Bridal Shower

My weekend - and Monday - was filled with wedding planning and events. On Saturday, my two best friends threw me the best bridal shower a girl could want.


I was highly impressed and so very touched by their efforts and thoughtfulness. They went above and beyond any idea I ever had of a bridal shower. Truly, they're wonderful women, my friends, and I feel very undeserving of such efforts.

Not only me, but Mr. Higgins too was excited by the gifts we received. I have very generous friends and family!! Thank you!

Weekend!

It's been a very long week.

I don't have much to say today except, "Thank goodness it's Friday!!"

My mom is coming into town and we're going to finalize as much with the wedding as we can in a weekend! Also, my two best friends are throwing me a shower. They are such lovely women and I'm so grateful for all their hard work.

Have a great weekend!

Teachers

I feel like I fell asleep in a logical world and awoke in a completely different universe. Since when did it become popular for Republicans to bash teachers? Bush never bashed teachers. He may have had the wrong idea on some points of education, but never teachers.

I'm appalled. I used to think that teachers had it easy (free summers, early afternoons)...until three of my friends became teachers and I saw just how hard they worked. Not to mention the teachers who deal with the unsafe realities of inner-city high schools. Or normal high schools. In East Texas, a high school teacher was stabbed a few years ago!

These politicians and commentators need a reality check. Or they can go watch old episodes of "Boston Public."

In a world where parents have little time for their childrens' after-school learning, our teachers are the only ones making sure they know how to read, write, and do basic math. These children will be solving our national and global problems in thirty years. Shut up and invest in them. Invest in teachers.

Fire Damage

I was able to get some pictures of the fire damage at my parents' place last weekend. The fire consumed about 3/4 of this wooded area that shares a property boundary with the neighbors. Thankfully, the fire never moved across the road - er, driveway - where there are even more trees!


The trees are still alive, thank goodness. The brush underneath is mostly dead (outside of this little patch) which is actually good: less work to do for my parents! And at least this happened in the late winter so my parents don't have to stare at burnt brush for a year.

It's still a bit scary when this happens so close - so very close - to home!

Texas Misstep

I meant to post some pictures today but time has gotten away from me.

Instead, I suggest you look at this editorial about Texas' budget cuts and education predicament. It's just so much fun reading about how incompetent Rick Perry is....and how George Bush was less than truthful regarding education. Politicians, it seems, are all the same after all.

Hopefully, the nation won't follow in Texas' budget and education missteps.

Craft Organization

Weekends always go by too fast, don't they?

My mom and I got together to do a lot of wedding planning. It was a really productive time; we made a lot of much-needed decisions! We also went shopping for my junior bridesmaid, my niece. That was a lot of fun and I'm really happy with what we found.

I then proceeded to load up my car with craft and knitting supplies! I got most of it (outside of a bit of yarn) which made me really happy. And now comes the hard part: organizing it all! I've started on it but am in no way finished. I've had the same desk and, therefore, set-up for as long as I've been crafting. So, changing it all (new desk!) presents problems I've never encountered before.

But I'm always up for a challenge, especially one involving crafts and organization. Once I'm all settled in, I'll take some pictures for you! And soon, I'll be stamping and scrapbooking again. Awesome!

Knitting Club

Once I'm able to bring all my crafting supplies to the new house - meaning they'll be in the same city as me! - I'll be able to knit again! And scrapbook! And stamp! Yay!

I found a local knitting group that meets bi-monthly. It has a lot of members and it seems about twenty show up for the meet-ups. Should I join it?

I haven't been very consistent in attending the stamping club I found. But, then, they usually meet on Fridays, which presents challenges of weekend plans.

Do knitting clubs make one a more efficient, and faithful, knitter? Hm....

My Sybella

It's time to face the inevitable.... I'm going to have to find a new home for my precious kitty, Sybella.

She doesn't get along with other cats so integrating her in with Mr. Higgins' cats is not an option. The only way to keep her is to confine her to a room in the new house. I just can't bring myself to do that. She's too energetic to be cooped up!

It truly breaks my heart to have to give away such a loving girl. She's loving without being annoying. She's not really a lap cat. Only when she's missed you does she get on your lap. She loves to play and is never sad or haughty. She genuinely loves people and will be inviting to anyone who comes through the door. And, usually, she comes when you call her.

If you know of anyone, preferably in my area, in want or need of a cat, please let me know. Syb deserves a good, loving home.

Frustration

I have wedding details frustration right now. To escape said frustration, I've been spending too much time thinking of places to go and things to do on the honeymoon.

67 days until the wedding. It seems like so much time, yet there's so much to do! It's overwhelming.

So excuse the non-existent post today.

Bad News

My mother sent me a text on Saturday when I was away from my phone: "Call ASAP."

I'm sure any son/daughter would get a little scared by such a message when they have parents aged sixty or over. I called her back and got unexpected - and disturbing - news....

