Last night wasn’t the first night I realized I can’t handle horror anymore, but it was the first night that just talking about it scared me.  Of course, my husband is now going to tease me endlessly about it.  He just doesn’t understand how traumatizing it is to jolt awake in a pool of sweat after having a truly horrific nightmare about something I’ve read or watched.

Now, I can handle vampires and werewolves, and that’s practically all I’ve been reading lately (Charlaine Harris, Laurell K. Hamilton, J.R. Rain).  Those types of books are like an addiction for me, that’s for sure.  And, yes, I believe you can crave/need to read a certain type of book.  In fact, I know you can.

So, in spite of my addiction, I feel the need to branch out.  Call it my non-Catholic, non-Orthodox version of Lent.  I’m not saying I’m going to cut those kinds of books out of my life for a period of time, but I am going to make the attempt to read other things that other readers may deem more worthy (heck, I read science fiction for my sister-in-law, and I liked it!).

I am wanting to get into the critically acclaimed (you can use this term for books, right?), Oprah’s Book Club, best seller, what ‘everyone’ is reading -type books.  The English major in me feels like it’s absolutely essential for me to broaden my horizons, but where do I go from here?  I’ve already read The Poisonwood Bible and The Help, and I’m currently reading Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.  I guess it’s time to pester professors and peruse (like the alliteration there?) Barnes & Noble’s website for future great reads.

I started watching the show because of Katherine McPhee.  She was my favorite contestant in season 5 of American Idol.  And now that I kind of have the characters figured out, I’m pretty much hooked.  I won’t give anything away, but the way they ended things on the episode this past Monday night, I really can’t wait to see what happens next Monday.

Here’s a brief summary of the show:  Debra Messing plays half of a musical writing duo, who begins working on a new script/songs for ‘Marilyn’ (about Marilyn Monroe).  McPhee plays a waitress/actress, who auditions for the part of Marilyn.

Haircuts

I just got it on Tuesday.  I hate it.  It’s supposed to look like this

but you know it doesn’t.  Everybody’s been so nice telling me how cute it is, but I know it’s horrible.

I definitely don’t blame it on my hair stylist, because it looked good when I got home Tuesday night.  It’s just that I don’t have time to style it like she did (even though she assured me that I didn’t have to, and just a little bit of mousse and some scrunching would make it look good — by the way, it doesn’t), and when I’m finished trying to style it the quick and easy way, it ends up looking like I have bedhead.

I hope it grows out quickly.

The best of nerdy indulgences

My winner is, of course, The Big Bang Theory (with Frasier coming in a close second).  I love, love, LOVE this show.  I relate to the show so easily because, well, oftentimes, conversations with my husband sound a lot like those the guys have on the show.  I say conversations, but it’s mainly him talking, with everything he says going over my head.  I kind of feel like Penny.

The only thing I don’t like about the show is Priya.  She tries to control Leonard too much (been in that kind of relationship…wasn’t fun).

Some might say that the show isn’t as good as it used to be and should be cancelled.  I disagree.  I think the addition of Amy Farrah Fowler and the change in Howard’s relationship with Bernadette have given the show a new life.

I honestly didn’t like Amy’s character in the beginning, but she’s grown on me.  I love seeing her interact with Sheldon, Penny, and Bernadette.  You never know what to expect from her.

I hope the show stays around for awhile, or at least until Penny and Leonard get back together.  Not knowing when this will happen kind of makes me feel like I’m watching Friends again (hmm..I never really compared Leonard and Penny’s relationship to Ross and Rachel’s, but there are definitely some similarities), and I definitely want to keep watching to see when it’s going to happen.

It’s been a long time coming, that’s for sure.  I’m kind of miffed at his college for filling him with the false hope that he could’ve gotten a job in his field right after graduation.  We’ve been through lots of ups and downs – months with no job, a seasonal job, more months with no job, and then an internship that led to this job.

A running joke with my husband’s family is that my college is a ‘pay your fees, get your B’s', ‘not a REAL college’ college.  And yet it was MY college who helped my husband, who wasn’t an alumnus of theirs, get his foot in the door.  For free.  His school would’ve charged $60/semester for their help.

So, he’s already completed his employment paperwork and starts the new job on the 16th.  I really hope everything works out, because I don’t want to go back to wondering how we’re going to pay our rent, and everything else, on my salary.  I also hope it works out because I’m ready to leave our crappy cozy little apartment behind and buy a house.

Day 17

My husband and I drove to Kansas for Christmas with my mom’s side of the family (the others would come the next day).  I got to show him where I used to live, and I helped my grandfather’s…girlfriend? fiancee? (I really have no idea what their relationship is) start preparing things for dinner the next day.

