The Egg Nog Blog

I was going to sit here and give you the history of egg nog, but I really don't have the desire to do that, so never mind.

I'm sitting here writing this on Saturday, December 27. Yesterday it was 65 degrees here. I was running around town with short sleeves and no coat on. Currently, it is 28 degrees and it is snowing. It looks like I'm sitting in a snow globe. Please don't turn me upside down!

The holidays are a time for reflection and togetherness. Christmas is always a bit of a hectic time for me. Lots of shopping at the last minute (of course) and the feeling as if there is always wrapping paper pieces or tinsel on the freshly vacuumed carpet. I think I have vacuumed every other day since the week prior to Christmas.

Today I began deconstructing my Christmas tree in preparation for a New Year's gathering. And while I welcome the space that is going to return, I am somewhat saddened. My living room has become "bare" once again - or at least bare after the decorations that were up. The decorations coming will be the friends and family that I've invited over for New Years Eve. It should be a good time.

I'll cut my blog short today to wish each and every one of my readers a Happy New Year and that I hope your Christmas was wonderful!

In the meantime, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Just Call Me Trinity

As many of you know, Brian has been gone since last Sunday on a cruise. In his absence, I've been getting his mail, the paper, etc. The adventures I have had since Sunday have made this much more than a "just getting the mil" situation. After he left, the temperature dropped like a rock, it has snowed and iced over. The woods around his house look very pretty.

But the road he lives on is an entirely different story. Once you turn off the main road, it becomes this icy downward-sloping mess. Then there is the part about coasting onto the lane that leads to his house.

The other night, I went out after work to collect the mail and the paper and coasted into the drive. I stopped the car, and hopped out, then very very slowly I made my way to the mailbox, attempting not to fall into the ravine that is just beyond the mailbox.

This is where the problem began.

I stepped close to the mailbox and started slipping. Somehow, and I have no idea how, I did this Matrix-like, gymnastic backwards fall. In my head it was very graceful and there was no swearing involved. I'm sure it looked way less graceful and happened in mere moments. I landed with my left arm behind me and my hand planted on the ground, pretty much jamming my entire body weight into my left arm and down onto my wrist.

At this point, the swearing wasn't just in my head, it was very loud raucous. Then came the real conundrum: how to get up without 1)falling down into the ravine, and 2) falling into the freshly fallen snow. I have no idea exactly how I got up, but I did.

Then came the issue of getting my car up that tiny little icy incline. You'd think that having done this many times that I'd be a pro. Oh no. Since the gymnastics event at the mailbox, I have had to back my car up the incline and use the momentum to get up the hill. I used this technique today (and so did my Dad) getting both the van and his car up the hill.

Today as I write this, the temperature is 10 and there's a wind chill advisory. I have spoken with Brian and have gotten the explicit instructions to get the van as hot as it can go the last 10 minutes of my drive. I can't wait. A rolling sauna.

Keep warm! And keep the Matrix on your TV.

Random thoughts on a Sunday

I apologize for not having posted in some time. With my schedule being how it is and a promotion to Assistant Supervisor at work, I haven't really had time to even think about a blog, much less think about what I wanted to post.

This morning when I woke up it was 57 outside, which is unheard of in December in Kansas. Wendy called me to see if I wanted her to pick me up at church (she was already on the way) and gave me a report of the rapidly falling temperature while she drove. When she got to my apartment, it was 33 and by the time we left church, it was 27. We had a wind advisory yesterday and today we're now close to a wind chill advisory. Tonight, the low is supposed to be 9. Yes, friends, I said 9. Imagine my excitement. Now I don't mind winter - I love snow and cold. But 9?! That's when you walk out and your face immediately freezes. I don't mind the cold, I just don't like BEING cold.

This afternoon, we have a festival of carols and there's supposed to be caroling afterward in the surrounding neighborhood of the church. I'm thinking....too cold. Yeah, I'm being a bit of a wuss, but I do have to think about Carnegie Hall and try not to lose my voice. I've been very very fortunate this year to not have a cold. (I just said it, now that means I'll get one.)

