December 23, 2005
Five on Friday for December 23, 2005
In the Holiday Spirit: Thanks for these spirited questions should be direct to Amy.
- 1. What holiday(s) do you celebrate at this time of year? When you greet people, what do you say?
- Solstice, Festivus, and Christmas, even though I'm not a Christian. I generally greet people with a "Happy Holidays," although I will wish my friends and family who celebrate Christmas a "Merry Christmas" because really, the sentiment is a wish for them, not for me. I do go out of my way to buy cards that make no mention of Christmas and prefer ones that omit holiday as well, since not everyone I send cards to actually celebrates a holiday at this time of year.
- 2. Are you ready for the holiday(s)? If so, when did you finish preparations? If not, what do you still have left to do?
- As ready as I'm going to be. Jon is supposed to wrap the most recently delivered presents today, but otherwise, I finished a couple days ago.
- 3. Are you starting new traditions this year? If so, what are they?
- I'm making my own nut rolls this year and sharing them with friends and co-workers. Unfortunately, Jon and I like them enough that I might have to consider making a double-batch next year so we have enough to share. Since Jon and I have been able to spend the last couple Christmases together, we don't really have any new traditions. I suppose those will come once we start having kids in a few years.
- 4. Are you traveling for the holidays? If so, where?
- We're heading down to Connecticut to stay with Jon's parents for a couple days, but that's all.
- 5. Have you found it harder than usual to get into the holiday spirit this year? Why or why not?
- It's been pretty easy this year. I haven't been able to decorate as much as I'd like, between my destructive cats (well, honestly, cat) and my long commute, I just haven't had the desire to decorate the trees with all of my ornaments. Other than that, I've had a lot of fun finding and wrapping gifts this year. I've been listening to 106.7's 24-hour holiday music spree for the last few weeks too.
On a related note, I haven't really found any ornaments or decorations in the stores that I want to buy either. Are they uninspiring or am I just feeling more bah humbug this year?
Posted by criminal at 11:36 AM | Comments (1)
So Tired
I nearly fell asleep driving to work this morning. I don't know whether it was the warm car, the bright sun, or the relaxing Christmas music on the radio, but I was positively ready to pass out. About halfway through the commute I wanted nothing more than to pull over on the side of the road and take a nap. I had to pinch myself more than a few times to stay awake. I got a good night's sleep, so I'm not sure what's going on. Maybe I need to switch back to audio books to keep from dozing.
Posted by criminal at 11:30 AM | Comments (0)
December 21, 2005
Before Friday
- Finish the laundry
- Wrap and deliver Amy's present
- Pretty up nut rolls for office delivery
- Pack for holiday weekend
- Unpack office
- Create a thought-provoking and holiday-themed Five on Friday
- Change resolution on giganto monitor
- Make gingerbread cookies
Posted by criminal at 05:30 PM | Comments (1)
The Reason for the Season
Light the yule log and enjoy a toasty beverage before you head to bed tonight. Remember that tomorrow marks the beginning of a sunnier, albeit colder, season.
Happy Winter Solstice!
Enjoy a little solstice humor to keep your heart light. Unless of course, you're an all-around Grinch.
Posted by criminal at 04:07 PM | Comments (0)
December 19, 2005
New Digs
We moved to our new office today, although we had to work from a tiny conference room while our furniture was being moved. Tomorrow will be spent unpacking and frantically trying to finish the graphics for the most recent edition of Transformations. And the moving crew still has a large desk to move out of my new cube and a bunch of partitions to put up so my new neighbors will stop ordering coffee and cashing checks at my counter.
Speaking of neighbors, they new division seems to be pretty friendly. Just about everyone stopped by to say hi and welcome us. A few even left tasty treats and nifty crafts for us. Now I feel obligated to share the batch of nut rolls I just made (including the experimental walnut-chocolate-chip and pecan versions).
