Training to Train

This week has started the Training to Train sessions at work.
I am training to be a trainer for the new system that our company is installing and implementing February 1st. The frustrating part of the whole picture is that the training manuals haven't even been written yet; so it makes me wonder how I am supposed to train my peers on a system I haven't even had time to learn myself. The whole project has been disorganized from the beginning.

Here is to hoping the trainers have all the information needed when it comes time to train.

A few more random pictures from Christmas

Here is Jordan and his new hat. He has wanted a hat for so long but could never find a size large enough for his head. (Big brains you know!) Anyway, Todd and I were on a quest to find him a hat for Christmas. Had to special order it from a Hat store. But it was worth it, he looks so good in it and with his new winter coat, he will look awesome (I will have to take a pic of that when he wears the two together.)

Check out the name of the wine. We purchased it for the name. Not being much of a wine drinker, I thought it was actually pretty good. Also purchased a red wine Middle Sister Mischief Maker LOL


Here is Nikolas, he got a Wii game, a DS game, a board game and a reindeer beanie baby from us; Along with a PEZ dispenser, something we always get for him.

Some Photos of our Christmas

Here are some photo of our Christmas morning:
Looks like Santa came.

Jordan waiting to open gifts.

Ethan opening gifts.

A WII for the family room.

Mary got some jewelry.

Dilly got gifts too.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas
I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and was able to spend time with family and/or friends.

Well She Was Correct

Back in November, I went and saw the psychic with a few friends from work. (see November postings)
Anyway she mentioned Christmas and how we were going to have a nice holiday, she also said:
Psychic: 2 unexpected gifts, one is really going to big. One is jewelry.
Me: Oh nice

She was correct:

I didn't ask for this for Christmas this year, but I did mention that I would eventually like to get either the Open Heart Necklace designed my Jane Seymour and/or the Shared Hearts Autism Necklace that Zales is promoting.
Todd and the boys really surprised me and got me the Open Heart Pendant for Christmas.
It's alway nice for a girl to get a little "Bling".

GOD Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen-Barenaked Ladies

I really like this song this time of year especially this version featuring Sarah McLachlan. Audio Only..To hear it, make sure you pause my blog music located in the left column of my blog.

Christmas Eve 2009

The early morning brought an ice storm to the area.
We had to go out in the mess and run some errands to make sure we had everything we needed for Christmas Day.
We then spent most of the day cleaning, some laundry and lounging around. We watched the movie ELF in the afternoon, I am so glad that I was able to watch it before Christmas.
I made Beef Stew for our Christmas Eve dinner which was really good and then took some these pictures.
These are the 4 lit trees that we have in our front yard. I took this picture from the front door. Because of the rain, I didn't step out and take pictures of the house lit.

It looks like the family will be getting some nice gifts this year. I'll post pics of the loot in a later post.

My 2 favorite ornaments on our tree.
Jordan's baby booty ornament

Ethan's baby booty ornament
Both given to me by my friend Dawn when my children were born.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular on PBS

Tonight they showed on PBS the 75th Anniversary of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. It was the same show that Todd and I went and saw 2 years ago in Chicago; but this broadcast was the actual New York show. Watching it I couldn't believe it had been 2 years already.
My favorite parts is the dance the Rockettes do to the 12 days of Christmas, the toy soldiers dance and the spectacular Nativity scene.
The sad part about the watching it on TV was the idiot who edited it did a crappy job. The camera angles kept changing every 3 to 5 seconds. (Todd actually counted it was more 1 to 3 seconds) So, it was hard to see the full Rockettes when they danced. Bummer!

Miserable Weather Day!

Today was a miserable weather day.
Around noon we started getting rain with slight ice in it. By the time I left work we had to use the scrapper to scrap the ice off the windows. Driving home wasn't as bad as I thought it would have been. Yes there were icy spots but most of the road were just wet. I decided since the road weren't that bad I would stop at Walgreens and pick up the perscription that needed to be picked up and stocking stuffers for the guys. I arrived home safely and found that my son salted the driveway and sidewalk to the front door; Yeah Ethan! All we needed was Todd to get home from the train station safely and we would all be able to hybernate in the house for the evening.

Miserable Weather Day!