My parent's neighbors had lit a fire which had gotten out of control. It spread to my parent's property and burned about two-thirds of the trees/brush near their entrance. That's about a quarter-mile from the house - so no one was in immediate danger - but it's still pretty scary. The little volunteer fire department (yes, this is the country!) didn't arrive until twenty minutes after they were called, so my parents were out there with rakes and hoses, trying to keep it from spreading.

Outside of the snow and ice, it's been exceedingly dry here and I'm 90% sure there were burn bans in effect. So what in the world would have made the idiot neighbors start a fire!?!

I told my parents to sleep with one eye and ear open... And the fire was still going on Sunday.... It's a scary thing...but at least my parents are safe and sound.

Texas Education

If you didn't see this article last week about the state of the Texas education system, it's a must read.

Now, the Texas legislature is asking for millions of dollars from the federal government to help pay teachers' salaries. This is after our esteemed governor, Rick Perry, used $3 billion in federally marked education funds to help plug the sagging Texas budget. No wonder the federal government, and anyone else paying attention outside of Texas, is upset. We're asking other states to pay for our education system, to pay for our teachers. When the government offers Perry money, he refuses it if there's any small print saying he actually has to use that money for education.

Thank you, Rick Perry, for being the sleazy politician I always thought you were. It's good to be proven right on occasion. Unfortunately, our youth have to pay the price for this man's ineptitude and failure.

It's a very sad state of affairs.

Chocolate Cakes

I've been doing a lot of cooking lately. It's nice to actually be motivated to try new things. My motivation is so very often a fleeting thing!

Recently I made these for me and Mr. Higgins: Joe's Molten Marshmallow-Chocolate Cakes. They were delicious! I was hunting for a recipe with few exotic ingredients and found this. I had to buy marshmallows, but that was all! And they were SO good! I made them in a cupcake pan, not having the right sized ramekins.

So if you need an easy, but delicious and unique dessert, try it!

The Swan Thieves

Elizabeth Kostova's second book, The Swan Thieves, turned out to be a very enjoyable book, despite my early doubts.

I'm not really an art person. I like it but I have little patience for modern art or anything that must be interpreted. I'm a direct person and I like art that is direct. Kostova's book sounded interesting but the whole story revolved around painters, which left me skeptical.

Here's a summary... A rising star in the art world, Robert Oliver, suddenly tries to attack and destroy a painting at the National Gallery of Art. He is placed in the care of Andrew Marlowe, a psychiatrist who paints as a hobby. Oliver refuses to talk so Marlowe must try to find out what caused such a violent reaction in Oliver through the two loves of his life. In so doing, a love story in another time and place is unveiled.

It's always a challenge reading about someone you dislike...and I disliked Robert Oliver. He is the epitome of a self-centered artist, gifted but obsessed only with his art and muse, not with his loved ones. I find irresponsibility appalling and no one is more irresponsible than this man. Still....Kostova is such a gifted writer that uncovering his secrets is intriguing.

I wish Kostova would do historical fiction. Her writing style is perfect for it!

King's Speech

Over the weekend, I finally got to see THE KING'S SPEECH. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

At a time when good/interesting movies seem few and far between, it was refreshing to see something that intrigued me, historically, and was superbly acted. Colin Firth is always good and I really enjoyed the other actors as well.

If you haven't seen it, go!

A Bit of a Rant

My dentist is a very nice man. His scheduler is a very nice woman. But the office, as an entity, drives me completely insane almost every time I'm due for an appointment.

Yesterday, I went in for a filling. I left work early for the appointment. I got to the dentist office five minutes early (I've learned not to be any earlier) and waited. And waited. I waited for an hour in the waiting room. Once back in the room, led by a very unapologetic aid, I waited twenty minutes just for the numbing process to begin.

Thankfully, I didn't have to go back to work afterward. But I was still fuming.

This dentist charges $40 if you cancel within 24 hours of your scheduled appointment. Yet they show no respect whatsoever for the jobs and responsibilities of their patients. Everything has to revolve around them. The dentist - once again, a very nice man - left me in the midst of the filling to go finish up other patients. I was tolerant of this merely because it gave me a break from the drilling and the water that sprayed all over my face every time the aid started or stopped the flow.

Someone should tell doctors and dentists that having patients wait for exorbitant periods of time only doubles and triples their anxiety levels, making for a more nervous, antsy, and paranoid patient.

Traumatic Friday

Any woman knows that finding a good hairstylist is difficult. As I mentioned before, my lady left and I was in desperate need of a haircut. I called the salon and they scheduled me with one of the owners...for my previous lady's price.

Once at the salon, I realized that I'd seen the owner - a guy - in action before. He was extremely nice and really took the time to analyze my hair and listen to what I wanted. It was a very relaxing experience. I apologized to him afterward, saying he was great and that I was sorry to take up his time for a lesser amount than what he was used to. He said he will continue to cut my hair (at the discounted price) until we figure out what looks and works best for me - probably 1 or 2 more cuts - and then he'll turn me over to someone else - someone cheaper.