Posted by criminal at 09:55 PM | Comments (0)
December 18, 2005
Reindeer Games
| You Are Blitzen |
 Why You're Naughty: You're always blitzed on Christmas Eve, while flying! Why You're Nice: You mix up a mean eggnog martini. |
Posted by criminal at 09:34 AM | Comments (2)
December 16, 2005
Boxes, Little Boxes
I'm the last one in the office. Everything is packed up, save the computer I'm using right now. There are little boxes everywhere, filled with all of the objects that made our office unique. Little boxes full of toys and trinkets that remind us of our former workstudies. Of Alex. Of Troy. And now that it's all packed away, the place looks sterile. Just a big, ugly box that holds little boxes, stuffed with the Web Development Office.
It's finally sinking in. That realization that the WDO is gone, which I've been denying for a while, has come to a head. Come Monday, I'm going to walk into an entirely different place and set up shop with a bunch of new people without most of the people I've come to associate with "work" and web development. There will be no WDO to run back to, just a ticky-tacky maze. Somehow, I get the feeling that once I pack up this keyboard and lock the door, the Web Development Office will cease to exist, becoming just another piece of WPI history to be cataloged in the Wiki.
Posted by criminal at 05:29 PM | Comments (2)
Five on Friday for December 16, 2005
- 1. How many books do you read per month? How many are for work/school?
- Lately I have been reading about two or three books a month and listening to another two in the car. And they're almost all for my own pleasure, although a few books about Web standards and design tend to work their way into the pile.
- 2. What is your favorite genre of book (fiction, self-help, etc...)?
- Definately fiction. Mostly I read the "literature" sort but often delve into horror, suspense, and historical.
- 3. Do you subscribe to any magazines? Which? Are there any you'd like to subscribe to but haven't?
- My only subscription is to Real Simple, but I wouldn't mind having subscriptions to Interweave Knits, Martha Stewart Living, or American Bungalow.
- 4. Where do you get your reading materials? Online? Bookstore? Library?
- I get most of my books from Half.com and Goodwill, although I often end up buying my book club books at a bookstore.
- 5. List 5 books you recommend people read:
- My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Piccoult
- Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides
- Wicked by Gregory Maguire
- Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
- The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Posted by criminal at 10:14 AM | Comments (3)
December 15, 2005
Christmas Spirit
In case you hadn't noticed, the design here has changed. I felt it needed something a little more festive. This of course means I'll have to change it again in a couple weeks, but I think I've got this whole thing nailed down.
Posted by criminal at 12:11 PM | Comments (5)
December 13, 2005
Christmas Meme
- 1. What is your favorite Christmas carol/song?
- The Huron Carol, which I fell in love with when I heard the instrumental version on A Canadian Brass Christmas. The lyrics make it even more special though.
- 2. White lights or multiciolored?
- White in everything except big pine trees. Those require the large, multi-colored ceramic bulbs.
- 3. Do you have a cut tree, live tree or an artificial tree?
- I have 4 artificial trees. As much as I like fresh cut trees, I can't deal with the needle dropping or the thought that I'm killing it to make my living room smell like pine.
- 4. Eggnog, mulled cider, or hot chocolate?
- Egg nog.
- 5. Do you decorate your house with lights?
- There is one lonely strand of ceramic bulbs on our porch railing. If I hadn't broken the other strands last year, there might've been more.
- 6. Do you write a Christmas letter?
- No.
- 7. Do you like receiving Christmas letters/photos?
- Of course. They're all hung from swags of ribbon with tiny clothespins in the living room.
- 8. What is your favorite Christmas story/movie?
- A Charlie Brown Christmas
- 9. Have you ever made a gingerbread house?
- I tried to make one a couple years ago, but it was too crooked to stand up.
- 10. Poinsettias or holly?
- Holly.
- 11. Do you display a nativity scene?
- No.
- 12. Do you bake Christmas cookies?
- Lots! Nut rolls, and sugar cookies, and Grandma's white cookies with all kinds of ingredients, and pumpkin spice drops, and gingerbread, and...
- 13. Ham or turkey?
- Turkey.
