Christmas in review

We just got back from St. Louis. We spent Christmas with Nathan’s family this year. Before we went to St. Louis, I went to a band conference in downtown Chicago. I usually dread going to those things. It always seems like the people I spent four years trying to avoid at U of I are the ones I run into and the conference only has one or two lectures I really like. That was not the case this year. Every lecture I went to was great and I learned a lot. Also I got to spend some quality time with two of my favorite professors from U of I. I am so glad I went.

On Friday after the conference Nathan and I met some friends for dinner which was great fun. After dinner Nathan and I exchanged gifts. I got Nathan some dress shoes, a shirt, and Family Guy on DVD. (He is watching them as I type.) Nathan got me a pair of white gold hoop earrings and a digital picture frame. Then we headed south early Saturday morning.

St. Louis was good. We got a chance to see both sides of his extended family as well as his good buddy Andy. It was fun to run around after his little niece Anna. I had a great heart to heart with Matt, Nathan’s brother. I like Matt a lot but I have never had a serious talk with him, so I am glad we got a chance to do that. Other than that it was just your standard family fun. I will attach a couple of pictures, enjoy.

Merry Christmas!

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas this year.

Shopping for the Holidays

So yesterday I was determined to finish off all my Christmas shopping. I did a fair amount early online. I was feeling confident that I was well on the way to getting everyone something they wanted on my list. Then that ship kinda sailed.

I pulled Nathan’s cousin Mike for the family gift exchange. Mike is a great guy, however, he is very hard to shop for. I know that could be said about most guys, but I think it is extra true for Mike. I asked his sister for hints and after that did not work out I found myself in Borders. I was standing in the bookstore like a deer in headlights. After I accepted I was probably not going to pick the perfect book, I decided to go for the laugh. At first I grabbed a coffee table book about Tu-Pac, but that was a fair amount over the budget. Next I grabbed an orange fuzzy book about gay Muppets, but then I chickened about. Finally, I settled on a book called “Superstud.” It was written by the creator of the TV show “Freaks and Geeks.” I was smiling reading the back cover, so I hope Mike likes the book or at least gets the joke. I continued my Borders experience by finding they did not have the Civil War book I was going to get my Dad. I just asked a person browsing in that section to recommend one for me. I hope that the lady knew what she was talking about. I ended my shopping trip by buying myself two sweaters. They were not on my gift list, but aren’t those the best gifts, the ones you stumble on for yourself? Anyways, I am now done with shopping for Christmas… I think…I hope…

so cute

Take a minute and visit this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P6UU6m3cqk
I laughed til my cheeks hurt, it is so cute!

Fighting

I am fighting off a cold. A pretty nasty flu bug is going around my school. I can not get sick before my concert on Tuesday (all are invited by the way.) So I am taking Zicam, vitamin C and Zinc to try and stay healthy. If you could keep your toes crossed for me that could not hurt.

nephew part 2

So I gave my nephew the stupid cards he said he wanted just last weekend at Thanksgiving. Let me paint the picture at Thanksgiving. I am sitting across from him at the dinner table. Jen: "Michael, what do you want for you birthday?" Michael: "I like Yu Giou Cards and Pokemon Cards." Jen: "Which one do you like better?" Michael: "Yu Giou." Jen: "Any specific type of Yu Giou Cards?" Michael: "No, I like them all." Flash forward to this evening. Micheal opens this present and his smile immediately goes away. Jen: "Michael isn't this what you asked for?" Michael: "Sort of." Jen: "What?!?! You said Yo Giou cards any kind." Michael: "Oh."

Cindy I know you said you hate when people give cash and to be honest I do too. It takes no thought and that is why I dislike it. However, I might have to resort to giving this kid cash, otherwise I might strangle him. Nathan almost had to hold me back this evening. I was so close to blowing my top. I bought the kid exactly what he wanted. Maybe he just gets some kind of sick pleasure out of not liking gifts from me.

nephew

My nephew’s birthday was yesterday and we are going to go see him this weekend. I always dread giving him presents. Not because I am a miser or anything. He just never seems to like what I get him. I got him a really neat present last year for Christmas (well I thought it was neat). He was going through a dinosaur phase and he had recently told me he wanted to be an archaeologist. So I bought him this dinosaur replica encased in stone that you had to chisel out and then assemble the pieces. Did this not meet the two criteria of his life ambition and his favorite toy? Well he looked at me like I just gave him coal. Then he tossed the thing over his shoulder and I never saw the thing again. This year for his birthday I got him Yo Guio cards. I have no idea what these things are or even how to spell the damn thing, but he said he wanted them. I gave up trying to figure out what he would want. My nieces are so much easier. I always hit a home run and I never have to ask them what they are into. Maybe it is the whole girl buying for a girl thing. All I know is I just spent a lot of money on little things that look like baseball cards and he better not just toss them over his shoulder.