At this point, I would hire John Williams to orchestrate some kind of pomp and fanfare piece.
Why?

Because today is D-day.

Crap

Today, after the company luncheon, I will be once again braving…. *dum dum buuuuummmmm* Mega Mall. *cymbal crash*
*Volins, gently crescendo-ing*
The time has come.
Plus, I’ll already be out that way.
And hopefully I can get there early enough to get things done before the crowds rush in.

*trumpets blaring*
I do not have a list, parsay, but that’s how I typically shop.
Candles for SMS, Coffee something or other for SDS…
Best Buy and JC Penny’s rewards certificates have been printed off.

*Timpani roll*
However, I do have my “white elephant” gift purchased.
And I have a direct ship to M&D en route.

*cacophony*
However, we are still treeless (rumor has it this will change tomorrow), decoration-free and baking-less.
Maybe I should pick up a gingerbread candle.

And you, dear reader,  how goes your holiday traditions?

P.S.
Apparently not globe-hopping creates boring dreams.
Last night, I was in a laundromat, trying to find a  machine that would take Euros and dispense quarters so I could dry my comforter and warm a jar of pasta sauce.
Also, I watched my laundry go around.
And there were a disproportionate number of washers to dryers.

We’ve been happily inhabiting Casa Mak for over 6 years now.
6 YEARS.

Yesterday, a card shows up in our mailbox.
Not to us.
Not to the people we purchased the house from.
But to the ORIGINAL OWNERS.

Way to go on keeping in touch.

PLUS, they used a 42 cent stamp!
(stamps have been 44 cents since like, May)

Of course it does honey, it’s called liquor.

Gracefully stolen from What I Got so Far

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?
I enjoy wrapping with paper, but sometimes I feel as though a gift bag adds to the “Oh! What could it be?!”

2. Real tree or Artificial?
Real. Although this year, we’re neither; thus far.

3. When do you put up the tree?
If we weren’t on another continent, Steve chops one down around the first weekend of December.

4. When do you take the tree down?
Shortly after the needles-to-branch or cat-vomit-to-carpet ratios are disproportionate.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Oh dear god! NO!

6. Favorite (or most memorable) gift received as a child?
They were all my favorite! However, I remember getting a Teddy Ruxpin and a polar bear whose nose would blink when he sang.

7. Hardest person to buy for?
Steve. Mainly because he buys everything himself.

8. Easiest person/s to buy for?
Mom/Dad. They like garden things.

9. Do you have a nativity scene?
Yes. We erect it between Santa and Macy’s Snoopy.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Neither! Two years running!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
I actually got a fruitcake one year. I thought it was a joke. It was not.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?
National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
After Thanksgiving. If I buy anything any earlier, I’ll hide it and forget it.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?
I plead the fifth.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
Yes. I love this time of year’s food.

16. What do you want for Christmas?
To not be grilled about the condition/fertility of my uterus. Thankyouverymuch.

17. Favorite Christmas song?
NONE. I am very bah humbug.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?
Stay home. Sleep in.  However, we go to my in-laws.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer’s?
Oh, that reminds me! I need to find my “Blitzen” shirt with a drunk reindeer on it.
And I know this one because I lead the song for my grade school’s Christmas Pageant. When I was a kid, you could call it a Christmas Pageant.
“You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen!”
Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen.

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?
Star.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?
One one Christmas Eve, everything else on Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?
Pretty much everything: hearing the same song 400 times a day, mobbed stores, decorating, “A Very Special Christmas Episode”

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color?
Polar Bears and Penguins.

24. Favorite for Christmas Dinner?
Green bean casserole and/or cheese pirogi.

25. What do you want to do for Christmas this year?
Get snickered on Bailey’s. Fall asleep cradling a toy zepplin.

* Christmas starting early also means that Christmas ends early. Girlfriend needs some LED lights for her windows, but doesn’t want/need 300 or netted.
* If you have to constantly up the wattage of your light bulbs, perhaps it is time to clean the globe. The front hall light blew out this morning and I replaced 2 30-watt bulbs with 2 15-watt bulbs after washing the frosted glass cover. I think I can see through the walls now.
* Leaving a chocolate lab with Grandma for 2+ weeks will result in said dog practically turning into confetti [with excitement] when you return home.
* 5 hour time shifts are only cool between the hours of 9am and 3pm, EST. Yesterday I was up at 5:45, showered and was grocery shopping before 7am. However, at 8pm, I was unable to keep my eyes open and may have faceplanted on a pet (or two). Today, I was up at 5am and I totally want lunch. It is 8:30am.
* Dead fish= ball of furry mold stuck in filter.
* GOGOGOGOGOing for 2 weeks makes for fidgets.
* We have no tree, no presents, no decorations up and guess who is getting Christmas cards this year…. if you answered “No one”, please come forward and claim your prize.
* It takes a lot of effort to eat well. I am just glad that all the labels are now in English and not Dutch, French, German, Italian or any other language.
* Overly decorated houses are gaudy in every country.

