THE STOCKINGS....

...were hung by the chimney with care...

...and lots of scratch-off lottery tickets were stuck up in there!

What stocking is complete without scratch offs!

Merry Christmas!

CHARLIE BROWN TREE

This is in my office at my work.  Love it!  Hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year!  Love!

BEST WORK CHRISTMAS PARTY EVER!

Yes, you heard it here.  We (Jimmaymay and I) had a blast Saturday night!

We danced...
We drank...
We ate...
We drank...
We danced some more...
...and of course we drank!

We didn't go up stairs until at least 12:23 (that was the last time I remember looking at his watch)!  Can't wait to tell you all about it!

(Note to self:  Need to limit the Jameson to four per night!)

SPECIAL FRIENDS

I am so thankful for my friends.  I am very fortunate that I have friends that have been around for many, many years.  One special friend sent me a card a couple of months ago.  I wanted to share...


We don't always know the difference we make in other people's lives.
A little thing like a smile or a word of encouragement at just the right moment can be exactly what is needed to turn a day around.
That's something you've done for me many times, and I am not sure you realize how much it matters to me.
I love having you on my side, willing to listen when I need to talk, caring enough to speak up when I need to hear the truth of a situation.
Your influence helps me in ways big and small.
I want you to know that I appreciate you and the difference that knowing you has made in my life.
                                                                                                               - Lisa Riggin


Take the time this Holiday Season to let those close to you how much you care.

Love

THE POWER OF 12/12/12

I saw this on MSN.com.  Pretty interesting!

Marry Me?
In Western numerology, numbers are associated with certain personality traits: The masculine one is self-sufficient and driven, while the feminine two is a true partner. Together they form a balanced and unstoppable pair. One also represents new beginnings and two represents union, making today's triple-digit date a propitious day for tying the knot. According to a David's Bridal survey, an estimated 7,500 brides will marry on 12/12/12—a 1,446 percent increase over the prior year!


Perfect Harmony

According to Chinese numerology, one is considered a yang number ruled by the sun and represents independence and individualism. Two is considered a yin number ruled by the moon and represents symmetry and balance. Combined, the number 12 brings harmony to the yin and the yang, balancing the masculine energy of the sun and the feminine energy of the moon.

 

Do the Math Mathematicians and scientists love the number 12 for its inherent divisibility. It is one of the relatively few smaller numbers that can be evenly divided into multiple subsets; 12 breaks down into halves, thirds, fourths, sixths and twelfths—making 12 (and all of its multiples) a very useful number.


By the Dozen

Because 12 can be so easily divided, it's commonly used in measurements. There are 12 inches in a foot, 12 ounces in a troy pound (which is used to measure gold, silver and gems), 12 in a dozen, 12 hours on a clock, 24 hours in a day, and 12x12 (144) equals a gross.

In the world of numerology, twelve is considered the number of completeness and represents the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. December is the twelfth and final month of the year, every 12 hours day turns to night or night to day and today completes the trice-repeating dates until the next century rolls around.  There won't be another date like today until 01/01/2101!

QUOTE OF LAST WEEK...

"I am so glad I am a Kroger Convert.  I mean, I guess I didn't notice when I shopped here, but all the people in Walmarts are annoying as hell." - Btut

Ghett-ho-ho-ho

Love, love, love my ghetto carport Santa!  Found this lovely antique at an estate auction I attended with TCW and L. Bigdawes.  I out bid this woman just because I didn't like her.  I knew the minute I saw her I didn't like her...and I got this beautiful vintage ho ho because of that!

Can you feel the Christmas Spirit?

USELESS INFO TUESDAY

~  The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the largest museum in the U.S. dedicated to the work of just one artist.

~  Christopher Columbus was only 14 years old when he went to sea for the first time.

~  The sports competition releo refers to logrolling.

~  Girl Scout's who are known as Juliettes are those who belong as individuals rather than through a troop or group.  They're named for the Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low.

~  The three word motto of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point is "Duty, Honor, Country."

MEET MARY COOPER

"He gets his temper from his daddy.  He's got my eyes.  All that science stuff, that comes from Jesus."

"You know how your daddy used to say that you could only fish for so long before you gotta throw a stick of dynamite in the water?"

"Lord, Mary Cooper here coming to you from "Gomorrah", California."

"I love the boy to death, but he has been difficult since he fell out of me at the Kmart."

 

 "Leonard, the Lord never gives us more than we can handle.  Thankfully he blessed me with two other children who are dumb as soup."

(to Raj)  "I made chicken.  I hope that isn't one of the animals that you people think is magic."


(to Penny, about Sheldon's favorite dessert, cobbler)
Penny:  This is the best cobbler ever.
Mary:  It was always Sheldon's favorite - you know what the secret ingredient is?
Penny:  Love?
Mary:  Lard


Special thanks to Lisa TutB, guest blogger for today!  Thanks for the quotes

USELESS INFO

~  The hummingbird's favorite color is red, which is why most hummingbird feeders are either red of have some red on them.

~  Merle Haggard was an inmate in the San Quentin audience at Johnny Cash's very first prison concert in 1958.  He later said Cash's performance inspired him to pursue a singing career.

~  Nebraska is the only state to have had its Post Office abbreviation changed since 1963, when two-letter postal designations were introduced.  In 1969, at the request of Canadian postal authorities, it was changed from NB to NE to avoid confusion with the province of New Brunswick.

~  You can see a full size replica of Christopher Columbus's flagship, the Santa Maria in Columbus, Ohio.  It was built to commemorate the 500th anniversary in 1992 of Columbus's historic voyage.

~  In a portrait that hangs over the fireplace in the Playboy Mansion library, Hugh Hefner is dressed to resemble Henry VIII.

