REMEMBER THIS AT CHRISTMAS TIME................
According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male
and female reindeers grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer
drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to
mid-December. Female reindeers retain their antlers till after they
give birth in the spring.

Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's
reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a
girl.

We should've known.... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat man in a
red velvet suit all around the world in one night and never get lost.

Tonight we visited the most awesome light display I've seen. I just *love* the teddy bears. I made my first youtube video too :) Clicky here to see my lame homevideo :)

http://www.peteyville.net/home.html

I'll probably have more photos to add after tomorrow...

Most parts are hilarious

When four of Santa's elves got sick, the trainee elves did not produce
toys as fast as the regular ones, and Santa began to feel the
pre-Christmas pressure. Then Mrs. Claus told Santa her Mother was coming
to visit, which stressed Santa even more.

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that three of them were
about to give birth and two others had jumped the fence and were out,
Heaven knows where. Then when he began to load the sleigh, one of the
floorboards cracked, the toy bag fell to the ground and all the toys
were scattered. So, frustrated, Santa went in the house for a cup of
apple cider and a shot of rum.

When he went to the cupboard, he discovered the elves had drank all the
cider and hidden the liquor. In his frustration, he accidentally dropped
the cider jug, and it broke into hundreds of little glass pieces all
over the kitchen floor. He went to get the broom and found the mice had
eaten all the straw off the end of the broom.

Just then the doorbell rang, and irritated Santa marched to the door,
yanked it open, and there stood a little angel with a great big
Christmas tree. The angel said very cheerfully, "Merry Christmas, Santa.
Isn't this a lovely day? I have a beautiful tree for you. Where would
you like me to stick it?"

And so began the tradition of the little angel on top of the Christmas
tree

I grabbed a recipe off the internet awhile back for a crockpot ham. It said to cook it in the crockpot for 7-8 hours.

Last night around 10:30 pm I went to bed with the crockpot going on LOW. I planned to wake up at 6 am to check on it.

Still in a state of sleep, i woke up, flipped on the laundry room lights so as to not to distrub Joe who was sleeping on my couch. He woke up anyways.

I saw that the crockpot was boiling. I freaked out. Ok.. the ham.. was BLACK.. well some parts were..

I got Joe up.. after many requests.. to come and test taste it. It failed. The $12+ stuff I spent on the ham dish was a waste.

I will be brining only a pumpkin pie and whipped cream to the office pot luck. If they ask.. didn't you say you were going to bring ham... I'll have to say "I burnt the ham" :(

An Overdue Visit

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the nation
Friends of Freedom knew it was a special occasion.
Lady Liberty stood taller just off the shore
Her torch shining brighter than a few weeks before

But it wasn't the flame turning her cheeks all rosy
It was thoughts of Snowe, Feingold and Nancy Pelosi
And leaders from every side of the aisle
Who would soon bring the Bill of Rights back into style.

The Amendments had all hurried out of their beds -
Which was no easy task, they were nearly in shreds -
And they rushed to the window on papery feet
As a jolly old man flew right over their street.

"Could it be!?" they inquired as the roof shook and trembled
And they crept toward the mantle, peaceably assembled,
Just as someone emerged from the chimney with flair
In a shiny red suit, with a shock of white hair

And a top hat, and pants all in red, white and blue -
"Wait a minute," the Amendments exclaimed, "Who are you?"
"Don't be frightened my children," he said, "it's no scam.
"You can't have forgotten your old Uncle Sam!"

"Holy crap!" said Free Speech. "Stop right there!" yelled Bear Arms
And Privacy cried "Who shut off the alarms?!"
The Fifth remained silent, but Uncle Sam said
"We've been having some trouble, but Freedom's not dead."

The Amendments were cautious. "It's just been so long
"We've seen Liberty lost, we've seen so much go wrong.
"The President's trying to mangle and warp us,
"The Fourth is in tatters, so's Habeas Corpus!"

The old man sat down - he had had quite a ride -
But he told them "Don't worry, the Law's on our side,
"'Cause the nation's fed up and more people are crying
"For Justice and an end to illegal spying,

"And secret abductions by the CIA,
"And laws that would take women's choices away,
"And Gitmo tribunals and secret detention,
"And other intrusions too numerous to mention - "

"Not so fast," said a grinchity voice from above
And Don Rumsfeld pushed past the Fourteenth with a shove.
He was covered in soot and he looked kind of scary.
It seemed like his Christmas had not been so merry.

The Amendments said they weren't happy to see him:
"You tried to throw all of us in the museum!
"You've done so much the Constitution forbids!"
"And I would have gone on, but for you meddling kids!"

Uncle Sam told him "Rummy, your plans just won't do,
"So we've got a brand new timetable for you!"
And as Rumsfeld retired and crept into the night
The Amendments cried out "Have a good secret flight!"

From the distance they heard him reply with a snort.
"Bye-bye, Rummy!" they answered, "we'll see you in court!"
Uncle Sam rode the chimney up out of the room
And, like Frosty, he said "I'll be back again soon."

But they heard him exclaim "Oh, and just one more thing!
"This year, when the holiday bells start to ring,
"Try to honor religion. Honest faith can't be wrong.
"It's America, can't we all just get along?

"So, on Christian," he cried, "Muslim, Hindu, and Jew!
"On Quaker! On Shaker! And Atheist too!
"On Buddhist! On Taoist! And to show we're not chickens
"We'll file a few lawsuits defending the Wiccans!

"Your belief is your right, so get out there and savor it.
"Uncle Sam's not a preacher, and he doesn't play favorites!"
So this holiday season, whatever you do,
Warmest wishes for Freedom, from the ACLU.

I've class in a few minutes. I've been taking a break to blog about my life. I'm thinking that I'd like to have my friends over for the holidays (before or after). I'd like to put up my christmas tree, play some music, have a fire log burning in my fireplace, egg nog, and holiday food snacks, and play fun games. I so want my class to be over. Wouldn't that be a nice gathering?

I'm taking Friday and monday off work to work on my class term paper and take-home exam.

Tonight I have class and will probably go home to clean, take out the garbage, and maybe iron my clothes.
Tomorrow I have my class at IIT and will eat dinner in the chinatown area. I'm already salvating for it...
I'll work on and hopefully complete another topic of my term paper.. the overview of the august 14th, 2003 blackout.


I think everything is going to be ok. That's what my mom used to say to me when i got stressed out over college and feared failing. I have succeded this far.. I will succeed in the end.