- 14. In what languages can you wish someone a Merry Christmas (without cheating)?
- English, Spanish, and French.
- 15. Do you know all the words to Jingle Bells?
- Yep.
- 16. Do you put presents under the tree?
- Yes. In fact, I've been known to raise my tree up a foot so more presents will fit.
- 17. How do you eat a candy cane?
- I break it into inch-long segments that I can enjoy safely.
- 18. What is your biggest holidays pet peeve?
- It's a tie between burnt-out lights and the general disarray that stores fall into just before Christmas.
- 19. What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
- Eating nut rolls with my family. Although I have a new family this year, so we'll be making new traditions.
- 20. What was the best present you ever got for Christmas?
- Tires! Although the yarn swift that Jon ventured (alone!) into a horde of knitters to get for me is a close second.
Posted by criminal at 11:54 AM | Comments (1)
December 12, 2005
Baby It's Cold Outside
- I Really Can't Stay
For the first time in my life, I won't be home for Christmas. Jon and I have decided to start alternating holidays to keep things sane. And this year we're staying in New England. Next year we're hoping to head out to Michigan a few days before Christmas and stay for about a week. I don't think the reality of it has hit home yet, because I keep expecting to see and do all the usual things. - Your Eyes Are Like Starlight Now
My cousin Tara is going to be performing in the Capitol One Bowl again this year. Part of her cheerleading squad was able to take part in the half-time entertainment last year and they've been invited again. And even more importantly, she has been accepted to Central Michigan University! I'm so proud. - It's Up to Your Knees Out There
After all was said and done, we got a little over a foot of snow in Lowell. Jon had a heck of a time getting home and my poor car was fairly packed in once the plows went by. Luckily Jon and I were able to get it free Saturday night with minimal shoveling. Our actual parking lot wasn't plowed until after 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, after they sent someone around to knock on all the doors and get the residents to move their cars. It was a quick-moving storm, but I hate to think that this is what our snow removal will be like for the rest of the year. - Say, What's In This Drink?
Jon is on a beer kick again. I know part of it is because he's been brewing another batch of homebrew (barley wine this time) and because he's hoping to get involved with a few special projects at work. The bonus is that I get to taste all kinds of beer, including Michelob's Celebrate. Mmm.
Posted by criminal at 02:01 PM | Comments (1)
December 09, 2005
Five on Friday for December 9, 2005
On the Line - Thanks should go to Amy for this set of revealing questions.
- 1. How much time do you spend online in a given weekday? What about the weekends?
- 8-9 hours a day on weekdays and less than 1 a day on weekends.
- 2. What time(s) of day do you go online? Is it the same every day?
- I spend all day online at work and usually hop on later in the evenings. It varies on the weekends depending on what I'm trying to do.
- 3. When you first get online, what do you do first? What sites do you visit every day?
- When I'm at work, I open my e-mail first. I will usually check Live Journal and turn my AIM away message off. I usually check in again in before lunch, adding boston.com, CNN, and a few blogs to the rotation.
- 4. How many online journals/blogs do you read regularly? What are some of your favorites and why?
- Not including Live Journals, about 8, including Yarn Harlot, Marmalade, and Dooce.
- 5. Other than reading e-mails and journals, what else do you do online? (shopping, chatting, research, etc.)
- I do a lot of research online. Whenever I hear something interesting, I'll go look up more about it. I've learned a great deal about knitting this way. I chat on AIM occasionally, but I find I don't have as much patience for it as I used to. I also get my news and traffic online when I'm not shopping. I also used the Internet to find my husband.
Posted by criminal at 04:39 PM | Comments (0)
Snow Day
WPI didn't close for the day, but everything around here did, so I chose to stay at home. I was up early enough that the ride to work wouldn't have been terrible. It was the ride home that concerned me. With every station predicting at least 8 to 10 inches of snow to fall along I-495 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., I didn't want to be out on roads at the tail end of the storm. It has been snowing steadily since I got up at 6:30 a.m. and it's really starting to accumulate.
