Yes Nerd Girl, There Is A Santa Claus

Okay, so growing up we didn’t believe in Santa Claus.  We didn’t even celebrate Christmas until I was 11 or so.  Anyhow, I have never believed in Santa.  I was never cruel enough to tell the other kiddies that there was no such person as Santa, but I certainly wasn’t falling for the okey-doke.

Fast forward to last Friday.

Lovegirl:  Mama, how is Santa Claus going to know we’re in California for Christmas?  Won’t he bring my gifts here?

Nerd Girl:  (This girl believes in Santa???)  Um, come sit next to Mama.  Do you believe in Santa Claus?

Lovegirl:  Oh yes Mama!  I do.  (Looks at me quizzically) Don’t you?

Nerd Girl:  Uh, no.

Lovegirl:  (Starts bawling hysterically!!)  Why?  Why?  Why?  Why don’t you believe?  If you don’t believe you’ll never hear the sound of sleigh bells and sleigh bells are the most glorious sound on earth!  I want you to hear the glorious sounds of the sleigh bells!  Boo hoo, boo hoo….

Nerd Girl:  (What the hell is she talking about???)  Lovegirl, what are you talking about?

Lovegirl:  We saw it in P.olar E.xpress!  And I know it is true.  You will never hear the most glorious sound on earth.  Boo hoo, boo hooo.

Nerd Girl:  (Aw hell)   I do believe Lovegirl, I do!  I don’t know what I was thinking!

Lovegirl: (Hops off my lap and runs upstairs.  Comes back ringing her sleigh bell.)  Do you hear this Mama?  Can you hear it?  Can you hear the most glorious sound on earth?

Nerd Girl:  I can hear it!  I do hear it!  It’s wonderful!

Lovegirl:  Oh Mama, I’m so happy for  you.  See what happens when you believe?

And that my dear readers is how I came to believe in Santa Claus.  At the ripe old age of 38.

Merry Christmas to you all!   Happy New Year!  I’ll be back after our Southern California vacay.

Peace and Blessings!

High / Low

High: Pserendipity and I met Jameil last week for dinner!  We knew not to take her to a chain restaurant so we ended up at one of two Indian restaurants in the city.   The first thing I think I said to her?  “I thought your voice would be deeper.”  I’m nothing if not smooth!  We had a good time and it was great to meet Jameil in person – she is something like hilarious, very down to earth, and serious about her work.  Dinner was such a success that we met for lunch later on in the week.  I have really enjoyed meeting folks through blogging – Pserendipity, Jameil, Gladys, and Abe.  So far, so good.  If any of y’all ever happen to roll this way let me know!

Low: I cut lunch with Jameil and Pserendipity kinda short  to get back to the office for our Dirty Santa Christmas party.  Why I did this, I’ll never know.  Last year I ended up with lavender scented goat milk lotion.  This year?  Cheese straws and some of the dustiest looking pecans I’ve ever seen in my life.  Next year?  I won’t be participating.

High: This time next week I’ll be chillin’ in the CA with my family.

Low: Smoochy isn’t coming with us.  One of my goals for next year is to surprise Smoochy with a few days off.  If he doesn’t work, he doesn’t get paid.  And since I don’t think the company is going to change policy any time soon, I’m going to make some vacation happen for him.

High: I decided to try something new with my hair and set my locs on pipe cleaners Sunday morning.  I think it came out pretty good.  It’s kinda curly and has some bounce and body to it which I’ve missed since I’ve been locked.  I’m excited to have another hairstyle from which to choose.  The addition of this one brings me to a grand total of…3.  Down and straight, down and curly, and my fall back – the high pony tail.  I guess since my hair’s getting longer I’ll be trolling around looking to up my number of styles to 4 or 5!

Low: It took something like forever to roll my hair around those little pipe cleaners.  My arms were exhausted!

High: I’m almost finished with my Christmas shopping!

Low: I’m not finished with my Christmas shopping!

I guess that’s about it.  Oh, you wanted a pic of Jameil, P, and I together?  Ask and you shall receive….

Why am I just noticing that Jameil struck one of her modeling poses?!? LOL!

And here's one that doesn't make me look like the Jolly Black Giant. How the waiter ended up in the pic, I don't really know. But, the more the merrier!

Santa, Baby!

Yay!  I got my Blogworld Secret Santa gift on Saturday.  I was so excited to see the box on my doorstep and even more excited when I ripped that bad boy open!

My Secret Santa has been paying attention and gifted me with two bottles of OPI nail polish (one red, one blue) and the cutest little clutch/wallet that I plan to use the next time I go out!  Love, love, love this gift!  I’m going to do a mani/pedi on Tuesday and I plan on rocking the blue – hard!  I love nail polish and I love cute wallets.  When I say this gift was fabulous and right up my alley, I mean it.  Thanks so much Ms. Claus!

I have narrowed my Secret Santa down to one of these two ladies:  Coco or Keyalus.   Can’t wait for P’s reveal so I know how right (or wrong) I am!