Anyway, I probably should wrap this up because Wendy is in my kitchen, doing dishes. (She's nesting at my house.)

Happy Holidays!

The Neti Pot

If you can tell me what this product is without searching on the internet, you win a gold star. Here's a hint.

I first heard of this from my boss' sister. According to her, she uses it almost daily and claims that she has been successful in NOT catching a cold. Have you figured it out yet?

Ok, I'll reveal what it is. This item is basically a nasal cavity irrigation system. (Gross, huh?)

If you are humming the tune "I'm a little teapot.." you would not be the first. The basic is idea is this:

1. Mix the "Neti" salt with lukewarm water in the pot. Stir until dissolved.

2. Lean forward over the sink.

3. Tilt your head sideways a bit so that one nostril is facing sort of upwards and the other is pointed down over the sink.

4. Insert the spout into the nostril that is facing upward.

5. Pour slowly, it will wind its way through your nasal cavity and emerge from the downward facing nostril into the sink.

6. Once all the liquid is done draining from your nose, exhale sharply to make sure there is none left.

7. Repeat on the other side.

I told Brian about this product and he immediately went out and got one as he has sinus issues sometimes. His first attempt was not good, as the angle of his head wasn't quite right and he ingested some of the salt water. I likened him to a human fountain. After I stopped giggling, I took this picture.

It's an odd procedure to watch. I know others who swear by it. I'm not quite sure about it myself.

Even worse is that on one website, they recommend you measure your nostril to make sure the spout fits your nose. This is the picture that was provided.

Brian's comments on the Neti Pot are good ones. He really likes it and has used it every day. I'll let him do it.

Do You YouTube?

Have any of you, in your internet surfing, found one or more sites that you check daily? Do not count MySpace, Facebook, email or instant messengers. I see you nodding.

I have a friend who LOVES Google Maps. Brian loves fark.com.

Here's mine:

1. www.soapoperafan.com/days (Yes, I love Days of Our Lives). I don't even have to watch the show. I can read the summaries. hahahaha

2. YouTube - only for one video...let me tell you the story...

My church is having a talent show in February. In addition to chairing the committee that is putting it on, I will be singing in it. Sunday, my duet partner Dan approached me about what song we are going to do for this next one. I had no idea. In my mind, February is a long time away. (not so much when you consider the holidays) Last year we sang "Sue Me" from Guys and Dolls. So I put my thinking cap on and contacted a friend who is big into civic theatre and asked him for some suggestions. He responded rather quickly and gave me an idea and also suggested that I look on YouTube for a video.

I took a look and found not just one, but many! I will say that the one I like the most I have bookmarked and have watched it at least 8 times. In my glee of finding it, I also called someone else and listened while they watched it. It's hilarious and going to be great. And still yet, I watch it again and again every single time I sit down at this keyboard.

Sad..I know.

Here's the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENSJrqfVJJ0&feature=related

Try not to sing along....


OH...and in case you were wondering, it's from Spamalot

How do you get to Carnegie Hall???

The famous answer is "Practice, Practice, Practice!"

These days, it seems that is what I am doing!

In case you didn't know, I will be singing at Carnegie Hall in New York in January. The community choir I sing with was invited and 22 of us have decided to go. We will be singing in a concert on January 19, 2009 with approximately 200 other choir members and will be accompanied by a symphony. We'll be performing Mozart's Requiem.

We (the group going) practice every Wednesday prior to our regular choir rehearsal. It's good for me because I get warmed up pretty quickly for our regular rehearsal.

We will leave on Friday, January 16. We will have rehearsals Saturday, Sunday and Monday prior to the concert. Evidently, the rehearsals are several hours long and then the rest of the time is free time. I'm hoping to catch a show or two if possible.

Following the concert, there's a "cruise" around Manhattan. According to my Director, Ken, who has sung in one of these concerts before, there was no cruise - because it was January and the river was frozen. In this situation, we still get to have a party with the other performers on the boat complete with dinner and dancing. I'm soooo excited.

I'm also really excited because some of my family is coming. It will be a great time!

On the flip side of this, if you live in Topeka, please note I am selling candy to raise funds. Let me know if you would like to purchase one or some.