When it cam time to check out, I got a $110 haircut for $50...plus I had a coupon. So, I paid $37.50. For a $110 haircut. Awesome!

That made up for what happened afterward.... I left my ATM card in the ATM, causing me to have a panic attack....which was quickly dispelled by the kind people at my bank. And then I got stuck on the train tracks....with a train headed towards me.

I survived but it was a traumatic few hours on Friday.

And, oh yes.... Happy St. Valentine's Day!!!

Catching Up

It feels like a while since I've given you a run-down of the goings on recently, outside of Snow Days. Here you go....

-The Snow Days really gave me and Mr. Higgins the opportunity to settle into our new home. There are now pictures on the walls! We're not done yet but we're enjoying the process of making the house a home.

-I finished Jeanne Kalogridis' The Devil's Queen over a month ago and really enjoyed it. Kalogridis relies heavily upon fact and only uses fiction when necessary to fill in plot gaps. Her books are just plain good! And I love that historical fiction gives you a personality and face to go with the names throughout history that you learn about.

-I'm now reading Elizabeth Kostova's The Swan Thieves. Her The Historian was amazingly well done, a special delight for any historian. I'm halfway into her new book and it's really taking off.

-Last weekend, I saw a local production of Evita which was really good and a lot of fun to watch. I'd never seen it performed on stage! That was a treat!

-Once back in the Big City, I finally found a good hairstylist. Then, she left last month. I'm in desperate need of a haircut so I'm going to see a guy at the same establishment. Wish me luck. I've always had female stylists!

-No knitting news and nothing on the needles. No other craftiness either. Actually, I still haven't moved all my craft supplies. Hopefully by the end of the month they'll be in the house and finally accessible for crafty fun!

-Wedding planning is in full swing and I need to make decisions and flowers and cakes and such. So much to think about!

Ridiculous-ness!

I'm officially sick of the snow, ice, and cold. Texas is getting some seriously weird weather this year and I'm done.

Believe me, I enjoyed our fifth Snow Day yesterday but this is getting ridiculous! The heating bills are astronomical and for this reason alone, I'm sick of the cold. But it's also the idiot people who have no idea how to drive in winter conditions. These people really make driving torturous for the rest of us. Especially when you put them on the highway in rush hour traffic. Geez!

So, I'll be happy - ecstatic! - to see the return of sixty degree weather this weekend. Yes, it's a roller-coaster of temperature changes here in Texas. Fifteen degrees this morning. Mid sixties forecasted for Saturday.

Welcome to Texas.

The Routine

All of us have bad mornings. For me, it's usually a domino effect: one thing goes wrong and then everything else follows in the wrong vein. Something very small usually sets the chain in motion - something that doesn't go according to plan or routine. After all, humans are most dependent upon routines in the morning (so I've read).

This morning was one of those mornings. I'm equally mad and frustrated; I want to yell and cry, possibly at the same time.

We all have these mornings. Too bad we can't put a sign on our office door saying to stay away - or enter at your own risk.

Snow Days

Last week we had an amazing four Snow Days! After the initial ice storm on Monday night/Tuesday morning, we got three (or more!) inches of snow on Friday morning. It was incredibly beautiful!

And treacherous. I didn't leave the house until Saturday afternoon.

Hibernation is good once in a while. I got a lot of baking and cooking done. These were particularly yummy (light and fluffy). I still don't have all of my craft supplies so there was none of that, which is unfortunate. I had tons of time!

Also, it seems the winter weather is not done with us. Another round is set to arrive Tuesday night. While it's nice getting out of work, I'm just about tired of winter.

Hibernating....

The arctic front moved into Texas early Tuesday morning. I awoke several times - at 3am, 4am, and 5am, to seeing blowing snow and sleet - unlike anything I've seen in Texas. By the time I got up for good, around 6:30, we had about 2-3 inches of snow/sleet on the ground.

Once I got up the nerve to brave the 20-something-degree weather and biting wind chill, I ventured outside. Underneath all that snow and sleet is a sheet of solid ice. Eventually the sun came out and a bit of the ice melted....but not the driveway, which remains shaded all day long.

Last night temperatures bottomed out at around ten degrees. The Texas power grid is not equipped to deal with those kinds of temperatures. So, we woke up to rolling power outages, mandated by the electrical council. There's no sun to melt the ice and highs are not expected to get above freezing until Friday, with a prediction of 34.

I like cold weather and I like hibernating during it....but this is just a little too extreme, even for me. In Michigan, we were equipped to handle extreme winter weather and there were no real worries - except driving - associated with it. That's not the case here in Texas.

So, we're on our second Snow Day. Yippee.

I'm Baaaaack!

I'm back!!

