Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Have been neglecting the blog... so sad. I do I have a bunch of Houston/rodeo/good stuff to post. If only I had the time!

Today is Mardi Gras. I explained to my Chinese boss what a "King Cake" was, I think he was freaked out about the whole "and then you put a plastic baby Jesus in the cake" part. As was the English girl in the lab.

Time to think about what to "give up" for Lent. This is like a New Year's resolution do-over of sorts. I think I am going to let go of alcohol, mostly for the calories. I thought about giving up refined sugar, but then thought about all the things that I eat with refined sugar in it, and decided not.

Meanwhile, think of this while you throw those beads!

Snowpocalypse 2011

These are pictures my Dad sent to me of my old neighborhood after the Blizzard of 2011. 20 inches of snow has fallen and it is STILL snowing! Lake Shore Drive is shut down due to abandoned cars. the Chicago Public Schools are "considering" closing for a second day.
Hopefully they will be able to have the side streets plowed by the weekend.
Here in Houston, I woke up to temps in the low 20s, could have sworn I was back in Detroit! Glad I saved my Down Coat from the Moving Purge I did last summer.

My Parent's car in a 4 foot snow drift... they aren't going anywhere!

More Pics from the Chicago Tribune. Stay warm people!

Feeling old.

My sister turns 17 in two weeks. This is a video from just a month before she was born (January 1994). How far we have come.

Fa, La, La

Today I saw a lady, very un-ironically, wearing one of the ugliest Christmas sweaters I have ever seen. I had to stop myself from asking her where she got it. It was a joyus Christmas moment.

I'm a liar.

This year, because of financial situations (i.e. moving cross country, getting paid less than I was last year, not getting a check in July and finally catching up on late bills from the summer etc.) I was not able to fly home for Thanksgiving nor will I be able to fly home for Christmas/New Years. I came to terms with this in September (after seeing $400 plane tickets and saying “Hecky naw!”)

I am fine. (or at least that is what I have convinced myself to think)

This is not the first year I have been away for these holidays. I have been on call for either Christmas or New Years or both for the past 3 years. I don’t feel particularly sad. I just wish I had more money. I would do things like finally get my couch put together, buy a kitchen table, go on a “real” vacation.

The problem comes when people ask, “What are you doing for (insert holiday here)?” If I say “Oh, nothing,” people feel awkward. They really want to talk about family traditions, taking their most recent boo home for the obligatory inspection by the family, or, hell, even the parking at the airport. I know that I have probably had these conversations in the past with people who were doing “nothing.” I kind of felt sorry for them. Now, when the shoe is on the other foot, I see the error of my ways. I almost feel obliged to take some vacation days myself.

I have had a couple of invitations to other people’s houses. Tempting as it is, I just want to relax and revel in the quiet. It’s not relaxing to be on your best “visitor” behavior. Wash up the dishes, take out the trash, be a guest. I politely decline. To avoid all this, I have taken to lying,

“I am going to Austin/California/Florida,”
"Do I need a ride to the airport? No thanks!"
"I’ll call you when I get back!"

Etc and so forth.

The best part of the situation is that the weather in Houston this time of year is great. Perfect golf, running, walking, whatever weather. I am going to expand my usual 3miler Sunday to 5! It is pretty awesome actually. I see the decorations at the mall and hear the music they play but I just don’t FEEL “Christmas-y.” Do I miss the seasons? A little, but then I turn on the news and watch the “spin out videos.”
(thanks to InfoMania and currenttv.com!)

Christmas Time is Here!

I plan on going to an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. Apparently, it's a thing.

I looked in two different Goodwill stores didn't find ANY Christmas sweaters at ALL. Maybe Houstonians just don't wear sweaters so they don't have any to donate. I was specifically looking for one with a festive appliqué and lights .

I found this awesome specimen at Wal-mart for $15 in the "Plus Size" section. Apparently, we fat chicks like sweater-vests. Who knew?

I also bought a fabulous black mock turtleneck with holly printed on it (which is just too hideous to be seen in pictures, and makes my boobs look like they need their own area code!)

THEN while I was looking for Christmas lights for my windows. I found some Battery operated micro LED lights. They even twinkle!!! I sewed the lights down (making some good surgeon's knots) and even sewed in a little pocket for the battery pack.

And Voila! $20 later, Instant Christmas Ugliness!

If you haven't enough time to D.I.Y. (and you want to pay shipping) you can buy a very ugly sweater here and some with lights here! (Woah! They run from $60-$100!!) You can also look to Esty and buy something handmade.

Merry Christmas!

You know you are pathetic,

When the warmth of your MacBook is all you need.

Seriously, this drought better end soon.