Washaway's Wreck

Many of you may not know, but Wash was involved in an accident last week in the red Honda.  No one was hurt.  He had stopped at a stop sign and someone hit him in the back quarter panel when he proceeded to go.

Long story short...I just found out that the other driver's insurance will either fix Little Red Riding Hood or send us a check if they just total it out.

Hoping for a check!  Then we will be shopping for a replacement car for Wash.  I have not even notified my insurance yet, hoping the blame (as it should) fell on the other driver.

Chalk one up for the good guys....Oh, and Wash!

Love.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Hope you all have a Happy, relaxing Thanksgiving!  I will not blog this week, but see you next week with hopefully lots to share!

Love

USELESS INFO

~  Asbestos is also known as salamander's wool.  The misnomer is based on the ancient superstition that salamanders were not flammable, and the belief that fire-resistant garments had been woven from salamander skin when, in fact, they had been made with asbestos.

~  The only theme song from a James Bond movie to hit No. 1 on American pop singles chart is "A View to a Kill," in 1985, by Duran Duran.

~  An acersecomic person is one who has never cut their hair.

~  President Lyndon B. Johnson used Marine helicopters to here the flock of peacocks he kept on his ranch in Johnson City, Texas.

~  During Yom Kipper (the Day of Atonement), observant Jews will attend 5 religious services...the first just prior to sunset on the eve of the holiday, two more the following morning, another that afternoon, and the last as sunset again approaches.

WALKING DEAD...BITE ME

Rayray and I had a discussion about how people turn into zombies on "The Walking Dead."  Just to set the record straight (and prove I was correct) here is the answer about a zombie bite according to the series producer...

When a zombie bites a victim, the victim contracts a deadly illness, ultimately resulting in the victim's death and reanimation. Zombie scratches can also infect a victim with a deadly illness. Zombie bites are not how the "infection" is spread. Instead, zombie bites and saliva cause infections that are 100% fatal.

Symptoms of infection: Edit

• Fever
• Chills
• Hallucinations
• Vomiting
• Pale skin
• Dialated eyes
• Delirium
• Soreness (e.g. Jim in the TV Series episode, "Wildfire")
• Fluid discharge

The only way a victim can survive a zombie bite/scratch is to quickly amputate the part of the body that has been affected. The length of time that an amputation must be performed in to successfully save a victim from the illness taking hold is unknown, and seems to vary based on the circumstances of the situation. In the comic book, Dale is the only character known to have survived this process while both Morgan Jones and Allen died of either blood loss, bacterial infection or clots (unknown due to a constant lack of professional opinion). In the TV series, Hershel Greene is bitten on the leg by a zombie in the first episode of season three. Attempting to save Hershel's life, Rick amputates Hershel's leg, and it is later revealed that Hershel survives the event.

USELESS INFO TUESDAY

~  Experts believe that Marco Polo mistook a rhino for a unicorn during his Asian travels.

~  There are four European Capitals located on the Danube River - Vienna, Austria; Bratislava, Slovakia; Budapest, Hungary; and Belgrade, Serbia.

~  The wingspan (armspan?) of 6-foot-4 swimming sensation Michael Phelps is 6 feet 7 inches.

~  William Shakespeare was the first commoner pictured on a British stamp.  It was in 1964 to commemorate the national Shakespeare Festival as it marked the 400th anniversary of his birth.

~  The mongoose is a natural enemy of the cobra (DUHHH who didn't see Riki Tiki Tavi?).  It is so quick and agile it can bite a cobra on the back of its neck with its powerful jaws before the snake can defend itself.

YES WE DID!

 Who is the best at celebrating Halloween?  WE ARE!  What lengths we will go to in order to please trick-or-treaters!  Yes, we donned costumes this year...can you guess what we were?  This picture is priceless!  TCW as the Tim Man, J BD as the Lion, Btut as Dorothy, L BD as the Wicked Witch and me as the Scare Crow.  We don't know anybody that was "good" enough to be Glenda!  haha  Love my friends.

And, it wouldn't be Halloween without flaming pumpkins!  We really know how to celebrate!

Love L BigDawes in this pic!

ODE TO CUMPKIN PARVING!

There once was a pumpkin carving...





 



....with carvers every where!

 





Rayray, Washaway, Britnanay .....

...Triple T and Big D with big hair.

There were the famous sisters that gut....

...and Rayray's big pumpkin kicking some butt.

J Big Dawes....Pensive....Deep....

...a wonderful cake to eat!

The smoking lounge filled with bad boys...

...and Jenfer sharing her joy!

 L Big Dawes takes the trophy and runs....

...just kidding, she really won!


Had a wonderful time this year.  TCW and Webb Tree Farms did it again for the 6th year in a row!  Thanks to Lisa Tutb, Btut, and Jenfer for being fabulous gutters of the pumpkins, again!  Thanks to KD and Britnaynay for the WONDERFUL cake!  We all braved the cold to spend yet another great year of Pumpkin Carving together.  Good food, good friends, great time!

NOW THAT IS WHAT I CALL A CHARITY!

 

We started with some muscle....

...and put them in BRAS!  Yes, it was the second annual bra auction at the brick for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it was a blast!  Btut had a great turnout of many generous people and earned over one thousand dollars! 

Btut, CNBC, and Steeree enjoying the fun.

I think Married enjoyed bidding on Reggie...umm, cough, cough, cough....I mean the bra!

Thanks so much for Britnaynay, KD, and their Mommy, Jenfer!  Y'all were loads of help! 

CNBC and one of the bras she purchased...Can you spot me lurking in the background?  Thought this was funny.

J BigDawes on the bra he won, which happened to be made by his lovely wife.

Thanks to all who came out and participated!  Never a dull moment with my friends!