Sorry for the disappearance but it's been a crazy month. The short version of what happened is this... Knowing how horrible the housing market is, Mr. Higgins put his house up for sale in the late summer, in anticipation of us getting our own place sometime around the wedding. On Christmas Eve, after months and months of waiting and fretting, he got two offers on his house. He closed on it Thursday. That meant we had to find a house! We did and we've spent the last two weeks getting him out of his house and getting my stuff our of storage.

So, there you go. The short version. Neither of us want to live together but neither of us want our new home to become his place. So, the next few months - three before the wedding - will be a balancing act for me between our home and the house I'm taking care of.

We're taking our time settling in and are trying to enjoy the process. We don't want to move again for a very long time! So that means I have plenty of time to decorate! And, knowing me, I'm going to need every minute of that time!

Wedding planning is also coming to a head, with details needing to be ironed out ASAP. It's a busy time but I'm trying to savor it all!

Stray Cats

So, I'm a sucker for cats. If you're a frequent reader, I imagine you already know this.

There are tons of stray cats around my house and a new one showed up last week. She looks a lot like my cat except that she's all black. Someone dumped her because, unlike other strays, she always wants to be rubbed and petted. She literally purrs whenever she sees me!

When the weathermen started talking about the arctic blast we're currently experiencing, I got concerned. Where will the kitties go in sub-freezing temperatures? On Sunday night, I got Sybella's carrier and took the door off. I stuffed some towels inside and put it outside, by the front door. It warmed my heart so much to see the pretty black cat go inside it and curl up. She's stayed in or around it ever since.

I have no idea why anyone would dump such a sweet cat. I can't give her a home but hopefully someone will.

Sunday Snow

We got our first snow of the season on Sunday!

I awoke to rain on Sunday morning but by noon, huge snowflakes were falling from the sky! It was beautiful! Of course, it didn't last long (about three hours), nor did it stick to the ground much. It was enough, however, to throw the weathermen into a tizzy. Ha!

I've gotten a bit spoiled by the snow this year. We saw some on the ground (and a few flakes) in Colorado. Then, it snowed in earnest while we were in Tennessee for Christmas.

Despite the lack of accumulation yesterday, it still got my hopes up for a Snow Day today. No such luck, though, on this, the first day of classes for the youngsters. It's going to be a fun day.

Overwhelmed

Monday will kick off a new semester and, considering the changes that will happen in my life during that time, I don't know whether to laugh, cry, or take a nap. Actually, I think I need to do all three!

By the end of the semester I'll be married. My boss will be within weeks of official retirement. In every aspect, my life is going to be turned upside down. I'm thrilled about it; really, I'm more excited than I can possibly convey here. But I also feel ill equipped for it all.

Wedding details are already nagging at me, threatening to drive me insane. I'm going to have to turn 75% of this stuff over to my mom.

Then there are the logistics of setting up a home with Mr. Higgins.

The next four months are going to be the most exciting months of my life. I just hope I can savor the details, the little things, without getting overwhelmed by the big picture.

Irish Giant

I had no idea there was an Irish Giant in the eighteenth century, but apparently there was.

It's amazing what science can do! And what tumors can do! If such a thing went undiagnosed today, these giants would have amazing NBA careers.

Happy Marriage

While reading the New York Times online yesterday, I came across this article: The Happy Marriage Is the 'Me' Marriage.

This article cites research that says the happiest marriages are those where the couples learn and grow individually because of the other person. Your spouse should open you eyes to new experiences, new values, etc, and, in so doing, you learn something new and grow as a person. Personal growth is needed for happiness. After all, no one wants to stay the same forever. We want to see new things, try new foods, have exciting experiences. When in a relationship with a partner who causes - or facilitates - these things to happen, happiness ensues.

This makes sense. After all, we've all heard that opposites attract. But this article means that a marriage is a place where each partner is given the freedom and support to grow individually.

Interesting, eh? Upon reflection, I see this kind of relationship in my parents' marriage. And that marriage has worked well for almost thirty-five years.

Coptic Christianity

In light of the horrific bombing at a Coptic church in Egypt, people are asking, perhaps for the first time, what is, exactly, Coptic Christianity.

I enjoy studying the Coptic Church (Coptic being the language of first century Egyptians) as it has a unique place in Christian history. Shortly after the death of Christ, Christianity spread throughout the Mediterranean. Egypt and northern Africa were hotbeds for this new religion, more so than other parts of the Roman Empire (including Rome!). In fact, the Patriarch of Alexandria was one of the most influential figures within the early Church, helping to form the doctrine we know today.

In the third century, before Constantine became emperor, Egypt gave birth to St. Antony. This man, upon hearing the Gospel, abandoned a life of earthly pleasures to become the first hermit of the desert. Over a span of a hundred years (he had a long life!), he gradually retreated further and further into the Egyptian desert. He formed a unique relationship with God through prayer and meditation. He became so holy, in fact, that he was physically assaulted by the devil and his demons. Over the years, other men came to Antony seeking spiritual guidance.