8 a.m.: 1.5"
10 a.m.: 3.5"
12 p.m.: 6"
2 p.m.: 8" with drifts, I can't see across the parking lot
3:30 p.m.: 10-12", snow has cleared
Posted by criminal at 12:39 PM | Comments (0)
December 08, 2005
Zap!
There's electricity in the air today. And I mean it, quite literally. It's dry and cold so the static is building up everywhere. Apparently my cheap sweater coat from WalMart is an excellent conductor of this season's static electricity because it sends dozens of little zings up and down my arms whenever I put it on or take it off. The bathroom is even worse because of all the metal door handles. I keep waiting for something (like the new carpet in the hallway) to spark and catch fire. It wouldn't take much with all this energy hanging around.
Posted by criminal at 02:45 PM | Comments (0)
December 06, 2005
A Confession
I'm going to a fraternity for the first time ever. Yes, you heard me right. It's my first time. I've walked past the houses here many times, have known plenty of people in our Greek system, and been invited to a number of "frat parties," but in all the years I've been here I have never been inside one. Strange, but true. One of my workstudies invited me to his fraternity's annual faculty social. I'm about to head over with Amy and Joan, who were also invited. Oddly, I'm a bit nervous. I know it won't be anything like Animal House, but I don't know what to expect otherwise.
Posted by criminal at 05:27 PM | Comments (2)
December 05, 2005
Note to Self #637
When snow needs to be swept off your car, cuffed pants make a poor wardrobe choice.
Posted by criminal at 09:35 AM | Comments (0)
December 02, 2005
Five on Friday for December 2, 2005
Paging Stacy and Clinton
I'm not sure what's wrong with the feed for Five on Friday. The file that LiveJournal is supposed to be pulling the data from is being updated and hasn't changed in structure since it went up a couple months ago. Something on the LiveJournal side must have changed to make it wonky. In the meantime, my own five can serve as your reminder.
- 1. Describe your favorite article of clothing? Why is it your favorite?
- My black ribbed turtleneck sweater from Gap. I own the same sweater (they have made small changes to its fabric and construction every year) in about seven colors but the black one is my favorite. I've had it for about four years now and after all those trips through the washer, it really needs to be replaced. I feel instantly pulled-together and sophisticated when I yank it over my head. It doesn't matter how messed up my hair is or how grubby my pants are, I just feel good when I wear it.
- 2. Have you ever done something awful to your hair? What did you do?
- Hmm... should I tell you about the poodle perms, the crimper phase, or the oak tree hair? Since the first two are pretty self-explanatory I'll have to explain why some of my friends called me oak tree. When I was in elementary school it was very vogue to curl and rat your bangs into a big poofy mess. Because of my hairline and face shape, I never had a lot of bangs, so I did what I could with them. I had a short fringe that got curled under and a strip of 5-inch-long stuff that got curled and teased into oblivion. The back bit always ended up looking like a large oak tree, sprouting from behind the tightly rolled fringe. On a dare from my now stepmom and step-sister I ratted it to a height of 6 inches. That woody hair will forever be worse than the perms, the crimps, and even the chocolate-cherry dye jobs.
- 3. Confess the worst fashion trend you ever succumbed to.
- Florescent colored leggings. Worn under oversized t-shirts covered in surfer graphics or flamingos. And of course I had matching florescent barettes.
- 4. Are there any current or recent fashion trends do you just don't get?
- Even though I came of age during the grunge era, I have trouble understanding the mainstream punk look that every kid seems to want now. But even more than modern punk, I don't get ultra low rise pants. They don't seem to flatter 96% of the people who wear them. I would've been so screwed if they'd been hot when I was a teenager.
- 5. If you were nominated by your friends and family to be on What Not to Wear, how would they describe your fashion situation?
- They would probably say that I need a little more color and pattern in my wardrobe. And better accessories. I've tried to improve on these things myself, but most bright or patterned shirts I buy just end up sitting in my closet unworn.
Posted by criminal at 11:22 AM | Comments (1)