At the "Brewery"

Amsterdam at Night

Me (hiding), Steve and my German Cousin, Kevin, In Germany

Romance on The Grand Canal in Venice

Atop the Eifel Tower

Defending London Tower

Biggest Sabres' Fans in Europe

Enjoying beer in Dublin (of course we had Guinness, but this pub didn't serve it)

Oh, or perhaps you know me from my YouTube video…

Antics start at 1:25, I make my appearance at 2:35.
I’m the chick giving the international sign of how to put things together.
(oh, and this has been one my favorite songs by The Hip)

1. Where is your cell phone? Desk
2. Your hair? Testy
3. Your mother? Precious
4. Your Father? Lifesaver
5. Your favorite food? Yes.
6. Your dream last night? Irkful
7. Your favorite drink? Water
8. Your dream/goal? Travel
9. What room are you in? Front
10. Your hobby? Creative
11. Your fear? Alone
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Traveling
13. Where were you last night? Bed
14. Something that you aren’t? Mute
15. Muffins? PLEASE!
16. Wish list item? Happiness
17. Where did you grow up? Buffalo
18. Last thing you did? Drink
19. What are you wearing? Pants
20. Your TV? Noisy
21. Your pets? Adorable
22. Friends? Awesome
23. Your life? Awesome
24. Your mood? Delighted
25. Missing someone? ‘rents
26. Vehicle? YOT
27. Something you’re not wearing? Garter
28. Your favorite store? YES!
29. Your favorite color? Depends
30. When was the last time you laughed? Yesterday
31. Last time you cried? October
32. Your best friend? Husband
33. One place that I go to over and over? Home
34. One person who emails me regularly? Daffy
35. Favorite place to eat? YES!

U
G

L
Y
My name ain’t got no alibi, it’s UGLY!

No, no, not my actual name, I’m quite fond of it (despite when I was 11 and wanted to change my name to Tiffany, but that’s for another time)… however, with the new trend of naming items, namley clothes, after people, my name has become ugly.

Examples:

“Stephanie” by softspots shoes

Really? Why? I don't care if it's chocolate.

However, I will say that the stemware (which I own) is allowed to have my namesake, mainly because it’s brimmed in platinum.

Yes. YES. YES!

Please tell me that you share a name with something uglier than a chocolate shoe covered in fake flowers.

(in no real order)
1a- Steve for putting up with my insanity
1b- My parents for putting up with my insanity
2- My in-laws, who for as much griping as I do about them, they haven’t tried to poison me. Or get Steve to divorce me.
3- My extended family
4- A puppy who loves me
5- Relatively good health
6- The fine people who came up with Zoloft
7- My job
8- YOT
9- Warm puss paws
10- Cheese
11- Beer
12- Bread
13- 5 working senses
14- A wonderful, safe, warm home
15- Steve’s job
16- Friends. Great Friends
17- Being able to laugh at myself.
18- All the experiences I’ve had
19- the gym
20- music
21- books
22- Sharing
23- lolcats
24- memes
25- Doggies who are rescued from the pound
26- Babies who smile/laugh
27- Corn and other assorted veggies
28- Beer
29- a varied taste
30- The freedom to be able to be able to post what I want/America

In this age of iPods and whatever, I feel as though the art of Album Art has gone by the wayside.
I was putting some of my CDs on iTunes last night and the case for Violator (Depeche Mode) was HEAVY. BECAUSE OF LINER NOTES.

Some “albums” didn’t have art associated with them (mainly because they came off of very old/pre-piracy CDs) and that grey note box is just, depressing.

yawn

By right clicking on the “album” and then picking “get info”, you can choose what to use for the album art.

I spent way too much time last night applying the following:

“90s” album

"reps" (for the gym)

Do tell reader(s), what silly album art do you incorporate?