Card 52 of 52 for 2009

I made it, I did 52 cards in 52 weeks. That's one card a week, even though they weren't posted weekly.lol Thanks so much for coming to my blog to look at my cards. I will continue to post cards in 2010 but will not title them as a "weekly" countdown anymore.
This idea is not mine, but I did get the idea from Dawn Griffiths' blog who received a card similar as a RAK from a women named Laurie; not sure who Laurie is, but thanks for sharing!!! Thanks also to Dawn Griffith for your great ideas over this past year, I used many of them for my stamp camps!
I usually scan my cards instead of taking pictures of them but I decided that since I did this card multiple times in multiple colors; it was easier to just take pictures.
I went a little overboard making them, but they were fun to do.
The many different tree colors:

The mailman is getting this color:

2 more different colored ones:

I had to try a multi-colored tree for fun:


I hope you come and visit my blog in 2010 to view more of my handmade cards.
Happy Holidays!

Christmas in Connecticut

I DVR'ed the movie Christmas in Connecticut a few weeks ago with the intention on watching it before Christmas on a Sunday lazy morning, well today is that lazy Sunday Morning.

Starring Barbara Stanwyck and Dennis Morgan; Journalist Elizabeth Lane (Stanwyck) is one of the country's most famous food writers. In her columns, she describes herself as a hard working farm woman, taking care of her children and being an excellent cook. But this is all lies. In reality she is an umarried New Yorker who can't even boil an egg. The recipes come from her good friend Felix. The owner of the magazine she works for has decided that a heroic sailor (Morgan) will spend his Christmas on her farm. Miss Lane knows that her career is over if the truth comes out, but what can she do? plot curtesy of IMBD

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Tonight we are watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The one directed by Ron Howard and starring Jim Carrey.
Love this live version of this movie, Jim Carrey does an excellent job as the Grinch and Taylor Momsen who plays Cindy Lou Who is so cute.

My Favorite Quote from the movie:
Hello? (Echo) Hello? (Grinch) How are you? (echo) How are you? (Grinch) I asked you first! (echo) I asked you first! (Grinch) Oh! That's reeeeeeally mature; saying EXACTLY what I say! (Echo) Oh! That's reeeeeeally mature; saying EXACTLY what I say! (Grinch) I'm an idiot! (echo) You're an idiot! (Grinch whispering) Alright fine! I'm not talking to you anymore! In fact, I'm going to whisper! So then by the time my voice reverbrates off the wall and gets back to me, I won't be able to hear it! (echo) You're an idiot!

Prep & Landing

A new Disney animated Christmas special is airing this year. It is being repeat tonight and I am planning on watching it.
I will post beneath the picture later to let you know if I like it or not


It was good! Humor, cute animation & great characters voice actors. Liked it a lot.

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Tonight on ABC the Christmas classic for all the children born in the 1960's and beyond.

I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas

Here Nikolas, I found this.
(to listen pause my blog music.

Deck the Halls

We watched another Chirstmas movie tonight. Deck the Halls
Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick star in this holiday movie about two neighbors in a small New England town who go to war when one of them decides to decorate his house with a so many Christmas lights that they are visible from space. The neighborhood is turned upside down as the families try to discover the true meaning of Christmas. Plot summary courtesy of IMDB

Card 51 of 52 for 2009

Here is a Christmas card that I only made for a few people. ;o)

Fairly Odd Parents Christmas

Todd and I got stuck watching, I mean really enjoyed watching the Fairly Odd Parents Christmas with our nephew Nikolas tonight while we were waiting for his dad to pick him up tonight.

Storyline: Because Timmy wishes it would be Christmas everyday, it ends up as a big disaster. He must stop Santa from being banished to February 33rd, a day that doesn't exist. Now, he has to go all the way to the North Pole to stop this madness.

Quite different then your usual Christmas TV shows.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Was on TV tonight.
Love this stop anination Christmas Special. This 1970 special was something that I grew up with and was able to share with my kids as they grew up.

Card 50 of 52 for 2009

We made this card at the Christmas Card Camp last month

Fred Claus

Time to start watching some Christmas movies.
The 1st one of the season that we watched tonight is Fred Claus. Having not seen this movie before, we saw that it was on HBO and DVR'ed it. It was actually very funny and so glad we watched it.



Summary from Starplus.com: Santa's black-sheep brother gets a much-needed shot at redemption in this holiday comedy. It's not easy being the brother of a benevolent and beloved saint. After struggling for years to live up to the example set by his younger sibling Nicholas, Fred has finally given up. These days Fred is working as a repo man and his shady tactics have landed him in jail. While Mrs. Claus vehemently insists that Fred fend for himself, Nicholas refuses to sit idly by as his brother rots in jail and agrees to set bail if Fred will repay the debt by coming to the North Pole and help make toys for the upcoming Christmas season. But Fred isn't nearly as productive as your average elf, and he's got quite an attitude to boot. With Christmas fast approaching and Fred threatening to sideline Nicholas' entire finely tuned operation, the brother that always struggled to get out from under his sibling's substantial shadow finds out just how far the patience of a saint can be pushed before jolly old Santa reaches his breaking point. Starring Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti.