Thank you again – I really appreciate it!

These Are My Confessions

• I love The Sing Off on N.B.C.  Monday and Wednesday nights?  Yeah, I’m planted in front of the TV watching acapella groups battle it out.  Love it!
• I’ve spent a large portion of the work day printing out worksheets and activities to keep Lovegirl busy on our flight.  I love that girl, but I really cannot see myself talking listening to her for 12 straight hours!
• I am so unbelievably excited to be going home and having the majority of my family there!  I really can’t wait for the cousins (Lovegirl and my brother’s two) to be able to hang out!
• I am also excited that…drumroll please…The Chipmunk has found a new job!  Whoo hoo!  She’s going back to the classroom, and that is where she belongs!  I really do wish her well.  And even though her absence means I’m gonna have to work until 4:30 until we find a new secretary I am glad she’s on her way outta here!!!
•  I can live in a less than tidy house, but can’t come home to one.  Before we go on vacay?  The house will be darn near pristine.
• My cousin called last night and was telling me she’d bought a second hand refrigerator and that she was tired because she had to spend hours cleaning it.  She said “I don’t think those people ever cleaned the top of their refrigerator.  Disgusting.”  Note to self:  clean top of refrigerator.  Who knew?
• I have been doing line dances for exercise.  The Cupid Shuffle, the Wobble, the Electric Slide.  I’m having big fun, but burning nary a calorie. 
• I love Wacka Flocka’s “No Hands.”  Wale’s verse?  Brings me joy.

Whatcha got?

TGIF. Especially Since I Thought Today Was Thursday!

• So today I decided to step out of my comfort zone by wearing a dress and patterned tights.  Why are my legs (bottom half) so skinny that you can’t even tell the tights have a pattern? I could’ve saved two bucks and just bought plain black tights.
• One of my FB friends posts her s e x drive percentage every day.  I’m not sure why she thinks anyone but her husband cares.  I’m about to hide her.
• Lovegirl got another write up this week.  For talking, being disruptive, being disrespectful…I wanted to cry. 
• One of my friends is in the hospital.  She didn’t want anybody to know.  I don’t understand that.  I understand you don’t want everybody and their mama dropping in, but to go into the hospital for a major procedure and not tell anyone ’cause you don’t want to bother them?  Negative.  I went to see her yesterday – she was still knocked out.  I’m going back today.  She can get mad if she wants to.
• December, much like the rest of 2010 is flying by.  I’m so behind.
• I really, really, really need The Chipmunk to stop listening to all my telephone conversations.  You know what, that’s not even true.  I need her to stop commenting on the conversations she’s listening to.  I can’t hang up good before she’s saying “ooooh, did I hear you say you’re flying into Ontario?”  Um…
• Okay, it is obvious that I need new FB friends.  One of my friends just posted that she’ll be giving out coupons from coupon.com for Christmas.  No ma’am.  I’m almost positive your recipients would rather get a heartfelt “Merry Christmas” and a big hug!  Coupons????
• Anybody read anything good (in paperback) lately?  I’m looking for some good reading material for the plane.
• Smoochy and his people are the only folks I know who eat and like those chocolate covered cherries that pop up this time of year.  Anybody else eat them?  I’ve never tried them and have no desire to (but I totally would if I were on The A.mazing Race Mrs. TDJ!)

‘Tis all!  Have a wonderful weekend.  If your weather is anything like ours?  Stay cool, then stay warm.  Peace.

Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down

Thumbs up to:  Nail polish, necklaces, books, socks, tank tops, coin purses, Target, belts, highly flavored tea (ginger, lemon, chai, etc.), Sephora, wood bracelets, Sour Patch Kids, cute reusable bags (shopping, lunch, etc.)

Thumbs down to:  Well now that’d just be rude.  But if I were handing out thumbs down scented bath/body products would be on the list!

My Answers To Yesterday’s Questions

Have you ever heard the song “T.ardy for the P.arty” anywhere but on Bravo?   Nope.

Roughly how much money do you think parents “should” spend on Christmas gifts for their child(ren)?  A week’s salary?  A month’s?  However much is in your Christmas Club account?   I don’t have a set amount.  I did raise my eyebrows when a coworker told me how much she spent, but then figured it was truly none of my bizness!  Her number?  $1500.  Which is pretty close to her monthly salary.

If your child started crying at a birthday party because they’d run out of game tokens, how would you handle?  I told Lovegirl to hush it up and be thankful for the tokens she had and the tickets she’d won.  And that she could straighten up or we could break camp.  Smoochy told me I was too harsh and should’ve just broken her off a few more tokens.

Have you seen K.eri H.ilson’s new video (totally NSFW!!!)?  Thoughts?  Yes.  She is really, truly doing too much

Do you go to your office Christmas party?  I almost always went to my old department’s party – big fun!  I haven’t ever been to my current department’s party – still debating on whether or not to go this year.

How much actual work would you say you do on your job each week?  5 hours.  Maybe.

