gertie has found a new best friend. My apartment complex manager loves her and is added to my list of “people who want to steal my dog from me.”

Can you blame her?