Card 49 of 52 for 2009

Here is another Christmas Card we made at my Christmas Card Camp last month

Happy Birthday Phyllis

2 Holiday Specials

Tonight ABC showed 2 holiday specials one a classic and one that someday might turn into a classic.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Dr. Seuss and Chuck Jones developed a Seuss classic with his holiday special

Following was Shrek the Halls
A fun Christmas special that features the original voices from the Shrek movies. A Christmas special that will hopefully turn into a classic someday.

25 More Days!

Click directly on comic to enlarge if you cannot read it.

Santa Who?

Todd is a Leslie Nielsen fan and saw that the movie Santa Who? was going to be on ABC Family and DVR'ed it. This morning since it is such a gloomy day out we decided to watch it. A very cute a funny movie, young kids will really like this movie.

Plot Summary cutsety of IMDB: Santa Claus develops amnesia after accidentally falling out of his sleigh and only the innocence of a small child can save him. Meanwhile, Santa has to battle the disbelief of a newsman.

Card 48 of 52 for 2009

Here is a card that we made at the Christmas Card camp about a month ago.
A pretty simple card.

Thanksgiving Joke

One of Todd's memories when he was child on Thanksgiving was one Aunt would bring lime green Jell-o with carrots in it. Sounds disgusting doesn't it? I Googled Jell-o with carrots and found a orange Jell-o with carrot recipe. I made the recipe as written but I substitute the orange Jell-o with lime.
As a joke we took it to Thanksgiving. Some of the grand kids looked at it strangely so we shared the joke with them. One of Todd's sister actually said she like that Jell-o. Ewwe!
I found out today that my BIL took the lime green Jell-o to my In-laws house and dumped it on them LOL
It was meant to be thrown away after it was displayed with all the other Thanksgiving food, but apparently it was kept and being shared.

Here is a photo of the salad. Looks sick don't it? It has Jell-o, shredded carrots, pecan chips, crushed pineapples and lemon juice in it. When I made it I thought it looked like vomit. LOL

Cousins

The only picture I took on Thanksgiving Day. (Actually nobody broke out any cameras)
Jordan's face looks a little devious but he said he as tired.
Cousins-Jordan and Sydney

Happy Thanksgiving

May the bounty of what you are thankful for out number the bounty of food you comsume today!

Happy 20th Birthday to my boy Ethan

Happy Birthday to you Ethan!

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Tonight I was in the mood for a period movie so I saw this one listed on HBO on Demand; I saw that Amy Adams and Frances McDormand were the two lead characters and thought I would give it a try. What a cute whimsical movie that keeps moving. Kind of reminds me of Victor/Victoria.



Part of Plot Cursey of IMDB: War threatens London as Miss Pettigrew (Frances McDormand), a destitute governess, filches a client's card from her agency and presents herself at the door of singer Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams). Delysia wants a social secretary as she seeks a West End role by sleeping with a feckless producer in the bed of Nick, a smarmy nightclub owner with whom she also dallies. She ignores Michael, her piano player, who loves her and has tickets for New York on the Queen Mary. Miss Pettigrew's job is to make sure Delysia gets the part. Over 24 hours, Miss Pettigrew is also called upon to help an ambitious and unfaithful fashion editor patch things up with her older fiancé, a lingerie designer. All this happens in one chaotic day in the life of Miss Pettigrew.

Card 47 of 52 for 2009

This is one of the cards that was made at my annual Christmas card camp early this month.

1st Christmas Special

Tonight BEFORE Thankgiving, I a talking before even the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving specail airs. NBC showed Merry Madagascar.

Well of course I watched it. LOL
It had all the original character voices which I LOVE. I hate it when they don't use the original artist on remakes.
It was very funny, I really enjoyed it.

I think I broke my small toe

I was leaving the bathroom this morning after showering and getting ready, I turned and didn't realize the door was partically open, my small toe and the one next to it hit the bottom of the door. I am having a lot of trouble walking on it, am in a lot of pain, the toe is swollen and cannot get a shoe on.
I am not going to the doctor, why? it's a toe, and on top of it, it's the little toe. What is he going to be able to do?
I read on the internet to tape the toe and the neighboring toe together to stablize the toe, so that's what I am doing.
Putting a shoe on tomorrow for work should be interesting.