If you’ve started Christmas shopping have you bought more for yourself or more for others?  Others.  Though I’ve actually seen a lot of stuff I want. 

Do you expect your S/O to know what you want for Christmas/other gift giving occasions?  Hecks no.  He asks, I tell.  Well, when I have something to tell that is.

Do you have any peep toe boots?  Do you add tights in cold weather?  No.  N/A.

What color(s) dominate your wardrobe?  Various shades of black and brown.

I Ask, You Answer. If You Want To.

• Have you ever heard the song “T.ardy for the P.arty” anywhere but on Bravo?
• Roughly how much money do you think parents “should” spend on Christmas gifts for their child(ren)?  A week’s salary?  A month’s?  However much is in your Christmas Club account?
• If your child started crying at a birthday party because they’d run out of game tokens, how would you handle?
• Have you seen K.eri H.ilson’s new video (totally NSFW!!!)?  Thoughts? 
• Do you go to your office Christmas party? 
• How much actual work would you say you do on your job each week?
• If you’ve started Christmas shopping have you bought more for yourself or more for others?
• Do you expect your S/O to know what you want for Christmas/other gift giving occasions?
• Do you have any peep toe boots?  Do you add tights in cold weather?
• What color(s) dominate your wardrobe?

Okay, that’s it.  Just some questions that’ve popped into my head that I thought I’d pose to you.  Answer as many – or few – as you like.  I guess I’ll come back with answers…tomorrow?

Happy Monday!

Random All Up and Through Here

• Pserendipity straight clowned me the other day for saying I needed to be at the airport 2+ hours early when Lovegirl and I fly home for Christmas.  I’ve been in Jackson for 11 years – I still act like I’m flying out of LAX.  My bad.  How early do you get to the airport?
• I’ve got some money left in my cafeteria plan at work – if I don’t use it I’ll lose it.  So I figured I’d get a new pair of locs glasses.  Once you add in the thin lenses so I don’t look like Hans Moleman on the Simpsons, the anti glare and the transitional lens treatment?  The dang thangs are gonna cost me over $500.  How can that possibly be right?  Is this “average” for a pair of glasses now?  What’s really going on?
• I was so hyped for Top Chef All Stars that I…promptly fell asleep on it.  Sad, I know.  I had to catch up on the second showing.  Anyhoo, I was worried about Tiffany and am glad that she wasn’t in the bottom three.  I hope Tre sticks around for a while too – nice!
• Lovegirl walked up to me yesterday and said “Mama, sometimes I don’t speak right, but yet I know what I’m talking about.”  Why is this little girl quoting WAR’s “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” 
• The other day Smoochy said he’d been thinking and that we need to start going to church as a family.  He knew that Lovegirl and I weren’t going as often so we could be with him before he left on Sundays.  I was all geeked that my prayers had been answered.  I asked him what time he wanted me to wake him up on Sunday.  He was like “oh, not now.  I’m thinking we should start in 2011.”  o_O
• Smoochy has been after me to tell him what I want for Christmas.  Really, the answer is nada.  The only thing I really want is hardwood floors/tile throughout the house which we totally cannot afford right now.  So now I’ve got to think of something to want.  Which strikes me as beyond ridiculous.
• Today I met one of the doctors who I only “know” via email and really liked.  She gave me the dead fish handshake – probably the worst one I’ve ever had.  I don’t like her anymore.
• This morning on the drive in there was a traffic update warning drivers of a goat and two horses in the road!
• I’ll spend this weekend shuttling my little party animal from birthday party to birthday party.  Any free time will be spent working on my November goals – which have totally turned into my December goals since I accomplished nada last month!

Have a wonderful weekend.  Be well!

Like Butta Baby!

Oh Em Gee!  I’ve finally found a routine for washing/conditioning/detangling Lovegirl’s hair that leaves both of us happy!  Like to hear it?  Here it goes:

Shampoo – Creme of Nature detangling shampoo

Conditioner – Herbal Essences Hello Hydration conditioner

Detangle - Kinky Curly Knot Today

I got her hair washed, conditioned, detangled and styled with nary a tear or an “ouch”  and I haven’t been able to do that for about a year since her hair started getting really, really thick.  This is truly the answer to a prayer.  For those of you looking for a routine for your daughter (or yourself) I highly recommend trying the above.

Speaking of hair, I’m really thinking of chopping my locs off.  I’ve been thinking this more and more frequently over the last couple of months – even dreamed about it a few weeks ago.  I told Smoochy.  He voted no.  The only thing really holding me back?  I’m not a short hair kind of girl.  I like my hair to at least brush my shoulders and I’m not sure how I’d handle having a teeny weeny afro.  Probably about as well as I handled the bob I cut my hair into after I graduated college.  I cried.  And cried.  And cried.  I’m surprised Smoochy didn’t break up with me I was such a pain.  Anyhoo, it’s hair and it grew back and if I chop these locs off, my hair will grow back.  Right?  Right.  Right???

But on to what really matters.  Tonight:  TOP CHEF MASTERS!!!