Thus, Antony is known as the Father of Monasticism and, thereafter, a great many holy men and women came from Egypt. It was not until the armies of Islam that Christianity lost it's foothold in Egypt.

And so, Coptic Christianity holds a special place in the history of Christianity. We are all connected, all family within the same faith. We all grieve together.

Back in the Groove

I always find the time after the holidays extremely depressing. This month is going to be crazy, though, so I'm trying to stay positive!

Mr. Higgins and I arrived home yesterday afternoon. The kitties were happy to see us. Well, they were hungry. As soon as I walked in the door, I began working on getting unpacked and resettled. I'd been gone for ten days!

It was a great ten days, filled with lots of family, presents, and great food. This was one of the best Christmases ever. I got to truly get to know my new family and spend a white Christmas with Mr. Higgins. What could be better?

Though we're back to the routine today, I'm looking forward to the adventures January will bring. It's all so exciting!

Nashville Tour

My tour of Nashville was so much fun! We walked across downtown for this view from Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge.

The capitol building looked festive with the Christmas tree out front!

The Titans' stadium (also from Shelby Street Bridge) was empty and quiet.

I really liked the War Memorial Building and the quote upon it: "America is privileged to spend her blood and her might for the principles that gave her birth and happiness and the peace which she has treasured" (Woodrow Wilson).

It's been a great trip to the Nashville area! It almost feels like home!

Tennessee History Lesson

Earlier this week, I got a tour of Nashville. It was a lot of fun, despite the freezing temperatures, getting a tour of my fiancé's hometown....with my fiancé! Though I'd been to Nashville twice before, I'd never gotten to see these things.

We started at Bicentennial Park. This cool wall (above) runs through all of Tennessee's history up to it's bicentennial.

I loved reading all the history, even if most of it was pesky modern history. It was especially neat seeing Texas mentioned in Tennessee's history. These two states have such a very special relationship! Particularly moving is when the wall describes the Civil War. The wall is broken, signifying the divided nation.

From there, we walked up these curved steps to the state capitol building. There was still a bit of snow on the ground, making for very pretty pictures.

On the grounds of the capitol was the grave of Andrew Jackson, Tennessan and US President.

We walked a lot this day but it was good after all the yummy food we've had! I'll post pics of the other half of our Nashville tour tomorrow!

Tennessee Snow

It snowed more today in the Nashville area, making for an extended white Christmas! Despite consistently freezing temperatures, we were able to go out and see some stuff before darting back indoors for some hot cider.

It's so neat seeing so many sights that are significant to my future husband's (!) family. No one has ever cared so much to show me the places that mean so much to them. It's pretty cool. In every way, I now have a new family.

But that doesn't mean I've forgotten about my family back home. At one point today, I got so sad, thinking of my grandparents, all long gone. It was so long ago that I had a Christmas with anyone other than my parents, sister, and her family. I'd forgotten what it was like to have grandparents around. That makes me genuinely sad.

But the holidays are a time for family and I'm happy and blessed to be with my new family.

Tennessee Christmas

I've only had two white Christmases in my life and this year marks the second. I'm in Tennessee with my new family and it's been a great time so far. Due to the threat of bad weather, we left a day early, doing Christmas with my family on Thursday.

It's always sad to leave one's family and not see them on Christmas Day but, at the same time, exciting to learn the traditions of a new family. Mr. Higgins' family has been nothing but warm and welcoming. They were so excited to see us yesterday and that excitement made the exhaustion of waking up at 4:30am worth it! It was so cool to meet Mr. Higgins' grandfather, and to spend the day with him today.

Mr. Higgins and I went out and played in the snow today. Though there's only a few inches on the ground, we were able to make a cute mini-snowman. And snow, however small the accumulation, is always magical.

Merry Christmas everyone!! May this holiday season find you happy, warm, and blessed.

Good Friends and Good Food!

This week has put me through an emotional wringer. Who knew the holidays could bring such stress?

And so it was with great anticipation that I finally got to see my BFF last night. We've been trying to get together since my birthday but our schedules haven't meshed. We went to the same restaurant we went to a year (well, fourteen months) ago, also for my birthday: Rise. It's the cutest French soufflé place I've ever been to - not that I've been to any others. Their pumpkin soufflé was back on the menu for the holidays and it was oh, so good. Truly, a wonderful dinner. Thank you, AL!

Hopefully all this holiday stress will also be relieved by some cookie baking on Sunday and Monday with my mom. We have our Christmas cookie staples but I hope to make a few new things this year. And then I need to run a mile - or ten.

I really do love the holidays. Hopefully now, with work finishing up, I can make the most of the season!

Historical Fiction

I'm completely hooked on The Devil's Queen right now. I'll save the real review for later but let me say this... This is what historical fiction should be and Kalogridis writes it extremely well.