Christmas Songs

I added a few Christmas songs to my blog this afternoon.
About a week earlier then what I would have done it, but I am not sure when I would have found time to pick out songs. These are some of my favorite holiday songs. I have it set for random shuffle so each time you come to my blog, you might hear a different song.
ENJOY!

The Pink Panther 2

Tonight we finally had a FREE evening so I picked a movie from our DVD collection and decided upon The Pink Panther 2.

This is actually Jordan's movie and he didn't mind us borrowing it.
Plot Cutesy of IMDB:
After having been rewarded for solving the mystery of the Pink Panther Diamond, inspector Jacques Clouseau has been assigned to minor tasks by his boss inspector Dreyfus so as not to have him in his way anymore. Unfortunately, the famous diamond has once again been stolen as have many other artifacts in a series of burglaries around the world. His past success will enable inspector Clouseau to be part of the dream team comprised of the greatest detectives of the affected countries, where he will be able to display his numerous talents across the world.

There was a lot of physical comedy with an all star cast. It was really quite funny.

Psychic Reading 2

Friday evening the ladies from work and I went to the Psychic. This is the same Psychic I went back in May.
No bad news which was nice, no one getting injured or sick.
Here is the transcript from my reading. P=Psychic M=Me
I start by shuffling a deck of playing cards really good.
P: Make 3 piles make a wish and don't tell me.
P: Everything? (meaning bad and good)
M: Sure
P: Money, money going to come to you, GOD Bless! Money. Next year good year for money.Investment to next year property, land, business. Very good to invest, Go for it.
P: I get a medium complected girl with a light complected guy young people, she is getting aggravated with him.
P: Some one is having a baby boy or twins.
P: Your going to be worried about 2 men, one don't feel good. Ones got money problems and one don't feel good.
P: Watch your elbow.
P: Somebody or something is bugging you today, you a little aggravated about something?
M: Not really
P: You might be by the time the night is over.
M: Laughs True
P: Around the job are they a little demanding?
M: Yes
P: I get a boy 15 to maybe 17 very smart in school, might win one of those things when you go to college what is that called?
M: Scholarships?
P: Yes
M: Oh that would be nice
P: Who is this your kid?
M: Yes
P: Very intelligent GOD Bless him.
P: He has a man teacher?
M: Yes
P: He thinks very highly of your son.
P: What school does he go to.
M: Well he goes to 2 schools. 1/2 day he goes to culinary school the other 1/2 he goes to High School.
P: Oh he wants to be a chef?
M: Yes
P: Oh GOD Bless him.
P: He's got a couple of people who are jealous of him. Two.
M: Oh really
P: Do you have a daughter?
M: No
P: OK how old is the other one?
M: He will be 20 in a week.
P: I he with a medium complected girl?
M: He doesn't have a girlfriend right now.
P: I see a medium complected girl around him she's a big goof a jerk
M: OK
P: One is jealous of the other one. One brother is jealous of the other brother.
M: Oh really?
P: Yeah
P: One of them is going to get a job wearing a uniform.
M: Probably the culinary guy.
P: Oh Yeah that's right laughs
P: I'll tell you something, as he gets older he might want to open up a restaurant, go for it he will do very very well.
P: OK Umm, one if a hard worker one is a little bit lazy. One will do things on his own and ones a mama's baby. The more you give him the more he will never push. So stop it.
P: I get a medium complected man around you and a dark one. Who are these 2 guys? Husband? Boyfriend.
M: I have a husband.
P: Dark, light, medium?
M: Grey hair. more like my skin.
P: Then he's medium, who's this real dark one?
M: I don't know?
P: Well who ever he is he admires you.
M: OK that's nice.
P: Does your husband have a brother?
M: 3 brothers.
P: Well maybe it's one of them. Admires you.
M: Well that's nice to know.
P: OK changes around the home, looks like a bathroom.
M: Yeah OK
P: In the springtime you are going to do changes outside.
M: OK
P: Um I don't know that other son goes to school? One really likes school and one just tolerates it.
P: OK your wish card come to 4 good surprises, which means you are going to be happy about 4 things.
P: You have 3 trips. One is near water or over water.
M: OK
P: Cruise, Europe or whatever. Go GO you are going to have a good time, a real good time.
P: A man around you or near you drinks a little too much.
P: Your gonna change your hair, your going to do something different to your hair.
P: Your going to some doing a your going to bring something in a big box like this. (Makes a shape of a BIG box.)
P: Your holidays are going to be very nice.
P: A light complected women is going to ask you to go out with her, go because your going to have a real good time. Could be a lounge or a restaurant but go it will be a real good time.
M: OK
P: 2 unexpected gifts, one you are really going to dig. One is jewelry.
M: Oh nice
P: You have good cards, good happiness, good changes. You have good kids too.
M: Thank You!
P: Older lady salt pepper grey hair, kind of short doesn't feel good. Trouble with her legs her knees. Could be arthritis or fluid.
M: OK
P: She's gotta watch.
P: But otherwise you've got nice cards. GOD Bless honey.
M: Thank you so much!
P: Very very good, you've got good kids, but this one is going to open a restaurant watch and see. Your Greek?
M: My mom was Greek
P: What was the other 1/2?
M: Lithuanian
P: Well maybe when he opens his restaurant he better have some Greek food.
M: He better yeah.
P: You cook Greek?
M: Sometimes
P: What is your husband?
M: He's German
P: Me too I'm Greek and my husband is Irish
I am shuffling cards at this point
P: 7 cards for every question
(Deal the P 7 cards)
M: Our current supervisor got a promotion, will the supervisor that replace her be permanent or will they replace her?
P: The current one, she's a bitch, problems.
M: Will she stay?
P: Questionable. It's like a zoo there, they're all crazy. Have you worked there a long time?
(Dealt 7 cards to P)
M: About 3 years.
M: How's my husband's job is it secure?
P: Yeah I don't see anything, not bad, not bad.
M: Oh Good
(Dealt 7 cards to P)
M: His health
P: What town do you live in?
M: W
P: Yeah he's OK.
M: Good cause the last time I was hear you told me he needed to watch his back and then he ended up having back surgery.
P: No he's OK, things are even going to get better for him
(Dealt 7 cards to P)
M: My health
P: Tired and stressed out. If you could stay home you would stay home, or if you could get another job, you would leave tomorrow.
M: You know it. Will I be getting a lot of overtime? They are telling me I might get a lot overtime at work.
P: Yeah not a lot, but a little bit.
(Dealt 7 cards to P)
M: My kids health
P: Your kids are OK. The husband is very proud of the one that's going to be a chef. Oh GOD yes.
M: That's all I have.
P: Are you sure?
M: Yes, the only other one I have was financial and you answered that at the beginning.
P: Never be over anxious. Take one day at a time.
M: That's what you told me that the last time I was here.
P: God closes 1 door and will open 5 more. Be patient, don't be over anxious.
M: Thank you!
P: Because when your anxious nothing comes out, nothing, nothing, nothing.
M: Thank You!

