List

You know what I want more than anything this Christmas?

An outfit for work that:
1) Fits properly
2) Is slightly trendy
3) Has some color
4) Is machine washable
5) Looks freaking awesome on myself.

Perhaps this comes from my hatred for basically everything in my closet. Perhaps this hatred stems from the fact that 95% of my work clothes were purchased in the spring/fall of 2004. Perhaps this is because I'm still not used to being "business casual" and not wearing a suit every day. Perhaps this is because my work wardrobe is a pathetic mix of button-down shirts that are to be worn under suits, but look like tents when worn separately, and cardigan sets from the "business casual" job I had before the suit job which was in the summer of 2002...after I had gained 35 pounds during my freshman year of college (obviously those look ridiculous now that I lost 20-25 of those extra pounds in the last 5 years).

I think I need to try everything I own on, in front of some close friends; get some honest opinions about "appropriateness" of said clothes; purge the closet of all violators; step out in search of age and work appropriate clothing.

At least I have a rockin' shoe collection...

Ears

I officially feel old. I can no longer stand to wear earrings and talk on the phone. The pain is too much to bear. I now have to remove my earrings to talk on the phone at work. Perhaps a few two hour teleconferences helped shape this reality, but really, a one minute voicemail is enough to make my ears scream out in pain. Not cool. Next thing you know I'll be wearing clip-on earrings for their easy on-off practicality.

On stick-ons...remember those '80s children??

Anders

David Anders rocks. In my head is a horribly calculating individual who only accepts roles as intriguing, manipulative, intelligent, freaking amazing villains. I am totally okay with that. He should continue to choose his characters wisely. He has amazing judgement as to what roles will work for him...Sark and Adam have been amazing finds.

Heroes Season 2 would be off the DVR list if not for David Anders. I hope he's not one of the two Heroes that is destined to die next week...

Or we're done...

Unless of course it is to make some massive plot connection or revelation...then I'm okay. He deserves an amazing Heroes death if that be the case, one that we know will ultimately end with his head being blown off...

Kmart

Wow. Okay, so read an article this morning about a brawl that broke out in a Wisconsin Kmart in Saturday. The brawl was caused by women fighting over credit card applications. Kmart credit card applications. Apparently Kmart was running a "deal" that customers would get $10 if they applied and were approved for the store credit card. Due to some technical difficulties, the approval process was not working properly and every applicant was granted a credit card with a $4,000 credit limit. Apparently people were confused because word got out that there was "free money" at the Kmart and a brawl ensued over the credit card applications that lead to "free money".

At first glace nothing seems odd? Try again...CREDIT CARDS people...CREDIT. Yes, these people were brawling over "free" DEBT. From the look of things, these people were definitely not fiscally responsible and therefore should have never been granted credit cards.

Raise your hand if you think 98% of these new credit card holders maxed out those brand new cards and has no idea what an APR is, but will quickly find out after they make the minimum payment at the end of the month.

Yeah. That's what I thought.

Marc

After catching up on Heroes this weekend both in episodes and in blogs I am happy with the changes EW has made in their TV Watch commentary department. The beginning of this season, both on and off the screen, was frustrating...but the inconceivable writer that began this season's Heroes journey was awful. We live in an era of serialized TV drama people...thick plots with some interwoven myth are now demanded by some audiences. The Heroes audience happens to be one of them...granted not quite as crazy as LOST fans, they still demand excellence and tripping over details etched in stone in the previous season is ridiculous. It's not like the show is that old. Get with the program. Don't suck.

Thank you, EW, for sending Missy Schwartz back to recapping Project Runway and sending the Heroes crowd Marc Bernardin. Marc makes me laugh out loud and definitely had a pulse on the dedicated Heroes following. We are the super-TV-viewers. We deserve well-thought out commentary to ease our obsessive brains back into reality after think too darn hard over TV show plots!

PS - I can't wait for Jeff Jensen to come back along with LOST in the spring =) Now there's a man who's hard-core into his commentary!

Leaves

The tree in our back yard was a brilliant red/orange when we left on Wednesday. When we returned, it was naked. Of course being the anal people that we are the next day we "needed" to rake the leaves. It was my job to put the pile of leaves into a giant paper bag for the trash guys. I could fit inside the paper bag, that's how big this thing was...and yes...I tried and that is how I know. Getting the HUGE pile of leaves (hard to believe it was only from one tree...very strange...) into the bag was no easy task. It was cold, and a little windy...and the leaves filled up the bag too quickly. Every other "scoop" we'd have to pack down the leaves. I was not good at this packing. Husband would stick his little hands inside the bag and it was like the leaves were scared and ran away from him. Me, notsomuch. I would push the leaves down and seconds later they would spring back up as if to say, "haha, we're not afraid of you missy!"

After expressing my frustrations to Husband, he had the following (very Husband) suggestion:

"You have to create the maximum surface area possible with your hands."

I took this to mean, "spread your fingers" which I did and nothing happened. The leaves still bounced back and I still had to holler, "Hubby, come push these leaves down!" every five seconds.

Raking leaves was entertaining to say the least, but the best part was the football and chili that happened after the leaves were gone!

Sales

So, Black Friday. I have never been one to go shopping on Black Friday, but this year...that all changed. Granted, we weren't crazy 4am shoppers or anything, but Sears did have a few deals advertised in the paper that sparked our interests. One new pair of boots and a set of drill bits later we decided to "swing by" the electronics department...

There she was, sitting pretty on the shelf for all to see. Marked down a wee bit. Our memories became jogged...several items were to be marked down double the sale price until noon only. Was she one of them, one of the lucky ones? Husband was off in a flash to find out. Moments later, flier in hand, he returned.

"So, is it on sale?"
"Yes"
"Double?"
"Yes"
"What do we do now?"
"We buy it."

We now have a family room TV.