It's such a joy to find a book that so completely enthralls. And, better when it's based on a real story. This is the kind of fiction I want to write. It's not obtuse or full of itself, it's simply great storytelling spun around real events and real people.

Hopefully, at some point in the near future, I'll feel competent enough to try to write such a story myself. I've always lacked the confidence to even start. Of course, I've written fiction, but adding the 'historical' element is the scary part.

Which makes me admire good historical fiction all the more.

Keeping Quiet

This made me laugh yesterday: 10 Things Michelle Obama Wants to Say to Sarah Palin but Can't.

It must really suck to not be able to speak your mind on a daily basis. It reminds me of a "West Wing" episode where the President "accidentally" insults the opposing party's candidate at the end of an interview. He "thought" the recording was done but it wasn't. Pretty sly, I must say.

Barnes and Noble

It's been announced that one of our neighborhood Barnes and Noble is closing at the first of the new year. Barnes and Noble holds a very special place in my heart and I have so many memories at this particular one.

Growing up, when I began to closet myself away with tons of books, I frequented a very small bookstore in my hometown. It had little beyond fiction but I still spent way too much time, and money, there. Then, in high school, when I finally got my own car, I discovered a Barnes and Noble about twenty minutes from home. This discovery also coincided with my discovery of history - and my passionate love for the subject. I went into my first Barnes and Noble, wandered around, and happened upon the "History" section. This was, by the way, before I had taken any real interest in the technological phenomenon known as the internet. So, to find a section of shelves filled with history books....well, I was in love. These books weren't old and beat up like the library books...they were shiny and pretty and unopened.

I have no idea how often I went to that Barnes and Noble but it was most likely weekly. Two years later, when I started college and my mom took a job in the town which I now call home, I first started coming to my current Barnes and Noble. That was ten (!!!) years ago. I had no idea it would play such an integral part in my life through the years. It was an easy place to meet up, a great place to browse before or after appointments, and, now, an easy stop on the way home from work. I've easily spent hundreds, possibly thousands, of dollars there. And it's always been a fall-back way to cheer myself up; just walking through the doors makes me feel better!

But now I must say good-bye to the store that's provided me with so many escapes and adventures and treasure-troves of knowledge. It's a sad day.

Cookies!

When I went to make cookies last week, I was craving something filled with wintry spices....or, something not chocolate. I found these in a magazine and they turned out to be quite yummy. I never would have thought to put pepper in cookies but it really added an interesting kick to an already spice-filled cookie. Plus, they're super easy to make if you want quick cookies!

Next weekend, I head to the country to help my mom do our yearly cookie baking extravaganza. There are so many goodies to make, I won't know where to start!

I love Christmas!

Time Off

For those of us who staff universities, Christmas is a bigger and better deal than the long, drawn-out months of summer. At Christmas, we get a week or longer, depending on the way the holiday falls, of paid time off. It's a great deal and almost, almost makes up for working Spring Break and almost every day of summer.

And so it is with great anticipation that I look forward to our time off this Christmas. It's Friday and next week is the last full week of work. Awesome! Universities don't pay all that well, but at least they make up for it with these little perks!

This is especially useful to actually get all my Christmas shopping done! There's so much to do and so very little time!

Loathing NYC

I hate New York and here is yet another reason why.

So, Texas finds the talent, nurtures and trains it, and New York steals it? I really wish someone would stand up to those blasted Yankees, but I doubt Lee will be the man to do it. Money, after all, brings out the worst in people.

Damn Yankees!

Decisions, Decisions!

Amidst all the holiday fun, I also have to figure out some wedding stuff.

It's fun to do, don't misunderstand me. But the situation of our wedding is unique, making certain aspects of traditional weddings difficult. Here's that plan... We're getting married in Georgia, with only a few very close friends and family in attendance. After the honeymoon - two weeks after the wedding - we're having a reception at home with more friends and family. The reception is obviously meant to include people who were not at the wedding.

Now, considering that, we have to plan for save-the-dates, invitations, announcements, and reception invitations. Since the reception will be on a weekend in May when college graduations are in full swing, I think it's also necessary to send out save-the-dates for the reception at home.

I finally decided on a save-the-date for the wedding and have those done and ready to mail. Now I just have to figure out the rest. I was idly wondering if I could make the wedding invitations since there are so few....but I'm unsure of my creative abilities.

One thing is for sure about wedding planning - so many decisions are required in such a short amount of time! I'm usually very decisive....except with big decisions. Arrg!

Christmas Progress

I'm slowly making progress with getting into the holiday spirit...

-On Saturday, I worked on a second dishcloth for Mr. Higgins' mom.

-I've played Christmas music, religiously, whenever I'm at home.

-I now have a wreath on the front door and a string of lights up in the house.

-The first two batches of Christmas cookies are made! Of course, these snowcaps are always a must!

-Christmas shopping has now, officially, commenced, although the majority has been done online.

I finally feel productive and Christmas-y.