Card 46 of 52 for 2009

Here is a card that was made at my annual Christmas Card Camp

I Splurged

I finally splurged and purchased the Big Shot from Stampin' Up! I can't wait until it arrives so I can experiment with it and then have my stamp campers play with it at the January camp.

Yes, now I'm gonna want the doctors bag aka carrying case for it. LOL

GOD Bless Us Everyone-Andrea Bocelli

Another part of the movie that was a nice surprise in Disney's A Christmas Carol was at the end when the credits roll, Andrea Bocelli sang GOD Bless Us Everyone.
To hear the song, click the "ll" on my blog music to pause and then hit play on this clip/song.

Disney's A Christmas Carol

I have been itching to see this movie since I read on IMDb that Jim Carrey was going to be in this movie. Then I read later that he was playing multiple roles.
This was opening weekend of the movie and yes, I did go and see it.

The movie was really good, knowing the story line I was able to focus on the animation and at times, I forgot it was animated. They did a fantastic job with the animation. The only flaw I thought was with the eyes on some of the characters; they were a little off; especially Tiny Tim's.
I heard or read that during productions they wired Jim Carrey to get all his movements and boy did they do a great job with that. You could actually see little parts of Jim Carrey in each character along with all the other actors who played multiple parts.
Disney did an awesome job with this movie. I wouldn't recommend it for young children, I think that the animation of this movie is for an older audience.
"Merry Christmas & God Bless Everyone!"

7th Annual Christmas Card Camp & 45 of 52 Cards for 2009

The is my 7th year of having the Christmas Card Camp. A lot different from the 1st one I ever hosted.
Here are some of the campers from my Christmas Card camp held yesterday.

I had 2 rounds of people, some came early and the rest showed up later. I think it worked out well. No one had to wait too long for a space to open up.
Here is card 45, one of the ones the ladies made at camp.