I must bid a fond farewell for this evening. I have to go practice some more!

What's that scent you're wearing?

Had you asked me that on Sunday evening, the answer would not have been any the following:

1. Chanel No. 5

2. Poison

3. White Diamonds

4. Charlie

5. anything by Britney Spears or Paris Hilton

Instead, had you inhaled in close proximity to me, the scent you would have smelled was one that reminds me of the holidays. No, it's not pine, cranberries or sugar cookies.

It is Chex Mix, or rather a blend of garlic and onion powders and worcestershire sauce.

Let me explain why I smelled like a snack. This week is national Customer Service week. This year, I am on the planning team for the week. We were given a budget and some guidance and we planned activities, gifts, etc. for this week for the Customer Service Department. The reps really like getting snacks, so we thought it would be a great idea to look at chex mix. As you can imagine, it is way too expensive to buy it and rebag it. So genius here asked about making it. The whole team thought it was a grand idea. So out of a team of eight, three of us decided we could do it. In theory, this doesn't take a long time. In reality, it too WAY more time than we thought it would.

Have I mentioned that we had to make enough to feed 250 people?

To make a long story short, Wendy and I started on Saturday night and made one batch. One of my cohorts brought over four batches, which we bagged into individual baggies with a colorful label. Then Sunday after church, we started up again, with another of my coworkers coming over to help cook and bag. At 5pm, Wendy and I left to go celebrate Dad's birthday. My coworker took the remaining fixings and went home. I called him when I got home and had finished bagging the one remaining batch and then proceeded to count the baggies. At my house alone there were 189. He had 70.

Let me tell you, it is so disappointing when a snack you love can nauseate you. I told Dad I wasn't eating anymore until he made some and that he was not allowed to come make it at my house. Today when I walked in the door, it still reeks of the spices.

So there is my tale of woe with Chex Mix and that new perfume blend by none other than Chex.

The King is alive....

Yes, friends, the King himself, Elvis Presley is alive and well in Kansas. Why Kansas? I can't think of a better place, can you? Little did you all know that I had a roommate. His name is Elvis. I've enclosed a photo, in case you don't believe me. Seriously, though, Elvis does live in my office at home. He sits on the top of a cabinet and hangs out.

This item is a gift from Brian that he purchased during a woot off. (http://www.woot.com/) This item was delivered to him and he had the kindness in his heart to bring it to my home while I was at work. You can imagine what happened. I came in the door and nearly soiled myself because staring at me was the creepiest Elvis in a box I have ever seen. Later that night, he came over and we took "E" out of the box and set him up (plugged him in - LOL).

He came to life before my very eyes. Blinking, talking, singing, doing that lip thing. Here's the creepy part: he has a motion detector built in, so as I paced around in front of him, he tracked me and followed me with his eyes. The skin is this rubbery substance. But wait...there's more.

He does sing and talk. There are monologues and even a karaoke function that you could plug a microphone in and sing with it. The remote is a long silver microphone.

I moved Elvis to the bar and I tell you, every time I come in, I swear someone's in my house. My goal is to take him around Topeka and get some great candid shots and post those.

Thank ya, thank ya very much!

The biggest bracelet I've ever seen and other comments on modern restroom technology

Today I was at the grocery store. Wouldn't you know it, the restroom called my name. So I entered, careful not to set my purse on the floor. Well, things progressed, as you can imagine without me explaining every little thing. I reached over to retriever my squares of tissue and realized the paper holder was empty. On top of the holder was the biggest roll of toilet paper I have ever seen. My mind started churning with the question of how to hold the biggest roll ever and still either rotate it around to get the paper off or shove it into the holder without dropping it or falling off the toilet. Then the lightbulb came on - use it like a bracelet! So I tried this and I think it burned my arm on the way around because of the heaviness, but I retrieved my squares.

At my employer, we have those sensor toilets. Today I accidently witnessed one of these toilets flushing automatically approximately three times prior to the person in the stall exiting. She emerged, face flushed from laughter. I asked if everything was ok. She said that she kept shifting position and it just kept flushing.

At least it was efficient.