Home Team

Very quietly, the Mavericks have moved to the second spot in the West. While the Heat and LeBron self-destruct, the Mavs are moving forward.

(LeBron rant: Even though he's sucking and acting like a privileged five-year-old, this guy still gets 95% of the headlines on all NBA sports sites. It's appalling. The media is continually feeding his ego even as they criticize it. Write about something worthwhile for a change!)

I was amazed at the beginning of the season, when one commentator ranked the Mavs with the Lakers and the Celtics. So often, my home team goes unnoticed but for years they've played very well. Now, they seem to have the right chemistry. Perhaps they'll get past the second round of the playoffs this year!

Being a Dallas sports fan is always difficult. The Cowboys have bottomed out yet still manage to fill the evening sports segments. The Mavs, despite doing consistently well, get only passing coverage and the Stars are rarely acknowledged, no matter the result of their season. It was great seeing the Rangers make it to the World Series but they probably missed their one chance to win it all.

WikiChina

On a morning which started off terribly for me, here's a little something to make us all feel.....er...sub-par. One word: China.

Blessed

I'm trying to get into the holiday spirit but it's a bit difficult. All my decorations are in storage, not to be brought out, yet again.

Even if I had a tree, the cats would probably pull it down and eat it! Actually, I've never put up a tree since I've had cats. I've done other decorating, sure, but a tree was always too much trouble.

This year, though, will be my first Christmas with Mr. Higgins and our first Christmas as an engaged couple. I feel like I've known this man forever, yet we've never shared a Christmas together. Crazy, huh? I look forward to sharing our family traditions together and, gradually, making new ones for just the two of us. I can't wait to put up our first Christmas tree together next year!

It's an exciting time and I feel very blessed.

Stamping Christmas

Last night, I finally got out to another stamping event. It's been a long time since I didn't have a conflict with one of the dates, so I thought I'd better go before the holiday chaos takes over.

Almost immediately, I felt like I was back in elementary school. The ladies sat around, chatting and leisurely putting cards together. I attacked my tasks and worked furiously, only vaguely listening to the uninteresting conversation, which was, incidentally, very elementary.....talk of people I've never met.

Just like in school, I finished my Christmas cards before everyone, just a little over an hour into the evening. I killed another thirty minutes, trying to be sociable, and then I was the first to leave. It's become very apparent that I have nothing in common with these ladies, though they are very nice. I'll continue to go to events, though, and pretend to be interested in the ladies who are not interested in me.

Yes, I'm cynical today. A screaming cat woke me up at 2am and kept me awake for thirty minutes. I'm entitled to a bit of cynicism, methinks.

But the stamping was fun last night! Very pretty cards!

TN Dishcloth

Yarn: Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme
Color: Spring Green - 518
Needles: US 7
Pattern: Tennessee Knitted Square by Rhonda White

I finished a Christmas present! Right before Thanksgiving, too! This is for Mr. Higgins' mother - one of two dishcloths I'll give her. I've already started the second one, amazingly! Since she does needlework herself - cross-stitch - I know she'll appreciate something handmade. And perhaps next year I'll make her a scarf!

At some point I really need to finish something other than a dishcloth. Life has been so busy, though.

Turkey!

The day before Turkey Day. The anticipation is high; mouths are watering.

I'm heading to my parents' for a few days, along with Mr. Higgins, to partake of turkey, dressing, rolls, fruit salad, pumpkin pie, and possibly some vegetables.

Happy pre-Thanksgiving!

The Dreaded Car Service Visit

I absolutely hate taking my car in for service. Actually, is there anyone who enjoys this painful experience? Spending money, long waits, weird service techs.... When you're a woman, the experience can be even more painful. We're patronized and sometimes taken advantage of. Thankfully, I've found a good dealership with a great service department.....but the experience is never one I enjoy.

My car has always had road noise but it's gotten much worse over the past year. Then, something changed about a month ago and it's been terrible - frighteningly bad. I've actually dreaded getting on the highway. Not only that, but I've been really worried. The sound could not be good. And the sound got worse on curves, meaning the shifting weight of the car exacerbated the noise. This meant something was wrong with the wheels or tires.

Considering I already had to replace my tires at an absurdly early mileage (due to a manufacturer defect), I feared needing a new set of tires. But I did my online research before going in and found another possible, more probable cause of the noise: the wheel bearings.

Sure enough, when the service manager got in the car with me, we hadn't even pulled out of the lot before he diagnosed a bad rear wheel bearing. It was worse than he'd ever seen and about to come apart. Great.

They replaced it (quicker than they estimated) and even gave me a discount. This was after I told the tech that there were multiple reports filed with the NHTSB about premature wheel bearing failures. He looked down his nose and said "you can't believe everything you read in the blogs." Instead of arguing, I cited my sources and thanked him for the discount. To be frank (I didn't tell him this), this wheel bearing has been bad for a very long time and I've had my car in there at least twice since then - and they never caught it. Nor did the place that rotates my tires.

