bring it on

We had a food drive at work last month. The branch that collected the most food won a catered luncheon and my branch happened to be the winner. We collected 83 cans of food and 12 turkeys to donate to the homeless shelter. Another branch collected 85 cans of food ( no turkeys) and they are actually complaining that they should be the winners because "turkeys don't count". This month we are having a toy drive. We are going to have two competitions, the first being whoever collects the most toys and the second is whoever decorates their toy bin the best. I'm in charge of the decorating. Once we were given the details of the toy drive the leader of the complaining branch called to let us know that "This is war." I'm not kidding. If we were street kids, she would've danced around us and we would've been served. If we were high school cheerleaders she would've shown us some of her best moves and told us to "bring it". But we work at a bank, so she had to call us and let us know. She should've faxed over her "this is war" message. Isn't that immature? I mean, we're doing this for charity not "to win". Come on! Still, being in charge of the decorating and with her comments now I feel that I *have* to win. The toy bin is just a huge plastic box and it is going up against a wall. I figure since one side will be covered, I won't worry about that one. The theme I came up with is "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" and here's what I'm planning. . . .
On one side: "The stockings were hung by the chimney with care. . ." I'm going to make a cardboard chimney with stockings, of course.
Side two: "Visions of sugarplums danced in their heads. . ." I'll decorate that side with giant candy canes, peppermints, gingerbread men, and all sorts of sweets.
Side three: "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night" That side will have a Christmas tree and some wrapped packages.
How does that sound? I literally been obsessing over this for days now. I thought of all sorts of decorating themes like The Nutcracker, The Twelve Days of Christmas, and the little drummer boy, but I think this is the easiest. Easiest, at least, to make the decorations. Ugh. I hate feeling competitive about something charitable like this but I don't know how else to feel. I've been served. (Or is it I got served?)
Please, any ideas are hugely appreciated!

Ooh! I just found this on Giao's page and I have to play! Here goes. . .

1. first, recommend to me:
* a movie
* a book
* a musical artist, song, or album

2. ask me three questions, no more, no less. ask me anything you want.

3. paste this into your journal, allowing your friends to ask you anything.


feeling: creative
watching: The Tonight Show
what I should be doing instead of blogging: making styrofoam peppermints

the edge of reason

I hope that everyone's Thanksgiving went well. Mine was good. I ate too much and got way too sleepy.

Yesterday a couple of friends from work and I went to watch Bridget Jones The Edge of Reason. I hadn't seen the first one until about two weeks ago but one of these friends, Liz, really loves the books and was looking forward to the second movie. I borrowed the first part from her and liked it.
Anyway, something that had been confirmed about ten years ago was reconfirmed yesterday. I love Hugh Grant. Yes, he is a major jerk in the movie but still manages to be adorable. I was secretly hoping that Bridget would somehow manage to make him change and stay with him. Another thing that I reconfirmed is that English sounds so much better with a British accent. I wish everyone around me would speak that way. This is one of the few accents that I can imitate quite well but it is of course, not the same. Hmm.. maybe its time to move to London. Well, cheerio. Have a good day.

totally unrelated: I'm glad that Julia Roberts and her babies are doing well but what the heck are celebrities thinking when they name their children?!?!?!?! Phinnaeus? Ugh.

feeling: ready for Christmas decorations
watching: The Today Show
what I should be doing instead of blogging: dusting furniture

gifty!

Yea! I received my gifty treat from Valerie! The theme was "Sinfully Delicious" and she sent me a box of Godiva chocolates. Yum, sinfully delicious indeed! I love them!

I was presented with a dilemna right away. . . ."Do I take my time and savour them or just eat them all quickly?" I opted for the first option. I also feel bad because I waited until the very last minute to send out my package and only hope that Valerie gets it soon if she doesn't already have it.
Anyway, I want to thank Leslie for starting this up! It is a great idea and lots of fun. You all don't know how much I *love* receiving goodies in the mail. Oh, it makes my whole day! Seriously. Thanks Valerie, thanks Leslie and if there's one this month, please count me in!

feeling: chocoholic
listening to: Franz Ferdinand (This Fire)
what I should be doing instead of blogging: getting ready for work

uno, dos, tres, catorce

My *ALL TIME FAVORITE BAND IN THE WORLD- EVER!* , U2 is releasing their latest album next week. (Oh, and please spare me the "how they sold out" speech. I've heard it) I can't wait!!!!!! "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" will be released on the 22nd but you can hear all the tracks on their website as well as on VH1. It was illegally leaked out onto the internet before this, but I didn't download it. Really.
There's all sorts of goodies for sale on their website and yes, I want this iPOD. Throughout high school, my wall and closet doors were covered with various U2 posters and magazine cut-outs. My school folders as well. When I was 12, I was totally shocked that my parents wouldn't let me go to the Rattle & Hum concert with friends. By the time I was 16, though, I was allowed and went to the ZooTV concert. The summer before our freshmen year my best friend/neighbor used to walk to the video store, rent Rattle & Hum, watch it, go back the next day, return it and re-rent it. My mom finally bought it for me. Ahh.. memories. My senior year, I met a guy who also said that he was their #1 fan and we used to play "U2 Trivia" in class. We asked each other questions like "What high school did they meet in and form a band?" I knew more answers than he did but he totally out-U2ed me when he had some lyrics printed onto his graduation name cards. Argh! And now you guys also know what a big dork I am. Were there any bands or singers that you totally loved and still do?

feeling: excited
listening to: U2 (Vertigo)
what I should be doing instead of blogging: getting ready to leave

sick day

Most everyone I know in town either has a cold or is getting over one. Rodrigo and Alec both had one last week. I had to take a sick day and stay home with Alec. I felt guilty for missing work since we are understaffed but there was nothing else I could do. Of course my son comes first. Since I was at home, I decided to be productive and cook "real" Mexican food. I hardly cook Mexican just because of all the preparation. Its a hassle! I decided to make food like my grandma which means making everything from scratch. I made tacos with no pre-made taco shells, homemade salsa, and fideo. Yum! Everything came out delicious!