Day 18

The rest of the family joined us at my grandfather’s house.  We ate, opened gifts, and played White Elephant Dirty Santa.  I don’t think my husband or I ever care to play that game again (well, we might if it includes more items that we could actually use).

Day 19

We had our big Christmas dinner at work.  As usual, it was very delicious.  We all walked away with cute reindeer ornaments.  I also found out that I passed my classes.  What a great present!

Day 20

Even though my boss and I agreed that we weren’t going to get each other anything for Christmas, we did anyway.  She got me some Godiva chocolate and hot chocolate and coffee mix, and I got her a mug, a gift card for frozen custard, and some tea.

Day 21

After spending about a week or so trying to decide what to get my brother-in-law’s girlfriend for Christmas, I pulled out some yarn and crocheted a couple of scarves for her.

Day 22

My husband and I watched A Christmas Carol (the newest version, with Jim Carrey as Scrooge) as we were eating dinner.

Day 23

My husband and I were both off work (I was actually supposed to work, but was told that I didn’t have to come in).  We had lunch with my mother- and brother-in-law, and then spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with my in-laws.  We, or I guess I should say they, watched The Muppet Christmas Carol (I fell asleep sometime during the ghost of Christmas past).

Day 24

We went to the Christmas Eve service at church.  Yep, that about sums it up.

Day 25

We had three Christmases: my parents, my grandparents, and my in-laws.  We ate a lot of food and got a lot of gifts.

Now we’re decompressing and not wanting our time off work to end (my husband goes back tomorrow and I go back Monday).  There’s more reading and crocheting to be done before I lose my freedom to classes yet again.

Day 8

The 8th was the day for our big presentation in PR & Corporate Writing.  We were divided into groups and had to come up with a communication plan for a local domestic violence shelter.  Our professor sent a campus-wide email asking people to donate paper towels, toilet paper, and personal care items to the shelter.  With more than 100 people living there, they run out of items quickly, and are sometimes lacking the funds to go out and replenish the stock immediately.  Our professor sent another email earlier this week with a photo attached showing everything that had been donated.  Let’s just say that our campus has been very kind to those in need this holiday season, and I’m sure the shelter will greatly appreciate this gift.

Donations collected for the shelter

Day 9

The 9th brought a lot of good food – the cafeteria had it’s holiday buffet for faculty, staff, and students, and my husband’s work had their Christmas party.

Day 10

My husband and I braved traffic and crowds to purchase some Christmas gifts (gift cards) for family.  We’re now about half done with our shopping.

Day 11

During church on the 11th, our pastor read How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  He connected the story back to Herod, and talked about the people who try to prevent Christmas from happening.

Day 12

My husband downloaded the new Xbox Live dashboard when it became available.  As he was scrolling through to see if there were any new options for his avatar, he came across the ugly Christmas sweaters.  It reminded me of how family members would always buy me Christmas themed sweatshirts.  Sorry, family, but I really didn’t like them.  I’m so glad I can buy and exchange my own clothes now.

Day 13

I’ve gotten back into my obsessive habit of downloading nook books (and by obsessive, I mean I download them when I really don’t need them.  I have over 900 in my collection right now).  I’ve even downloaded a few Christmas stories.  Maybe I’m becoming less of a Scrooge after all!

Day 14

My sister-in-law and her husband bought me a cake pop cookbook for my birthday.  They have some really cute Christmas themed pops, but I think I’ll stick with making the boring round pops for now.

Day 15

The 15th consisted of yet another holiday feast.  Each year, the academic offices (faculty and staff) in my building have a Christmas lunch.  This is the second year that we’ve had it catered by Honeybaked Ham (well, since I’ve been here anyway).  One of the professors also brought in some rum so we could have spiked punch.

Day 16

My classes are finally over, so now I get to enjoy my nice, long Christmas break.  I have a month to read, crochet, and bake as much as I want before classes start again.

My husband and I are leaving tomorrow morning for Kansas to celebrate Christmas with my mom’s side of the family.  I’m not sure if I’ll have Internet access while I’m gone, so I’ll post about those fun times when I return.

I love the way our Christmas decorations look above the balcony door.  I think we just need a few more ornaments, and then we’ll be all set.

I hate feeling like I’m being pulled in multiple directions for Christmas.  Family members are throwing temper tantrums because they feel like we have to be with them on Christmas day.  What I would really like to do is rotate holidays (Thanksgiving and Christmas) with my family and in-laws.  We may have to start doing that next year.  And I guess if people don’t like it, then we’ll just stay home by ourselves.  They won’t get to see us.   I don’t want to be like that, but I’m tired of the drama.

I hate holidays.