I feel quite lucky to have not gotten into an accident. That wheel bearing could have disintegrated on the highway, leaving me without a wheel at a very high speed. While the money is painful to spend so near to Christmas, my car hasn't sounded so good since I first drove it. Amazing! It's the best $280 I've ever spent (would have been $350 without the discount).

So, while my nice service tech knows me on sight, says my first name when I tell him my last on the phone (which makes me uncomfortable), perhaps that did me good. That and my charm - ha! It's still not a good feeling to be patronized because of my sex, but I was able to talk very knowledgeably about wheel bearings, thanks to my research.

And, just a warning... Most wheel bearings are now made in China, my dad tells me. He restores and rebuilds antique cars and most of his car buddies are complaining about these China-made bearings and how they don't hold up. So, if you hear a howling noise coming from you tires on exit ramps, beware. And, for reference, the NHTSB has all the complaints and service bulletins available for every car on the highway. You can find out what recalls have been issued and what others are saying about your car! A great resource!

Movie-Going

I survived my opening night Harry Potter experience. Barely. Mr. Higgins and I ranted about this for along time after the movie, so I thought I'd share.

You're in a packed theater. Half of the people around you are under the age of twelve. One of those little brats is kicking your chair. As you wait for the movie to begin, you dread who is going to sit next to you. A family with two kids and a baby walks in. They sit on your row. The baby cries intermittently throughout the entire movie. You hear the mom trying to soothe the baby. In a movie that is, overall, pretty quiet, you hear every squeal, whimper, and sniffle of that baby.

This was our experience on Friday. What kind of mother takes a baby to a movie with sound so loud that it can damage young eardrums? What kind of mother decides to ruin the movie-going experience of hundreds of people by bringing her mewling, drooling, squealing baby to a packed theater?

And this is why I'm a snob. I do not understand what, if anything, goes on in someone's head who would do such a thing. Are they completely unable of understanding the repercussions of their actions? Are they so incapable of connecting the dots, of "getting" cause and effect? I'm thinking they are. And that says a lot about our society as a whole.

I refuse to be one of these people. I will be above this behavior, even if it's interpreted as snobbery. Being a courteous, considerate, conscious member of society is apparently very difficult.

Oh, but I liked the movie!

Wintry Excitement

I broke out the space heater yesterday so I guess it's officially winter now. Ha!

That means hot tea, hot chocolate, knitting, Christmas music, and warm clothes. (I'm really hoping for some quality knitting time soon as I have Christmas presents to finish!)

Ah, I so love winter. I love the holidays and all they entail. This season will be extra special as Mr. Higgins and I go to Tennessee on Christmas Day to spend a week with his parents. I can't wait! There's so much to look forward to - and so much to do! - that I can't help but be excited.

Now I must watch WHITE CHRISTMAS to officially put me in the holiday mood!

Goals

A few years ago, at the height of a writing frenzy, I set a goal for myself: to get published by age thirty. I didn't specify what I would publish but I thought of writing a short story or two until I got the - endless - novels finished.

Last month, I turned twenty-nine. Looking ahead to the next year, there's very little writing time that can be squeezed in between the holidays, a move, a wedding, a honeymoon and all the planning those things require.

I'm not sad about these obstacles; I'm overjoyed to have them! But I get a lot of satisfaction from writing. Work doesn't exactly make me feel fulfilled so my crafts and writing have to fill that void. Perhaps I should re-do my goal. I will be published by the time I'm thirty-five. Sounds good, eh?

Jewel of St. Petersburg

Kate Furnivall has quickly become one of my favorite authors of historical fiction. With The Jewel of St. Petersburg, she's written yet another novel full of history, suspense, action, and love.

This is a prelude of sorts. It tells the story of Lydia's (of The Russian Concubine, The Girl from Junchow) mother, Valentina. All I knew of Lydia's mother was that she was sad, usually drunk, and dependent upon the men who came and went from her life. But with The Jewel, we see another Valentina - one filled with Lydia's stubbornness and vivaciousness. They truly are mother and daughter.

The story begins in St. Petersburg. Valentina is the daughter of a rich government official who serves the Romanovs. Civil unrest is causing tension to build throughout the city. The Bolsheviks target wealthy families, including Valentina's, and tragedy strikes early on. Meanwhile, a Dutch engineer, Jens Friis, is working to make St. Petersburg a more habitable place by building sewers and working to improve the drinking water. Jens and Valentina meet at a society function and are immediately enraptured with each other.

Romance is never that easy, though. Valentina's father arranges a different marriage for her. And, despite the love affair, Valentina and Jens cannot ignore the worsening conditions in Russia. Soon, revolution begins and they are thrown into the center of it.

Preludes are always strange. You know how they're going to end; the journey is the unknown. This journey is filled with socialists, bombs, mobs, tunnels, and cholera. It's an enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it!