We also had Brianna's school Thanksgiving dinner. It was a little weird going through a school cafeteria lunch line. It was even weirder to have to pay $5 for cafeteria food. They should've paid me to eat that stuff. But, Brianna is in kindergarten and it means a lot to them at that age to have mama join them for lunch. We'll see when she's in sixth grade. . . . .

Do you all remember having to wear these pilgrim hats and bonnets?

feeling: cold!
watching: The Swan
what I should be doing instead of blogging: washing dishes

satin skin

I am obsesssed (among other things) with smelling good and having smooth skin. With two kids running around, I hardly have time to pamper myself and do a whole skin ritual. I had time for a bath tonight. A real, "use ten million products" bath. I've tried a lot of cleansers and exfoliators but one line I really like is Mary Kay's Satin Hands and Body. I first received a little gift set from a friend and have since grown to love it! This are the only Mary Kay products I use, but I really recommend them. I thought I'd share that with you but now, I'm going to get ready for bed because that warm bath totally relaxed me!
Oh, can anyone recommend a good facial moisturizer for sensitive skin? My face is super-sensitive and I'll get a rash with anything harsh but its also dry. Nice combination, huh? Anyway, good night, all.

feeling: relaxed
watching: Local News
what I should be doing instead of blogging: sleeping

the sun will come out tomorrow. . . . .

Ok, so its time to stop moping and get on with whatever. This will be a politcal enrty but please don't take it against me. I was part of the Kerry supporters having joined the johnkerry.com team and the MOB (Mothers Opposing Bush). Tuesday I stayed up until 1:30 am listening to results but it was pretty evident that nothing more was going to be said. Wednesday I had the day off and early in the morning learned that Kerry was going to concede. I can't explain how I felt other than shocked, disappointed, and just so let-down and defeated. I was reading an MSN message board and was more shocked at how people were still fighting. Republicans calling Kerry supporters hippies and cry babies. Democrats calling Bush supporters ignorant and morons. I didn't add any comments but can still feel how divided we are. I cried during the concession speech. Not sobbing, but I did shed a few tears. I feel unsafe. I feel unsure about the future and torn because I've always been accused of being very "I love the USA" but feel disappointed at the same time. I think the war is wrong and would hate to be one of the moms who can't afford to send a child to college, have him join the millitary and put him in danger in a country that doesn't want us there.
One thing that really bothered me are the statistics that voter the ages of 18-29 made up only 17% of the total voters. This is the same as in the 2000 election. It bothers me that voting is a right we take for granted and don't see it as a duty.
I am first generation born in the U.S. and love my country so I guess I just have to remember that this country means more to me than the person who represents it. When I went back to work on Wednesday, everyone kept asking me if I was ok, if I wasn't too upset as soon as I walked in. I've received a lot of emails and seen a lot of funny things to cheer me up, but I'm ok, really. Who knows. maybe a Canadian will marry me. Kidding! I received a great email and I'm going to share it,
"Hope is a state of mind, not of the world. Hope, in this deep and
powerful sense, is not the same as joy that things are going well, or
willingness to invest in enterprises that are obviously heading for
success -- but rather an ability to work for something because it is
good."
-Vaclav Havel, President, Czech Republic 1989-92

feeling: better
watching: Saturday Night Live
what I should be doing instead of blogging: listening to Rodrigo

halloween weekend

We had a fun Halloween weekend. Brianna dressed up for school on Friday and looked really cute in her (store bought) witch costume. Here she is with her friend Melody.

I dressed up for work and won our mini costume contest. Our theme was "Time Warp". It was easy to win because everyone who talked about the cool costume they would wear ended up just doing the "80's" and wearing jeans and an off the shoulder sweater or skirts with wide belts. I wore a 50's dress with poodle skirt, the black & white saddle shoes, pony tail with scarf and a pink scarf around my neck. Yes, I looked really 50's.
Saturday we went to a Halloween birthday party for my "compadre" (my children's godfather. I just realized there's no English translation). I got Rodrigo to dress up. I couldn't believe it! He was a scarecrow and the outfit looked pretty cool. My nephew Darian was sent a real military suit from his aunt and he looked cute too. Here he is smiling too hard with my mom.

The party was really fun. They had a lot of silly games and its always fun to be dumb and watch everyone being dumb with you. I only won one game where we had to find a piece of gum in some whipped cream and make a bubble (without using your hands).
Sunday we went to a Halloween carnival. I was a little disappointed because everything was so expensive. A can of soda was $2.00 and that was about the cheapest thing. The kids were in the costume contest (which we also had to pay for) and they just got certificates. Alec looked adorable in a Dumbo costume but when I looked over all the pictures we took, none show him completely. I'll have to ask my mom for her pics.
After that, my mom, my brother, my grandma's and Rodrigo's brother came over to our house. We took the kids trick or treating and about a million kids came for candy here. I had *a lot* of candy which I figured we'd be eating well into November but it all ran out by 7:30. Anyway, that was my weekend. How was yours?

feeling: cold
watching: Conan O'Brien
what I should be doing instead of blogging: sleeping